Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-06-14

we must face two or three pam uuPS-
lions az to- matters of fact
Is Christ the same as he was then
Ia he able to do now what he did
| then? Are we i'm the same condition
Of need difficulties. habits. sins? How
far may expect help from. Jesus
If Gods word shows me what Jesus is
able to do. will | trust him for it, M
men and women did then? The study
of the story and Of the entire word
of God will give me an affirmative
answer to all these questions except
the last onp-that | must answer for
myself, for it ia still true that, al
though Jesus is able to save to the
uttcrmOst, he can save only those
who come to God by him and who will
accept the healing power of the Great
Physician
The gospels tell us of many .varic
ties of sickness dealt with by Jesus;
these are all types OF sin and OF
Christ's power to heal Take four
typical illustrations: Leprosy. or the
guilt and deflement of sin; palsy. or
the impotence of sin: fever. or the
passion of sin: demoniac possession.
or the slavery Of sin.
Or. take three typical cases from
the gospel according to St. Luke:
U 5:17. palsied limbs. GU 500,
the withered hands; go blob. the
touchdown woman. In all these
cases Jesus not only healed the body.
but he stands forth as able to heal
the sin of which the bodily ailment
IL n type. No case Is too hard for
Jesus. His diagnosis Ia thorough and
correct: his treatment s appropriate
and adequate; his power Ia unto the
uttermost" There will be no need
to come again. He cures In different
ways. but always with perfect under
suits.
The man ut the Beautiful Gate of
the temple expected only aims from
Peter and John, but he got what was
of SURPRISING quality and value-heal-
ing, In the name and through the
power of Jesus of Nazareth. And
they were filed with wonder and
amazement at that which had hap
pened unto him" That hour of
prayer became an opportunity for the
manifestation Of the power of Jesus
! Christ, an unexpected blessing to the
! lame man, and the occasion of great
sermon by Peter. How graciousiy
Exceedingly abundantly above all
/ that we ask or think" Not aims. but
| healing: not silver. but salvation; not
| gold, but grace and gladness; not out
side, begging. but beyond the Beau
! tiful Gate, inside the temple. walk
| ing. and leaping. and praising God"
| Is Christ the same today? Can he
! do that work of forgiveness and sane
| LITIGATION now? And is he willing to
do it? Thousands can testify and say
YES" On which side of the gate
are YOU? Are you outside. distressed
diseased. despairing, dying? DO you
cry out in vain for help? There is no
reason why you may not be on the
other side, rejoicing In the sense %
| sins forgiven, righteousness imputed
| life impaired. joy planted. Only one
reason-"Wilt thou be made whole?"
Perfect soundness," and in a mo-
ment. And Immediately" He is the
| healer divine. AS such he is able not
only to make better" but to make
well. my case is too hard" do not
| know how far your disease has gone
| how dark the night may seem.> how
deep the sin dwells. but do know the
power of this healer in each and ev-
| cry case intrusted to him-nothing Is
too hard for God. His ability is ON
nipotent and his love matches his
power He may deal painfully. but 1t
will also be effectively.
In the days of his flesh he healed
| by word. or a touch: now by the
Holy Spirit. Still the Great Physician
stands in the presence of sin-bur-
dened ones saying, Arise" stretch
forth thine hand" thou art loosed
from thine infrmity," II WILL be thou
clean" Put him to the test. and find
Jesus Christ. the same, yesterday,
today. yes. and forever" Yea. the
faith which is through him hath given
him this perfect soundness in the
presence of you all"
|