Quiet Talks on Power | Page 9

that young man to be wide-awake, a pusher in business, and yet
steadily, determinedly to hold back any crowding of the other side of
his life: the inner side, the outer-helpful side, the Bible-reading- and
secret-prayer- and quiet personal-work-side of his life, that will take
real power.
It will take a power that some of us have not known to let that glass go
untouched, and that quieting drug untasted and unhandled. If the rear
end of some pharmacies could speak out, many a story would startle
our ears of struggles and defeats that tell sadly of utter lack of power.
It takes power for the man of God in the pulpit to speak plainly about
particular sins before the faces of those who are living in them; and still
more power to do it with the rare tactfulness and tenderness of the
Galilean preacher. It takes power to stick to the Gospel story and the
old book, when literature and philosophy present such fine
opportunities for the essays that are so enjoyable and that bring such
flattering notice. It takes power to leave out the finely woven rhetoric
that you are disposed to put in for the sake of the compliment it will
bring from that literary woman down yonder, or that bright, brainy
young lawyer in the fifth pew on the left aisle. It takes power to see that
the lips that speak for God are thoroughly clean lips, and the life that
stands before that audience a pure life.
It takes power to keep sweet in the home, where, if anywhere, the
seamy side is apt to stick out. How many wooden oaths could kicked
chairs and slammed doors tell of! After all the home-life comes close to
being the real test of power, does it not? It takes power to be gracious
and strong, and patient and tender, and cheery, in the commonplace
things, and the commonplace places, does it not?
Now, I have something to tell you to-night that to me is very wonderful,
and constantly growing in wonder. It is this--the Master has thought of
all that! He has thought into your life. Yes, I mean your particular life,
and made an arrangement to fully cover all your need of power. He
stands anew in our midst to-day, and putting His pierced hand gently
upon your arm, His low, loving, clear voice says quietly, but very
distinctly, "You--you shall have power." For every subtle, strong

temptation, for every cry of need, for every low moan of
disappointment, for every locking of the jaws in the resolution of
despair, for every disheartened look out into the morrow, for every
yearningly ambitious heart there comes to-night that unmistakable
ringing promise of His--ye shall have power.
The Olivet Message.
Our needs argue the necessity of power. And the argument is
strengthened by the peculiar emphasis of the Master's words. Do you
remember that wondrous Olivet scene? In the quiet twilight of a
Sabbath evening a group of twelve young men stand yonder on the
brow of Olives. The last glowing gleams of the setting sun fill all the
western sky, and shed a halo of yellow glory-light over the hilltop,
through the trees, in upon that group. You instantly pick out the leader.
No mistaking Him. And around Him group the eleven men who have
lived with Him these months past, now eagerly gazing into that
marvelous face, listening for His words. He is going away. They know
that. Coming back soon, they understand. But in His absence the work
He has begun is to be entrusted to their hands. And so with ears and
eyes they listen intently for the good-bye word--His last message. It
will mean so much in the coming days.
Two things the Master says. The first is that ringing "go ye" so familiar
to every true heart. The second is a very decisive, distinct "but tarry
ye." What, wait still longer! Tarry, now, when your great work is done!
Listen again, while His parting words cut the air with their startling
distinctness "but tarry ye--until ye be endued with power."
I could readily imagine impulsive Peter quickly saying, "What! shall
we tarry when the whole world is dying! Do we not know enough
now?" And the Master's answer would come in that clear, quiet voice
of His, "yes, tarry: you have knowledge enough, but knowledge is not
enough, there must be power."
There is knowledge enough within the christian church of every
land--aye, knowledge enough within the walls of this building to-night
to convert the world, if knowledge would do it. Into many a life,

through home training, and school, and college, has come knowledge,
while power lingers without--a stranger. Knowledge--the twin idol with
gold to American hearts--is essential, but, let it be plainly