Evening journal., 1916-01-03
WITNESSING FOR CHRIST"
AFTERNOON SERMON THEME

SUBJECT OF the dlttIhpoh 9'ilnoH Nt
Evangelist Lyon at the tabernacle,
and his remarks follow:
Acts l:s. But ye shall receive
power. when the Holy Spirit is come
upon YOU. and ye shall be my wit
ness"
The close OF Christ's earthly min
istry had come. For three years he
had been endeavoring by precept and
example TO impress upon His disciples
the great truths He had come into the
world 90 impart. He had wrought
works which had been the marvel of
His generation; and as He had been
set at naught by the scrlbes and chief
priests and elders, He had endured
the scourging and the fearful death
upon the cross. and after three days
had come forth triumphant from the
grave. Then for forty days longer
He taught His disciples the things
pertaining 10 the central truth Of His
ministry. the kingdom of God. 1t
was then He led His disciples out on
the mountainside, and they realized
the supreme moment had come. The
greatest word was yet to be uttered.
It would be as If you stood on the
railway platform TO bid farewell to "A
friend about 10 start on a long jour
ney The engineer is waiting for the
conductors signal TO start Other
words of importance may have been
spoken. the greatest Is kept for the
last. or Il would be as If you stood
by the bedside of a dying friend. The
last word murmured before the soul
winged its flight would be treasured
up ln. your heart forever. Now "A
moro than usual brightness fills the
masters eye; a wonderful halo en-
compasses Him about. and with the
last look OF tenderness and love lie
exclaims. I'VE shalt receive power
when the Holy Spirit Is come unto
you, and ye shall be my witness
Let us consider first the greatness
OF the honor of witnessing for Jesus.
When Richard Coeur de Leon went
forth upon the great crusade. he left
in charge of the government William
Longechamp, bishop of Ely. lie was
to sit upon the royal throne, on his
head was to be the crown, I'm his
hand the sceptre. He was to receive
the honor and homage OF the people
! Just as II the king himself were
/ there. We have in law privilege
called the power Of attorney. When
man wishes to be absent from his
/ business for some time. he can leave
I i'm the hands Of trusted friend the
( managing of his affairs. The one tC
whom this power has been granted
| can transfer real estate. sign checks
and mortgages. employ and discharge
| worlxmen I'm fact. is Empowered TO dc
everything the same as If the owner
| himself were there I'm person.
It has always been a great honor
/ to he an ambassador from America
/ to any of the great European coun.
tries. No one would deem it smal
matter to represent the President o
the United States at the court of st
James. or before other mighty ma
tions. But 10 you and me, as dis
! ciples OF Christ, has been given fai
greater honor than any of these. +
rs our commission from the lips OF
the Master Himself; "As Thou ha'
! sent Me into the world. even so have
! 1 sent them into the world If any
one can understand the relation tha
the ministry Of Jesus bore TO the minC
OF the Father. then he can compre
/ hend the greatness of the commission
which Jesus has entrusted TO each on'
of His disciples. 7 like the German
word for "Christians" IL Is LITERAL,
"Christs." In "A peculiar sense we arr
to stand I'm the place of our Maste
before the world. We have beer
given power of attorney from tn
King of kings. We have been ap
pointed ministers plenipotentiary AM
\ ambassadors extraordinary from tn
high court of heaven
/, But not only great is the honor bu
great is the responsibility of witness
D ing for Jesus. During His earthl
ministry. the evangelization of tn
, world had been begun. And now IN
. entire enterprise was To devolve upo
the shoulders of His disciples. Ho'
, gigantic indeed was that undertak
lng IL was enough to cause tn
l stoutest hearts TO quail. But IN
/ bearing of responsibility alway
I brings "a blessing. You have seen tn
, oldest son OF family. who perhaI
: has seemed thoughtless and almol
i, frivolous. But his father dies. an
I, he is left with the charge of n
= mother and the younger children, am
i, the management OF the business. Ho
r remarkably the bearing of the burdt
!, develops his character. Every teacl
, er can bear testimony 10 this trut
! When YOU were I'm college or un
A verslty, you thought you had game
: n good grasp upon the different sui
- iects Of study. but not Until you g
out Of school and endeavored 10 in
n part these facts TO others did yC
Z get to understand them I'm tru
7 IN, h,r.ugh manner.
"a our heavenly Father might ha'
\ planned some other way for the ga
n walton 1f the world. lie might ha'
"A sent the angel Gabriel. the archane
"a Michael. and "A host Of heavenly b
< ings TO do this work. Why did !
n not do IL? He wanted you and n
m TO have the blessing which com
from service. Burden bearing Civ
"a soul strength and growth ,hat can
+ obtained i'm no other way. We Oft
a talk Of the debt that children o,
Is their parents. DO we ever stop
d. think that the discipline is rscipr
es calg The parents in taking care Al
ks giving instruction derive perhaps ful
ls- as much benefit as do the children.
IN. But not only is the responsible
a great for witnessing for Christ. but
al so great is the opportunity No wo
Ily der there was earnestness and enth
r. siasm on the part of the discipl
p" Niewing the great mass OF manki