Evening journal., 1913-02-28
Christian Endeavsr
CHRISTIAN ENDEAyOR TOPIC
March >, 1918.
"The Ideal Christlan-His Practical
Serlice.n Matt. D: BIG.

God had wonderful three-fold
purpose in the salvation of mankind.
no redeem him from all the iniQuity
he inherited from Adam in the begin
ming; to purity him for His own pos
sessions that they might be pure and
able TO stand in the Eternal City: -
make him jealous in the service OF
the King. It is with he last OF the
three that we are mostly concerned at
this time Tor our lesson.
Christianity was originally estab-
lishod by testimony and service OF
those redeemed and so we to begin
our work as ENJOYS OF Christ must
be witnesses here below for Him
Witness I'm our homes first for from
this we will get strength to 90 out
and witness among the strangers OF
the city, and Witness for the Christ
in the public meetings and places
The message has been extended
throughout the ages by the faithful
efforts OF the followers OF Jesus and IL
must ever be so II the world II we
are to conquer for Him. No one OF
the soldiers are to be excused from
duty; every man must fall into line
when he is called When the bugle
call sounds to the army the whole,
not simply a few respond to IT, lt
would be a breach OF military dis
cipline for any man to refuse to re-
spond. How much more, then shall
il be a breach of the discipline of the
law and commands of God for us TO
refuse the summons from above. The
most effective and important ways OF
serving Christ are, % by coDfessing
Him openly before the people and
uniting with the Christian church in
the bringing about OF the Kingdom.
Christ tells us that If We confess
Him before men He will confess us
before His father in Heaven, and this
should be the incentive to cause us
to work; (2) by living the consist-
ent life i'm the daily calling and voca-
ton. Let your light so shine before
men that they may see your good
works and glorify your father? (3l
/ by seeking opportunities to speak for
Him: the psalmist says, Let the re-
deemed of the Lord say So and in
deed IL a man is really converted TO
the faith he will need no urging to
get TO work to let the people know.
Personal testimony and service has
a peculiar value and is of Importance
because men are frank in personal
conversation and are more apt to give
way to the right when the appeal is
made from a man as to a man in
stead of an appeal from the pulpit or
platform. More men are saved by
the personal method than by any oth-
er method simply because the real
lhindrances to the Kingdom can be
I.u ct ,t
for the most part men of this age do
not attend public worship as they
should and appeals from the pulpit
work should be cultivated by all
Christians as it is the most effective
service one can render in the work
It will strengthen those who engage
in It and it has the approval of Christ
lin His precepts and examples. His
best work was With the individual
in the three years Of public ministry
All Christians can do tbs sort OF
work though there are many things
70 hinder one becoming effective. Sucl
hindrances as the consciousness o
wrong in ones own life: the fear o
iricicule; or the sense OF unfitness be
, cause of ignorance and ineXericnce
. / lnto' aAN AA'ONHAN'A 40 AH' AAA'
hindrances but they may be over
/ come by love and trust in Jesus. de-
veloped by a growing acquaintanc,
with Him and sra tude to Him. In
Phil. 4: 13 we get a great deal Of
comfort from the words. Il can dc
all things through him who strength.
eneth me-" And in Rev. 1911, "They
oyercame 9 by the blood of tn,
Lamb, and by the word Of ther testi-
mony."
The essential qualities for this per
sonal work are three; Personal fel.
lowship with Jesus; Personal ac
quaintance with His word; Specia
help OF the Holy Spirit. Ali these ar,
promised if we ask in sincerity and
have little faith in the Master Tn,
man that wins souls for the Kingdom
is rated a wise man and will be giyer
, reward for the faithful service il
this special line The words OF Dan
iel come in here as a further incen
tive to those that would do the per
sonal work, "They that be wise shall
shine as the brightness of the firma
, mcnt, and they that turn many tS
righteousness, as the stars forevei
, and ever" Dan. 12: 3.