Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-28
Samuel, the Victorious
Leader
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD W. TOlIIiISS.
Text Samuel. Vii. 3-I7.

cfrihE ana opposing people But God
has this work TO do for all OF His lead
crs. and they must not hesitate. how
over much they love the qu!etncss OF
3 worship and prayer. to obey Ills sum-
mons when He calls.
For twenty years after the ark was
returned from the philistines. Samuel
quietly taught the people and urged
them to live rightly. Then he called
them To Il great gathering at Mizpah.
that they might worship and pray and
learn what God would have them do.
Tho Ihilistincs heard OF this gather
Ing and drew near to attack the Israel
ties, but God discounted them and they
were defeated. Then samuel took q
stone and Sc, II up between Mizpah and
Shcn and called the name OF il Ebcn-
czcr. saying. hitherto hath tho Lord
helped us.
70 GATHER TOGETIIEI,
Tho lessons are plain. First: Gods
people need Ia be gathered together FOR
prayers and worship and guidance. THAT
IL the secret Of All our great conYcn-
lions. Every church has it's annual
gathering Of representatives OF it's
members. and large organizations, like
the Christian EndcaTor society and the
brotherhood Of Andrew ana Philip also
meet. The purpose OF these gatherings
ia To strengthen tho faith Of the people
and to prepare them for act IV" service
There was a great council held at Jcru-
salem, wc remember. In tic carly days
ar the Christian church tAcis XVI, and
-cscr since there have been councils
held. Just AS Samuel held ono long ago
In order that the truth Of God might he
nagnifcd and His work advanced We
must always look upon these gather
inrS with reverence, and II 10 have n
part in them. realize their significance.
But while men pray tn. devil Is work
ing. Indeed, it ia prayer that cXcites
him to new cncrgy. Just as the PILLS
tines planned to attack Israel at Mi2-
rah so Satan is always ready TO at
tack not only bodies of people engaged
~ doing Gods work. but also individ-
uals Prayer - a help in our lives but
We must not expect that IL viii free w
from Saiau's temptations. Il Will give
W. grace TO conquer those TEN ptat tons
and II We trust III COD lie Will deliver
us by Ills mighty power. just rs He
delivered His chosen people long ago
hut Satan IS Watching nud waiting,
What a wonderful ;hin: IL is that Cod
nights for us. Sometimes lie brings some
miraculous fore" to defeat the foe:
sometimes He confuscs them go that
they arc divided among themselves; h,!.
most frequently II. calls His own pco-
PIC 20 60 forth and ,hon Ito goes be-
fore them ana assures the victory. We
need not hc afraid 10 do ANYTHING for
numbered
ciaring Ills truth and righteousness. II
only VIC praN to Him for wisdom and
grace and trust HIN to accomplish ,hat
which lie sees To l.. best
IMPRESSIVE LESSON
OF StMtEI.'S PRAYER
think We are especially impressed
by Samuors prayer. II will pray for
thee unto the Lord ne said. Ana Later
ON he uttered those great words. God
forbid that ] should sin aEains: tho
Lord in ccasug 10 pray for you II
samuel. Xii. 30. y minister praying
for his people: a sunday school tcachc-
praying for the members OF her ella
superintendent praying FOR his teach
crs; parents praying for their children:
true and loyal citizens praying for th.ir
couniry-ihesc are all examples OF tho
way In which Christianity leads people
I" look To God Tor irrlp ana guidance
ON. that such prayers We're more fire..
qucnty offered We viii bo free from
trouble and victorious In The conflict
with evil only as We pray TO cod again
ana again lie IL waiting for US TO come
TO Him, ana He Is more than ready ~
help us II We Viii but show oursclvc.
ready to accent His h.lD.
Ana then samuel offered a burnt Of
fcrnG TO the Lord That means the
conservation OF the people The old sac
!ihce or the Jews meant the giving OF
heart and life in loyalty to the heaven
iy King. Conservation Is necessary
part both OF prayer and service. The
Lord wants to use the whole of us no,
part OF us. If We keep anything ba ck
IN our devotion or i'm orr nc,iyI,y yr.
arc not wholly HIS. ana so He cannot
do for us all that He would Here is
where we so often make n mistake We
forget In our prayers and in our work
10 present ourselves 10 the Lord and
say:
on. use me. Lord, use even me.
Just as Thou wilt and when and
where.
'r'il Thy blessed face see.
~ rest. Thy JOY. Thy glory share"
u s true for churches and nations
'li rs for the individual. that we
800 consecrate everything to our
l. even as MISS llavereal suggests
IN mat beautiful conservation hymn
which might we'll be offered as a daily
PRAYER. side by side with the Ior,l's
STONE SET IP As
REMINDER OF Duty
One OF the most striking lessons is
The setting up of the great stone by
samuel Phillips Brooks has a wonder
iul sermon on The Stone Of SheciIcn,"
tJoShua XXiv. 20, which is we'll worth
reading. This stone which Joshua set
w seems 10 correspond to the stone
"hich Sa1uc! set up. 1t was To tie
sign t. The people that God would
r'Ec their vows to Him. One can i'm
acme how every time a Jew saw this
c"ca' stone near Mizpah he would re.
member his own duty and Gods loving
lower. we do not need such outward
icns TO day ana Yet the sam. thing il
brought TO us in our Bnie and in our
churches. These stand as great proofs
"' what God will do for us when we
are faithful Every time one looks ut
church building he naturally is led to
think OF the history of Christianity; he
'"ncmbers the struggles of the past hc
members the heroes who have died
i'r the faith and the wonderful spread
e the truth, and SO he gains assurance
that the God or his fathers Will he
with him vet.
This Is particularly true Of the Bible.
Every time we hold this sacred hook in
our hands we should rem cmber how
God from the very first has cared for
Ills people and how He has promised to
care for them to the end Thank God