Show sunday at C church j me NOT GIVE UP BUT RECEIVE As many as received him to i them have ile he power to become the bons bone of 0 god een cen to them that believe on his name john A gentleman moving in the high i est of 0 london society was brought to know the lord jesus through a conversation he be had with a christian lady for a number of years ho he had bad been a leader of fashion and was waa even up to the pleas ares area of the world while returning home one evening in company with this lady he became afraid lest she would speak to him about his soul and ask him to give up the worlds vanities and amusements astonished at finding that she did not directly refer to spiritual epi ritual matters bershe hoop opened enod the subject himself and spoke to the following effect how is it that you religious people are always trying to rob us of our pleasures I 1 enjoy itte ills thoroughly and I 1 dont bee that you should take away the pleasures I 1 have you are greatly mistaken mr was the reply 1 I dont want you to give up anything I 1 want you to receive excuse me he said 1 I dont understand der stand you what do you mean 1 I va would rather not say bay any more at present think on that word receive ceide on his way homo home the words rang in his ear I 1 dont want you to give up I 1 want you to receive try as he be might he could not get rid ot of them they constantly came up before him receive give up receive give up at length he became thoroughly wretched and began saying paying to himself 1 I should not be surprised P it if these christians had the best beat of it after ill all perhaps they have something I 1 dont possess what are the things I 1 could not give up the pleasures ot of the world are very unsatisfactory what could she moan receive not give up what did she wish me to receive at last he resolved to seek an interview with the lad lady sud and tell her how unhappy I 1 he had been since last talking with her meeting her on th the street estreet he asked her what she meant by telling him to lo think on the word re ceibo your whole life mr has been one long att attempt emit to satisfy your soul with things that cannot satisfy it I 1 want you to receive something that will accomplish this object and when you have that you will bo be glad to give up the husks buska which you have been feeding on she then explained to him that clarist christ could alone give rest and peace to the heart of man that when one received christ by simple faith the pleasures and the amusements of the world would soon be given up tip the conversation was blessed to his conversion and sinco since then lie he has been a most faithful and devoted preacher of the gospel friend have you been under the impression that god requires of you to give up the world its pleasures or amusements before ile he will save you many say to people give up this that and the other thing and god thill forgive your sins this is not the gospel god nowhere in ills yord word says to the unsaved give up drinking give up swearing give up your bad habits or companions and I 1 will save you give give up is the wrong end of the thread you may try to give up your love of the world but you cannot till some other object takes its place in your hearts affections ask that little boy to give up those green apples he does not wish to do so tell him that they will make him sick he does not think so at any rate lie is not prepared to run the risk he likes them and that is the reason he wont give them up go into the fruit shop and buy a dozen of ripe peaches johnnie here are some ripe peaches tor for you oh see how lie he smiles lie he eats one and then emptying his pockets ot of the green apples he gives them to you because ho he has got something better so 0 wit hyou my friend if you are not saved god says to you now sinner I 1 love you I 1 so loved you as to give up tip christ to die on the cross for you receive him into your heart accept my love loie gift to you and then you will give u up p that which displeases me dear reader no longer try to give up this that or the other thing in order to be saved cease all such foolish efforts and just receive christ by faith stretch out the hand of faith and receive the salvation which christ now offers you there are too many people today who are looking at comer conversion sion as though it was a terrible difficult thing to hope to come to pass it will nill be as long as you look at it in that way because you are forgetting that the big end of the task Is performed for med by god it Is not doing but letting etting it be done that brings the victory but seek ye first the kingdom of god and his his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you st matthew why not seek beek and find now ROYDEN ZOOK pastor sunday services sunday school 10 1000 00 a m morning worship 1100 a m evening evening song service and sermon p m midweek services bible study and prayer meeting wednesday p in teacher training class meets thursday p m atthe at the parsonage choir practice practice friday at i parsonage 7 30 p m everybody welcome to all these services |