Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-08-03

the rj1hteo,,s u' ne neareth the prava,
Let courage rise with daruo
Such is the plea of Webb's s.
hymn, Stand Up for Jesus ~,
tianity in our day calls for
rageous men and women
Courage should be disting,,i,,
from such related things as bravs
valor, or bravado. Bravado is
affectation Of a reckless br.vI
which surely has no place in ChI
tan life and activity. valor
associated with daring and vigord
action, for example, in battle
be brave means to meet challen
with confidence and resolution.
be courageous means to stead
meet perils of which one is deel
conscious, doing so because of
call OF duty. Courage holds del
er and nobler meaning than
other words, carrying with il
idea Of moral strength and, in
case Of the Christian, faith in d
as one devoted to His cause.
Elijah was courageous, and
stands before our Christian youth
day as an example of that god
courage which
I. Works in the Open ". 30.
Men whose deeds are evil love 4
darkness rather than the light. @
does not work in the dark. All
His workings are in the open s.
light. Every one is welcome
come near" and see what is dol
Elijah knew God and he acted n
Gods man. What a tragedy it
that not all Of Gods servants ha
followed his example. If we b
the open and above-board dealin
Of Elijah in the affairs Of 4
churches, we might see more Of
fire and power of his minist
Certain it is that the administ
ton Of church affairs which d
to be carried out in hidden corns
by whispered conversations and h
secret manipulations behind
scenes, is not Gods work at all,
is the work of man.
ii. Asks No Favors wv. 1873
Elijah rebuilt the altar hirnss
He asked no help of the unbelieVi
prophets Of Baal or Of apostate
grael. How ol6sfashioned he sect
in this day when so much stress
laid on false unity Of the fait
and there Is so much solicitat
and acceptance by the Church
the help Of unbelievers in fnanci
the supposed work of God.
Note also that Elijah invited
enemies to make the answer to
prayer more difficult by pouriI
water on the sacrifice. This W
not an act of bravado, it was for
purpose Of demonstrating that the
was no fraud. He was willing Il
the enemies of the truth sho1
make the demonstration more
ficult if that would be to Gods slo1
There is a delightful old-fashionI
flavor about that act, too, in the
days when men are frequently w
ing to compromise with unbelief Al
even with sin in order that the Wo|
Of the Church may be carried
without too much difficulty. He|
again we have an explanation
the lack Of spiritual power in q
times.
III. Honors God, Not Man N
1892, $3.50.
A man of bravery wants recos1
ton for himself. while the cou1
geous man asks only that the eau
for which he fights shall be Succei
full. Elijah had long since dem1
strated that he was absolutely III
less, and sought no favor or gig
(read the entire story. Now In
tenseness Of this moment, ne ca
fully rebuilds the altar OF the 2
God ". 800, makes it testlmoI
of unity to a divided Israel ". .
and he does it all in the name
the Lord ". 32).
His prayer wv. So, 80 is p1
foundly simple expression Of eoj
plete faith In the true God ana
power on the part Of a man W
recognized himself as being only
divine servant. He made no p
that God would vindicate him OF
ministry, but he did plead na'
name Of the Lord should be mono.
in the midst Of an unbeheV
people. j
Nv. Brings Eternal Results
SO, 30.
1.-THE fire Of the Lord fell.
lying prophets Of heathendom w
routed. Many recognized JenOvl
as the true God. While lsraei
not long remember the ies
learned here, the story has cOn
ued as a testimony thai
strengthen the people Of God as =
as time continues.