Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-15
TESTS OF CHRIST
Evangelist Sunday Delivers Strong
Discourse on Temptings of Jesus
by the Devil

by the Devil.
Describing the people of today as a
race of imitators in language, Gus
toms, dress and all that goes to make
a people, and alleging that the people
themselves must either initiate Jesus
Christ or the devil, Rev. Sunday
preached brief but strong sermon
yesterday afternoon on the first twelve
verses of the fourth chapter of Mat
thew. which deal with the tempting
of Christ by the devil. Hell was the
final goal reached by the imitators CT
the devil, the evangelist asserted,
while Heaven was the reward of those
who followed Christ's path.
After announcing his text Mr.. Sun
day devoted a few moments to the in
depreciation of the word tempt" as
used in the Bible, asserting that in its
Biblical usage it meant test" or ''to
try" He took up the three tests at
tempted by the devil on Jesus one by
one ind showed plainly how He had
withstood them.
The best test that we can have to-
day as to the real power and effect of
our Christian influence" the evangc-
devil arranges against US. When you
begin to rush forward for God the
devil starts for you with the same mo-
mentum. can tell how much good
I'm doing in city by the vehemence
and strength put forth by the Goddess
gang to down me. After the Holy
Spirit had descended upon the disci-
pies the people arose up and said,
They are drunk with new wine Well,
I've never heard anyone say I'm drunk
but they said 'Hypnotist! hypnotist!
to me-but We'll just let that 60
they're foolish and that's as much as
could be expected from them.
"Some people say there is no devil.
They've got right to that opinion !
say there is a devil and 1 say further
that when you find a man declaring
up and down that there is no devil
that you'll find one in him not much
smaller than a wood-chuck. It's on
the man that won't heed signs and
take warning that the devil gets in his
hardest ticks.
when Jesus had tasted forty days
and was hungry the devil told Him to
turn the stones into bread that He
mightiest and prove that he
was the Son of God. Jesus merely
said, Man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that proceed
eth out Of the mouth of Cod
do you hear that, church people?
You are trying to live by bread alone
by the things of flesh and pleasure
by literaries, societies, clubs and
blowouts instead Of the word of God
1t was Jesus faith in the word Of God
that gave him strength and power to
Withstand the tests put to Him by the
devil 1t was the manhood of Jesus
Christ filled with the spirit of God
that led Him SO successfully in the
fight against the devil and gave Hin
strength to live above the power 81
the devil.
Churches Deny Jesus.
1.-THE people used to deny Jesus hui
mainly and admit that He was tbs
Son of God-but now they admit His
humanity and deny that He is the Sor
of God. know ministers today in tbs
Presbyterian and Methodist churches
in this country who are preaching that
heresy and they are allowed to remain
in their pulpits. That's the bunch
hate and I'll fight 'em to the very
brink Of hell It's no wonder the dew
h..tes me. That old devils been bus,
5000 wears and he knows all the tricks
of the trade. He neves takes a vaca
ton like some ministers do for tw,
months in the year and shut thet
churches up
The evangelist followed Jesus AMI
the devil in the other tests of the tex
and in closing dwelt at length on thu
power of the principle of imitation.
"All life today is on the great prin
ciple of imitation. Why do we drink
before us. Why do I crease my pants
Wear white vest? Part my hair Il
the middle? It's style, others do il
| Why do you wear those big hats
whew! amt they frights-and chang,
your costumes each year? It's style
Man initiates in everything that h,
does. The Lord knew that. Listen.
that's why He sent His Son He sen
Jesus Christ into the world to shov
/ the people how to i've The devi
knew it too and that's why he ask
men and women to initiate him The,
who initiate the devil go to hell blu
those who follow Christ's example
will reap the heavenly home as thei
harvest. There are two ways Of over
coming the devil-by the power Of re
sistance, which few can use success
fully; and by the power of counter
attraction. which is by far the safest
! Get the new song of Jesus Christ Ii
your hearts and you won't listen L
1 the devil
| Prominent U. M. w. A. Man Dead.
Bridgeport, O., Dec. IL. Pat Mt
I Bryde, the first secretary of the Uni
l A -. =