The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-19
Yesterday in the Churches
MUST CLEAN HEART
TO RECEIVE SPIRIT
Union Service In Hanover
Avenue Church.

The Rev. Thomas Semmes preach
led at the Hanover-Avenue Christian
Church last night, taking as his text.
st. Luke 24:4s, II send the promise
Of my Father unto you. but tarry We
until ye be endowed with power from
on high
DIR. Semmes said. in part:
What the world needs today Is the
Holy Ghost. that is the Spirit of God.
All the social suffering and misery in
the world is caused by the lack of the
Spirit Of God in the hearts of men and
women. We need the spirit of truth,
OF unseifishness, OF love. God sent
this spirit at Pentecost as He promis,
ed. and the world at once felt the
change. The church grew and with
its growth new light and new life
came into the world.
Why, then. do not all men possess
lit? Why is not the world free from
sin and suffering? After SO many
centuries why liz the world so full OF
war. discord and misery?
| The answer Ia, the power Is I'M
used. God has sent the power and
men do not receive and use It, just
as great deal of the water power In
America Is not used. so we have failed
to use Gods spiritual power. which Is
all about US.
] I'm order to use this Spirit of God
there must be a preparation, cleans
ing of the whole heart. The Spirit
OF God cleanses the heart from sin
Our desire and consent must go be-
fore the work of the Holy Ghost. We
must honestly pray. Create in me q
clean heart. o God: and renew a right
spirit within me-. Is a man willing
to enter the presence of God and sin
cerely lay his heart bare and ask God
to deal with him according to Hi
will? Can he say Search me. o God
and know my heart; try me and know
my thoughts, and see II there be an,
way of wickedness in me. and leae
me in the way eyerlastingT Ii HI
can do this. God will fill him witt
spiritual power.
THE effect ofsthis will be seen al
tonce upon the home. We need Chris
titan homes. homes where Christ rules
homes of prayer, Bible-lovtng homes
where children learn to. know and Il
love God; homes that build the cit.
and State on sure foundations.
| Society will improve II the Hol!
Ghost enters it, Its emptiness ant
sham and lying will disappear. Low
and sincerity and truth win appear.
Business will become less selflsi
and lose some of It's hardness ant
greed IL Its promoters have received
the Holy Ghost.
Social problems will be easier II
solve with the help of the Spirit o.
God. War and vice are not necessar,
evils. Christ Is better than thu
whiskey traffic and better than labol
wars. Our present legislative methot
of dealing with all Of these problem.
| is doomed to failure unless we 81
deeper and plant In the hearts ant
souls of the boys and girls some of In,
principles and some Of the Spirit o
Christ
THE Church. while 1t Is the mos
powerful influence In the world to
day, will become a mightier power /
all OF her people would be filled with
the Holy Ghost
| The service last night was the thirt
! In the series Of the union Sunday
ievening services being held In tn.
West End churches.
| Next Sunday evening the servics
will be held In Westminster Presby
terian Church at O'Clock. The ser
mon will be preached by DR.. s. II
Tempieman. pastor OF the Northstds
Baptist Church, Highland Park.