Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-06-18
CHURCH


Al the Presbyterian church Sunday
morning tho pastor, Rev C.. W. Kerr
TOOK for his text Romans $50; "Nay
but MN, VINO art thou that repliest
against God Shall the thing formed
say 10 Him that formed Il, why hast
Thou made me thus"
We hear people say what a lucky
chance, what a fortunate clrcum-
stance, Now, nothing Is moro GER
tain than that not single event Is
due 10 chance, God rules and over
rules. In Proverbs we read "The
lot is cast into the lap. but the whole
disposing thereof is Of the Lord"
Every mans life is plan of God,
and God has plan for overy life
]. God has a pnn for the develop
ment of the world, which extends to
every department of human lie We
may not understand the various ex-
perlences which come 90 us day by
day, but the Master understands
2, In the working ont ~ His plan
God has taken man into partnership
with Him, Man is TO be follow
worker. a Worker with God Man
has the power ~ refusing 10 work
with God and thus Illustrate His plans
Jesus could not do any mighty works
at Nazareth because the people re-
fused to cooperate with Him, There
are two parts 10 every advance In
human civilization, Gods part and
mans part. God is ever ready with
His plan, but he never forces II upon
any one.
3. God has a particular work for
every one 10 do In His plan. No
other one can do your work II |
am working In harmony with God
then nothing In my life is inslgnlfl-
cant.
T. My first mission In life then N
to find out what Gods plan and VIII
for me IL. our prayer every day
ought to be: Lord what wilt Thou
have me TO do?"
5. God never forces his plan upon
any one. Man has the power 10 neg
lect the finding out Of Gods Will, and
having found out His will man can
refuse TO do It. II Is mans prero-
gative to choose his own path.
6. Gods plan for the world VIII
be ultimately accomplished, however
many may be the delays and disor-
ders introduced because OF mans
stubbornness
Sermon OF Rev. Ncff.
1. Faith is not mere belief In the
existence OF God. The worst criminal
acknowledges the existence of the law,
vet is not deferred from crime. Hu-
manity In general, from the lowest
savage, to the most highly ciViliZed
man, believes in the existence OF some
kind of God or Gods. This Is not saw
ing faith.
2. Belief In the power and au-
thority of God Is not faith proper
The criminal may go further thah 10
acknowledge the existence OF the law
he may admit its authority yet not
be held by its precepts. A mere au-
mission of Gods authority does not
constitute faith. Many men delude
themselves with this thought but
when they come to stand face to race
with God they viii see that more
than an admission Of His power IL
necessary
3. Belief in the goodness and love
of God is not faith. A child who has
wandered from home, and has come
to want. may gladly acknowledge
that his earthly father still loves MN,
and that he Is a good man, but uh-
less he do more this will not save
him from his suffering. GOD may pc
good and loving, but with HIS chllu
holding away from Him, and living
in sin, he cannot bring to bear the
full weight of the Father love. Ana
in the end, 1t will not be enough to
plead the knowledge of Gods love
unless there can be claimed some
closer relation.
4. Finally, correct thinking about
God is faith. one may hold ever 30
fine intellectual Views about holy
things. and may be able to "defend
the faith" with an the power of
great human mind, and still not have
faith in the right sense. What then
is faith? 1t is very simple. 1t involv-
es a phase Of every thought above, but
means the personal reaching out
grasping loving, and approprlating for
oneself the promises the love, the
mercy OF God. and then doing HIS
will. No man can have faith unless
he appropriates Gods promises for
himself. and then keeps the com