February, 1935
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
49
It is quite common to hear a sermon which is filled with quotations from the great poets. Now it is unquestion ably true that a verse of poetry wisely chosen or the stanza o f a hymn in jected into the message at the right place is exceedingly effective. Let it be remembered, however, that the purpose o f the sermon is not to tickle the ears or please the aesthetic taste o f the hearers. I f a man would quote much poetry, let him be reminded that there is no poetry in all the world to compare with that which is found in the psalms o f David and in the mes sages o f the prophets. There is a power in the words o f the Scripture not to be discovered in the words of those who wrote under poetic inspira tion or frenzy. Speak to the heart! A preacher should have a sense o f humor. He should be able to see the bright side o f life. He should be able to tell a good story and tell it well, but heart-sick, burdened men and women do not go to church to be regaled with humorous anecdotes. Sin and sorrow have taken a heavy toll in this world o f ours. Je rusalem was crushed with the magni tude o f the disaster which had befallen her, and the Lord recognized her de spair when He said to His messenger: “ Speak to the heart o f Jerusalem.” It is small comfort to offer humorous en tertainment when the heart is crushed. It is of little use to offer a masterpiece o f literary perfection when the iron o f despair is in the soul. T oo long this sin-sick world has been offered stones instead o f bread. T oo long we have been held under the spell o f the wis dom o f the world. Too long we have depended upon “ enticing words o f man’s wisdom.” Too long we have been hampered by theological theories and expressions. God give us to see that “ the word o f God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the di viding asunder of soul and spirit, and o f the joints and marrow, and is a dis- cerner o f the thoughts and intents of the heart.” W e shall preach better and live better when we remembr that. From the lips o f Isaiah come an ex hortation and a challenge which we may easily have overlooked in read ing our English Bible, but no man could pick up his Hebrew Bible with out being arrested immediately by the startling phrase, “ Speak to the heart.” This is the task o f every believer, for y t is the supreme duty o f tian to lead others to Christ] o f materialism, an age when ever- increasing emphasis is placed upon in tellectual pursuits, there is need for such a challenge. T o speak to the heart, a man must speak from the
heart. God grant that our prayer may be: Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus, Purge me from every sin; Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus, Help me the lost to win. Speak to my heart, oh, speak to my heart, Speak to my heart, I pray; Yielded and still, seeking Thy will, Oh, speak to my heart today. Among prophetic students there is unanimity o f opinion on this point. While no sane, sound Bible student will set a date for the coming o f the Lord, all prophetic teachers are of the firm conviction that the coming o f the Lord draweth nigh. It may be nearer-, than most o f us begin to realizeT] It is my conviction that {the true church o f Jesus Christ will be taken out o f the world prior to the Great Tribulation. When that event occurs, the work o f God will be brought to a standstill, but during the dark days of the Great Tribulation, this work of God must be revived. How will that blessed result be brought about ? The only Scriptural answer which occurs to me is that it will be accomplished by IsraeQ^To illustrate the point, I turn to an example from nature. When one wishes to reap wheat, he sows the same; this is true o f any crop. IThe Word o f God is the seed o f the Kingdom. I f there is to be a spiritual harvest during the Great Tribulation, the church o f the present time must sow the seed o f the king dom. The gospel now must be given to the Jews from whom will come the Tribulation evangelists!] W e are to sow this seed in all Israel at the present time. Some o f this seed will fall upon moist spots o f earnest, honest hearts and will germinate and produce fruit, but the bulk o f the seed will fall upon the dry, barren soil o f impenitent, in different hearts.\The seed will remain there until it is watered by the rains o f the Great Tribulation judgments; then there will arise the mighty army o f one hundred forty-four thousand Jewish Pauls who will herald the gos pel o f Christ to every creature upon the face o f the globe. Then will come the great harvest and ingathering o f souls. W e who desire a mighty re vival and who are praying for the same should do all that we can to an swer our own prayers by giving the _ gospel to Israel at the present time!] In the light o f these facts, let us echo the burden o f the Apostle Pau l: “ Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” THE GOSPEL FOR ISRAEL [Continued from page 47]
& Z )
w — i IlilllP H H K i
m
m
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker