The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-09-21

::: !: : !: !: :::: ;: :;:::.:: H: :: ::
ity In stephen.
Observe the two fundamental prin-
ciples of Christianity, as opposed to
an OF mems religion: N a man 10
sI"rillcd in heaven and ca God is
dwelling in Il man on earth.
Jesus is our Lords name as man,
ana III every instance in which Scrip
tarc speaks Of His eXaltalion it ncn-
tioiiS simply that human name to
emphasize the fact That He is exalted
III HIS humanity. There is IL man
IN the glory. # is The same man
VINO died for your sins. He is there
In tho same body Of flesh and bones"
III which He died, ana showed Himself
ailfe after the resurrection, and Ills
cNaltaton is the proof of His finished
work When lie had by Himself
purGed our sins. He sat down at the
right hand OF the Majesty on high"
(Heb. 1 :3).
soul, no richer interest in tie
heavens could YOU have! He who was
on II cross, beneath the load of your
sins, is now in heaven withua.t your
sins, having borne their penalty, de-
livcring YOU from their guilt and nut
ting them away from the sight of God
forever.
The second great distinguishing
mark of Christianity is that God by
ms Spirit, dwclls in the Christian. In
response to ahc prayer of the Lord
Jesus the Holy Spirit takes up His
nD"dc III him, making Il temple Of his
bOdy and thus forever sealing him as
Gods own possession. And illus, dwell
ing III YOU. IL" yculns to possess YOU
entirely and to fiji YOU with Himself
And the Spirits fulncss waits for
your yielded lifr-waits TO" YOU TO pre-
sen, wholly TO God that which is His
by every right that can be named.
Behold this Spirit-tillcd man.
stephen looked stcadfastly toward
heaven and saw Jesus" All,
this is the Spirits onicc-work that
He joys to dc "IIe Shall glorify me"
said Christ, "Ilc shall take of mine
and shew ii unto YOU If lie fills
and dominates your life, He will do
this one thing: He will turn your eyes
away from all things else and fix them
upon that gloriiicd Man in heaven.
Never mind the outlook" The Holy
Spirit is concerned with the 'uplook."
II YOU are looking up, the outlook is
always good.
Christianity provides the heart with
IN objcct-thc object that Gods own
heart has found in that Blessed One
who fills ali the heavens with His
glory. And by Il thousand voices God
IS calling us to behold and TO iisc,,v-
er what lie secs and what He has
found in Christ alone! This is the
essence Of Christianity: absorption
with the glortic1 Man who died to
save YOU and to have you with Himself
In Ills glory.
How many, alas! are trying to be
Christians without Christ?
Mark now the blessed results of this
occupation with Him. See the triumph
and joy they are missing. who have
not Christ before tI!eir hearts.
OF S;cpIcn it is written that 'all
they that sat in the Council bchcld his
in'r as IT had been the face of MI
angel"
You cannot look ut Christ and re.
ma II Tho man You were You cannot
gaze ut glcry without rejecting il in
Sour iacc upon the moral gloom
around you. You, 1--WE all. gazing MS
In mirror upon the glory of the Lord
with unveiled face, are changed into
he same image from glory to glory"
NI Cor. 3:1S).
On. Christian, be constantly 'look.
ing unto Jesus" and look and look
again. The world is waiting to see
Him, but IL can see Him only as He
IS rrilcctcd in your face.
And see how that vision Of Christ
rendered stephen altogether superior
to his circumstances. Trying circum.
stances indeed! An angry mob ston,
ing him TO death. hear men sneak
of being under the circumstances.
Why be under the circumstances? The
| Stephens have these under their sect,
where they belong.
Then see how this Spirit-filcd man
spent his dying breath In imitation of
the Lord Jesus. Father, forgive
them" was His cry. and Stephens,
Lord, lay not this sin to their charge"
Occupation with Him must lead to
The imitatisn Of His ways.
The ideal Christian is habitually oc-
upicd with the Christians IDEAL.