The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-14
SAYS CHURCH IS
GODS TREASURE
Kingdom of Christ Shall Remain,
Declares Rev. Stalker

Speaking on tho subject, Johns
Vision of the Church. (. ON the text
Rev. 1:12-"And / turned to see the
voice that spake to me, and being turn
ed, saw seven golden candlesticls,'
Rev. -. ID. Stalker at the First Pres
byterian church Sunday morning said:
These are the words of the apostle
John the author Of the gospel and epis-
ties that bear his name. He was a ma :
| tive OF Bethsaida in Galilee, the son of
zebedee and Salome. He was the
youngest of the twelve apostles and
| noted as the disciple whom Jesus loved,
and as one of the three chosen to wit
ness the restoration OF Jairus' daugh-
ter to life, the TRANSPORTATION and the
agony i'm the garden. At the last sup
his care the dying Redeemer commit
ted His mother. He, with Peter and
James was n pillar i'm the infant church
and helped TO guide her by his counsel.
He was the only one OF the twelve to
escape martyrdOm, but he suffered Sc
20 the lonely isle of Patnos for the
word OF God and for the testimony of
Jesus Christ.
'ln his solitude, and on the Sab
bath day, while contemplating on
things holy, Jesus appeared to him in
,tfg
manded him To write in a book that
which he was about to reveal to him
and send it To the seven churches in
Asia. These things pertained to the flu
ture history of the church and would
shortly come TO pass. John turned and
looked in the direction from which the
voice came and n splendid scene pre-
scented itself He saw seven golden
candlesticks and the glorified Saviour
in the midst. Jesus tells John that the
seven candlesticks he saw represented
the seven churches of Asia. God in de-
scribing the church uses various strik-
ing figures. lie calls her building, a
nabitation, "a temple and i'm our text
u golden candlestick.
"A candlesticll is an instrument for
holding, or being a receptacle of light.
Light is often used In the Scriptures
as an emblem of true religion and
Christians are represented as light
Christ said to the disciple, 'Ye are the
light Of the world The church is the
depository of sacred light. TO her God
hnG tho divine al hn
is the pillar and ground of the truth,
the residence of the Holy Spirit and
the place Of spiritual manifestations.
Wherever she goes light goes, civlliza-
ton goes, industry and progress go.
AS candlestick the church is not
only the holder but an instrument for
the diffusion Of light She received the
light that she might transmit il to the |
world. God says to her. Arise, shine
And Jesus says Go ye into all the |
world and spread the gospel to every |
'reature.' This is the standing order |
II the church, given by her great COM
To do nothing is to disobey |
md to be a traitor. The church is n |
great missionary organization commits
stoned to illuminate the world with |
he gospel that it may be won from the
darkness Of sin, sorrow, superstition
md ignorance.
Notice abe quality of the church. a
golden candlestick This represents the
purity of the church. She is divine and
he only divine society on earth There
re many other excellent societies, but
hey are all human founded by man.
The church has been instituted by God
IS his agent to win back the world to
himself.
Golden, on account of the rarity
'reciousness and value OF the church.
iold, as ii is the rarcst. as ii is the
most valuable of metals. The church
5 valuable in Gods sight. She is His
reasure. His portion and delight. She
! cngraven on the palms of His
ands, and her walls are ever before
lin. For her He made his greatest
acrifice. He gave His Son to the
cath, and she is dear To Him as the
pple of the eye. Golden, on account of
CT durability. She is a kingdom that
hall never be world, but shall stand
loriously forever. The Kingdoms and
ssociations of this world shall come to .
n end but the golden kingdom of