Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-10-18

the inner experiences OF religion. IN
those times there was no peace 10
him that went out, nor to MIN Una.
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 theh
with all adversely"
Is not this the picture OF churcn
or an individual protesting Christian
fly who Is without God? The gospei
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 gooh-
ness, is without the power. There Is
no real power In the lives OF Chris
tians existing in this way, no reallza-
ton of their standing in Christ, ana
no Joy or gladness in their testimony
and service. They come into churcn
and 20 out OF 1t again, es 1t Is salo
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 lndl-
| Gated to the finish:
Oh THE spirit of God came upon
/ Azariah, the son Of Oded,' verse l.
The source of every true revival Is
divine. 1t can not be worked up or
preached up, but it may be prayed up.
Ask and We shall receive. Ii De-
gan in this instance in single lndl-
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 II we seek him, he
will be found of you" verse z. what
a simple thing to say, how almost
childish, and yet what results 1t pro-
ducedi All, II makes a great deal
of difference In a message whether IL
comes from anointed lips or not. NO"
what are We told here? Only this
self-evident truth, that we can not
he revived unless the Lord Ia with
us. But we are told something else
also. viz. that the Lord is with US
!. |
, It for us to be with him? Only TO Dc
living in obedience to him. that Is all.
J (3) when Asa 1.-THE king heard
these words he took courage.
verse s. The first thing the minister
or pastor wants in the work OF re-
yiyal is courage He must believe
that God is with him and that some
thing is possible. nay, likely. to be &C
complished. The steps of the revival
.. now follow in regular order.
az He put away the abominable
, idols out of all the land"
, (5l He renewed the altar of the
, Lord" same verse.
CD He gathered ALL the people to-
= gether; for they fell to him cut OF
z Israel In abundance when they saw
/ that the Lord his God was with him.
I The revival is now on. The crowds
b are coming. The church has re-
4 nounced her worldliness; entertain
v ments and euchre parties have gwen
y place TO the prayer meeting The
h altar of the Lord" has been subst-
h tuted for 1.-The abominable idols and
d 1t has proved "a drawing card The
n news are filling up The world is
g cold and the people are gathering
v around the fire of the Lord.
e Cd They offered unto the Lord the
same time, OF the spoil which they
had brought" verse II. Here is
, further evidence Of the revival Wher
II the spirit Of God stirs up a people
It the Golfers of the treasury begin tC
II show it. The people offer willingly
n when the spirit of God prompts ther
r to do It. and he so prompts then
II through the ministration Of his word
70 90 They entered into a covenan
% to seek the Lord with all thel
'r heart and with ali their soul" vers'
II r.
y (9) And all Judah rejoiced." vers
:. Is.
!" 1O) And he (the Lord) was foun
of them; and the Lord gave them res
round about" same verse. Thus tn
revival came. The preaching of tn
r, word was with power. The command
No ments Of God we're obeyed. The al
>. surance OF personal salvation vas
- living strength Peace with God wa
:. accompanied by the peace Of Coz
There was bcldr sss Of testimon.
- separation from the urgcily and NJ
- godliness, power in prayer, fockin
y assemblies Of the people liberal gi
% ing. earnest conservation and gre.
rejoicing because Cf the people. i1rr
-. rejoicing because Of the rest and --