He made the high priest speak the truth about Jesus. Usually, however, God’s messages come to men of God. Christians are like golden pipes to convey the water of life from the reservoir of heaven to the deserts of earth. Some are larger than others because of a larger capacity. God Speaks Through Teachers Gal. 6:6 Various types of minds are centered on the Scriptures and the Spirit reveals many angles of the truth to these vari ous intellects. They in turn pass the mes sage on to others. Thus, the believer roams through the labyrinth of litera ture to the enrichment of his soul and the enlightenment of his mind. God re vealed His mind to Paul, and Paul passed the revelation to others, who heard God’s voice and, in turn, passed those messages on. Each one who reads and studies the Bible receives some knowledge of God that many others have not known. Thus we help each other onward and upward. God Speaks Through History Jas. 5:10 Our Lord asks us to note the lives of the saints of old and to read what they wrote. Thus we learn how to walk with God as Enoch did, how to talk with God as Moses did, how to sing for God as David did, how to pray to- God as Nehemiah did, and how to work with God as Paul did. By means of these rec ords we are instructed, reproved, and in spired. We should give heed to God’s dealings with those who have preceded us that we may enjoy His dealings with us. They are our examples. God Speaks Through The Example Of Others 2 Tim. 3:8 We learn from the history of Pharaoh the tragic results of resisting God’s call. God speaks to us from the story of Sam son who seemed to think that he could jump from Delilah’s lap into Abraham’s bosom. God warns us through the story of Korah and his associates, who were jealous of God’s leader. God encourages us through the experience of Elijah who closed the heavens and then opened them by prayer. Elisha also brings rich mes sages to our hearts through his experi ence. God Speaks To Us Through Great Statements Psa. 49:13 A schoolteacher in the fifth grade wrote on the blackboard, “ In the bright lexicon of youth, there is no such word as failure.” This expression greatly in fluenced one of the students in his later life. A Christian wrote, “ Keep going un til you are gone.” This statement stirred the souls of many who were lagging in the way. Another writer said, “ Fear nothing but sin.” This has been bless edly used of God to preserve lives. The .statement, “ It is kingly to forgive” has enabled many to forget their hurt feel ings. My Bible to me is supreme and com plete and alone . . . Every time I open it I find Jesus Christ in my Bible. —Alex H. Whyte.
August 1, 1948
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PRAYER John 15:4-17; 17:1-11
W HEN one is engaged in prayer, he should have the consciousness of being in the presence of the eternal God. The holiness of the Lord’s presence should fill the soul with expectant quiet ness. There should be a realization of God’s majesty and might and of man’s infirmity and weakness. The Word of God should fill the heart as a commun ion is held with its Author. Prayer should be a time of mutual fellowship and heart - to - heart intercourse. When this is true, we come from the holy tryst with renewed spirits and refreshed hearts. The Privilege of Prayer Heb. 4:16 We are invited to draw near the throne and are encouraged to enjoy the privileges which come from intimate fel lowship with the God of our lives. We may be silent in His presence as the Psalmist suggests or we may be vocal before Him as the apostle recommends. It is a two-way communion. It is called fellowship in the benediction verse. It is a time of enjoyment of the personal presence of the eternal God on the basis of His grace. This is the privilege of prayer fellowship. The Purpose of Prayer Josh. 9:14 We are somewhat like children. When some difficulty arises out in the yard, the child rushes to mother, crying and com plaining and tells her the story of his heartbreak. Mother pets the little one a bit, speaks some comforting words, and away he runs to play again. Sometimes
the child comes just for the joy of the love which mother gives. We, too, may come to our blessed Lord for any rea son and in each case find a welcome and an answer of peace. This is the purpose of prayer fellowship. The Power of Prayer Jas. 5:16 . On many occasions we find it recorded that God acted because men prayed. “The fervent effectual prayer of a right eous man availeth much.” It affects the one who prays and it avails in the pres ence of God. God moves because men ask. God has said, “concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” Through this intercession and because of the blessed answer, God becomes more pre cious and more real to the soul. God re veals Himself to us in answered prayer and in His whispering to our hearts as we wait in His presence. The Principles of Prayer Eph. 6:18 The Christian may take the attitude of a private soldier who consults with the general of the army. This refers to his service for the King. He may also take the attitude of a child toward his father and this refers to fellowship with the King. He. may even take the attitude of a student toward his teacher. This is seeking to know the will of the Lord and to understand His thoughts and His ways. All of this operates in the prayer life. We go to the Father as a child. We go to the Lord Jesus as the general. We go to the Holy Spirit as the teacher. Thus we are trained for God.
August 8, 1948 GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PEOPLE Num. 22:13-18; 23-33; 1 Ki. 17:4, 5; Acts 17:22-30
G OD speaks through both the saved and the unsaved. He used an ass on one occasion and made an unclean raven Pago Twenty
His servant on another. He caused idola trous Cyrus to speak the words which made it possible to rebuild Jerusalem.
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