PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ST. PAUL'S.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 21 November 1899, Page 1

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ST. PAUL'S.

The Rer. Mr Ryburn, oh Sunday morning, conducted a special opening service, on the occasion Of the. opening of the additions to the building, which have justbeen completed, taking for his text the. words — "Able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think." (Eph. IIL, 20). Sometimes in a beautifully laid-out garden, the preacher said, we come. upon scene. after scene that increases our admiration and wonder, so in God's Word do we find revelations of God which come upon us as surprises ; and this is one of them. He is able to do exceed-, ing abundantly above aT.I that we can ask or think." 'Note the climax: Exceeding abundantly, above all that we can ask or thing. By these words we.are taught I three things: 1. The exceeding greatness of. God's ability; 2. The greatness a;!so of ■ man's. privilege in prayer; 3. The measure of Godte givfng. God's greatness and. power .ire well disolayed by the created universe, bnt there is a greatness which' even. that cannot reveal — the greatness of the ability of God to stoop to man's littleness and to lift it up to His own great-^ ness. Through the atonement of His Son' Jesus Christ he is a Father reconciled, and is able to do for us far above our prayers or onr desires. It was note-worthy that Jesus, with aU his power for V.essing, was unable to do many mighty works in Nazareth because of the- people's unbelief, and that will teach- us that though God is full of strength and ability to bless, yet man may fail of the blessing through want of faith. And we may pray, ay, and pray earnestly, as the prophets of Baail did, . when they leapt upon the altar and cut themselves ti. the blood flowed, and yet .receive- no- blessing.^because our' hearts (ire . not right .with God.' OtfT'Church may go on increasing, and we fnay be called upon to enlarge our borders; bnt if souls are not being reached and uplifted, then we are failing of success in-out. Church" work. Pray for salvation, pray even more for holiness, pray for the< good of others, and . try earnestly to enter into a realisation of I the text — Able to do exceeding abundantly i < above all that we can ask or think. 1