The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-04-22
SATURDAY NIGHT
SERMONS
, WY BY
= REgSAMgJEL
WpUPVIS,DD
MULBERRY TREE TOPS.

tor Zoo IS gone torth before thee.
W | Chron xiv. Is
1t was the night before the battle
The Phiistines, David's ancient and
fnveterate foe. were drawn up In ar
ray before his pitiful little army. The
Israeiitish general had formed bis
plans and outlined his campaign
What more could he dor He did what
many another God fearing commander
has done When he had done his all
then he went to God. the Lord of
hosts. the arbiter of battles and ma
tons. Like Robert e. Lee. Stonewall
Jackson, Cromwell and Havel0ck. he
down before the Almighty and asked
for the sword Of Gideon and the spir.
it. The king Of glory told him to take
q stand opposite a grove OF mulberry
trees. At the break Of day when the
first tint of dawn put color into the
foliage and the morning breeze rustled
among the leaves he was to listen. and
when he heard the sound as Of
Ahtl hilIs, III tAC topS vi luC
trees he was to go forth knowing God
was going forth to battle before him
Is God Ahead7
What that sound was do not know,
it was simply the rustling Of
leaves or the tramp Of horses hoofs
and roll Of chariot wheel rs heavenly
armies marshaled into ranks in the
vibrant ether. but it was Il signal for
David to advance and an alarm to the
enemy. the hostile Philistines. that put
them into confusion. No foes harder
to battle with than those we cannot
see: no forces are so difficult. for we
estimate numbers. detect move
ments or sense tactics. We cannot an.
ticipate attack nor plan defense The
Philistines. hearing the march Of an
unknown army against their front
rank, retreated with precipitation and
into David's forces. which lay in their
rear OF those who fight against God
the Bible says. 1.-The sound Of leaf
shall chase them" The movement was
A success. David obeyed orders; God
performed promises. God always goes
before his people OH the highways Of
When the kingdom of the Messiah
was to be set up the disciples were not
allowed to do anything or make any
move till they received the promise Of
he Spirit. who came Mt Pentecost with
4 sound from heaven as of rushing.
mighty wind. When they heard that
he tiny Christian church went for.
ward to battle. going forth conquering
md to conquer.
Spiritual Discernment.
A revival is not divine caprice.
The history Of the church-every great
forward movement OF the church-has
been ushered in by n revival. even
that have sometimes been
as freak movements or wild
ire By revival" Is not meant the
particular mode of any denomination.
Of course. but a general awakening. a
'evivillg of the truths OF God as old as
Gods truths themselves. When Gods
people are awake to II sense of broken
lltars. the neglected Word. conditions
If Indifference In the church and sin.
'ulneSs without. when the people are
20 ready then Is Gods time. Lord
Macauley said long ago that it is easy
enough after the ramparts are carried
% find men to plant the flag on the
opmost tower. The difficulty is to find
men who are ready to rush into the
irst breach. 1t is also easy to manu-
,acture the materials for n set move
nent of the church. but another to
vait for the going in the tops of the
trees" The mill by the riv.
II may be equipped with the most
modern machinery and managed with
he highest efficiency. but If the water
'uns low and the dam becomes dry
here's no grinding Of the grain. The
secret Of the miracle OF the revival Is
hat sodly men and women. having
lone all things human. come out of
and wait for the Holy Spir-
t. There is no limit to divine power
Revival Versus Religious Boom.
A religious boom Is not revival: it
s dangerous counterfeit When a
.hurch declines In spiritual life. prayer
Meeting dying. communion neglected.
inances dropping. there comes dissen-
;ion and factions. What shall be done?
Employ IN evangelist Machinery Is
organized, Meetings are multiplied
There Is much hurrah and excitement
crowds gather. All. the magic Of the
.rowd! Results are measured by the
lumber of accessions to the church
+ the number is large there Is much
elf graduation: il small the revival
vas failure. 1t started with ma
'hinery and ended with it. There has
,een no rise in the tide Of the spiritual
life of the church, the same nn-Chris
ion practices, the same dearth Of at
endance among members. low
finances. chickering's and atropny. The
'eaI revival means Il consecrated God
earring preacher. parents who will re-
,air broken affairs ut home. Sunday
school teachers who are men and wo
men of prayer and take their boys and
iris 70 God. church membership
profoundly interested in the spiritual
interests of their friends and neigh.
,ors and who are modestly without
ant trying to live blameless before
iod ana man. A people comm. be-
ore God in such condition. ranging
themselves before his groves. waiting
or sound of going In the tree tops.
Viii not stand ion. in suspense. The