Newspapers / The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, … / Oct. 16, 1947, edition 1 / Page 4
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Topic: "The Oeative ' Power Of Faith" Scripture Lesson: Hebrews 11:110, S»-40; 12:1-2. Beginning with the Patriarchs and coming down to the martyrs, we have in chapter 11 of the Epistle to the Hebrews a graphic portrayal of the achievements of faith in the annals of ancient Israel. The author has already set forth the necessity of faith as a basis for a^righteous life. He now illustrates the creative power of faith by showing how "the fathers of the race were able to work righteousness and to endure their trials." Surely, the heroic example of these noble patriarchs offer encouragement to the drooping spirits of the downcast Hebrew. The Character of Faith The chapter opens with a state ment as to the character of fait] or rather a definition of faiti "Now faith is assurance of thing hoped for,, a conviction of thing not Been." « The word rendered "assui ance" geems to convey the ide of "a giving substance (or rea ity) to", or *a guaranteeing (Alexander Souter). Possibly i the sense of "title-deed." Th idea, of course, is that faith 1 that something which brings t the individual ''assurance c certainty of things still in the ft ture" (Dummelow). The word rendered "faith signifies, generally, "the leai ing of the entire human per&oi ality upon G$d or the Messia In absolute trust and confidenc in His power, wisdom and gooc ness" (Souter). The word rendered "oonvi< tion" means, literally, "a truth possibly with the idea of a pei suasion. In other words, it is a sort of testing that results lr conviction. Unbelief, beyond cavil, is the fundamental sin of humanity. II men had faith enough In th< promises of God, they would never be distracted by materia! needs. They would r0ly upon th< words of him who said, "Bui seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these i, things shall <be added unto you' (Matt. 6:33). In their hours ol woeful need, they would • relj more and more upon the promise "and my God shall supply even need of yours according to hit riches in glory in Christ Jesus' (Phil. 4:19). It is "through faith" that sal vation comes (Eph. 2:8). It ii "by faith" that we have justification and therefore "peace wltt God through our Lord Jesut Christ" (Rom. 5:1). Faith's Triumphs In order to illustrate the achievements of faith the writei turns back through the annals of Israel to the faithful men of God under the old dispensation. Bui before doing this, our attentlor is focused on the role of faith as it has to do with the understanding o f the phenomena] world. The invisible cuase of all created matter can be perceived only by the eye of faith. ''By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what ^ia seen hath not been made ou^oi things which appear" (Heb. 11: 3). Manifestly the writer has in mind Genesis I where in panoj ramie sweep the mortal eye is enabled to catch a glimpse of God's work of creation. In the roll call of tlie heroes he mentions first the name of Abel and declares that his was "a more excellent sacrifice" unto God than that of Cain, but he does not elaborate on the character of that excellency. Some hare suggested that the excellency lay in the fact that Abel had a l "fuller consciousness of the claim of God to the best." That is to gay, he brought his offering out of a sense of devotion and deep-seated desire to honor God. As^a result his gift is for us unto this day a testimony of his faith. The reference "yet speaketh" (perhaps harks back to Genesis .4:10 where Abel's blood is represented as crying from the ground after his death (Dummelow). Through faith even the power of death was overcome— a sustaining and comforting thought for those who walk in the valley of the shadow of deatji. Even so, Enoch, as the reward of hiB faith, experienced translation: "by faith Enoch wag translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God" (Heb. 11:5). In Genesis 4:24 we are told that "Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Likewise in Noah, faith triumphs: "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things , not seen as yet, moved with god! ly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7). The faith of Noah had as its foundation a direct revelation of "things not seen as yet." The destruction of the world was yet a thing of the future and so was the means of salvation. He could only proceed by faith in the revelation that had come to him. In this course he triumphed—he and those of his house. Moreover, through his own faith he "condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.'' By faith Abraham realized the promises and demontrated to the world the meaning of obedience to the call of God: "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which ho **as to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whether he went" (Heb. il:8). Because of his life of faith, Abraham became the "father of the faithful" and spent his life as a sojourner, dwelling in tents, waiting patiently for the fulfillment of the promises that had come to him by God. He looked constantly for the realization of the ideal which by faith had become to him already a reality. Besetting Sins In the opening verses of chapter 12 (Hebrews) the writer sets forth a grave' warning. "Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us. . Jesus Is our perfect example. There lg no fault in him. He is both "the author" and "the perfector" of our faith. The word rendered "looking unto" carries the idea of looking away from (something else) to. We must never lose sight of the fact that the great cloud of ''witnesses" who have triumphed before us are round about us. The testimony of their victories Is ever -— - ringing in our hearts. The demonstration of their triumphs is ever before us. Therefore, our obligation is all the greater to lay aside (put off, cast off—as from oneself and with the idea of "away"). "Every -weight" and the "easily encircling" (eaBily surrounding) sin. We cannot run the race victoriously without having our lives rid of the incumbency of sin, for the wages of sin is death, defeat, and the end to every high and holy purpose in life. o Guns, Devices Used In Illegal Hunting To Be Confiscated Strengthening of the law enforcement and protection program of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is the goal of two actions taken by the Commission at a two-day meeting in Asheville last Week. The Commission decided to enlarge the enforcement staff so that every county will have a resident fish and game protector as soon as possible. At present time nine counties have no resident protector; enforcement In those counties is handled by protectors from surrounding counties. With transfers, addition of seven protectors will make It possible to carrf out the new policy. The Commission also moved to clarify policy regarding the seizure'by protectors of devices used in illegal hunting. The members adopted a resolution that "the law enforcement officers and protectors be and they are hereby requested and instructed to seize all instruments and devices used in illegally taking game birds and animals, and hold the same to be disposed of as provided by law." The law provides that disposal of such seized devices lie8 in the discretion of the court. Farmers Urged-To Grow More Cotton Red Springs.—Wilkes county farmers were urged this week by George T. Ashford, Red Sprnigs, President of the Carolinas Ginners Association, to plan now to plant to cotton some of the 544 acre® that will be idle next year in Wilkes county by reduced flue-cured tobacco allotments. With an expected 20 per cent reduction in flue-cured allotments in 1948, Wilkes' tobacco allotment will be reduced from 2,720 acres to approximately 2,176 acres, Ashford said. Tobaceo farmers, he added, would be wise to investigate the possibility of taking Up a good portion of the reduced acreage with cotton. Cotton is second only to tobacco as a cash crop In North Carolina, Ashford pointed out. "Inventories of cotton manufacturers are more depleted than in many years," he said, "and cotton can be planted withHow To Relieve Bronchitis OreomulMon relieves promptly bocause It goes right to the seat of the trouble to help loosen and expel germ laden phlegm, and aid nature ,to soothe and heal raw, tender, inflamed bronchial mucous membranes. Tell your druggist to sell you a bottle of Creomulsion with the understanding you must like the way it quickly allays the cough or you are to have your money back. CREOMULSION for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis out a complete change In farming operations. We are proud of the improved standard of living of our farm people, and we cannot afford to stand by and face a 20 per cent reduction in cash income, which will amount to approximately $266,560 for Wilkes county at present tobacco prices without making some ef fort to supplement this income with som® other cash crop." • ————— O 1 •" ■■ f Bell-Pilkenton Vows Are Announced Miss Lillie Mae Bell, of North Wilkesboro, and Sherrill Pilkenton, of Reddles River, were martied 6n Saturday, October fourth, at the home of Rer. man, with Rev. Mr. the officiating miniate present the couple are their home in Dayton, o The number of passengers ried by United State* quadrupled between 1940 1944. Wilkes County, North Carolina CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET As Of June 30, 1947 Assets Cash in Banks : 1946 Uncollected Taxes <. 1945 to 1936 Uncollected Tax Sales Fixed Properties (Offsetting Bonded Indebtedness) TOTAL ASSETS Liabilities and Surplus Prepaid 1947 Taxes Notes Payable Reserve for Uncollected Taxes ----Bonded Indebtedness : Surplus TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SURPLUS $ 181,402.97 45,680.12 47,781.10 l,0£6t000.00 $1,300,864.19 $ 35,019.78 15,800.00 47,781.10 1,026,000.00 176,263.31 $1,300,864.19 Wilkes County, North Carolina Statement of Receipts and Disbursements July 1,1946, to June 30,1947 Cash in Banks July 1, 1946 $108,646.23^ Receipts Taxes Collected—Net — Sale of Bonds and Notes " State Intangible Tax State and Federal Funds ^ Tax Penalties Fines, Forfeitures and Solicitor's Fees Property Sold at County Home Sale of Confiscated Property Miscellaneous School Fund Revenue Clerk of Superior Court Fees Register of Deeds' Fees Schedule B License Tax Foreclosures and Miscellaneous Cost TOTAL RECEIPTS AND BEGINNING BALANCE Disbursements General Fund Expenses Bonds and Interest Old Age Assistance and Aid to Dependent Children General School and Lunch Room Expense : TOTAL CASH IN BANK AS OF JUNE 30, 1947 $238,785.61 59,800.00 9.TZ7.59 214,860.89 1,828.33 19,044.61 12,220.00 11,876.22 5,551.19 9,864.80 2,023.00 255.38 7.035.42 $120,746.56 98,941.68 1C», 150.50 131,277.56 592,873.04 $701,519.27 520,116.30 $181,402.97 The above statements have been consolidated from an audit report prepared by E. W. Smith, C. P. A., of Lenoir, North Carolina, dated June 30, 1947. Any taxpayer interested in more detail information may obtain it from the Wilkes County Accountant's Office, whose books are open for inspection during any regular office hours. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, J. C. GRAYSON, WILKES COUNTY ACCOUNTANT
The Journal-Patriot (North Wilkesboro, N.C.)
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Oct. 16, 1947, edition 1
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