June 24, 1951 OVERCOMING THE WORLD 1 Pet. 5:6-11; Rev. l:9 -lla ; 7:9,1»; 13, 14 God expects His children to be vic tors in the battle of life. He does not want a defeated soldier in the camp. Furthermore, there does not need to be for the Lord has provided the means for victory in every life. The Word of God nowhere promises free dom from difficulty and hardship in the Christian life but it does provide the means and the grace to triumph in the midst of trying circumstances. If the Christian will avail himself of the armour described in Ephesians 6, verses 10 to 18, he will emerge vic torious. Today’s lesson suggests some other things which minister toward victory in the Christian life. The Grace of Humility 1 Pet. 5:6 In God’s economy the way up is the way down. Those whom God exalts are those who follow the example of .their Lord in self-forgetfulness. The tree that bears the most fruit bends the lowest. The humble man is he who trusts God. Such a man realizes that he has nothing in himself whereof to glory. When a man is proud he is trusting in himself, and his useful ness is immediately curtailed. They who trust God are bound to win for God fights for them. May God keep us humble! The Privilege of Release from Care 1 Pet. 5:7 God’s child is in no condition to gain victory in his living if he is weighed down with anxious care. It is his privilege to cast his burden of care upon a God who cares. There is nothing more precious in our faith than this—God cares! (Read Phil. 4:6, 7). Released from the burden of care, the Christian is prepared to meet the difficulties of life with confidence and victory.
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Some of the disciples stayed in their home town of Jeru salem to preach the gospel. Others went a little farther to the towns in Judaea, others went still farther to Samaria, and some went to other lands in obedience to His command. Some of these messengers for God were tortured, some were killed, some were disowned by their families. Great were the prices that they paid that we might receive the message of salvation. God’s Word tells us of many of Paul’s experiences which were unpleasant and dangerous. In Acts 28 we read of his experi ence after the ship upon which he was a prisoner was wrecked. The passen gers all swam or floated upon boards to an island called Melita. The natives of the island were kind to those from the ship. They built a fire to warm and dry the strangers, for it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a bundle of sticks to throw upon the fire. A viper came out of the fire and fastened itself to his hand. The na tives thought that Paul must be a wicked man who was being punished by death from a poisonous snake even though he had escaped death from the sea. Paul merely shook his hand and flung the viper into the fire. The people watched Paul, expecting him to fall down dead. When no harm came to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. For three days, Publius, the chief man of the island, gave housing and food to the strangers. The father of Publius became very ill. Paul prayed for the sick man, and God healed him at once! When the news of the healing spread throughout the island, the natives brought their sick to Paul whom God enabled to heal them all. For three months Paul and his com panions stayed upon this island. When they were ready to leave, the natives gave them the things that were neces sary for their journey. When the ship finally arrived at Rome, the other prisoners were placed in prison, but Paul was allowed to live by himself with a soldier who guarded him. How many of us are willing to even bear some unkind remark about our knowing the Lord Jesus Christ? If someone calls us a name or “makes fun” of us for Christ’s sake, we be come angry or hurt. Think of what Paul and others of God’s servants have borne that you might hear of the Saviour; think of what your Lord suf fered for you. You will find then that your own suffering is nothing com pared with His.
Have Your Eyes Examined Now! DR. W. LA VERN SALTER DR. JOHN WM. SALTER Optom etrists 226 Story Bldg., 610 So. Broadway Los Angeles 15, Calif. TUcker 4855 Serving Bible Institute students and instructors since 1926
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The PTL distributes the Word of God to the spir- itually hungry Japanese free of charge. This policy L coincides with the request made by General Mac- ^ Arthur when the plans for the nation-wide cam- M paign of evangelism and Scripture distribution were first discussed. sA
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