The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-10-17

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three things: G) They were without
the ordinances of religion. They
were without teaching priest, and
without law" (2) They were without
the inner experiences Of religion. In
those times there was no peace TO
him that went out. nor to him that
came In" (3) They were without
the outward blessings OF religion.
"And nation was destroyed OF nation.
and city OF city; for God did vex them
with all adversely"
Is not this the picture OF n church
or an individual protesting Christian
ity who is without God? The gospel
may be preached in that church, the
ordinances administered, and the
prayer meeting regularly announced.
but the whole round of exercises,
while possessing the form OF godli'
ness, is without the power. There Is
no real power in the lives OF Chris
tians existing in this way, no realiza-
tion of their standing in Christ. and
no Joy or gladness in their testimony
and service They come into church
and go out OF il again. 'as It is said
OF these Israelites, without peace"
Theirs is a state OF moral and spirit
ual "adversity."
Now how did the revival come?
There are ten steps of progress indi-
Gated TO the finish:
Cd THE spirit of God came upon
Azariah, the son of Oded," verse l.
The source OF every true revival is
divies. IL can not be worked up or
preached up, but it may be prayed up.
Ask and ye shall receive" II be
gan in this instance In a single indi-
vidual. a prophet. like an ordinary
minister or evangelist OF our own day.
The spirit OF God fell on him. anoint-
Ing him for service.
(2) He went out and said, hear ye
me, the Lord is with you. while ye
be with him; and If ye seek him, he
will be found Of you" verse 2. What
a simple thing to say, how almost
childish, and yet what results it pro-
ducedl All, it makes a great deal
Of difference in a message whether 1t
comes from anointed lips or not. Now
what are we told here? Only this
self-evident truth, that we can not
be revived unless the Lord is with
us. But we are told something else
also. viz, that the Lord is with us
while we are with him. And what is
II for us TO be with him? Only 10 be
living in obedience TO him, that is all.
(3) when Asa (the king) heard
these words he took courage
verse s. The first thing the minister
or pastor wants in the work Of a re-
vival is courage. He must believe
that God is with him and that some
thing is possible, nay, likely, TO be ac-
complished. The steps of the revival
now follow in regular order.
(4 He put away the abominable
idols out OF all the land"
(5) He renewed the altar OF the
Lord" same verse.
co He gathered ALL the people to-
gether; for they fell 20 him out OF
Israel In abundance when they saw
that the Lord his God was with him"
The revival is now on. The crowds
are coming The church has re-
nounced her worldliness; entertain
ments and euchre parties have given
place TO the prayer meeting. THE
altar OF the Lord" has been substi-
tuted for the abominable IDOLS and
It has proved "a drawing card" The
news are filling up The world is
cold and the people are gathering
around the fire Of the Lord.
C7) They offered unto the Lord tho
same time, of the spoil which they
had brought" verse H. Here is a
further evidence OF the revival When
the spirit OF God stirs up a people
the Golfers OF the treasury begin 20
show IT. The people offer willingly
when the spirit OF God prompts them
70 do II, and he so prompts them
through the ministration OF his word. |
(s) They entered into a covenant /
10 seek the Lord with all their /
heart and with all their SOUL" verse
~.
C9) And all judah rejolced." verse
Is.
10) And he (the Lord was found /
Of them: and the Lord gave them resf |
round about" same verse. Thus the
revival came. The preaching OF the /
word was with power. The command.
ments OF God were obeyed. The az
surance Of personal salvation was a
living strength. Peace with God was
by the peace Of Cod