Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-11

physically as you are spiritually Some
Of you are no account. anyhow. You
know that preachers. You know that
some OF them are good enough only TO
count one more In your yearly report.
Christianity IL a now motive power
Man will never rise higher than his ideals
Man viii never go further than his
dynamic force. There was an old steamer
on the Mississippi which always brought
up the rear when the boats came In. and
the people used 20 come down and watch
II behind all Of the others.
One day It failed TO appear and they
waited and waited and the next time the
boats came in It was leading them ALL
II was under fun steam and had a
brand new coat OF paint, Hey, captain"
some one yelled. does that new coat Of
paint make you lead them all9' mot on
your life" was the answer; its got a
new boiler and a new engine. That's
what makes It co." So with Christianity.
Christianity is a new motive power. 1t
gives a man power to pass booze and
say, mot on your life"
Get sermons from the BibIe.
II you're n preacher are your sermons
so much hot air? DO you get your ser.
mons out OF the Bible or out of the
magazlnes7 DO you take dead aim at the
sinners in the front row? Are you I'm the
pulpit because you've got a drag with the
church officials and they want you there ?
DO you make 1t easier to do right and
harder to do wrong2 DO you make Il
easier to so to heaven and harder to 10
to hell7
There is no failure so sure as that
which comes when you try to do some
thing for God without first getting the
power of God. IL you don't see that,
you're as big a fool as the fellow who
expects trolley car to run when the
trolley is ten feet away from the wire.
guess there are church pillars here
today. or, as somebody said. "piller-
shams." Yes. I'll bet there are lot
Of you going as straight to hell as the
bird flies.
This work is Gods plan. The devil
didn't have anything to do with the
building of this tabernacle. He didn't
drive a single nail or Lag single
board, SO don't you dare lift your
voice against God. You'd better have
a milestone around your neck and get
thrown into the Missouri. What fools
was up on his job, all right
What binders revivals? II isn't the
dirty. vile, hellish. curslng, corrupted.
sewerage. contemplate saloon gang
alone; It isn't the RIGHTEOUSNESS. Il
isn't the redlight district; it's the quar-
rels and selfishness of Gods people. o
God pity you. II l didn't have enough
religion in me to stop quarreling and
stay stopped I'd get It or quit the church.
What would the disciples think Of
preaching? Each wanted TO have the
best chance. each wanted to be the big
gest duck In the puddle. each wanted TO
be in the spotlight.
God is Bigger Than You.
All right, Americal Go ahead with
your RIGHTEOUSNESS. Cut loose and 20
as far as you like, but see what God
will do.
Why could we not cast him ott2 Be-
cause they were scrapping with each
other; In their selfish arbitration they
could not see Gods will. God will never
hear a prayer when pride is the main
spring.
It's hard to imagine those disciples fall
ing out with each other. Imagine the
fingers on your hand quarreling. the
thumb fussing with the little finger. Inn
agine the Presbyterians wrangling with
the Methodjsts, the Lutherans with the
Episcopalians. Imagine the hair on your
head fighting the wheel In your watch.
Christian people have got to realize that
God Is bigger than they are. and they've
got no right to fuss.
1 believe that some time in tho life OF
every man and woman there will come a
time when they will pray. 1t will be in
their sins, but because they will try TO
bride God. When the Titanic went down
every man prayed. say there will come
time in the life of every one of you
when you will pray.
But God won't hear a selfish prayer
simply because you want to bride God
and think he will hear it. My ears are
brass Look at the Pharisee strutting up
the temple like a peacock, presenting
himself like a bird of paradise, and in a
sonorous oratory believing out: II thank
thee, God, 1 am not as other men.
thank thee that am not as this publican
here" Right then the recording angel
dropped his pen and gave up in despair.
But when you come like a publican.
God be merciful to me, sinner" then
God will hear your prayer. Every man
who humbles himself will be lifted up.
but every one who exalts himself will be
lowered.
Copyright. William A. sunday)