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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
March 1926
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Practical Methods of Personal Work For Defenders o f the Faith . . . . . T. C. HORTON
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LESSON TWENTY Last month we spoke of some of the errors of (so-called) "Christian Sci ence" aB set forth in its text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” 1906 edition. It will be well for the student to turn again to the February issue and refresh the memory with reference to these errors in connection with the present lesson, which takes up the best method of meeting them. Method of Dealing In dealing with a Christian Scientist it will be well to ask first of all, “ Do you believe in the Bible?” If the an swer is "No.” reply that Mrs. Eddy says she plants herself "unreservedly upon the teaching of Jesus, the apos tles and prophets,” and- that you put yourself on the same basis, and so it is “ to the'law and to the testimony” (Isa. 8:20). (Luke 24 :27 ): "And beginning at M om « and all the propheta, he' expounded unto them In all the Scrlptnrea the thins* concerning hlmaelf.” (2 Tim. 3:16 ). This will no doubt be met with the assertion that it is a question of inter pretation, in which case ask if the his toric church which has held to the teachings of the Scripture since the days of Paul, has been all wrong; if all the blessing that has come from the Bible, has been imaginary, or if it might not possibly be real. Next ask: “ Do you believe in God? What kind of a God is He; is He a person?” If the answer is “ no-—im personal,” then quote from Gen. 17:1: "A nd when Abram waa ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram , and said unto him, I am the A lm ighty God; w alk before me, and he thou perfect.” (Also 1 Pet. 3:12 and Deut. 33:27 as showing the personal attributes of God.) (You will remember always, in us ing Scripture, that it is a sword, and is designed of God to bring conviction. Have no hesitation in believing that, when you use this sword, God will bring conviction.) Ask: “ Do you believe that such a person as Jesus Christ ever walked the earth?” Read what the Scripture itself has to say about Christ in John 20:31: "B u t fheae are w ritten, that ye m ight believe that Jeana la the Chrlat, the Son o f God i and that believing ye m ight have life through hla name.” (Also John 1:1, 14; 2:22 ). Show the prophecies concerning Christ in the Old Testament, commenc ing with Gen. 3:15; Isa. 9:6. Call at tention to the prophecies concerning his birth, Isa. 7:14; and his birthplace, Micah 5:2; then the description of His
she came in contact, and how to make them happy. Third. Always interested ih the problems and trials of others, and what she could do to relieve or help them, and never speaking of her own, always meeting everyone with a smile and interest in their activities. Always Ignoring any allusion to herself and solving all problems alone with God. Ten years ago at a Christian En deavor Conference at Mount Hermon, Eleanor consecrated her life to the Master’s service, hoping she might go as a missionary. But God had other plans. Hers was to be the ministry of intercession — for her pastor, her church, and the work of her Lord everywhere. Out of years of experience the fol lowing beautiful poem came: I sat and watched the world go by, It was no choice of mine— But as I’ve known Thy love, O Lord, My will is lost in Thine. This way for me— I’d rather choose A busier path— a road agleam; Now years have taught me to be glad Thy law is still supreme. For, as I ceased my murmurings, I found that I could hear The fainter sounds, the softer notes, That I’d have missed, I fear. I sat and watched the world go by, It was no choice of mine— But as I’ve known Thy love, O Lord, My will is lost in Thine. — Eleanor R. 'Cook.^
HOW ABOUT THE PRAYER CIRCLES?
We know that those “ Defenders” who have availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain a list of mem bers of The King’s Business Family in their immediate vicinity, and have gathered them together for prayer and fellowship, have been amply repaid by the results. “ Prayer Changes Things,” and “ Prayer moves the arm that rules the world,” so “ let us pray,” and “ pray without ceasing.” If your faith needs strengthening, read again what the prayers of one man accomplished: "E lla s was a man, subject to lik e pas sions as w e are, and he prayed earnestly that It mla tit not m int and It rained not on the earth b y the space o t three years and six months. "And he prayed again, and the heaven grave rain, and the earth brough t forth her fru it” (James 5il7, 18). Let the year 1926 see hundreds of these "Defender of the Faith Prayer Circles” all over this country and across the water, praying for a great outpouring of the Spirit of Ood upon His people, remembering the promise of our Lord: "And whatsoever ye shall ask In My name, that w ill I do that the Father may be glorlfled In the Son. I f ye shall ask anything In My name, 1 w ill do it. •••If ye abide In Me, and My words abide In yon, ye shall ask what ye w ill, and It shall be done unto yon ” (John 14113, 14| 15:7). We have so many, many inspiring and encouraging letters from our De fender Family this month which we would like to share with you all that it is difficult to choose one from among so many, but are giving you a .letter which came from Santa Barbara, Cal., acknowledging the New Year’s Greet ing which went to every Defender: “ Your New Year’s message and let ter came for Eleanor B. Cook, one of the ‘Defenders of the Faith’ who is spending her first Christmas in the presence of the King. If you care to use the enclosed in The King’s Busi ness I will be glad, in the hope that it will help someone who is a ‘shut-in’ as was my.little girl for ten years, during which time there was never a murmur or a ‘why?’ as to God’s way with her. “ Her mother, Mrs. J. E. Cook.” Enclosed in the mother’s letter was a beautiful tribute to Eleanor which appeared in the Santa Barbara Presby terian, as follows: ELEANOR B. COOK June 17, 1898— Nov. 14, 1925 Some o f the Things Her Life Stood For First: Firm belief in Jesus Christ as her divine Lord and Saviour, her personal Saviour and example. Second. Proving her belief by her life, always thinking of others, how she could best help those with whom
No Substitute For Prayer There can be no substitute, no rival for prayer; it stands alone as the great spiritual force, and this force must be immanent and acting. It cannot be dispensed with during one generation, nor held in abey ance for the advance of any great movement— it must be contlmibus a n d particular, a l w a y s , everywhere, and in everything. We cannot run our spiritual operations on t h e prayers of the past generation. Many persons believe in the efficacy of prayer, but not many pray. Prayer is the easiest and hardest of all things; the sim plest and the sublimest; the weakest and the most power ful; its results lie outside the range of human possibilities— they are limited only by the omnipotence of God. — E. M. Bounds.
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