Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-03-20
FIRST OF SERMONS
ON BEATITUDES BY
REV. HENDERSON

| - S--~ ~~NN
first of the series of Sunday evening
talks on "The Beatitudes" delivered
at the Presbyterian church here by
Rev. Leroy G. Henderson, d. D., asptro
+. Of the congregation. The delivery of
this series of sermons began last Sun
day.
Here begins the Sermon on the
Mount. The preacher is Jesus, and he
IS theg reatest of preachers, not only
On account of his pre-eminent qualifi-
cations but chiefly because he was
the word of God to man. God who at
sundry times and in divers manners
spoke in times past unto the others
by the prophets, hath in these last
days spoken unto us by his SON. The
church is the mountain side-not the
| temple or the synagogue, but the out
of-doors with the sky for covering
and the rocks and sand as a netting.
| The congregation is his discipIes-not
the multitudes. but his disciples, whom
he had gathered by his previous
preaching out of the multitudes, that
he might instruct them in the things
of the kingdom. To the multitudes
he had preached, Repent ye, for the
kingdom of Heaven is at hand; now
to those repentant, even his disciples,
| he would teach the truths of the king
DOM
At Sinai God came down to the
mountain. Here he goes up on the
mountain. There he gave the law
Here he unfolds the gospel. There
the people stood off for fear, here they
came near in fellowship. And there
is no cursing. It's blessing. For that
| is what he gives as he had said of
old to his servant, 81 will bless thee
and thou shalt be blessing, and in
thee shall oil the families of the
earth be blessed He is the Lord
over all, blessed forever" And here
the Lord commanded the blessing,
even life forever more"
Who, first of all are blessed? We
look about US and We say, those in
high places certainly are blessed.
Those who eat the fat and drink thu
| sweet of the land. Not so, says the
/ great teacher. For with him above
all others, the blessed are the poor
| in spirit. Not necessarily those who
are poor outwardly, but poor inward
! ly. for one might have little outward
ly and be proud in spirit, and one
light have abundance of wealth and
still be very poor in spirit The man
that is poor in spirit will show it in
several ways. He does not boast
about what he is. He does not boast
against the Jew, for the Jew is the
natural branch He only has been
grated in. He does not boast against
the non-Christian Gentle, for he in
mercy above is enjoying the favor of
God. He does not boast if a weak
brother stumbles and say with sneer.
ing, I knew all along he was hypo-
critic because, but for the goodness
of God he would stumble himself
He does not boast about what he
has. What he has comes to him in
one of two ways; either by acquiring
il or by inheritance. If he works hard
and acquires it, the poor in spirit
knows full well who gave him the
strength of mind or body to get
wealth; if he inherits it, he again
realizes this so we'll that he must be-
lieve that what he has is in his
hands by stewardship to others. On
the other hand if he has little or
nothing of worldly assets, he does not
complain. Thus he is either content
edly poor or usefully rich
He does not boast about what he
does. If he has been successful in
Christian service, if as a teacher he
Or she has Influenced many for good;
if as a church officer he has blessed
others by his life; if as a minister he
has done great things, he can not
for one moment boast, for then his
work is not genuine, because it is not
of Cod God has chosen the weak
things of this world to confound the
mighty, and the things that are not
to bring to naught the things that are
that no flesh shall glory in his sight
Moreover, if you have accomplished
much by your gifts; if the word comes
back that your money has been in
strumental in giving the gospel to-
many, who were brought to Christ,
end you are proud over it, then you
are not poor in spirit and God can
not bless you. Such in a word, are
the poor in spirit.
Now, what is the Kingdom OF