Evening journal., 1916-01-07
N. Cor, chapters 20 and 30.

IL NNlss ClidlltIN anu oNa
We have here the story of one of
the greatest religious revivals tue
world has ever saw. If we can find
the causes that brought about this
great spiritual awakening, we can be
sure that those same causes, il put
into operation to-day. will produce
equally as great results. History is
constantly repeating itself. Human
nature has not changed through all
Of these centuries. There are three
special topics in connection with this
theme to which / desire to call your
attention; the first is the conditions
preceding the revival second, some
of the causes that produced the re-
vival, and third, some of the results
OF the revival.
Spiritual conditions in Judah and
Jerusalem seemed about as unfavOr-
able for a great religious awakening
as it would be possible to conceive
King Ahaz. who sat upon the royal
throne, was one OF the wickedest
rulers that history has known. So
wicked was he that at his death his
subjects deemed him unworthy to be
buried in the royal sepulchre and his
body was inferred outside the city
walls. His son and successor, the
talented young Prince Hezekiah, grew
up amidst dhe wickedness and vice OF
this oriental court like a white lily
amidst the blackest bog. Such
instances as this convince us that il
takes more than environment to make
or unmake character.
If il is hard to bring about a great
religious awakening now, it was
much harder then and there. But God
likes to grapple with hard problems
nothing is too difficult for Him. In
our Christian service we are moi
asked TO go to war at our own
charges. Laboring with God-victory
is certain. When He gives you q
work to do He will also give you tn,
power and grace TO perform it.
In the next place LET us note som,
of the causes that produced the re
vival. Hezekiah began this work il
his own heart. He did that which
was right in the sight Of the Lord.
IN the last analysis it is not so mucl
what you and think of God, as Il
is what God thinks of us. We arr
not told that King Hezekiah pleased
the people. He was not courtins
favor or popularity: but we are tol,
that he pleased God. 1t is so mucl
easier to see faults in others than il
yourself II is possible to be yer!
much more interested in correcting
the mistakes Of your neighbors thar
your own. If you want q revival. q
off by yourself and draw n circl
about Yourself and ask God TO reviv
everything inside that circle
Notice furthermore that this roya
evangelist endeavored to get tn
church in line. He called togethe
the priests and Levites. The priest
represented the ordained ministry
The Levites embraced the entire re
ligious class. His exhortation was
"Santify now yourselves and sanctif
the house of the Lordi"
/ hear someone say, Now, Dl
Lyon. be very careful about going oi
on tangent and talking abou
sanctification." But whatever Go
puts in His Word, il is your busines
and mine TO heed. If people were a
afraid of imperfection. as they are G
perfection, they would be a great dea
better off. There are some words {
which we have given a meaning ditfel
ent from what was intended in tn
Bible. such modern idea is that saint
are folks that are dead; in tn
scriptures they were always a peopl