The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1920-01-29
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Christ's Service Flag.

Rev. George Carlyle Sauer, who has
.lsi come to the First Baptist Church as
pastor, preached on Sunday morning, Jan.
18Th, from the text, "And he held in his
rGht hand seven stars" Rev. 1:l6 In
the course of his sermon he said:
if Christ should come to our church in
that personal and official manner of long
ago. we are able to venture pretty close
guess as to what would happen, for we
have reliable record of visitation of
the churches which he once made. 1t
was n the first century, as we are told in
.bs Revelation, that he made what
seems like a tour of inspection among
the churches bearing his name, with the
purpose of arouslng them to a full realZ-
alton of their responsibility to him and
81 The world 1t is also manifest that
these Visitations were intended as an ad-
murjiion to all churches for all time, and
as q perennial source of inspiration and
arrangement to them.
August and inspiring was this reVeia-
ion which Christ made to John. Plain
y and in words that stagger the imagl-
nauon we are told how Christ came and
stood amidst the seven golden candle
,ueAS clothed in garments reaching to
As feet; his hair as white as the driven
srow, sign of his inapproachable holi
ness, eyes of flaming fire, penetrating
every make-believe; his voice as the
saIuding of many waters, uttering iudg-
ments as keen as two edged sword; his
-ountenance as the sun shining in his
strength. And while the reports of the
aIJJhes that follow, reveal characteris-
ties and shortcomings, of which every
tre church is painfully aware, and
avaaens in every careful reader the mis-
gyngs and fears of John, we see in the
nigh light of this inspired picture, Christ's
opening right hand, in the palm of which
lls seven Shlmmerlng stars,
Tie the trembling apostle, looking IN
wonder and awe upon the stars in our
Lori right hand, there M st have come
0oWerful assurance that there was no
a thing as failure for any Christian
1Qertaking by one whose life was held
0 he powerful grasp of the right hand
Christ
lrist's right hand is like a service
lag AS we have been putting the stars
IF our faithful soldier and sailor boys in
Hr service flag as they have enl sted, SO
81. fl y IdiItlul CuuICl VI SHlISl, tNcly
Ia afui soldier of the cross, is cherished
as star in Christ's service flag. And He
this star not at the throat where
h. life forces ebb and flow, nor even
1s- is pierced heart, but in the palm of
-ht hand, the seat of ability and effic-
e-l n working out his great designs.
beyond US to fathom the profound
.r of this glorious vision of Christ
-- "a church, and Chrst-gripped soul.
u we all understand from it, in some
measure at least, how unspeakable is the
aT.ege and honor of being member of
e church of Christ, and how solemn is
duty devolving upon all such mem
@-- 2t communicating his light and life
world, undimmed and unrestrained.
il .hrISt should come to our church in
l5- 1ersonal and dramatic way of which
VIZ ave cen reading, we know what
shi happen. In the light of his glori-
J-s ppearanCe we would most certainly
be Werfully convicted of our sin of
N" Illness and unbelief; be shamed for
oir ick of prayer, the meagerness of our
scr and gifts; be broken and humbled
neart for our heartless treatment of
tim and of His wishes and work, and of
rs lEiceless gifts to US.
b1' Tor all that when he had chided US
luz ms, and had admonished and correct
Cd Us, he would not fail to open his right
iaud, and show US his own service flag,
VITA It's shining stars, and remind US that
1 spite of our weakness and failure, our
sl9rLcomings and sin, we were ever
more cherished and evermore held in the
lender love of God, and that he was de-
pending upon US in this new union of
pastor and people, to rise to the challenge
Oh the worlds needs, and to advance
with unbroken front, warm hearts and
'fady hands to the mighty tasks that
await the church of the living God in our
o"D day.
Mr. Sauer concluded his impressive
sermon with the tender and beautiful
story of DR.. Gordon's dream of how
Christ came to his church, the effect of
winch dream so powerfully influenced
dis ministry in Clarendon Street Church.