South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-10-23
F NDS MEN DO NOT
FOLLOW VISIONS
Rev. G. F. Byrer Says Men
Would De Better BY AC-
Cepting Best impulses.

We hear much Of having no Vi
sion. But I think that the great
trouble today is that so many do
not obey the vision. They do not
follow their better impulses. They
know better than they do declared
Rev. G. r. Byrer. in his sermon at
the Conference Memorial United
Brethren church, Sunday. Rev.
Byrer took as his text the words
of Paul in the Acts: 81 was not dis
obedient unto the heavenly vision"
He said in part.
This vision and what Paul made
OF il was a vital point in the life
of Paul and all subsequent history.
This was the heavenly vision OF the
gloriied Christ. who had pardOned
called and appointed him TO his
special work. Paul captivated by
this vision was ever a servant of
Christ. This vision remained with
him. ENCOURAGED him. gave him
fresh zeal. inspiration. and courage.
The Test of Visions.
Paul obeyed the vision. Visions
are 20 be tested by the obeying.
Dreams viii break down i'm the test
ing. A heavenly vision will grow
stronger We hear much about hav-
ing no vision. God speaks about his
people perishing because they do
not have a vision. But 1 think that
the great trouble today is that so
many do not obey the vision. They
do not follow their better impulses.
They know better than they 40.
''In this scene Paul is held as a
prisoner, and like Jesus, he had
done no evil. He is at the royal
court 1t is the greatest occasion Of
Paurs life. Paul is equal to it for re
is conscious OF the Christ's presence
and that gives him courage. on ac-
count of this vision. which had
brought about his conversion, Paul
was what he was. He had proved il,
tested il not from cumpulsion. but
from choice, i'm every condition of
life and found il sufficient. Thus
can your conversion be 10 you
Paul never lost sight of his Vi
sion and talked of it until they said
he was a little off, luny. mad. What
would you think Of one who always
talked of Jesus? You can talk of
business. politics, weather. crops,
anything else and be all right. but
if of religion, YOU are a little Off or
fanatical.
viii List Man.
I'VE may have such vision. or
new conception of God and human
ity that will revolution our lives.
That will change our whole inner
nature life us out of the old groove
of thought and action and start us
on new career which will end in
eternal glory. The idea of God is the
only one that can lift a man out of
himself
What was the effect of this vi
sion on Paul? All OF his magnificent
qualities were transformed. taken
from one side 10 the other. From
prosecuting the followers of Christ
TO working for Christ. All true SER
vice for man is of God God calls
for intense, progressive lives. God
never rObs Us of anything that can
be used for good. Our own life can
not have true worth only as 1t is
in true relation with the life of God.
We are not TO crush faculties but
to consecrate and develop them.
If God has done a great thing
: for you, you should think that he
can do just as great a thing for
| others. And you should work for
it. There is nothing greater than can
| be told by human lips than what
such a vision of Divine love. grace
and pity means for sinful man."