July-August, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
253
love o f many has waxed cold. D o we realize our spiritual condition as we should ? Recently in an Eastern city a friend told the following story: “ Last night our entire family came near being wiped out. W e were all at home, something unusual in our household. Father was reading the evening paper; Mary was doing her home-work; and the boys were playing games on the floor. I had just finished my housework, and was sitting in my accustomed chair mending socks, when, suddenly, as if noisy machinery had stopped, all became appallingly quiet, and I seemed quite unable either to rise or speak. I remember saying to myself, ‘This is a queer house.’ I seemed to have consciousness to realize that every member o f the family had fallen asleep. Father was asleep in his chair; Mary, book in hand, had fallen over asleep on the couch; and the boys were prone on the floor beside their games. I felt an urge to open a door. Mus tering my strength, I got to the outside door and opened it. The fresh air somewhat revived me. I went out onto the veranda in a daze. Finally I managed to call out, ‘ Some body please come and help u s!’ A man rushed into the house; others followed. I heard doors and windows being opened. Soon doctors arrived and worked over the gas- poisoned members o f the household. They were revived, and were by and by out o f danger. Our whole family, as you see, came within a narrow margin o f being wiped out by asphyxiation. How we thank God we were spared.” God used that half-gassed woman to save her family from death. But it is something infinitely better to save brethren and sisters from sins which are unto death, and to get life from God for them, in this hour o f the world’s direst need. Brethren, God’s voice is sounding in our ears. A holy im pulse to do for the welfare o f the church something beyond what we have ever done, is moving us. Shall we respond ? Brother, do you see the state o f the church? Have you yet one eye open? In 1910, God wakened Thomas E. Stephens, founder of the Great Commission Prayer League. Through this con secrated Christian journalist, the Spirit o f God inaugu rated a pray-for-revival movement. Since Mr. Stephens’ first bulletin in the fall o f 1910, hundreds o f thousands o f people have been stirred to pray for revival. This need stirred him to write for publication short articles which editors were glad to use. He issued monthly bulletins, sometimes sending out over forty thousand copies a month. He never appealed for funds, yet God moved Christians to share in the ministry o f the League, with the unshakable confidence that this ministry was o f the Lord. Thus the Great Commission Prayer League was born o f a Spirit- given passion to see the Christian world shaken from end to end with a great work o f God. A n A wakening in the P ast The revival o f nearly seventy-five years ago followed a great period o f financial depression which turned princes o f wealth into paupers overnight. Mighty fortunes were wrecked as by a tidal wave. Rich men became beggars. Everybody learned the instability o f things. Following this terrible financial crash, men and women turned to God. They became exercised about spiritual matters. Religious conversation supplanted market talk. The secular press also turned to this subject. All ranks and classes o f people were stirred to seek God. A strange fear followed men and women everywhere. A thrill possessed the hearts o f thousands at once. In some towns in New England, there was scarcely one unconverted person. A marvelous spread o f religious-mindedness over the whole land was as general as was the financial disaster before it. The whole move ment was above and beyond every other sponsored by re
vivalists, as a seasonable shower is superior to a watering- can shower. It was acknowledged as a work o f God. It is a work like this, beginning with God’s people, extending throughout the world, as a preparation for the Lord’s re turn, that is wanted everywhere now. Thousands have an intense desire that God may send a revival, like that which came in ’57. Every one o f us ought to pray AND LABOR FOR IT. A T rue R evival I s a W ork of the H oly S pirit The day o f Pentecost witnessed a mighty attending supernatural power when Peter preached— and apostles witnessed to the truth o f the gospel. God did something. Three thousand souls were converted in one day, not in name, but in heart. The Spirit o f God took Peter’s simple preaching and made it as a sword that found its mark, and as a tornado that swept everything before it. The remark able success o f Peter’s ministry cannot be attributed to Peter, or to a society or an evangelistic party or anything o f the sort. Remarkable■ministries o f this kind are all attributable to the Holy Spirit and to no one else. There is certainly no limit to the power of the Holy Spirit. He can bless a sermon to a thousand as easily as to one. God’s power has no limitations restricting it. In [Continued on page 260]
FA ITH ’S SURE REW ARD B y E . M a r g a r e t ^ l a r k s o n “ Launch out into the deep, and let Your nets down to the sea.” It was the Master speaking, by The morning Galilee. “Lord, we have toiled all night,” they said, “And not one fish have w e ; Yet at Thy word, O Lord, will we Return unto the sea.” They turned their boats, and then began Again their nets to take —- And they were filled, and filled again, Till they began to break! “Pray ye,” the Master says today, “Pray for the souls o f men. Pray that their steps may turned be Back to the Way again.” “ Lord, we had prayed so o f t ” we said, “And no results saw we, That we became disheartened, and We’ve prayed less faithfully. Yet at Thy word, our souls, retouched Afresh with living fire, Would turn, encouraged, back to prayer — And souls shall be our hire!”
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