The chronicle=news., 1915-01-11
.BAPr|ST-METHODIST
SOUTH REVEALS
ALL THIS WEEK

The first series OF Joint reviva Ii
given by the Baptist and Methodist
church, South, was held at the lat.
ter church last evening \ large
congregation was present to hear the
splendid sermon delivered by the Rev
L. O. Butler pastor OF the Baptist
church. The music was a feature oi
the meeting. The services will con
tinue throughout the week beginning
al 1.4J O'Clock each evening at the
Methodist church, South,
Rev Butler spoke on the story OF
the healing of the epiIeptic boy as
recorded in Mat l.. In part he
said:
These disciples were humiliated
and brought nigh unto despair by
what seemed ana was in part at least
a failure in their work for Christ
ana for humanity. They had nioy-
ed many triumphant successes in the
service and name of Jesus. hut now
they endure what the world would
call a crushing defeat. The demon
which possessed the boy was too
much for them. He deficd all their
power and kept his place in the life
OF this much afflicted boy. When
the disciples had done their poor best
and had gone down before satan to
disappointment and defeat, the sor-
rowing father and son in turning
away met Jesus. who answered their
PRAYER by freeing the hoy from all
of his afflictions The disciples, no
doubt, reloiced in this. another VIC
tory for their Master, but they We're
not satisfied until they sought him
out in secret place and obtained the
answer TO the great question Of
their hearts, Why could not we cast
him Out2' The answer given is so
full OF suggestion and the picture is
so true to the life of our city that !
must remind you of some OF the
points OF similarity. First. let me say
that the christian life OF Gods people
in Trinidad is not a failure by any
means but in spite OF the many tri-
Umrhant successes when they have
enjoyed they have not always been
successful. In fact they have some
times faced defeat in such forms ana
under such circumstances as to bring
them almost to the verge Of an awful
despair, There have been defeats in
our own individual lives and in our
personal cndeavors for others The
jaCt that so many uusayed ones IN
our city still refuse to acknowledge
ICsus as Savior and king while the
'hurch have made so many efforts in
their behalf, in its self constitutes
! standing reminder of our failure to
accomplish the will of our Master for
our people There are sons and
daughters held by the power of sin
and satan.
What shall he say? How shall
We explain matters? II will be well
for us to follow these disciples and
in the secret place of prayer seek the
answer. The answer given them was
not what some might expect. but il
"evcaled the real reason back of the
failure. because of your little
'aith. The emphasis of the masters
answer WAS placed especially unou
the littleness of their faith. The
smallness of their faith had severed
them from the source of divine mower
and this hal left them to their own
strength and naturally defeat follow
ed. We can do nothing of ourselves
We must have him and the power OF
his spirit. This power means all the
difference between success and fail
IRE. See the difference in the dis
ciples as the story is told i'll the book
OF Acts. Now we know the reason
for failure. Now We know the secret
# the Master. for He has told us
Himself. We knew before that we
tCo often faced the humilitiation Of
defeat. but now we know that we are
to blame for it all Jesus has told us
that ii is because Of the smalluoss
of our faith.
How shall we remedy this state
Of affairs? How snail we yet wresJ
victory from the hands of overwhelm-
ing defeat? Jesus tells us this also
lie declares that is through prayer.
Ten days of constant prayer, if that
pc necessary as at PeuteCOSt. Thru
crucifytnc of the flesh and the denial
# self as suggested by the fasting
Where needed, but through it all we
must through faith secure that vital
connection and fellowship with
Christ as to insure inflow and free
exercise Of divine power through us.
Thus may we come to Il great vic
tory i'll his name. Don't forget to
pray.