"THOU THEREFORE ENDURE HARDNESS S A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST". 2 TIMOTHY 2: 3

"ENDURE HARDNESS 11

BETWEEN PAUL THE APOSTLE AND TIMOTHY WAS A CLOSE BOND OF AFFECTION AND LOVE. AND IN THIS LET­TER WRITTEN BY PAUL SHORTLY BEFORE HIS MARTYRDOM, TO TIMOTHY HIS 11 SON IN THE GOSPEL" IS A FATHER'S TENDER REGARD FOR HIS SON, AS WELL AS AN OLD WAR­RIOR'S ADVICE TO THE YOUTHFUL RECRUIT.

NOT THAT PAUL HAD ANY DOUBT AS TO THE LOYALTY OF TIMOTHY. BUT TIMOTHY WAS IN A DIFFICULT SITU­ATION. PAUL HAD GIVEN THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS INTO HIS CARE. WASN'T AN EASY ASSIGNMENT. PAUL HAD AN· INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF THAT CHURCH. DIFFICULT FOLK IN THAT CHURcm - 11 I WRESTLED WITH THE BEASTS IN EPHESUS".

PAUL IS ANXIOUS THAT TIMOTHY SHALL ACQUIT HIM­SELF WELL. HE KNOWS THE TEMPTATION THAT FACES TIM­OTHY - TEMPTATION TO RESIGN FROM THE JOB. SO PAUL THE OLD CAMPAIGNER WRITES TIMOTHY ENTREATING HIM TO SEE THE THING THROUGH - TO ENDURE HARDNESS. THE OLD GAMPAIGNER FOR THE GOSPEL, CONVINCED HIS CAM­PAIGNING DAYS ARE OVER, APPEALS TO TIMOTHY TO SEE TO IT THAT THE CAMPAIGNING SHALL NEVER CEASE.

ED FOR ENDURANCE - HERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WE A COMMON PROBLEM ALL FACE AT SOME TIME OR

OTHER. HAVE WE THE POWER TO SE:S THINGS THROUGH? HAVE WE

THE TENACITY TO ENDURE? WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH OUR EPHESUS? WE STARTED SO WELL. BUT NOW SOMETIMES THE WHEELS HAVE A TENDENCY TO DRAG IN THE MUD. WE SEEM TO LACK THE POWER TO DRIVE FORWARD. ENTHUSIASM HAS WANED. ·oUR MOOD HAS BECOME ONE OF QUIET DESPER­ATION.

MEANWHILE, OUR FRIENDS, OUR CLASSMATES, SEEM TO FORGE AHEAD. THEY ARE IN FOREFRONT OF PROCESSION FORGING AHEAD WITH AUDACITY AND EASE. AND WE ARE LEFT FAR IN THE REAR - IN THE INGLORIOUS PART OF LIFE'S PROCESSION. V~ STARTED OUT WITH SUCH HIGH HOPES AND DREAMS. AND NOW WE ARE FACED WITH STERN NECESSITY OF CARRTING ON.

AT THIS POINT WE ARE TEMPTED TO QUIT. TEMPTED

-2-TO SAY 11WHAT 'S THE USE?". TEMPTED TO BECOME DIS-ILLUSIONED, BITTER, CYNICAL. GROWN TIRED OF THE OPPOSITION. DISGUSTED WITH THE INERTIA OF OTHER FOLK. GROWN Vw"EARY IN WELLDOING. 11 LET SOMEONE DO SOMETHING FOR A CHANGE • I 'M THROUGH ! 11 ONE FINE WHO HAS SPENT HIMSELF DURING MANY YEARS IN AN EF­FORT TO BETTER SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS -"MORE THAN T\' 0-THIRDS OF MY LIFE IS OVER; AND I WILL NOT SPEND THE REST OF MY YEARS IN BEATING MY HEAD AGAINST A STONE VALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO CON­SIDERATION, NO INDULGENCE, NO MEMORY, NO GRATITU -NOTHING BUT SPITE, MALICE AND ABUSE. I'M TIRED AND SICK OF IT ALL!" AND THAT IS THE TEMPTATION WE ALL FACE, WHETHER WE WORK IN POLITICS, COMMUN­ITY LIFE, OR CHURCH.

T lMOTHY HAD HIS EPHESUS. WE HAVE OURS • AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE TRYING TO MAKE IT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR US - STUFFING A FEW THORNS IN OUR PILLOW. BUT PAUL CALLS ON YOUNG TIMOTHY 'FO BE STEADFAST - TO ENDURE HARDNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER.

DANGER OF EASY STREET OVER AGAINST THE INJUNC-TION OF APOSTLE IS THAT PHILOSOPHY Oi TODAY EX­

PRESSED IN COMMON PHRASE "TAKE IT EASY!" HAVE NO DESIRE TO LIVE IN EPHESUS; "EASY STREET" IS OUR GOAL. "TAKE IT EASY. DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH. LET GEORGE DO L'li'. GET AWAY WITH AS MUCH AS YOU CAN." BUT "EASY STREET" IS THE MOST DANGEROUS STREET IN THE WORLD EITHER FOR A NATION OR AN I-NDIVIDUAL.

ROME WAS MISTRESS OF THE WORLD UNTIL SHE BE­CAME RICH AND SETTLED DOWN TO A STEADY PROCESS OF DEC'AY. SHE BECAME SOFT AND FLABBY AND THE HARDY GOTHS AND HUNS FROM THE NORTH OVERRAN HER PROVIN­CES AND OVERTHREW HER EMPIRE~· WHEN THE MANCHUS CONQUERED CHINA, THE CHINESE DELIBERATELY PLACED THEM ON "EASY STREET 11

; SUPPLYING ALL 'l'HEIR WANTS, UNTIL, LOLLING IN LUXURY THEY BECAME INCAPABLE OF RULING THEIR SUBJECTS AND WERE DRIVEN OUT. SEEING NOW THAT SUDDEN COLLAPSE OF FRANCE A FEW YEARS AGO WAS PRIMARILY A MORAL COLLAPSE. HAD GROWN SOFT AND FELL BEFORE THE GERMAN MIGHT LIKE GRALN BEFORE A SHARPENED SCYTHE. t'EASY STREET" IS OUR DANGER TOO!

CHURCH ALSO FACES SAME PERIL. WE WANT CHURCH ON "EASY STREET". YET THE GREATEST PERIODS OF THE CHURCH'S HISTORY WAS WHEN SHE WAS BEING PERSECUTED

-3-THE CHURCH TODAY LOOKS TO GERMANY AND NORWAY FOR INSPIRATION. IN GERMANY MARTIN NIEMOLLER AND HIS ASSOCIATES ARE SUFFERING FOR CONSCIENCE' SAKE AND ARE ROTTING IN PRISON BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO LIVE ON "EASY STREET". SAME TRUE O.F friSHOP BERGRAAF IN NORWAY. I WONDER SOMETIMES IF WE HAVE NOT GROWN TOO TOLERANT. WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT AND NOT WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH. THE CHURCH HAS BECOME AN OPTIONAL THING IN MAY LIVES - A RELIGION MAKES NO DEMANDS. ''f:hruf d.o.._,~~~ l-oe.. ~l.6u<4.~ ~ .

AND WHAT OF THE MODERN HOME? THE AMBITION OF MANY PARENTS IS TO MOVE ON TO "EASY STREET 11

• WILL­ING TO SACRIFICE MUCH TO GET THERE. WILLING TO SACRIFICE HEALTH AND CHILDREN IN ORDER TO MAKE A LITTLE MORE MONEY TO GET ON 11EASY STREET''. "DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN TO WORK AND SLAVE LIKE HAD TO!"

WHAT DO WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN? SUPPOSE WE COULD CHOOSE FOR THEM; WHAT WOULD WE WANT FOR THEM VERY FOND OF THAT DRAMATIC PICTURE IN OLD TEST - A DEATHBED SCENE. JACOB DYING. CALLS ALL HIS SONS BEFORE HIM THAT HE MIGHT BLESS THEM. NOW IT IS THE TURN OF HIS FAVORITE SON, JOSEPH. WHAT WILL BE HIS BLESSING AND DYING WISH FOR JOSEPH. REMEM­BER JACOB KNEW LIFE - HAD EXPERIENCED MUCH. SOUL OFTEN C·AUGHT .B!Y CHEAPJACKS. BUT WILL MAKE NO MIS­TAKE NOW. SUDDEN INSIGHT AS HE HOLDS WORLD BEFORE HIM. "LET HIM BE LIKE A FRUITFUL BOUGH; EVEN A FRUITFUL BOUGH BY A WELL, WHOSE BRANCHES RUN OVER THE ROAD". THAT IS, LET HIM LIVE TO SERVE. LET HIM BE EXERCISED WITH DIFFICULTY. LET THE ARCHERS SHOOT AT HIM. LET HIM HAVE HIS FAIR SHARE OF PAIN AND TROUBLE • SAVE HIM F'ROM GROWING SOFT AND FLABBY 0 GOD. I DO NOT PRAY FOR IMMUNITY FOR HIM. I SEEK NO "EASY STREET" FOR HIM. ALL I ASK IS THAT HE SHALL HAVE A BRAVE HEART AND THE ASSURANCE OF HIS FATHER'S GOD BESIDE HIM. WHAT A PRAYER!

SURELY, JACOB WOULD NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THE IM­PLIED PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORDS "TAKE I T EASY"; RATH ER WOULD HE TAKE PAUL'S WORDS AS A MOTTO FOR HIS FAVORITE SON "S LIFE - "ENDURE HARDNESS! 11

THE GLORY OF GOING ON WELL, IT TAKES COURAGE TO KEEP GOING AND SEE THINGS THROUGH. BUT THERE IS A

GLORY IN GOING ON. NOW READING DR. CRONIN'S LAST BOOK - "THE GREEN YEARS". AND READING THE JACKET

OF THE BOOK WAS REMINDED OF FAC-T THAT IN EARLY THIRTIES DR. CRONIN HAD A PHYSICAL BREAKDOWN. HE HAD TO GIVE UP HIS PHYSICIAN'S PRACTICE AND GO TO SCOTLAND TO REGAIN HEALTH. WENT TO LONELY FARM IN HIGHLANDS. LONELY AND BORED BY INACTIVITY. WENT TO LIT~LE VILLAGE AND BOUGHT EXERCISE BOOK AND START­ED TO DO WHAT HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. THAT IS, TO WRLTE A NOVEL. HARD TO BEGlNhBt,T~AT_ END OF THREE. MONTHS HE WAS FINISHED. '.:/IATT1Y 5 L't%4-tt~ ~

DECIDED IT WAS WORTHLESS. DISAPPOINTED SORELY. THREW MANUSCRIPT lNTO DUSTBIN AND WENT OUT TO TALK TO JOHN ANGUS THE FARMER. ANGUS DISGUSTED. LISTEN! "YOU MAY BE RIGHT AND I MAY BE RONG, DOCTOR; BUT MY FATHER DITCHED THIS BOG ALL HIS DAYS AND NEVER MADE A PASTURE. BUT PASTURE OR NO PASTURE, (AND HERE HE STAMPED HIS FOOT ON HIS SPADE) I CANNOT HELP BUT DIG; FOR .MY FATHER KNEW, AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU DIG LONG ENOJ H A PASTURE CAN BE MADE~. SO CRONIN WENT BACK AND RESCUED HIS NOVEL OR MANUSCR'T FROM THE DUSTBIN AND LT TURNED OUT A FAMOUS WORK.

AND W"E NEED TO REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WATCHING THE FIGHT WE ARE MAKING. AND NOT ALONE GOD, BUT THOSE AROUND US. FOR NOT A MAN PASSES WHO DOESN'T INSCRIBE HIMSELF UPON THE LIVES OF OTHERS. WE PLAY THE GAME NOBLY AND OTHERS ARE ENCOURAGED. WE SING AT MIDNIGHT AND OTHERS HEAR OUR SONGS AND ARE CHEERED. WE ENDURE HARDNESS AND OTHERS ARE LED TO MAKE A MORE VALIANT FIGHT.

SO, HERE IS PAUL'S INJUNCTION THIS MORNING -"ENDURE HARDNESS 11 -

11 JOIN THE RANKS OF THOSE WHO BEAR SUFFERING, LIKE A LOYAL SOLDIER OF CHRIST". THEN, IN THE MERCY OF GOD WE SHALL BE ABLE TO SAY SOMEDAY, "I HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH, I HAVE FINISHED THE COURSE. HENCEFORTH THERE IS LAID UP FOR ME A CROWN • "

PRAY AND WORK H E who prays must also labor. There is a definite close relationship

between prayer .and work. We pray that we may be saved, but we are told " work out your own salvation." We pray that God will sanctify us, but His Word directs us to "exercise ourselves unto holiness." With every petition must go an effort, looking toward the attainment of tnat which is the object of the prayer.

This applies also to the Lord's prayer, the model of all prayers.

Our Falher, which art in heaven Unworthy children address their almighty Father.

Hallowed be Thy name This prayer becomes hollow mockery unless we put forth a most earnest effort to honor the glorious name of God by continuing in His Word.

Thy kingdom come He who will not labor for the coming and extension of the kingdom through the spreading of the Gospel, which he himself believes, is not truly concerned about the coming of the kingdom.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven Difficult as it is sincerely to pray, "Thy will be done," it is infinitely harder daily to see~ out God's will through reading and meditating upon His Word and then steadfastly to live according to it.

Give us this day our daily bread Idle hands are an abomination to the Lord. If any one will " not work, neither shall he eat." Prayer is not a method of escape from the daily tasks of life.

An.d forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors What a struggle readily to forgive every offense. To that end severe self-discipline is required. "Forgive and ye shall be forgiven." There is no easy way to obtain forgiveness.

And lead us not into temptation God indeed tempts no man. Every man is " tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." Jesus invites us to a lifelong struggle when He says, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation."

But deliver us from evil "Resist your adversary the devil." "Overcome evil with good." " Fight the good fight of faith." Ceaseless prayer requires unremitting labor in faith.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory , for ever. Amen

01\.,.H.Uifloo•US.A.H,..llJ

Lord Jesus teach us to pray; make us diligent and effective workers in Thy kingdom. Amen.

FREMONT S'T'REET METHODIST CHURCH GLOVERSVILLE, NF.'N YORK

Fred Clarke - Minister Dorothy E. Mellick Grace L. Gifford Minister of Music Church Secretary

Lewis Cunning - Sexton

ORGAN PRELUDE - "Contemplation" CALL TO WORSHIP - By the minister HYMN 381 - "The Church's one f'o'llllda tion" INVOCATION b.ND LORD'S PRAYER

* RESPONSIVE RFADING GLORii' .. PATRI APOSTLES' CREED

' * SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM

2nd Sunday - page 564

Gaul

Wesley

SCRIPTURE LESSON 2 Timothy 1:1-12, 2:1-3 PRL.YER FOR THOSE IN THE ARMED FORCES

0 Lord of Hosts, grant to those who have gone forth to fight our battle by l and , sea, or air, Thy protection in danger, patience in suffering and moderation in victory.

Look with compassion on the sick, the wounded, and the captives . Sanctify to them their trials, and turn their hearts unto Thee. We beseech Thee to comfort and bless the dying; have mercy upon the widow and fatherl ess, and give the assurance of Thy pre sence to all who mourn.

And , 0 God, who makest wars to cea s e in a ll the earth, r estore to us the bless ings of' peace; and grant that our present trouble may be overruled to Thy honor and glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

* ANTHEM - "The S1lll Shall Be No More Thy Light By Day" PASTORAL PRAYER Woodward ORGAN OFFERTORY - "Lento" Vierne PRESENTATION OF OFFERING

HYMN 173 - "Holy Spirit, Truth divine" Gottschalk SERMON . "ENDURE Ht~.RDNESS ~"

HY:MN 282 - "Soldiers of' Crist, arise" Elvey BENEDICTION 1;.ND DOXOLOGY ORGJ.N POSTLUDE - " Cortege " Vi erne

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JANUARY 14 p 1945 - CALEND.b.R FOR TODJS -o-

10:30 Morning Worship and sermon. Church-time Nursery; Miss Ruth Foster in charge.

11:00 Primary Church; lillrs. Earle J. Fonda in charge. J'llllior Church; ltrs. J. G. Thompson in charge.

11:45 Church School with classes for all ages under the general superintendency of S. W. Fear.

6:00 Youth Fellowship. All high school youth invited. Leader of discussion, Anita Ardizzone.

7:00 Union 3vening Service at the North Main Street Methodist Church. Speaker, Rev. Calvin C. Meury, of the Bellevue Reformed ChurchP Schenecte.dy.

7:30 Student Co'llllcil meeting at the home of Miss Mel­lick.

l>.NN 0 UN CE:MEN TS -o-

MONDAY 3:45 J'llllior Choir rehearsal. 7:00 Boy Scouts.

Girl Scouts. TUESDAY 3:45 Junior High Choir rehearsal.

~ Cordial Class covered dish supper at the home of' "Bud" Holmes. Speaker, Dr . Paul Hydon. 7:45 The Epworth ·workers meet at the church. 8:00 Muddle Class meets at the home of Mrs. George Fellows, 94 Washington Street.

WEDNESDJS 2 :30 Weekday School of' Religion. 7:30 Mid-week Service . Everyone invited.

THURSDb.Y 7:00 Chorus Choir rehearsal. 8:00 Venner Class will meet at the home of Goodrich Cohen, 7 Pearl Street. 8:00 Laurel Band meets at the home of Mrs. Charles Richardson, 19 Beaver Street. Letter is "I". Members please bring holiday envelope.

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Altar flow0rs today are given by the Berean Class in loving memory of deceased members.

Do you listen to "Morning Devotions"? This devotional service of f'~een minutes is broadcast over WENT each morning, Monday through Friday at 8:30, under the aus­pices of' the Gloversville Council of Churches,

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