Evangelist, "Go down to the desert and deliver to a man riding in a chariot a message which I shall give thee" He said to Paul, "Go over the seas and across the plains and up into the mountains and preach the Gospel of salvation from sin." Thus to everyone comes his commission. Read on, my friend, and you will find yours. For somewhere, in the plan of the Kingdom, there is a place for you. And the other thing which every earnest seeker is sure to find in the Scriptures is a full equipment for his work. "Ye shall receive power," said Jesus, "when the Holy Spirit is come upon you." No man was ever yet put into commission without receiving the promise of a sufficiency of wisdom and power to enable him to perform it. "Be strong!" is the word of command. But no man can be strong who is not willing to be strong. then, to be filled of the Spirit. ↑ to be as influential as God would have us. Let us be willing not merely to be Christians, not merely to be good Christians, but to be the best possible Christians, in line with God's purpose concerning us. Let us be willing, To your work, O architects of destiny! Waste no time, no privilege, no opportunity of usefulness; for we are all going away presently and we shall never pass this way again. The graveyards are full of people who, if they could return, would look with immeasurable contempt upon the frivoli ties of this life. The jewels, the treasure-houses, the dancing and the triumphs, how little they would seem! "O fools that we were!" One day we also shall be looking back. Let us be building so that there shall be no vain regrets. Let us be building so that there shall be no shattered ruins to lament over. To that end, let us build Character. Let us build not for ourselves but for others and the glory of God. So shall we build for ever. 8. PRAYER I am resolved, O Lord, to live a better and more useful life. Be pleased to help me. I want to be more like Christ, more thoughtful and prayerful and zealous for thee. Help me and I shall succeed; and thou shalt have all the praise, in Jesus' name. Amen. 9. HYMN: "How firm a foundation." 10. BENEDICTION The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. SIXTEENTH SERVICE The Triumphs of a Disappointed Man 1. INVOCATION My Father, let the light of thy countenance now rest upon me, that I may now rejoice in thee. Whatever the troubles of the week have been, banish them, O Lord, as dark clouds are driven from before the sun. Let there be nothing between thee and me in this hour, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 2. HYMN: voices." "Hark! ten thousand harps and 3. SCRIPTURE LESSON Exodus 14:8-31. Hebrews II. Deut. 32:48-52. 4. PRAYER I thank thee, Father, for the bright pictures of heaven in thy Word; for the vision of a better country where "sweet fields beyond the swelling flood stand dressed in living green"; and of a city with golden streets and gates of pearl, "a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." I thank thee for Christ's home-picture, "In my Father's house are many mansions: I go to prepare a place for you." O blessed day when I shall see him with these eyes; and when I shall meet the dear ones who have passed on! But suffer me not, O Lord, to dream dreams and look heavenward with folded hands while common tasks are neglected here and now. Help me to do my very best to make a heaven on earth for myself and those about me. Let me hear thy commendation, "Well done, good servant," not only at heaven's gate, but at nightfall this day. And, with me, bless all thy people; all the sick and bereaved; all kings and rulers; all bewildered souls who have no Saviour; all the aged people and little people. Holy Father, minister to the needs of thy children everywhere, for Jesus' sake. Amen. 5. HYMN: "In the cross of Christ I glory." 6. OFFERING 7. THE SERMON The Triumphs of a Disappointed Man "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, A few years ago the most notorious of modern infidels was going about the country discoursing on "The Mistakes of Moses." His theme was well taken, inasmuch as that great leader, when not under the control of divine inspiration, was liable to mistakes like other men. But there was one point at which Moses made no mistake; and that was when he started out to live a godly life. For this his name is recorded in the roll-call of the Heroes of Faith in the eleventh of Hebrews, where it is written: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;" that is, he gave up the honors and emoluments of princely life with a bright outlook toward the throne-for what? By faith he chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" that is, he calmly resolved to turn his back on the luxurious enjoyments of court life in order to champion the cause of his oppressed countrymen. For how could he endure the thought of personal ease and comfort while they were groaning under a whip of scorpions? And further still: by faith he "esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt;" in other words, he was a Christian fifteen hundred years before the be |