Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-09
fChri8ttan Gnneahor}
| -Four ]
BY f;
/. HARVEY S. IRWIN.
TOPIC:
Christian Testimony That
Counts. John, :2o-42.

m T is related that a minister who was
grieving over the fact that there
- were apparently no conversions re-
sulting from his preaching, went to coun.
sci with the great Spurgeon.
''Why, man." said Spurgeon, you don't
expect to convert people every time you
preach, do your
"Of course not" replied the minister.
That's why you DON'T" said Sturgeon.
The work we do, or the testimony we
proportion to the faith we have in our
power to gain results. A politician who
had but little confidence in the success
of his plans and laborS would make a
very poor campaign manager. Enthu-
siasm is a great element in attaining
success, and there can be no real and
inspiring enthusiasm in the absence of
hope.
In every department of life that testi-
mony which counts most Is the product
of deep conviction and ardent hope.
Where there is doubt and lack of desire
cause. This is especially true In the
realm of religion. We are now treating
of Christian testimony that counts. and
1t would be a misnomer to call one a
Christian who lacked faith or hope in
the triumphs of religion.
1t is through sincere belief and earnest
endeavor that results come. 1t is not
eloquence Of words or splendid diction
that makes our testimony for Christ eff
fective. Our words may be few and
Of the Spirit and of power" they will
count for more than though spoken
with the tongues of men and Of angels
and had not charity"
Paul said in writing to the Corinthians:
"And /, brethren, when I came to you,
- - ~
wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony
Of God. For l determined not to know
anything among you, save Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. And I was with you
In weakness and in fear and in much
trembling. And my speech and my
words of mans wisdom, but in demon.
stration of the Spirit and Of power; that
your faith should not stand in the wisdom
Of men but in the power Of God"
In these words we are shown the kind
Of testimony that counts-the writings OF
Paul give abundant evidence that he had
master mind-that he had no lack In
wisdom or in excellency Of speech, yet
so ardent was his desire to testify fol
Christ that he would make no show OF
knowledge of nothing but Jesus Christ
and Him crucified. That was the sum and
substance Of his message and testimony
Whatever other knowledge he possessed
this was the only knowledge he cared t.
display. Matthew Henry said: ANY one
that heard Paul preach found him tt
harp so continually on this string that hi
would say he knew nothing but Christ
and Him crucified." In this We learr
what Christian testimony is to relate to.
The evidence we give by our words ant
our life should be that which present,
Christ as the Savior OF men. by reason o.
His sacri1cial death. Our testimony /,
ever to be in this one direction OF point
ing out to men 1.-The Lamb Of God which
taketh away the sin of the world" TIL.
Christian testimony that counts is not t.
be about what we are or what we hav,
done. but about Christ and what He ha.
done. We are not to ask men to look q
us, but to "come and see" Jesus.
In the Scripture lesson for this weel
from the first chapter OF John we have in
dicated the order OF our testimony To-