Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-11
Born Of the Spirit
Sermon by
REV. SAM'L M'CARt.EY LINDSAY
Pastor OF bellevue Avenue baptist
Church, Pittsburgh. PR.


ultimately realize itself in righteous
ness. Love for man creates this hope
aud faith in man inspires work for
its rcalization.
Men differ as to the way by which
the ideal VIII be realized. Some be
licvc that must achieve physical
norinality first. a. sickly bodies ar"
responsible for much unrighteSusn"ss.
healthy bodies must prcccdc u
healthy morality. others say that wa
must have educated minds and an en-
liehtcncd public opinion before We can
baslS in the sunlight Of the ideal. As
ignorance Is responsible for the moral
darkness OF the world. we must teach
men truth before wc can expect them
to acliicvc il. Again others teach
that the FIRST requisite is to bcuct IN
the hearts Of men the spirit Of the
ideal. They do not dcprcciatc healthy
bodies nor edncated minds, but do not
believe that these in themselves arc
sufficient. The strong tend to become
arrogant and the educated aristocratic.
unless they possess tho right spirit.
The spirit OF the ideal Is absolutely
essential to the achievement Of the
ideal
Jesus combined all methods In Ills
work. He was a healer. Il teacher and
Tho prophet Of the spirit. To tho sick
lie brought health: to tho ignorant.
light and 10 all that sweet spirit of
Eraciousness which characterized Him
the Son Of God.
COME TO ESTABLISH
KINGDOM or GOD
Jesus came to establish the kingdom
OF God upon Garth The Kingdom
meant 10 Him an experience III human
history. In which both the individual
aud the social order would reflect tho
ideal Early ia Ills ministry lie had
AN opportunity 10 express 10 a member
of the Sanhcdrin what lie believed 10
he tho frst essential before the king
dom OF God would come. To him Jesus
said: Except a man b. born again no
annot See the Kingdom Of Cod" '''rha;
which Is born Of the flesh is flesh. and
that which - born Of the spirit il
spirit Marvel not that say unto thee,
ye must he born again
In these trying days 81 personal inn
morality. civic righteousness and in
tcrnational degcucracy our faith III the
ideal is sorcly tried. We have done
more than amy other century ia make
II possible for the many to have healthy
bodies and healihy minds Medical
schools. hospitals and doctors never
we're more numerous. Education
never was s" comprehensive nor so
efficient as It is to-day Yet cxperi-
"nce and reality assert that something
IS lacking Have 80 not failed 10 cr-
plastic what Jesus believed to he the
''9b 'SS"lItifl--lN" 'AiW birth' Let
he courageous enough 10 the teacher
Of Gnlilec To learn what lie meant by
saying. THAT which il born or aesh
y nesh, and that which j. born Of tn.
spirit is spirit
SONS VERY FREQUENTLY
FOLLOW THEIR FATHERS
tilesS man IS born Of the spirit
spirit.
When q fshcrman's son is old enough
- dir"ct his own ambitions hc gener-
ally chooses his fathers calling The
spirit which has been born in him
seeks the things Of the ocean Boats
and nets. storms and tides, bal; and
nsh are the dominant interests OF Ms
NE AS the nelghbors sec him dc.
Nc.op along these essentially norma.
lines they whisper 10 each other, lilo
is born OF the spirit" Unless a man
ls porn or the spirit Of the sea he will
never seek for the things Of The ocean
ministers sons very frequently be-
come ministers. They are acouaintcd
with the hardshps. limitations ana tho
Problems OF minister's life but in
spite OF all they are drawn 10 il They
have been born OF the spirit ana mus,
obey the cali OF the spirit. The on
portunity FOR useful service looms so
large tho horizon or ,h.i,. minds
that they chccrrui!y assume tasks
which they know 10 be heavy and re-
sponsihilities which they recognize as
arduous.
Lawyers. doctors and business men
ind their children rejecting their am
billions. If a man is born Of the Shirt
he viii see the things Of the Spirit.
whether they be forensic humani-
tartan or commercial. When the call
comes an inner must compel him 10
obey.
MUST HAVE SPIRIT
or THE KINGDOM
Why is il that some men arc fun OF
enthusiasm for the Kingdom of cod
and give freely OF their time and
strength to bring the kingdom in:
while others have no interest in the
matter. and rebel in their hearts when
circumstances demand that they pro-
fcss an interest in such things? Some
have been born of the Spirit: others
have not. I see David Livingstone
turn his back on the friends of his
hoyhood and the comforts of civiliza-
ton and set sail for the land OF dark
ness. disease and death. Incredulous
neighhors ask, What possesses him.
The initiated reply. THE spirit of the
Kingdom" lie has caught a vision OF
his duty and goes forth TO win Il con-
tinent for Christ. ] see William Booth
turn his back on the conservative
church which he serves and without
guarantee Of financial support enter
the slums Of London. Why this .ad-
venture? He has been born OF the
kingdom aud would recruit an army
z for the King from the cutters OF the
city.
In tho circle Of our acquaintance
there arc mon who love God and serve
Him. and there are men who neither
recognize nor obey Him. Some are
born OF the Spirit: some are not Be-
fore men can he interested in God and
Ills program, they must be born of the
Spirit of God. We cannot worship
that which Is not part Of our nature.
nor desire what is foreign TO our will.
Have you been born Of tho Spirit?
Unless man is born of tho Spirit he
viii never apprehcnd the things of the
Spirit.
MUST POSSESS PROPER
SPIRIT OF APPRECIATION
To appreciate beauty a man must
possess the esthetic spirit. If he has
IL he Will Hnd beauty pycrywhnrc hrt