PRESBYTERIAN MISSION

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 June 1933, Page 9

PRESBYTERIAN MISSION

SERVICES AT HAWERA. “WAITING COMMANDS. ’> The mission services in St. John’s Church at Hawera. were continued last evening, when there was a good congregation. Following nil the series of addresses, the subject last night was “Waiting Commands,” when the address was given by the minister, the Rev. A. G. Irvine, who was assisted by Mr. F. C. Bone leading the service. The clioir, under the baton of Mi*. C. Lamb, sang the anthem “AYorship the Lord.” The text was “Looking steadfastly up to heaven,” Acts 1:10. “This was the attitude of the Lord’s apostles .as He left them on the morning of the Ascension, and. it indicates the eagerness of the early Christians in their keenness to follow Christ in life arid death,” stated Mr. Irvine. “After the Ascension they returned to the upper room to wait on God m prayer, to tarry till they were clothed with power for their work.” Underlying all their life was a great obedience to God’s will. This obedience was illustrated from the life of Samuel, who in liis earliest childhood learned to wait obediently for the command of God, the attitude of his- life being, “Siieak, l ord. for Thy servant heareth.” Obedience to God’s command made him the great man he was. When he met Saul he told him to “stand still till he showed l\im. the word of God.” The failure of Saul’s life was that he never learned the secret of obedience to the command of God, and irretrievable ruin overtook: him. , In the New Testament there were two commands: the first was “Repent and believe the gospel,” the second, to Christ’s followers who had obeyed the first, “Love one another.” The; first called for such a relation to God that brought a changed life, a new. heart, a spiritual creation; the second showed forth to the world the reality of the new life, for bv this,, said Jesus, “shall all men know that you are my disciples if ye have love one to another.” The responsibility was on. us to obey the command in each case, and it was -God’s gracious will to work in us as we obeyed. - The mission will be continued toniaht and next Sunday. The services to-night will be conducted by Mr. F. Lacev, and Messrs D. Stevensori and J. McKee, and Miss Young will sing ta solo.