South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-01-10


Name .................
Address Observation-Disclosures.
Lesson: The Mission of the Seven
ty.-Luke 1O:1-21.
Golden Text: 1t is not VIC that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father
that spcaketh in yOu.-Matt. 1920.
MAN THE MOUTHPIECE OF GOD.
1. The World Is TO BE Converted
by Convincing Speech. When Jesus
appointed the seventy to travel
through Palestine 10 preach his
gospel, ne told them that they would
be as sheep in the midst of wolves.
that they would be delivered up to
the councils, and be scourged in their
synagogues, that they would be
brought before governors and kings
but that he would fully equip them to
meet these difficulties, and he finish
ed his instructions by the words Of
the text, to the effect that their mes
sage, under all circumstances, would
be given them by the spirit of God
Jesus planned that the world should
be converted by human speech, either
by talking to individuals. or preach
ing to men in companies. 1t is a re-
markable fact that, from the begin
ming until now, the vast majority Of
Christians have been brought to
Christ by the spoken words of some
other person. 1t is true that God has
occasionally led men to him through
the printed or written word but, il
you will make enquiry il will be
found that those who have been thus
converted are few.
=. The Spirit OF God Is the Author
of Convincing Speech. In more than
a natural way God supplies Christians
with his message TO deliver to their
fellows. 1t is this supernatural part
of ChristS message which has been
the chief means for the propagation
of this gospel. 1t is strange, but true,
that while the message of God told
by a sinner may sometimes be the
means of the conversion of another
sinner. IL is of rare occurrence, but
it is simply marvellous with what
power spirit filled Christians deliver
the gospel message. We know. from
experience, that unlettered men, and
women under the influence of the
spirit of God, have wonderful power
in winning men to Christ, while
scholarly and eloquent preachers, who
make no pretention 10 being filled
with the Holy Ghost, very rarely lead
sinners to the Saviour. The message,
TO be effectual, must be the message
Of God spoken through a consecrated
Christian. When I was converted, at
the age Of fifteen, l started a series or
cottage prayer meetings among the
| labOring people in the country n
number of boys without any educa-
= frarr r1- a a
their hearts TO God during these
meetings. and the eloquence, and
power, with which these boys pray
ed and testified, was little less than
miraculous There was not one of
these young converts, VINO did not
personally lead others into like pre-
cious faith I resided in the state OF
Ohio during the wonderful temper
ance revival among the women or
that state. l think it was about the
year 1874. The spirit Of God so filled
nearly all the women of the various
churches. that they prayed and talk
ed with the crowds on the streets, In
the demonstration of the spirit and Of
power.
3. The Spirit Speaks Through Spir-
it Filled Disciples of Christ. Cold
church members appear TO be non
conductors of Gods Holy Spirit, II
the comparison can be allowed. 1t
seems that consecrated Christians
who have come out from the world,
and devoted their time and talents
wholly to the service of God, are the
only persons which the spirit or the
father can use to effectually deliver
his message. The reason why some
really good and cultured Sunday
school teachers Go not lead their
scholars to Jesus is because they have
not been baptized with the Holy
Ghost. I must also believe that the
reason why so many scholarly ana ell
oquent preachers do not nave con-
verts at their regular services, Is be-
cause they have not tarried at Jeru-
salem until they received their Pente-
cost They are not insincere men
they are for the most part cOnsclen-
tiouS but some way or other. explain
il as YOU may. they do not speak with
the authority which the CONSCIOUSNESS
of God directly speaking through
them would give. Many of them
would shrink from saying that their
message was given to them direct by
Cod. and that they We're simply his
mouthpiece in delivering II. Every
body knows the story of Mr.. Moody
that for many years his preaching
was barren of results, and how he
struggled for and received the bap-
tism OF the Holy Spirit.
4. In Your Work Depend Upon
the Spirit OF the Father. Remem-
Der the words OF Jesus that. III Is not
We that speak. but the spirit of your
/ father which dwelleth in you. Make
sure OF the fact that your heart IS
emptied Of al sin and that the spirit
of God dwells in YOU, and then de-
pend wholly and without any reserve
upon the spirit of the father speaking
through you and winning sinners.
| All who love God with all their hearts
are tha temples of the Holy spirit;
he inspired their thoughts. supplies
them with his message. giving them
the right words and the right manner
10 deliver II. so that il will be eftec-
/ tual.
! Copyright. 1918. by T. 6. Davidson)
INSANE ASYLUM BURNS.