PULPIT MESSAGES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 5

PULPIT MESSAGES

Wellington Churches

“GOD DOES NOTHING”

The True Meaning of

His Power

Preaching at St. Andrew’s Church recently, the Bev. Brian Kilroy said that on one occasion Carlyle was said to have been discussing the universe and life in general with a friend and to have burst out suddenly,. “But God does nothing.” “it Is a common complaint, for from philosophers to peasants we are constantly expecting God to show His powers in ways that will startle and convince us,” commented Mr. Kilroy. “How many people have in the back of their minds the idea that God should be able to turn a carrot into a castle and back into a carr.-t in the space of a few seconds? There is nothing beyond His power we assure ourselves, and yet. in face of the world’s sin and suffering He does nothing!

“The truth of the matter is, we must consider very carefully what we mean by God’s power, and what are the ways in which the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is likely to use power. The power of God is not the power of a magician to do anything merely fantastic or. startling but the power of a Holy, loving God who has all the ability He needs to fulfil His holy purposes for His creatures. Let us not be at all surprised if at times He seems to limit Himself in order that these loving purposes may be fulfilled.

“Just as a strong husband with a delicate and somewhat neurotic wife may find it better to let her help herself than always to give her his strength, so God may refrain from helping us in order that we may grow strong. It hurts Him to see us make mistakes and suffer hardships, but for the sake of our ultimate well-being He shows His strength by refraining from exercising His power. "The events that befall us are of importance not in themselves but in the Way in which they affect our characters. They must all be set in the light of God’s eternity. "Let us never forget that God is working out this purpose of eternal love through means that seem to us commonplace, and through men and women who are His ministering angels. We fail to see in them divine power because they seem so ordinary. We look for God to come in strange and. startling ways, but He works His miracles through the commonplace. Most of all He shows His power in suffering with and for us. St. Paul couples the power of God with the Cross—stumbling block to the Jews, foolishness to the Greeks.

“When God wished to show His real strength He spake not in a voice that sounded like thunder and revealed Himself not in a vision that flashed like lightning, demonstrated Ills strength not in some world-shaking catastrophe, but came as a little child, lived as a humble workman and teacher, and died a martyr. It seems so strange that in that lonely white figure seen dimly through the mist hanging deserted on that cross God should be showing Himself. When He wished to reveal what He was doing for men He allowed them to spit upon Him, buffet Him, crown Him with thorns, and nail Him to a cross; ‘I, if Ibe lifted up, will draw all men unto me.’ That power is irresistible.” CHRISTIAN SCIENCE “God the Preserver of Man” was the subject of the lesson-sermon in all Churches of Christ, Scientist, on Sunday, June 14. The golden text was Isa. 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Among the citations which comprised the lesson-sermon were the following from the Bible: “They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever.” (Psa. 125:1, 2.) Also the following passages from the Christian Science textbook, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy: "The divine Mind, which forms the bud and blossom, will care for the human body, even as it clothes the lily; but let no mortal interfere with God’s government by thrusting in the laws of erring, unman concepts. Nothing is more disheartening than to believe that there is a power opposite to God, or good, and that God endows this opposing power with strength to be used against Himself, against, life, health, harmony” (pp. 62, 380).