CALIFORNIA Arroyo Grande-San Luis Obispo KCJH 1280
B I O L A broadcaster Monthly Publication of the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP Voi. 3 No. 11 NOVEMBER, 1963 CONTENTS SOW ING FOR THE HARVEST .... 3 WHEN LIGHT IS DARKNESS .... 5 ARE YOU TIRED. OF CHURCH? .. 7 HOW DO YOU SEE? ............... 9 PROOF OF THE BIBLE'S ACCURACY ............. 11 RADIO NUGGETS OF GOLD .......13 M A N 'S UNSPEAKABLE SUFFERING ..........................15 THANKSG IVING IN PRAYER ..... 17 PARABLES AN D PEARLS ..........20 PANEL DISCUSSIONS ............... 23 TESTED THROUGH TIM E ..........26 HOW TO CONFESS .................29 RADIO QUESTIONS .................31 THE PRAYER UTTERED BY PAUL ...........................33 THE BIOLA FELLOWSHIP HOUR 34 Y O U R C H R I S T I A N W I L L Did you know that there is a way to invest in Biola for the training of students while saving costly estate taxes. Ultimately you may be able to leave more money ter your loved ones. As a Fellowship member you are under no obligations when you write ter information or counsel. BIOLA STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT STAFF President.....................S. H. Sutherland Editor.................................... Al Sanders Production ...............Virginia Schwepker Printing ............................Church Press Published monthly by the Radio Dept. BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 558 S. Hope St., Los Angeles 17, Cal. Controlled circulation postage paid at Los Angeles, California.
9:00 A.M. MTWTF
Bakersfield-Wasco KWSO Chico-Marysville KHSL Fresno-Dinuba KRDU
1050
9:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. Sun. 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 6:30 P.M. MTWTF 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 7:00 P.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 9:00 A.M. MTWTF 11:00 A.M. MTWTF 12:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MW F 8:30 A.M. MW F 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 7:30 A.M. Sun. 9:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. Sun. 7:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 7:30 A.M. Sun 8:30 A.M. MTWTF
1290
1130
KCIB
94.5 (FM)
Lod¡-Stockton KCVR Los Angeles KBBI KCVR
1570 1570
107.5 (FM)
KTYM 1460 Los Angeles-Long Beach KGER 1390 KGER 1390
KAAR 104.7 (FM) KOXR 910
Redding-Red Bluff KQMS San Bernardino KFXM
1400
590 1350
KCKC
Santa Cruz KSCO San Diego
1080
KBBW 102.9 (FM) XEMO 860 KDEO 910
San Francisco KFAX Santa Maria KCOY
1100
1440
7:00 A.M. Sun. 9:30 A.M. Sun.
Turlock
KHOM
93.1 (FM)
OREGON
Albany-Eugene KW IL Ashland-Medford KRVC Coquille-Coos Bay KWRO Portland
790 8:00 A.M. MTWTF
1350 8:30 A.M. MTWTF
630 8:30 A.M. MW F
KPDQ KPDQ
800 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
93.7 (FM)
WASHINGTON
Blaine-Vancouver, B.C. KARI
550 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
Seattle-Tacoma KGDN Spokane KCFA Walla Walla
630 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
1330 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
KTEL Yakima
1490 8:00 A.M. MW F
KBBO
1390 10:00 A.M. MTWTF OTHER STATES
Albuquerque, New Mexico KARA
1310 7:00 A.M. MTWTF
Aztec, New Mexico KHAP Billings, Montana
1340
8:00 A.M. Sun.
KURL Caldwell-Boise
730 8:00 A.M. MTWTF
KBFM 94.1 (FM)
8:30 A.M. MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MTWTF
KBGN
910
Denver
KLIR KLIR
990 12:00 Noon MTWTF 9:00 A.M. MTWTF (FM)
100.3 Lapeer, Michigan Miamisburg, Ohio WFCJ 93.7 Newton, Kansas KJRG Phoenix, Arizona WMPC
1230 3:30 P.M. Tues.
(FM)
10:00 P.M. MTWTF
950
9:00 A.M. MTWTF
KHEP
1280 9:00 A.M. MTWTF
Pueblo-Colorado Springs KFEL
970 8:30 A.M. MW F
Springfield, Ohio WEEC 100.7 Tuscon, Arizona KAIR Inchon, Korea
(FM)
11:30 P.M. MTWTF
1490 8:00 A.M. MTWTF
H LKX
1060
1:30 P.M. Sun.
sowing for the harvest
by Dr. Walter L. Wilson
God led me to the Lord Jesus. On De cember 20, 1896, I trusted the Lord Jesus and He saved my soul. The Word of God has been seed that produced crops of all sorts in my soul, heart and life. But, after the seed of the Word of God makes us a child of God, then the child of God becomes the seed and the Lord plants us where He sees we will do the most good. The blessed Holy Spirit does that for us. The Word of God comes into the heart and reveals the things of eter nity. This is the only Book in all the world that can do that. The Bible is (continued on next page)
T he L ord has some interesting things to say in His Word about “seed.” In Luke 8:11 we find the sum mation of the story of the sower in which the Saviour declares, “The seed is the word of God.” In Matthew 13:38 we read about the wheat and the tares and that “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom.” Here are two kinds of seed: the Word of God and the child of God. The Word of God is sown in the heart, as it was in my own case. I heard the Gospel preached when I was 15 years old. That precious Word of
wealthy one. Yet he was a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. One day he went up into one of the fashionable parts of the city where there were great big beauti ful homes. He was going to call on one of his parishioners. Approaching the entrance he saw a lady come out of the mansion towards him. Since she didn’t have any wrap on he supposed she was going to a neighboring house for a visit. He doffed his hat very courteously and said, “Pardon me, madam, I wonder if you are a lover of the Lord Jesus.” She seemed surprised. “Why,” she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said, “You know, God sent the Saviour to you. He wanted you to receive Him; to love and trust Him. I just wonder if you do.” “I don’t understand you,” she answered. He took his Bible out of his pocket and read her John 3:16. When he finished she replied, “That’s inter esting. Tell me more.” As he did so, right there, she trusted the Lord Jesus and went on her way. to the neighbor’s house rejoicing that God had given Christ to her. That evening, when her husband came home, he said to her, “You seem so different. What’s the matter with you?” “Oh,” she said, “I met the Lord Jesus today. A beautiful ly dressed man stopped me and told me about the Saviour; how God sent Him to save me. I trusted Him, dear.” He said, “Well, was he a stranger to you?” “Yes, a perfect stranger. I don’t know who he was.” “Well, if I’d been there,” said the husband, “I would have told him to mind his own business.” She said, “Listen, sweetheart, if you’d have been there, you’d have of thought he was minding his own business. That is his business; telling others about this lovely Saviour.” You see, this Chris tian was the seed planted in the rich section. Some people can go to the down-and-outs and others are planted in the wealthy sections where they can reach the up-and-outs. Are you producing any crop for God? Is the Bible helping you in your soul and heart? Are you learning lovely things from it until you want to sing “Hallelujah,” and “Praise God!” 4
Sowing for the Harvest (continued) the only Book written by Jews and loved by Gentiles. It is the only article, so far as I know, that increases in sale after it is given away free of charge. There are several great institutions that give away Bibles. But still the sale of Bibles increases all the time. If some stores started giving away shoes, the rest of the stores might as well close up business. If somebody would give away automobiles, the rest of the com panies would have to qu it Whenever anything is given away, that ends the sale. It is not so with this precious Word of God. The more it is given away the greater is its sale. The Bible is also the only Book that sinners hate. Go into any kind of a gambling joint, saloon or any wicked place with your Bible and something happens right now. Carry any other kind of religious book with you and no one will care. The Bible is also the Book which has increased in value since its writers and main personality have left this earth. Books by authors who have died usually become quite worthless. Not so with the Bible. The human writers of the Bible died and yet the work in creased. This is all because “The seed is the word of God.” Newspapers reveal that it isn’t Bible lovers who are in trouble all the time. It is not by attend ing churches that they “hatch up” rob beries. It is where there is no Bible, no God, and no Christ. The world wants to get rid of the Bible, to shut it out. The Word of God is the seed and the only seed which produces righteousness, holiness and purity. Suf fice it to say that things are getting worse all the time. We are getting nearer and nearer to the time of riot. This is because the Word of God is the only remedy and cure for sin. When a man accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour he himself be comes the seed of God. There was a dear fellow in Boston, the pastor of a fine church, who always wore a full dress suit. He had a silk hat, patent leather shoes and spats. He dressed this way because his church was a very
T here is a very strange Scripture found in Matthew 6:23. It says, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that dark ness!” The Lord repeats this statement in Luke 11:35. Here He says, “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” I didn’t understand that Scripture until one time in Dallas, Texas, I went to a General Electric exhibition of new equipment held in a building with no windows. It was summer. All the peo ple were dressed in many different col ored clothes. On the walls of the audi torium were patches of colors in vari ous forms and shapes. Among them were several black patches. During the presentation the attendant turned on a thousand watt globe that was on the desk in front of him. Then all the lights in the room were extinguished so that it was absolutely dark except for the light on the platform. When he turned on the other lights, all the colors in the room were gone except the black patches on the wall, and all the people were dressed in grey. The attendant explained that the globe had a special gas in it that neutralized the other light and made the colors so affected. That is what the Lord was talking about in this passage. When some re ligions turn on their “light,” hell, as well as heaven, disappears. Another re ligion may turn on its “light,” and God will disappear. Man becomes his own god. Along comes another system and that causes other things in the
Bible to disappear. It may be that the wrath of God disappears so that noth ing is left but a soft, namby, pamby God who doesn’t care how bad you are; who will take you to heaven any way. To these people there is no hell. But there is a hell. There is a vast difference between hell and the grave. In- the first place the Hebrew word for hell is shcol; the Greek word is hades. The Hebrew word for grave, however, is qebhcr. Secondly, hell is never found in the plural while grave is found in the plural over and over again. Nobody ever digs to hell, but a lot of times in the Bible people have dug a grave. No hell has ever been named for a man, but graves have been named for men many times in the Old Testament. No one ever owned hell, but graves are often owned by individuals. Man never puts anybody into hell, but men put folks into graves every day. Then again, hell is a place where punishment is always connected with it. Hell is a place of fire; the grave never is. There is no suffering in the grave, but .there is suffering 'in hell. The two are entirely different. There is another false “light” that tries to tell man that when it is turned on, heaven is on earth. This is the only heaven there is and God wants you to have a heaven on earth. But that isn’t true. The Lord Jesus lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Fa ther, the hour is come.” The Son of man came down from heaven and He is going to return to heaven, the dis continued on next page) 5
Light that is Darkness (continued) ciples in Acts 1 saw Him go up into heaveii. He said, “I ascend to my God and. to your God, to my Father and to your Father.” Heaven is another place, not on earth. This earth is full of sor row and sin so it is a good thing. One of the worst sins in the world is pride. A man came in our office one time to sell a book on “Sinless Perfec tion.” He approached my father-in-law who had the first desk there and said to him, “I want to sell you this book on ‘Sinless Perfection.’ I hear you are a Christian and you’d like to be per fect.” Mr. Biggers said, “I surely would.” The man showed him the book. It was on how to be perfectly sin less in your body, soul, mind and heart. My father-in-law said, “Say, 'FATHER, ARE YOU THERE?' A little child lay in the dark; The room was strange, he saw no where, He was afraid; but then he called, "Father, are you there?" He felt a hand, so strong and warm, Close clasping his; then calm and clear He heard his father's tender voice, "Yes, laddie, I am here." Like that small child, we sometimes feel That we are in the dark of care; In terror of some harm, we call "O h Father, are you there?" We reach our hand to Him, and find A blessed answer to our fears; His hand holds ours; we hear His voice, "Fear not, for I am here." So though we tremble in the dark. In need of strength and help and cheer, We have a tender Father's word, "Fear not, for I am here." — Binnie McDole Hayes that’s wonderful. I sure would like to have that. I’ll buy that book if you will assure me that it will show me how to become sinless.” “Yes,” he said, “I haven’t sinned for many years.” Mr!
Dr. Walter L. Wilson, with open Bible and open heart, speaks God’s truth over the Biola Hour programs. Biggers said, “Well, if I got to that place, I’d be mighty proud of it,” to which the man answered, “I am.” The sin of pride is the first in the list of seven things that God hates. See how the devil turns on a “light” that fools us. The devil tells us, “You can be good enough to go to heaven. You can be good enough to go and live with God.” Use your common sense. Heaven is God’s home. He selects those who are to live in His home with Him and they have to be absolutely sinless when they go there. He doesn’t take sinners into heaven. Jesus said, “If you die in your sins, where I am you cannot come.” We have to be changed in our souls and hearts in such a way that we love the things of God, and love to be with the Lord and love holiness, purity, righteousness and uprightness if we are going to go and live there. The Lord wants us to know that we have to be bom again. When the light of the Word of God is turned on, He shows us that we are utterly bad from head to foot, and that we must be changed. The Lord Jesus must blot out our sins and make us His children. In this way we receive eternal life from God and are fit to go and live with Him. Don’t let this “light” that men manufacture fool you. Remember,, beloved, that our blessed Lord’s Word is the light that shines in the darkness and reveals to us the truth about God. 6
Ask yourself if one hour of reading the Bible or listening to a preacher wearies you. Then, as the Scripture states, how will you get along when there is noth ing else but these things. The Lord is warning us because He loves us. He wants us to realize that we cannot play at this business of Christianity. We must realize that someday the death angel will come along and knock at our door saying, "The Master sent me for you.” Will you want to know something beside the baseball scores or what is on the front page of the news paper? Haven’t you noticed that just as soon as church is out the people “beat it”? They are not going away to some other meeting. They are through for the day. They go early so as to have time enough for everything else under the sun. Get the religion over with for the day and then do the things you love. There is a strange expression in James which says, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” This is the law that ob tains when one is perfectly free. When you go where nobody knows you, do you hunt up a prayer meeting or some type of entertainment? The lion in the cage is judged by the fact that he is very nice and gentle there. You let that lion out of there and nobody will pet him. The freedom of the lion reveals what he really is. This is judgment by the law of liberty. Our Lord is calling us to let Him make us into what we want to be for eternity. We would like to have what we want, but God would like to give us what we need. We know what is pleas ant for us, but God knows what is best for us. So in His grace and kind- (continued on next page) 7
O ne of the things I enjoy doing is finding interesting verses in the Word of God. Here is one you may never have discovered: "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou con tend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5). This brings before us certain truths which need our earnest atten tion. My earnest opinion is that we were never so near the judgment day as we are today. For this reason we need to run with a purpose. When one goes to a baseball game, if it is a close con test, we pay no attention to the time. But let the Sunday morning service run over five, minutes and we grumble and complain. How strange we are. “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee” (this kind of a religious exercise wearies people). But if God is really in our midst and souls are being stirred, convicted of sin, how would you get along in that kind of a meeting. Our Lord is telling us that we ought to have sense enough to know that something must happen to us right where we are in our ex perience. The Scriptures tell us that the Lord Jesus came but that the people hated Him. Some plucked the hair from His cheeks while others wanted to fall at His feet and kiss Him. There were some who saw Him and called Him bad names. Others said, “My Lord, and my God.” Some said “We’ll not have this man to reign over us.” Others said, “We want you to be our Lord and Master.” There are two kinds of peo ple. Christ Jesus is the dividing point.
VICTORY THROUGH TRAGEDY When Henry Stanley was searching for Livingstone in the heart of Africa, he met with a very unusual reception from the king of Uganda. It seems the queen had had a strange and unusual dream shortly before the famed news paperman’s arrival. In the nocturnal vision, she saw the white man’s God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Stanley’s arrival at the royal home was an an swer to this unusual dream. The family pleaded with him to send a letter to England asking for a missionary teach er to come over and help them. Stanley, of course, wrote that letter, and a few days later sent it out by a young Frenchman who was on his way home. The messenger, however, never reached his homeland. He was murdered on the banks of the N ile River and his body left to rot on the hot desert sands. Several months later some British sol diers found the Frenchman and search ing through his clothing discovered Stanley’s letter in one of his books. They forwarded it on to England where it was featured in the London Daily Telegram. A great deal of interest was naturally aroused and w h e n the Church Missionary Society appecded for young people to volunteer for the king’s ministry in Uganda, seven young men came forward. People be gan sending money to make it possible for them to go. God’s messenger may be killed but His message continues to go on. Thank the Lord for His in defatigable purpose, in answer to the heathen who say, “Come over and help us; we need more light.” Tired of Church? (continued) ness He gives us His Word and. His Holy Spirit. He is the one who re ceives the soul; He is the one who gives us eternal life and brings us into the family of God. If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied thee, you wake up, beloved, because there is a time when you are not going to be able to run. Arthritis, cancer, blindness, T.'B., all sorts of things may come and you are not going
A DIME FOR ICE CREAM From children we learn some tre mendous spiritual lessons. Like little Mary, who had been given a dime to put in the offering plate at church, but on the way there she was tempted to use it to buy an ice cream cone. Later on, when her mother discovered what had happened, she said, “You Were supposed to put that in for the Lord.” Mary excused herself, standing on one foot and then the other, by saying, “Well, mommy, I planned to do that at first, but later I decided to buy ice cream with it, and let the ice cream man do the giving.” How many of us are waiting for someone else to do the giving? HOW TO PREACH There was an old time minister who was explaining to a young seminary graduate the apparent reason for the success of his preaching. He said, “I always follow this order in my ser mons. Firstly, I tell the people what I’m going to tell them. Secondly, I go ahead and tell them. Thirdly, I tell them what I have already told them.” This may be just a preacher’s story, but it still makes good sense. In the ministry of training young men and women for Christian service at Biola we impress upon them the fact that people want not fine sounding words, but the truth of God which alone can set the captive free; the one, bound to satan’s dominion, at liberty. This is the kind of Spirit-filled life that w ill bind up the wounded and broken hearted. to be able to run. What are you going to do when old age and disease over take you. Let me urge you now, while you are well, strong and able to do what you please to let the Lord Jesus Christ fix you so that you can run with the horses. Then, “in the swelling of Jordan,” when the floods of sorrow and grief overcome, you will be fit for heaven. He, Himself will take you there as our blessed Lord promised in His Word. 8
Touch of fiis Hand on Mine, in the practice of medicine, the touch of the hand has wonderful effects. A dear old gentleman, about 75, was suffering in tense pain. I went to his little cottage way out in the woods one miserable night. When I arrived, I saw the old gentleman lying in the parlor on his bed in the comer near a stove. I warmed my hands and then put my hand on his forehead, smoothing back his hair. I found out what his trouble was, took care of him, relieved his pain, and then I rubbed his forehead again. As I was leaving, he said, “Doc, I know I was going to get better when you came, for you touched me with your kind hand; that’s the first touch I’ve had for 25 years. You see, I live here with my daughter and her hus band and they don’t like me. They never have anything to do with me. When you put your kind hand on my forehead, I knew I was going to get better.” This is what our Lord did for others. Christ put clay on a man’s eyes, and when the man washed in Siloam’s pool he could see. The first thing he saw was the Lord Jesus. Let me ask you this question, “Has Christ ever touched your eyes with His marvelous,, precious, healing hand so that you would see something in the Saviour you had never seen before? Has it caused you to look up to Him and to cry out, ‘My Lord and my God’ ”? Or is it true of you like in Isaiah 53, “When we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” Ask your heart (continued on next page)
I n G enesis 2:18 God said, It is not good that the man should be alone.” The Lord Jesus was the man, and this verse is almost the first mention of Him. “It is not good that the man should be alone.” There have been great men, politicians, military lead ers, statesmen, rulers and inventors, but none of them could be called the man. This is why Christ is called the Son of Man. Because it wasn’t good for Him to be alone, He took babies in His arms and held them to His heart. I believe heav en is full of babies. He also has fathers and mothers with Him as well as the aged ones. This is why we read in Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Think of how the Lord touched a leper. It is the only case in the Bible (Matthew 8) where Jesus touched a leper. No one ever touched lepers. The lepers themselves, as well as the law, wouldn’t permit it. But here is One who is greater than the law. He came and told the leper as He .touched him, “Be thou clean.” Instantly the leprosy disappeared. The Lord did not con tract it. No disease, sin or evil could ever enter or defile Him in any way. He is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. The Lord want ed saved lepers to be with Him who could tell the angels and the hosts in heaven, “He touched me and some thing happened when He did. All earth’s powers and schemes could not help me, but He came. I received eternal life.” When Christ touches you, you will know it. We sing “The 9
How do You See? (continued) what you see in Him. Does it cause you to give your life to Him? Christ wants us to be with Him. But how can. we? We are sinful, de filed, and depraved. He is sinless, un defiled, and perfect. He would have to dwell alone unless somehow a miracu lous way was found to make us able to live with Him and He to live with us. Revelation 21:3 tells us, “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” He is speaking of the people "'in the New Jerusalem, in the new heavens and the new earth. “God Himself shall dwell with them.” You would think that it would be the other way; we should dwell with God. The Lord acts as though heaven is our home and He
Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, dean, Talbot Theological Seminary, brings Convocation Address.
TO A SHUT-IN
You, too, may share The world's work, hour by hour. For you are granted prayer, And prayer is power. You, too, may know. The joy achievement brings. Faith whispers sweet and low, "Yo u have accomplished things."
were the visitor. He is the guest and we are the host. Isn’t that wonderful? “It is not good that the man should dwell alone.” So God provided a way for lost, guilty, defiled sinners to live in heaven with Christ. That provision is Calvary. It was there that the Lord Jesus went to the cross, bore our sins in His own body on the tree, suffered the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God. But remember, He does it. There is nothing you can do to be able to dwell with Him. Would you like to be with Him for ever? To live, love and adore Him, should be our utmost desire. Then you go to Him and trust Him now with your soul and heart. What though you miss The turmoil, heat and strife, Life's highway is not bliss, Yet you have shared the prayer life. — Olive Lair Smith
Miss Leonie V. Soubirou, dean, Biola School of Missionary Medicine, reports enrollment increase. Below, Dr. James H. Christian, dean, Biola College.
10
T he inspiration of the Bible is con- army, one night with twelve men, took stantly under criticism, especially the bread and the cup and gave it to in these latter days. But there are proofs them, and that little event has been of the verbal inspiration of the Bible celebrated for these many centuries, which need to be brought to our atten- A third evidence is the Jewish peo- tion. For the Scriptures came to us pie throughout the world. I have been from heaven; they have come from the in many countries and everywhere I very heart of God. go I find these wonderful people. Al- One of the interesting proofs is the though for centuries they have had no Jewish passover. Every year millions country and no way of holding to- upon millions of our Jewish friends gether with any adhesive force, yet ^ in observe the passover because something a strange manner they have main- took place in the history of Israel dur- tained their individuality. You can tell ing the time when their ancestors were our Jewish friends when you are with in Egyptian bondage. You remember them. They still have their own lan- how that an angel of God went through guage and characteristics. This is not Goshen and Egypt. In every house true of any other place in all the where there was no blood on the door, world. People of other nationalities the firstborn in that family was killed, have come to the United States, mar- But if there was blood on the door, as ried and intermarried and soon their instructed by God, there was no death, specific identity has been lost. But For centuries, Israel has been observ- those who belong to theI covenant of ing this event. Could you get millions Israel have not lost their identity. The of people to observe and celebrate Lord has kept them through the cen- something that never happened? turies as a separate people with their A second proof of Biblical inspira- own show of countenance, their own tion is the Lord’s supper. 'Millions of wonderful minds and ingenuity. God people, every Lord’s day, and some- has separated them into all countries times on other days, too, celebrate the where they have learned the finest Lord’s supper. He gave us the bread things of the countries. Now, as they and the cup so that we would remem- go back to Jerusalem they are able to ber Him He knew that in the multi- take with them the wisdom, knowl- tude of business affairs, sorrows, ambi- edge, and understanding of every kind tions and war we would forget Him. So people in the world. He gave us the institution of His sup- The very fact that the Jews are per that we might observe it in re- present and a distinct race in the membrance of Him. It serves to help world is absolute proof that the Word us recall His constant grace and love, of God is true. God said about the other If the Lord Jesus had never said, “Do nations, “I will make a full end of this in remembrance of me,” how them, but I will not make a full end would the millions of people celebrate of Israel.” The nation, of Israel became it? The accuracy of the Word of God a desert. We read in Isaiah that all is carried on through the centuries, the trees Were cut down, all the Isn’t it strange that here a Stranger streams were stopped, and the rain with no royalty, no following, no (continued on next page)
Proof of the Bible’s Accuracy by Dr. Walter L. Wilson 11
Bible Accuracy (continued) ceased. The desert spread everywhere and it became a land that nobody wanted. Now since Israel is going back there, He is sending rain again, and the land is blossoming forth. I traveled through the nation of Palestine, and was struck with the fact that wherever water comes, the land is enriched. It is truly a land flowing with milk and honey. Israel hasn’t had any of these commodities for centuries. God saw to it that nobody wanted Israel. Now, He is doing just the opposite. Someday God is going to make Israel the head of the nations. The people of the earth will borrow from her and come to her for help, and 'look to her for sustenance and blessing. Another proof of the divine inspira tion of the Scriptures is the preserva tion of the Bible. What a marvelous thing that is when one stops to con sider it. For many years I was on the circus lot, building and designing cir cus equipment. I did this for Buffalo Bill, the Ringling Brothers, A1 G. Barnes, and others. In all of those places I found that the Bible was not hated. I never went to a circus lot without my Bible. I carried it always and everywhere. I never heard them say a word against it. They were all afraid of it. Whenever the Bible came around, they quit their swearing, wick edness, and filthy stories. The presence of the Word of God had a wonderful effect, even on the circus lot. That isn’t true of any other book. They wouldn’t have given such care for any of the books df the different religions. Carry them all you please; it does not affect men. But when the Bible comes, it has a sanctifying, wonderful effect on all the people. Trust the Word of God and let it be yours. These are just a few of its many wonderful proofs revealing that it has indeed come from the Lord alone. * * * Obstacles are the frightful things we see when we take our eyes off of Christ. * * * Wanting less is sometimes truer wealth than having more.
A number of years ago, ministers were frequently called upon to trav el from village to village by horseback. Many have been the fascinating stories of God’s grace they have left us. Rev. R. L. Hastings of Boston ministered through the New Hampshire moun tains. He often carried a large sum of money in order to help friends in need. One night, as he pressed on in his wearisome battle for truth and right eousness, he stopped at a small clear ing in the woods, dismounting to tight en a stirrup. The moon shown brightly on him as he adjusted the saddle. Then mounting up he continued on his way. Several years later he was called to the bedside of a dying man. So sick he could barely open his eyes, the poor fellow asked if the minister had re membered the night and the spot where he had dismounted to change the stirrups. W ith somewhat of a ques tion, Hastings replied, “Why yes, I do, now that you ask. It was_ a particular ly bright moon-lit night'” In affirma tion the man shook his head. “Rev. Hastings, what you do not know is that l was lying in wait for you there. I planned to kill you and take your money. I had heard you carried large sums. But, you see, 1 was afraid to do anything when I saw that other man standing by your horse. I was afraid to kill two men, so 1 didn’t dare shoot. Please forgive me for my evil inten tions. I have since found your Saviour as my Lord. I am going to meet Him now.” In a moment the man’s life was gone. And Rev. Hastings thought of God s protective care and providence in that hour when he was not even conscious of it. This is what the Psalm ist meant when he wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . . . Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee. . . . For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” 12
TRIUMPH THROUGH TESTING Some of the great melodic treasures have come as a result of intense suffer ing and trials. Just before he passed away, that tremendous 18th century composer George Frederick Handel lost his health. His right side had become completely paralyzed. As far as financ es were concerned, his money was gone and his creditors had threatened to imprison him. Handel felt the defeat so heavily, he became greatly discour aged and almost despaired for a brief time of life itself. But thanks be unto God, his faith prevailed. It was said of Abraham that when he was tried, he offered up Isaac, his most precious possession, and then received the prom ises of God. The same was true with Handel. He sat down and in a few hours, relatively speaking, composed his majestic and best known work, “The Hallelujah Chorus." How true are the words of the apostle John when he wrote, “This is the victory that overcometh the world (not power, not money, not human ability), even our faith." . When God puts a burden upon you, re member He puts His own arms underneath y0U- A PART OF THE TEAM This is the time of the year when young people are particularly becom ing interested in the sport of football. We heard of a mother whose oldest son, a member of a certain college /oot- ball team, when asked by a friend what part he placed, she, being un schooled in the correct terminology, re plied, “O, I’m not sure. I think hes what you call a ‘pull back.’ ’’ Of course the way some teams play the college alumni may feel they have too many “pull backs" rather than “fu ll backs on the roster. Spiritually speaking, however, in our churches today we also have too many “pull backs,” rather than those who are out planning the strategy against the attack of Satan, and waging battle for Christ in the power of the Spirit to bring final vic- (continued on next page) 13
radio nuggets o f gold
When you help someone else up the hill you find yourself closer to the top. ALWAYS ASKING FOR MONEY Charles Haddon Spurgeon has been known as “the preacher's preacher." He liked to tell the story of a tomb stone which carried this epitaph: “What I saved, I lost; but what I gave, l have" How true, for after all it is not so much what we amass that will count on heaven’s books, but rather what we accomplish for Christ with that with which He has entrusted us. Talking about money is never popular. One pastor was accused by a church member of always asking for money. The known miser, though wealthy, complained, “If I had to speak at your funeral, pastor, I would take the text, ‘The beggar died’ from Luke 16:22. The minister smiled and replied as kindly as he could, “Well, sir, that w ill suit me fust fine. But, my friend, be sure you also read all of the verse which says, ‘The beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.’ ” The Bible says in the wisdom of the book .of Proverbs, “The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that water- eth shall be watered himself.” For, “There is that scattereth, and yet in- creaseth; and there, is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty’ (Proverbs 11:24). How will we face eternity; w ill our hands have worked for Christ? * * * God sees tomorrow even more clearly than we can see yesterday.
Radio Nuggets (continued) time to awake out of sleep: for now tory. You way be on the right team, 25 OUT salvation nearer than when we my friend, but make sure that you’re believed. The night is far spent, the not a “pull back.” Jesus said, “Whoso- day is at hand: let us therefore cast ever therefore shall confess me before °ff t^le works of darkness, and let us men, him w ill / confess also before Put on the armour of light.” my Father which is in heaven. But * * *
whosoever shall deny me before men, him w ill 1 also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:52, 55). * * * Keep your eyes on Christ, for no matter how high a man may rise, he must always have someone to look up to. * THE MEANING OF DREAMS Have you ever had a dream where you envisioned yourself persued by someone? Nocturnally you had run un til, exhausted, your legs would carry you no further. Missionaries from Brazil report that the Indians there believe a person’s soul really leaves his body during the night, and actual ly performs everything that he dreams. Peculiar superstition isn’t it? Scientific investigation has revealed that it is not true that sleep before midnight is better than sleep after twelve o’clock. The claim of some people that they never dream is also untrue. Research ers tell us, for what it is worth, that almost everyone dreams for an average total of at least two hours nightly. It is just that some people are better than others in recalling fancied episodes. For your consolation it is also not necessary to make up sleep in propor tion to the hours we have lost. Dr. Noah Cloan, medical director of a lead ing life insurance company, has said that some subjects were forced to stay awake for four or five days, yet they needed only ten or eleven hours of sleep to be fu lly refreshed. Well, we’ve said all of this as a reminder that physical sleep is necessary, but spirit ual sleep is always condemned in the Word of God. That is why the apostle Paul warns us that we are not of the night nor of darkness; that we are not to sleep but rather that we are to be watching and sober at all times. To the Roman church he declared, “And that, knowing the time | that now it is high * *
The home should be the place where the great are small and where the small are great.
* * THE "LAST WORD" ON WEATHER
One of the Southern California radio stations has devised a special service which makes it possible for a listener to call a certain telephone number. Immediately the weather forecast is given for the next 24 hours. The in formation is updated every hour as the weather may change. It is certainly a very handy service. Things are not quite so bright for one of the African radio stations, however, where the weather forecasts have had to be drop ped. It seems that the government ra dio station in Uganda ran into trou ble with its prognostications. The na tive listeners considered the weather predictions as an actual and definite government promise. If the climate, which was promised, didn’t match up to what actually came, the people accused the somewhat tottering gov ernment of spreading only “a pack of lies.” And, today, in spite of all the advanced scientific equipment at his disposal the weatherman cannot per fectly predict what’s going to take place. Perhaps the station in Uganda was wise to drop its daily reports. It didn t want to lose the confidence of the people in the Province. How won derful to realize, however, that the Lord Jesus Christ has given us won derful predictions of things which w ill take place upon this earth, the greatest of which concerns His personal return. For every verse in the Bible that tells His first advent, there are eight which deal with His coming once again. Our Saviour declared, “If I go away (and He did), I w ill come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also.”
Man’s Unspeakable Suffering by Dr. Lloyd T . Anderson E ver since sin entered the world, and separation or alienation from
pressed on like corpses hypnotized into a semblance of motion. The snow fell until it seemed to be a solid wall, yet on and on they went. The barometer and the thermometer continued to fall. The very fluid of the eyes congealed with the bitter cold. It was at this time, in a single night, that 200,000 people froze to death around the city of Nikolayevsk. Then, by the end of February, the remnant of the living dead finally reached Lake Baikal. They decided to cross and endeavor to press'toward final safety. The 250,000 people left out of the original 1,250,000 began to cross the 50 mile expanse of gleaming ice which covered the lake. It seemed that nothing could exceed the sufferings of those last three months. Yet on Lake Baikal was the culminating horror of the whole journey. The ice on the lake was a gleaming, glittering floor, smooth and slippery. The cold attained its zenith as the temperature went to 70 degrees below zero. A howling snow storm, which froze the very marrow in their bones was added to the unspeak ably tragic scene. Not one soul •survived Lake Baikal, and the bodies were left right there until the following summer. Then as the surface ice melted, its entire horri ble cargo sank out of sight to the bot tom of the lake. A terrible scene to be sure. Man can approach understanding of physical suffering but will never fully comprehend Calvary for here Christ s agony was not only physical it was also spiritual. He was separated in those moments from Almighty God that we might forever be with Him in glo ry. No wonder we should sing, Halle lujah! What a Saviour!” May we say with Paul, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, anc} the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:10).
God thereby, human suffering has been the nemisis of man. Perhaps it has never been so poignantly illustrated, however, as when more than a million men, women and children were de stroyed by the intense Asiatic cold. No doubt it was the largest mass tragedy ever to be wrought by weather. On November 13, 1919 in the city of Omsk, Siberia, a Russian admiral by the name of Kolchak had gathered around him the last remnants of the once mighty Russian army and empire. He decided on that day to withdraw to the Pacific, a distance of almost 5,000 miles across Siberia. His retreating army numbered 500,- 000 men accompanied by 750,000 refu gees from Bolshevism. Among, this group were 25 bishops, 12,000 Ortho dox priests, 4,000 Monks, 45,000 police men, more than 200,000 ladies of Rus- sia’s aristocracy, and children of all ages Admiral Kolchak also had an armoured train of 28 cars, filled with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold coins. The brave caravan began its unprecedented 5,000 miles trek even as the Siberian winter set in with a vengeance. The cold, which hovered around 40 degrees below zero, increased to 60 degrees. A howling wind and snow storm, cutting like a sharp saw at right angles, added greatly to the horror and suffering. The road soon became strewn with the bodies of frozen human beings, as well as horses. The falling snow enveloped the tragic corpses at the wayside until they looked like a giant serpentine wall along the Siberi an road. For three months this incredible cav alry continued until one day in Febru ary, 1920, they were forced to abandon the’valuable gold. Attempting to load it on sleighs their horses soon died off. In order to save themselves, that which was valued was forgotten. Still they
Christian? Are you ashamed of the marks of the Lord Jesus? Our Saviour has promised, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him w ill I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” '(Matt. 10:52). * * * Make sure your opinion of others does not actually turn out to be their opinion of you. * * * SELF DESTRUCTION One of the most clever tools of Satan is the poison sword of envy which he wields so effectively. No wonder, in the wisdom of the Songof Solomon, we read,“Jealousy is cruel as the grave.” Greek legends tell of a muscu lar giant who was so envious of Theagenes, the prince of wrestlers, that he couldn’t console himself, since he had never defeated him. After Thea genes, the champion, had passed away, a monument was raised in his honor in the public square. And yet, his en vious antagonist, under the cover of darkness, regularly went out to wrestle with the statue itself, for he was still unwilling to admit, even to himself, that, Theagenes had been his superior. One night in a mad rage he success fu lly managed to throw the stone figure, but in the process, it fell upon him, and he was crushed to death. This is exactly the way jealousy works. It is not only unreasoning, but it is also injurious to the body and soul. Both become affected by it. Jealous people are like those who poison their own food and then proceed to eat it. Envy or jealousy aims and shoots at others, but winds up wounding itself. Beware! Envy is the cruel offspring of Satan; it is the first cousin of pride; the father of hate and murder. Kill it, through the power of Christ, before it kills you! * * * Perhaps the Lord will calm your storm, but perhaps, too. He will allow the storm to rage while He calms you. * * * Truly happy people are not those who always get what they want, but rather are happy with what they get. 16
Talk is cheap because the supply is great er than the demand.
THE UGLY FACE What parents heart wouldn’t have been touched with the tragedy which struck a home in New York. A beauti fu l young mother had gone out for a few minutes to buy something at the comer store. As she returned, she was horrified to see her house enveloped in flames. Crazed w ith fear for her tiny baby, asleep inside, she tore from the hands of firemen seeking to hold her back and dashed through the flames. Wrapping her child in a blan ket, she successfully brought her out without even a singe. In doing so, however, she herself sustained serious third degree burns over her face. As a result she was left horribly disfigured for life. The years passed and the daughter grew into a beautiful young woman. Her mother felt compensated for the scars as she watched the child develop. In her teens she was quickly surround ed by friends and youthful admirers. One Saturday afternoon the mother and her daughter went for a river boat excursion. While the mother stayed in side, the daughter walked about the deck. Needless to say, several young men were immediately attracted to her. The mother, coming out to check on her daughter, caught the eye of one of the unthinking and rude youths. He said, “Look at that hideous woman. I wonder who in the world she is.” The g irls answer broke the mother’s heart, as she said, tossing her head carelessly, “Why, I can’t imagine. She’s terribly grotesque, isn’t she?” How ungrateful this seems to be, and yet, isn’t it true that, spiritually speak ing, there is an ingratitude just as base revealed by people in the world every day. This is namely the denial of Jesus Christ who gave Himself for us. Was His countenance defaced? Oh yes, in Isaiah 52:14 we read, “His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.” Do others know you are a
Thanksgiving in Prayer by Rev. Thomas E. Steele
“Whom having not seen we (as the bride or the Church) love, though now we see Him not, yet believing we re joice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8). There is also a wonderful message in this chapter for Christian young people. How parents need to encourage their children to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct in the matter of selecting a life partner. Only a mar riage made in heaven can hope to withstand the ravages of this world and the materialistic age in which we live. As servants of the Lord we need to follow the pattern of Eliezer, Abra- (continued on next page) 17
O ne of the most interesting prayers recorded in the Bible is that which was uttered by Abraham’s servant as he carried out his master’s important mission of seeking a wife for Isaac. Genesis 24 is rich in typology and offers great blessings for the serious Bible student. Abraham is often sug gested as a type of God Himself who sent His Holy Spirit into the world to call out a Bride (the Church) for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The servant, like the Holy Spirit, does not speak for Himself. Further, He enriches the bride with gifts. As a type of the Church, Rebekah is willing to go to Isaac with a heart of love, even as it is said of us, as children of God,
Thanksgiving in Prayer (continued)' ham’s faithful and obedient servant. We, too, need to follow our Lord ex plicitly in every direction of His. Paul reminds us that we are called to serve the living God (I Thess. 1:9). The prayer the servant uttered, how ever, is the focal point for our interest. This is recorded in this same chapter with verses 12-14 and 27. “And he Said, O LORD God of my master Abra ham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the,city come out to draw water; And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, >1 pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kind ness unto my master.” First of all there must be a right re lationship with God in order to know for a certainty that we are on the solid ground of faith with the Lord. This is why the Psalmist reminded himself, and us, as well, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Sin separates the believer from God: he doesn’t lose his union, but his communion is broken. It is absolutely impossible to enjoy the full ness of an effective prayer life unless we keep “short accounts” as far as sin is concerned. This is what John meant, when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for give us our sins and to cleanse Us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). How helpful and refreshing are the words of David when he reminds us that our Lord never despises a “broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 5,1:17). In the second place, the Lordship of God is acknowledged. His words speak eloquently of the sovereignty of the Lord. Acknowledging the Lordship of Christ means that we are willing to give Him the right of life or death, not only for ourselves, but also-for every
one within the circle of our fellowship. It is one thing to admit this, but it is quite another thing to accept and practice this truth. What would hap pen if death should suddenly strike your home? Could you, with a yielded heart to the Lordship of Christ, say, THE PREACHER'S WIFE There is one person in your church Who knows your preacher's life. She has wept and smiled and prayed with him. And that's your preacher's wife. She knows your pastor's weakest points And knows his greatest power. She has heard him speak in trumpet tone In his great triumph hour. She has heard him groaning in his soul When bitter raged the strife, As hand in his she knelt with him . . . For she's the preacher's wife. The crowd has seen him in his strength When glistened his drawn sword; As underneath God's banner held him Facing the devil's hord. But she knows deep within her heart That scarce an hour before, She helped him pray the glory down Before that fast closed door. You tell your tales of prophets brave Who walked across the world And changed the course of history By the burning words they hurled. But I'll tell how back of them Some women lived their lives. Who wept with them and prayed with them: They were the preachers' wives! “The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” This aspect of the believer’s life means that he will also accept the Lord’s right to say “No” to his prayers. Sometimes it is necessary for Him to deny us our petitions, just as He denied Moses’ moving plea that he be permitted to enter the promised land (Deut. 3:25). Often the denial is some- 18
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker