The Mankato free press., 1913-07-25
Pastor RuSSell'S S Sermon

ice of their Redeemer, to show fortf
His praises, no matter how unpopular
His cause in the sight of men-no mat
ter how foolish it may cause them tt
appear i'm the eyes of those who are
, blinded to the Lords arrangements.
This poverty and sacrifice does mo-
mean the giving up of noble senti
ments and high ideals: but it means
the bringing Of these ideals. etc.. into
the Lords service. for the support anG
advancement of His Message of Truth
for the blessing of mankind along the
lines which His Word indicates.
This sacrifice. or surrender. does not
mean that honor of men will be discs
teemed thereafter; for it will always
be true that "a good name is rather tC
be chosen than great riches" 1t means
secondary to the Lord, the Truth. and
service for the Lords cause. so that
whatever honor of men they may pos
sess will be turned as wisely and as
prudently as possible into the channels
which will glorify the Lord and honor
His Message. regardless. of the fact
that so using 1t will gradually consume
it: for the world knows not the follow
ers of Jesus. even as it knew Him not
and appreciates not the true honor
which cometh from Above. but merely
the honor which is of men.
Worldly Wisdom VS.. Heavenly Wis
dom.
The Scriptures distinctly point out
that there are two kinds of wisdom.
radically opposed to each other-the
earthly wisdom and the Heavenly Wis
dom. The wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God. and the Wisdom
of God is foolishneSs with this world.
This means that there are two differ
ent ways of viewing nearly everything.
The worlds viewpoint ignores the fu-
ture beyond the grave. lives for the
present, thinks for the present. strives
for the present The Heavenly Wis
dom looks chiefly beyond the grave.
for that eternal condition which God
declares may be attained by all obe-
dient to Him. From this viewpoint
the things of the present are tempo
rary. transitory. fckle. uncertain. in
comparison with the future blessings.
st. Paul declares of these that they are
not worthy to be compared with the
future glory to be revealed in the
Lords people. S:1S.
Those who follow the earthly wis
dom are subject to the frailties and
imperfections of the human mind with
which they were born-born in sin.
misshapen in iniquity. ''In sin did my
mother conceive me-" More than this.
they are to a large degree susceptible
to the evil influence of Satan and the
fallen angels. and the doctrines of
demons" with which these seek to ell
snare and mislead all who have not
put themselves under Divine protec
tion by becoming disciples of Jesus.
This includes the great majority of
humanity, of whom the Apostle de-
clares that the god of this world hath
lieve not. lest the glorious light of
Gods goodness, shining in the face Of
Jesus Christ. should shine into their
hearts.-2 Corinthians 4 a.
OF these again the Scriptures de-
clare. The whole world lieth in the
Wicked One" Not Intentionally and
knowingly. but igorantly. through de-
pravity and deception, they are servants
of sin. Their only hope lies in the
promise of God that eventually the
time will come when Messiah shall
take His great power, exalt His
Church, and institute a rule of right
eOusness in the world. which will bind
Satan and break the shackles of igno-
rance and superstition, and bring in a
clear knowledge of God and the Truth.
Meantime, many in the world are
considerably swayed by the spirit of
Satan-anger, malice, hatred. envy,
strife. When circumstances are favora-
BILE. these evil qualities are not brought
into activity; but under other circum-
stances, no evil work is too vile. if it
will minister to their selfish propensi-
ties. Thus today we see people not
Ddu. Ill Tie SSuSe vi pGelSE-
ring evil to good. but deluded and with
out Divine guidance. and thus ready to
do anything and everything, under
stress of necessity, for the mainte-
nance of the present order of things
Not knowing of Gods Plan. and not
having the Wisdom from on High. they
are not waiting for Messiahs King
dom. but are bent upon attaining their
own ends, in harmony with their own
theories.
According to the Bible testimony,
these are the ones who are about to
bring upon the world the great time of
trouble, the like of which never was
since there was nation. Daniel 12:1l
In that great time of trouble the world
ly rich will have fulfilled upon them
our Lords words in our text, in accord
also with the words of ST. James. go
to now. We rich men. weep and howl
for your miseries that shall come upon
you" Games 5:1l Miseries will also
come upon the poor. but will be felt
specially by the rich, becau,e of the
wealth. luxury and comfort previously
enjoyed by them.
On the contrary. the poor in spirit
those who have given their little all to