The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-10-13

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some are spurious. 1t would not be
wise to refuse all money because we
had seen few counterfeit bills, hut 1t
would be wiser to learn the difference
between the genuine and the counter
felt. Even so it may be profitable to
consider what genuine revival of re-
ligion is, why it is often necessary and
what can be done to promote it.
A revival is simply renewal Of spir-
itual life which has grown dormant.
Strictly speaking it applies only TO
Christians, for those who have no spir-
itual life cannot have it renewed. You
can revive a dropping plant, but not a
dead one. SO those in whose hearts
Christ dwells may have their love for
him increased, but one who has never
been converted cannot be revived.
However, when Christians are revived
the unsaved are sure to be converted,
though this is by no means the prin-
cipal benefit.
That the spirit does move upon
church or community at times in an
unusual manner cannot be denied. In
place of apathy and Indifference we
behold attention and interest. Gods
word seems attractive, Gods house is
thronged night after night regardless
Of the weather or the season Of the
year. Old feuds are forgotten, old
enemies are reconciled, and everybody
feels that they ought to settle up with
God and man, whether it involves a
hearty confession, or the paying of a
debt or the restoration Of what has
been wrongfully taken.
Objection /. It awakens excitement.
What If it does? Excitement is good
thing If the object be q worthy one,
and the conversion of lost men and
women Is certainly q worthy object
Business men try constantly to inter-
est people in their stock of goods, they
work night and day to get crowd into
their store; politicians flood the coun-
try with literature, parade the street
with bands, and NO one questions the
wisdom of it because we know it is
necessary TO arouse the public to the
| Importance Of voting Alright, but when
Gods people put forth special efforts
! to arrest the attention of the thought
less, the cry of excitement is sure to
be raised.
Objection 2. 1t does not last long.
That may be true in some cases, but
! the merchant does not stop booming
his business because he knows the
boom will not last long, nor the poll
| tician though he knows the campaign
will be short. 1t Is NOT 70 be expected
| that special meetings will continue
many weeks but if the work is genuine
| the results will abide for years. The
Reformation lasted only few years.
but Europe and the whole world feels
its effects to this hour. Pentecost last
ed but day, but it changed the whole
face of the world religiously.
Why Are Revivals Necessary?
Why does a dying plant need water
and sunshine? Because it hasn't
strength enough to hold its head up
and must have outside help. SO there
are many Christians who are not self
sustaining. They do Tot pray enough
nor feed on the word enough to keep
them in good spiritual condition. The
consequence is they steadily lose
ground until they are in danger of los
| ing all hold on Christ, and special
measures must be resorted to to revive
them. Frequent doses of Gods word
must be poured into them until they
begin to respond to it and love it, and
become self-sustaining Christians, able
to help others into the way of life.
In all ages God has found it neces-
sary to say to his church, awake,
awake, put on thy strength, o Zion,
put on thy beautiful garments, o Jeru-
SALEM"
When May Revival Be Expected?
When Gods people desire q revival
and are willing to comply with the con-
ditions. God is always willing but his
people are rot. "If my people which
are called by my name, shall humble
themselves and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways; then
will / hear from heaven, and will for
give their sin and will heal their land"
QI Chron. 7;14).
"Bring we all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may lie meat in
mine house, and prove me now here
with, saith the Lord Of hosts, if l will
not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out a blessing, that there
shall not be room enough to receive
it." (lIal. 3:10).
These two passages seem to teach
clearly that Gods people can have a
revival whenever they are willing to
do their duty as the word requires,
and claim Gods promise.