A U G U S T 1 9 3 6
T he Bible Family Magazine
Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts
Out from the Los Angeles Harbor, twenty-four miles from the heart of the city where the Bible Institute of Los Angeles is lo cated, more than 135 students of the Institute have sailed for Asia, Central and South America, and the islands of the Pacific.
¿ ¿ N O T H I N G to you ■
W E met on the train traveling eastward. They were newlyweds on their way to the mission field in South America. Their enthusiasm was con tagious. The glow on their faces spoke of the joy that comes to those who catch the vision and respond to the call. A s they were both of German birth, we had an interesting dis cussion about political and spiritual conditions in Germany. The groom was a graduate of Biola. H e and his conse crated bride were going out in faith to tell the story of Jesus and H is love. They had no human assurance of sup port, but they were trusting God. There was something beautiful and touching about their childlike confidence in
This morning a letter came from a dear old couple who love Biola and who have meant more to this school than they will ever know this side of eternity. It contained a check for one hundred dollars, with this suggestion: “ N in ety -n in e more like the enclosed would bring the sum o f £ 1 0 ,0 0 0 .” Biola is on the hearts of these devoted friends. Thank God that aged saints are interested in Biola. Are you able and willing to be one of the ninety and nine that will duplicate the gift of this silver-haired couple? Is it nothing to you? Is it nothing to you that 400 young people are coming
God. A look into their hearts revealed devotion to Christ and a love for souls that would lead them to sacrifice every thing for their Lord. A s they related their experiences and unfolded their plans, a desire was burning in my heart to do something for them. But the groom was speaking: “ B iola has m eant so much to me that I can never repay the d ebt I owe. M y w ife and I have decided to make a little gift as a token of our love for the Institute.” W ith these words the missionary handed me an envelope containing a sacrificial contribution.
to Biola this fall to be trained to evan gelize the world and win souls for Christ? Is it nothing to you that thousands are reached every week through shop, street, mission and church meetings, and through the distribution of tracts and Gospels of John, and that an average of forty children are won for the Lord every week? Is it nothing to you that Biola with its world-wide ministry, touch ing every continent and the islands of the sea, should continue? Is it nothing to you that some are
Founded on the Boole"
working early and late, and praying that Biola shall not only continue, but extend its usefulness and influence in this day of apostasy and worldliness? W ill you come to the help of the Lord and Biola in this hour of need? W e need your immediate help. W ill you not pray just now, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” It may be that the Lord will not only show you what you should do personally, but also what you should suggest to others who are the Lord’s stewards. W ill you not take Biola’s burden on your heart? W ill you not answer the question, “ Is it nothing to yo u ?” by writing a letter today, saying: “ H e re is the gift the Lord has prom pted me to send, and w ith it go m y prayers and prom ise o f continued support as the Lord shall lead and p rovid e.” I f yo u will respond, we shall thank G o d and take courage!
M y heart was deeply stirred. Even now my eyes fill with tears as I visualize the scene. Thank God that grad uates, faith missionaries, are interested in Biola. Is it nothing to you? It was in an eastern city, two thousand miles from Los Angeles. A letter came from a shut-in asking for a call. Forty- five minutes were spent with this invalid who for forty years has been confined to a bed or a wheel chair. The room was saturated with the presence of God. Heaven was near, and it was easy to pray. Our sister was not occu pied with herself and her ailments. She wanted to talk about the Lord and H is ability to supply the needs of Biola. She is a member of the Biola Honor Roll and is constantly praying for the Institute. She had a gift to present and a plan to offer. This saintly woman is engaged in a ministry of intercession. In addition, she is greatly interested in “Bottle Evan gelism.” She fills bottles with tracts and asks friends to cast these tract bottles in lakes and rivers. This was to me a new type of evangelism, and it is supervised and carried on by a shut-in! It is because of this con cern for the salvation of souls that she supports Biola. Thank God that praying invalids are interested in Biola. Is it nothing to you?
Y ou rs through grace,
— QSI a J .
President.
p r a y W it h o u t
d a y n i g h t
w e e k 1 6 8 HRS
SUNOA.V
P R A Y E R
Dr. Rood Selects His Prayer Hour
CH AR T reproduced on the next page. Each watcher selects his or her sta tion— the hour in which to pray once each Week in home, shop, store or office— day or night, as each individually prefers. The clock faces on the chart are printed in dark and lighter types for each day of the week, so as to distinguish between the hours of day or night. “ Shut-ins,” invalids, watchers by the sick, and night workers, as well as those who follow our Lord’s custom (Luke 6:12) and pray in the quiet hours of the night watches, will doubdess choose the dark face dials. On the other hand, there are many busy Christian men and women everywhere who will endeavor to find at least one hour of the morning or afternoon when, once a week, they can pray for Biola and its work. Thus the entire 168 hours of each week will be filled by a widely scattered group who will silently relieve each other from hour to hour in individual supplication to God for the continuance of this Institute. Would you have a part in this great adventure of prayer and faith? If so, dear reader, turn the page and study the chart. Select your hour, and sign and send in your application, or write us in your own language, and we will at once enroll you on our list of helpers—a list never to be published. W e believe that you will find it a memorable personal experience, filled with much blessing to yourself, and productive of great benefit to Biola. No responsibility is assumed by any applicant other than the faithful performance of a promise to pray one hour weekly, until God shall have supplied the funds for the Fall Semester of 1936 at Biola, or until the applicant is otherwise released. W ill you not join our ranks of watchers today?
“/ have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem , which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence ” Isaiah 62:6. Six to seven, every Monday morning— that hour, each week, has been selected by Paul W . R ood , President o f the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles, as his special hour of earnest supplication and prayer for the support of the Institute. In this prayer effort, Dr. Rood is, however, not alone. H e is only the leader of a great, organized band of intercessors scattered all over the United States, who have individually agreed to pray one hour each week at an appointed time day or night. This intercession will continue without inter ruption until a sum of money has been, donated or pledged sufficient to guar antee the running expenses of the Fall Semester of the Institute, which opens on September 8, 1936. It is perhaps the most intensively organized adventure in prayer ever undertaken by any Bible Institute in the United States and Dr. Rood is serenely confident of a favorable result. This Bible Institute gives tuition free. N o charge is made to students for their training expenses. Yet, consecrated Bible teachers are provided; and when a Biola graduate finally goes forth into the harvest field at home or abroad, he is as thoroughly equipped doctrinally as it is humanly possible to make him; ready to meet any situation that may arise in his evangelistic work. Every Christian, no matter where residing, is invited to join this band of prayer watchers. The chart to which Dr. Rood is pointing is our OFFICIAL PRAYER
"W he re P raye r Focuses, Power Falls”
OFFICIAL CHART Select Y ou r S ta tion
How to Pray for Biola
I. PRAY FOR STUDENTS: 1. That those who have been graduated may use their training wisely and effectively in the home or foreign field, and may be the instru ments in leading many souls to Christ. 2. That those who have only par tially completed their courses may be blessed of God and may “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ*’ (2 Pet. 3:18). 3. That those planning to come to the school next term may be chosen of the Holy Spirit, that only those so selected may apply, and that the dedication of themselves to God may be complete. •• • II. PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE BIBLE INSTITUTE AND FOR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS: That diving wisdom may guide them in all their decisions, and that they may conduct the Institute wisely. III. PRAY FOR THE FACULTY: That great grace be given them in teaching the “unsearchable riches of Christ’ (Eph. 3:8). •• • IV. PRAY FOR ALL THE DEPART MENTS OF INSTITUTE AC TIVITY: 1. For the Administration, Field, and Financial Departments. 2. For the Correspondence School, which offers seventeen courses by mail; pray also for the students of this department__ eager searchers of the Word, men and women who in many cases are remote from schools. 3. For the Jewish Department with its constant witness to Israel. 4. For the KING’S BUSINESS and its army of more than 30,000 sub scribers. 5. For the Shop Department with its ministry to the men in the factor ies and shops in and near Los An geles. 6. For the Institute Bible Women and for the scores of Bible classes which they teach each week among adults and schoolgirls. 7. For the Evening School whose courses have been greatly enlarged. That the China Division of the Bi ble Institute of Los Angeles may con tinue its noble work of training young Chinese to live the gospel and to preach it to their own people. •• • VI. PRAY FOR A SPIRIT OF PER PETUAL REVIVAL AT BIOLA. VII. PRAY FOR BLESSING UPON THE INSTITUTE'S EVANGEL ISTIC EFFORTS: 1. Work among boys and girls, emphasizing child evangelism, 2. Bible Conferences. V. PRAY FOR THE HUNAN BIBLE INSTITUTE:
You are requested to select the day and hour that suits you best and circle it on the chart below. Then detach the “ Prayer Volunteers’ Enrollment Form” printed below and sign and send it to the Bible Institute, keeping the chart as a reminder of your prayer hour. ( Please see the preceding page for full particulars.) T h e estimated sum needed fo r the maintenance o f the work o f B iola through the tw enty weeks o f the fa ll semester o f training the 4 0 0 students (th e number anticipated) is p laced at $ 7 5 .0 0 per student, or $ 3 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 . N o student pays tuition, but it costs the Institute approxim ately $ 7 5 .0 0 a semester to train each one. W e believe G o d w ill provide the am ount urgently required, through the donations o f H is stewards or in a w ay that H e m a y otherwise designate. O u r eyes are unto H im ; we have no other hop e, n o visible means o f continuance.
PRAY WITHOUT C E A S IN G
DAY N I G H T
WEEK 168 HRS.
P R A Y E R C I R C L E
— D ET ACH O N TH IS L I N E - PRAYER VOLUNTEERS’ ENROLLMENT FORM FOR BIOLA’S WORLD-WIDE PRAYER CIRCLE „ . TL A e£?!>y Volunteer to act as a “ BIOLA W A T C H M A N ” and wUI pray ONE HOUR EACH WtsEKj until the sum needed at the present time (#30,000.00) for carrying forward the work of Biola is received. Name.................................................................................... ..........
Address.......B ................ ................ .................
, A .M . Hour selected.............................................. o’clock, P.M. each.. HOUR CR O 68 O U T O NE Do you use daylight saving time?............ _______..._________ .-.
D A Y O F W EEK
C4REYOU A P R EM I L L E N A R IA N ? If so, I have a message for you. It is of supreme value if you wish light for these dark days. I adver tised this same message some time ago. The letters I received from those who had sent for it were filled with gratitude to God for a new revelation that had come to them; almost every one said in effect: “This should be read by every Christian in America.” So I am making the same an nouncement once again; I want to reach every true Christian who is longing for the coming of the King, and I am doing my part to accomplish it. Whether I reach you depends on yourself. Just enclose 10c (stamps will do) in a letter and say, “I am a premillenarian; send me your message.” If you are not a pre millenarian please do not answer this advertisement. And may I remind you also of the continuous needs of our mis sionary undertakings? In the spirit of Isaiah 40:1-2, we stand astride the world and seek to bridge the gulf between a mis represented Christianity and a misled Judaism. In this ministry of reconciliation, II Cor. 5:18, your faithful, prayerful under girding is needed far more than you will ever know this side of eternity. Our work merits your every confidence. It is a program of world wide Gospel testimony to the Jews. Your fellowship in prayer and in gift is always wel come and appreciated. Our monthly publication , THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, is of course sent to all contributors. J. HOFFMAN COHN American Board of Missions To The Jews, Inc. 31 Throop Ave. Brooklyn, N. Y.
SheüMfcleTamii# 3 ta^lne Motto: “ Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood/*— R ev . 1 :5.
Volume XXV II
August, 1936
Nutmber 8
TABLE OF CONTENTS Around the King’s Table— Paul W . Rood............................................292 Gold in Mongolia||-Hulda E. Wiklund................................................ 294 The Intercessory Ministry, of the Holy Spirit ' — Charles Henry Heaton.............................................................. -^96 YThe Year of Jubilee— Louis S. Bauman..............................................298 America’s Greatest Need and God’s Recovery Program — Gottfried Stone.............................. 300 Official Program for Pacific Palisades Bible Conference.................. 301 Bible Institute Family Circle............................................... 302 Junior King’s Business—Martha S. Hooker........................................303 International Lesson Commentary................................ 305 Girls’ Query Corner—Myrtle E. Scott..............................-......... .......312 Notes on Christian Endeavor—Mary G. Goodner............................. 315 Daily Devotional Readings................................................................... ..320 Evangelistic Notices.............................................................................. 325 World’s Christian Fundamentals Association......................................325 Our Literature Table...................... ,........................................................326
I N F O R M A T I O N
F O R S U B S C R I B E R S
A D V E R T IS IN G : For information with reference to advertising in THE KING'S BUSINESS, address the ADVERTISING MANAGER, 558 SOUTH HOPE STREET, LOS ANGELES, CALIF., or our eastern representative. Religious Press Association, 325 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, Pa., or 333 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Entered as Second Class Matter November 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage pro vided for in Section 1103, Aet of October 3, 1917, authorized October 1, 1918. M A N U SC R IP T S: THE KING'S BUSINESS cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts sent to it for consideration.
T E R M S: Single Copies....................................... Wc Annual Subscription........................................... S1-50 Two-year subscription or two annualsubscriptions. 2.50 Five annual subscriptions............... 5.00 Eleven annual subscriptions............................... 10-00 Subscriptions in countries outside of U. S.require 25c extra. R EM IT T A N C E: Should be made by Bank Draft, Ex press or P. O. Money Order, payable to “ The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated.“ Receipts will not be sent for regular subscriptions, but date of expi ration will show plainly each month,xon outside wrapper or cover of magazine. CH ANG E OF A D D R E S S : Please send both old and new address at least one month previous to date of de sired change.
PO LIC Y A S D E F IN E D B Y T H E BOARD OF D IR EC T O R S OF T H E B IB L E IN ST IT U T E OF LOS A N G E LE S (a) To stand for the infallible Word of God and its great fundamental truths. the f*ith °f jj1 believers, (c) To stir young men aand women to fit themselves for and engage in definite Christian work, (d) To make the Bible Institute of Los Angeles known, (e) To magnify God our Father and the person, work and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to teach the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our present practical life, (f) To emphasize in strong, constructive messages the great foundations of Christian faith.___________________________ THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES, INCORPORATED 558 South Hope Street Lo» Angele», California
I f interested in Annuities, ask for our booklet, “ J ew ish M ission B onds .”
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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c Aroundthe King’scTabltj B y P a u l W. R ood
A preacher who was spending his vacation in Los Angeles attended the morning service of the church of his de nomination. The pastor, wishing to recognize his brother minister, went
are dying, and we must be faithful to God at all seasons. Summer Bible schools for children give us wonderful opportunities to win the boys and girls. Summer Bible con ferences should be evangelistic as well as inspirational and instructive. There are just as many openings for per
Summer Opportunities and Responsibilities
the down to where visitor was sitting and a s k e d him to come to the platform and lead in prayer. “ No,” said the visit ing pastor, “ I am on my vacation.” This incident illus trates an attitude that is q u i t e prevalent. Many church mem bers seem to feel that a vacation means a vacation from church attendance, B i b l e study, , prayer, and
sonal work in the summer as there are during any other sea son. Let us be “ re deeming the time,” that is,, buying up the opportunities, of the vacation period. Abraham cou ld exercise a ministry of intercession dur ing “ the heat of the day.” He learned that Sodom and Gomor rah were to be de stroyed. A braham prayed f o r t h e s e
A Summer Bible Conference for Physical Relaxation and Spiritual Strength
Christian activity. Every one needs a vacation and should take one if it is at all possible, but this period of relaxation should not and must not mean a spiritual “ vaca tion.” A Christian should be just as faithful to his Lord in the summer time as during the winter. Yet there are many who are careless and indifferent, not to say incon sistent, during the vacation period. Consequently the work of the church not only lags in the heat o f summer, but the church also has a difficult time in starting its fall and win ter program. W e recognize this diagnosis as correct, but little is said or done about it. A study of Genesis 18 reveals that Abra ham had fellowship with the Lord when the weather was hot. We need that fellowship just as much in summer as in winter. The Lord might return in the summer time, and surely neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian wants to be out of fellowship with the Lord when He comes. The fact that we are to appear before the judgment seat of Christ and that there is danger o f losing our reward should be an in centive to holy living in all seasons o f the year. Death might come in the heat o f summer as quickly as in the cold o f winter, and no Christian wants to be out o f fellowship with the Lord when the angel of death appears. Abraham served the Lord and exercised hospitality “ in the heat o f the day.” Likewise today there are oppor tunities to serve the Lord in the summer months. In fact, in some sections of the country there are opportunities to do things that cannot be done in the winter time. Street meetings, open-air services, and tent campaigns can be held anywhere during the summer season. Thousands of souls have been won for the Lord through efforts of this kind. Are we taking advantage o f our opportunities ? Peo ple can be reached through open-air services who other wise would never hear the gospel. Souls are lost and men
sinful cities, and his prayer was not in vain, for “ God re membered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow” (Gen. 19:29). A relative Was rescued through Abraham’s prayer, and our relatives may be saved from de struction through our intercessions. Shall we not during the remainder o f this summer pray for our nation, our cities, and for all efforts that are being put forth to win the lost ? Shall we not walk in close fellowship with the Lord, serve Him faithfully, and pray without ceasing even “ in the heat of the day” ? “ What message has this verse or pas- “ Quicken Me sage for me?” is the question we should According to ask ourselves as we read the Word of Thy Word” God. Sometimes we. study the Bible in order to teach or to preach. We read the Bible in order to have something o f value to pass on to others. Certainly this purpose in study is necessary for the Christian worker, but we must not forget to read the Word for our own edification.. W e should open the Bible with this prayer in our hearts and on our lips: “ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psa. 119:18). We need the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our study o f God’s Word. The Holy Spirit who guided the forty human authors of the Bible so that they wrote exactly what God wanted them to write, nothing more and nothing less, understands the Word and is the best teacher o f the Word. He dwells with in every child o f God and is willing and able to “ teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance” (John 14:26). The Spirit of God not only interprets the Word so that we can understand its meaning, but He also applies it to our hearts. The Word is a mirror, and as we study the
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be adhered to rigidly. The teaching, preaching, and leader ship should create a spiritual atmosphere that makes it easy to maintain order. The well-rounded conference program should take into consideration the young people and the children. There should be a children’s hour every day. Testimony meetings and round table discussions afford the attendants opportunity for expression as well as impression. The young people should be encouraged to take their Bibles to all sessions and to make notes. Above all, there must be much prayer if God’s purpose for the conference is to be fully realized. Prayer meetings should be held daily. Personal work should be done among children, young people and adults, and the spirit o f evan gelism must prevail. Attend an evangelical Bible confer ence this summer if you find it at all possible, and pray for the conferences held throughout this nation as well as in other lands. The situation in the world today is worse than it was twenty-two years ago. Then it was the Triple Alliance versus the Triple Entente. Now all Europe and Asia are in chaos. In fact, perhaps the one poor shred of conso lation in the whole present outlook is to be found in the fact that probably not one great power can now say with certainty that this or that neighbor would come to its rescue if attacked. But in that same uncertainty hides very grave, even imminent, danger. Fishing in muddy waters has always been a favorite international pastime. Japan is carving slice after slice o f China for herself because she thinks she can get away with it. The world is too busy or too afraid to interfere. Italy annexed Ethiopia and Nazi Germany reoccupied the Rhineland for the same reason. What nation will strike next, and where, makes an already jittery world feel it is living on top of a volcano. It knows that sooner or later Germany, or Nippon, or some other power will attempt a coup and will not get away with it. Some other nation will hit back. Then there will be an explosion. Certainly there is “ distress of nations, with perplexity” in our day, and “ men’s hearts” are “ failing them for fear.” What is the believer to do in this critical and dark hour? Qur Lord has the answer. “ And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Lk. 21:28). We know Thoughtful students o f world condi- tions are expecting another world war. The New York World-Telegram, in a re- cent editorial gives the following analysis o f the present situation: Living On Top of A Volcano
Word, we learn to see ourselves as God sees us. This gives us occasion to turn to the Lord in humility and confession, and “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to for give us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous ness” (1 John 1 :9 ). If we prayerfully study and meditate upon the Word, we will be kept from sin. “ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119:11). Study o f the Scriptures will cause us to grow spirit ually. “ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk o f the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet. 2 :2). Partaking o f God’s Word will put us on praying ground, and our prayers will be answered. “ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). A promise like this one should not only be read and meditated upon, but it should be appropriated as well. A fine illustration o f appropriat ing a verse is the following: “ Commit thy way unto the Lord [I have done it] ; trust also in' Him [I am doing it] ; and he shall bring it to pass [I expect it]” (Psa. 37:5 ). Certainly, every believer will read the Word daily and expect to hear the message of God to his own soul. He will let reproof lead to confession and correction, and ad monitions to obedience and prayer. He will appropriate the promises, and thereby gladden the heart o f God and encourage his own soul. The summer Bible conference move- Sumimer ment has been blessed and used o f God in a Bible marvelous way. It must be pleasing to God Conferences for Christians to spend their vacations in places where they are benefited physically, mentally, and spiritually. Usually the summer conference provides such an opportunity. The best type o f people are attracted by a Bible conference, and consequently the social fellowship is ideal. The proximity o f the ocean or a lake adds to the recreational enjoyment. The various meetings throughout the day and evening instruct the mind, enlarge the vision, and feed the soul. Like every other movement, the summer Bible confer ence is today in danger. Some conferences which used to be recognized as spiritual strongholds have deteriorated and are now powerless and in some instances do more harm than good. Conferences which formerly had only evangelical teachers now use modernistic speakers. Christians will do well to stay away from conferences of this sort. In other gatherings there is a tendency to magnify intellectualism instead o f spirituality, even though there is
that it is darkest just before the dawn, and that there is going to be a glorious daybreak soon when “ the Sun o f right eousness” shall “ arise with healing in his wings.” Christ will bring order out o f chaos, and peace will prevail when the Prince o f Peace is upon the throne. There is no other solution for the prob lems of the world but the return of our Lord.
no open departure from the truth. In some places there is a lack o f dis cipline that makes for carelessness and unspirituality. Young people, away from restraining home influences, allow them selves liberties that would not be per mitted at home. There is an inescapable responsibility resting upon conference leaders. Every conference should have rules and regulations which should
Friends who gather at the Pacific Pali sades, California, for the Second Annual Bible Conference of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, to be held August 24 to September 7, will have privileges of Christian fellowship in such surroundings as those pictured below: (left) the audi torium where the conference sessions will be held; (center) a log cabin at the conference grounds; and (right) a com fortable, quiet cottage for family groups.
For complete conference program, please see page 301.
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August, 1936
GOLD in Mongolia B y HULDA E. WIKLUND A s told to Mildred M. Cook o f activity. Suddenly the meaning of it all dawned on the startled child. There was to be a wedding! All the prepara tions had been made. And, standing there on that little rise o f ground, and seeing the women relatives all rush forth to meet her, Gachitma realized something else: She was to be the bride. She had never met the man that she was being forced to marry. Gripped with terror at the thought, she would have run away— but where, in the desert, can one escape without detection? Moreover, the company o f women was coming nearer. They were surrounding her. They were urging her, pushing her, leading her onward to the group o f tents. Into her own maiden tent she went—and she knew what that meant. There would be one more night at “ home” ; her girl friends would join her, and they would pass the night together—a night o f weeping and bitter anguish. B eginning a L ife of S uffering Before daybreak, on swiftly galloping steeds, men drove into the little tent-village to capture the quivering girl who was to be the wife o f one o f them. These rough horsemen were acting in obedience to Mongolia’s hoary tradition which demands that a man, when he chooses to marry, shall swoop down like a mighty conqueror upon the girl o f his choice, and despite all protests, shall bear her away to the tent o f his parents where she will serve as little more than a slave. Gachitma found that her bridegroom was an elderly man who already had divorced five or six wives,, and who was a habitual and cruel drunkard. Life with him was a nightmare o f pain and loathing. In his drunken frenzy, the man would often pull off his heavy boots and hurl them at his girl-wife, and her frail body bore continually the marks o f his brutality. The suffering continued year after year. Ten times Gachitma became a mother, and as many times the child that she clasped lovingly to her breast would weaken and die within three or four weeks. B urying H er B abies It is a rule in Mongolia that when a child dies, some member o f the household shall take the little body, sew it
P reach the gospel— except in Mongolia.” Words like these never fell from the lips o f the Saviour and Master o f men; yet this has been the interpretation, seem ingly, that the church o f Jesus Christ has given to the Great Commission for many generations. Mongolia, that vast territory comprising 1,375,000 square miles and stretching away to the north o f China, is a neglected land. T o reach with the gospel the five million nomadic popula tion, there are at the present time only twelve missionaries at work! For seventeen years, God has privileged me to be one o f those twelve heralds o f the cross. I have followed Him as He has led the way across Mongolia’s desert stretches, in quest o f souls. I have lived in Mongol tents, accepting the natives’ coarse fare—and have marveled as I have seen one and another grow intent as the Saviour has spoken to hearts. And I have come away with this truth burning in my heart like a fire that cannot be quenched: There are precious souls in Mongolia that the gospel o f the grace of God can transform. I could prove the statement with unnumbered illustrations, were proof needed. But let me speak of just one woman, for in the life story o f this beloved sister in Christ there is gathered in amazing compactness the horrors o f heathenism and the glory of Christ’s regenerating and uplifting power. It is the account o f the discovery o f gold— the precious gold o f Christian character, that was worthy to be refined. A B ride - to -B e
up in a sack, take it to a place where two paths cross, and abandon it there. Then, the first person who comes along the path must cut the sack and set the body free. In Gachitma’s tent, she was the only one who cared enough to perform these burial rites. Ten times, in the dusk o f the evening or in the blush o f early dawn, Gachitma had taken her precious burden— in each case a son or a daughter—and in the prescribed manner, had borne it away. She had gone alone on these sad journeys, her heart breaking— for the true mother heart is the same the world over. A mother, a tiny corpse, a wild Mongolian dog— these
When Gachitma was sixteen years o f age, she was told by her family that she was to leave the home tent site, and go off across the desert plain a little distance to visit relatives. She went, unsuspecting. After three or four weeks, she was •bidden to return, and still in ichildlike innocence, she obeyed. At the .crest of the little hill that overlooked the group of tents that made up her native “ village,” Gachitma stopped short in horror and perplexity. Everything was changed ! New tents—many new tents—were pitched alongside the old ones. Everywhere there was a buzz
(Upper left) A Mongolian girl— without Christ. (Center) A Christian family in Mongolia. The husband is an evangelist, and the young woman was formerly one of Miss Wiklund's schoolgirls.
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ly speaking, there was no hope. But there was one thing the doctor could do, point the dying man—as well as those that gathered around the rude bed— to the Great Physician who could heal the ills o f the human soul. As the gospel message was given in sim plicity and in reliance upon the Holy Spirit, the mission ary prayed that God would somehow make it possible for the darkened mind of his patient to understand. R esponse to the •G ospel During all this time, Gachitma’s heart was cold and hard. She had no inter est in the missionary. Had he not been deported from his own country ? Else why, thought she, would he leave his native land to live in Mongolia? No one would leave his homeland if he were not forced to leave it ! No, she would not listen to his words. She would not allow little Pilchet to listen to them. But God was at work in that solitary desert tent. As though in answer to the doctor’s prayer, the poor sufferer laid hold o f the
made up the funeral proces sion. ; , Once, when Gachitma’s fourth or fifth child had died, she came back to the tent in the late evening, w on d e r in g w h e th er she would ever see any of her little ones again. Would she see the baby that had so re cently died ? She did see that child again—a horrible sight — for in the night the dogs that had frantically clawed at the little body had dragged it home again and deposited it, a mangled mass, at Gachitma’s tent door. On that awful morn ing, when Gachitma lifted the tent flap, and was con fronted with the heart-rend ing sight, there was not a soul to comfort the sorrow ing mother, not a person at hand to care. U nexpected H appenings T o this point, Gachitma’s story is no different from that of the average Mongol woman. But two unusual things happened in her life. Her husband declined to divorce her, as many men divorced their wives o f whom they grew tired. And in s o m e strange w a y
truth o f personal salvation through faith in Christ. With years o f cruelty and debauchery behind him— a vile and worthless record— this Mongol husband embraced the gospel and be came a new creature in Christ Jesus. “ Ah, I understand!” He breathed softly. “ I understand it all since H e has come.’’;, Gachitma thought her husband spoke o f the visit o f the missionary doctor, and she replied cynically, in bitterness o f spirit, “ He has come—- and gone.” She might have added, “ And I am glad o f it.” “ Oh, but you do not understand.” The husband’s face lit up with joy. “ The Man in White has been here— the Man who can save a soul. I under stand . . . everything . . . since He has come. “ And, Gachitma®” the voice was low and weak. “ When I am gone, I want you to take the child and go to the mission station.” B orn A gain Gachitma determined not to obey— but she went. Arriving at the mission station; the mother and child were gladly taken in. They watched the missionaries, they studied the lives of the few Mongolian Christians, they [Continued on page 319]
Gachitma, who had lost all o f her own children, was allowed to take a little three-year-old foster child and to lavish upon her all the love of her mother heart. When the little daughter was five or six years o f age, Gachitma’s husband became desperately ill. The lamas were sent for-—Mongolia’s so-called holy men—who shook the devil drum over the patient, and muttered mean ingless prayers as they fingered their rosaries made of human bones. But their ministrations did not help. It was evident that the man would soon die. Finally, a relative who was calling on the sick man ventured to say timid ly, “ You have tried everything. There is a white man who lives yonder who has the power to make sick people well. Won ’t you send some one for him?” A fter d u b iou s discussion, two camels and their riders were dis patched to Dr. Joel Erikson—a man who has given twenty-five years to Mongolia, healing her sick and preach ing the gospel. Dr. Erikson listened to the request o f his visitors and ac companied them to the tent o f the patient. He saw at once that, human-
Hulda E. Wiklund, who has spent seven teen years as a missionary in Mongolia, is shown wearing a native costume made of silk. Mongolian men and women wear robes of the same design, the only difference being that the women's garments are heavily embroidered. In Miss Wiklund's hand is a brass buckle bearing the sign of the cross. This object— one of many that have been unearthed— is many hundreds of years old, belonging to the period when Nestorian Christians took the gospel into Mongolia and other regions from the fifth to the eighth century, and required that the sign of the cross appear on their personal apparel and on their horses' bridles and saddles. On the table are prayer beads made of human bones taken from 129 skulls. The object on which the rosary is resting is a food bowl— the kind of utensil that serves every Mongolian as plate, cup, and silverware combined. It is formed to fit the face and provide for easy lickingl Sometimes so-called "holy men" have their food bowls made from human skulls. At the right is a "devil drum," made from two baby skulls and used by the heathen Mongolians in an effort to ward off evil spirits. It is felt that in combating the devil and other unseen enemies, anything made of human bones is especially effective. The wall hanging at the back of the pic ture is a blue-and-gold silk motto, using the Syrian alphabet characteristic of Mongolia, and bearing a message which, translated into English, would read: "Praise the Lord God Jesus, and look for that blessed hope." This wall decoration was given to Miss Wiklund by Christian M o n g o l i a n s on the occa sion of her leaving the field for furlough.
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The Intercessory MINISTRY ofthe HOLY SPIRIT B y CHARLES HENRY HEATON» New Castle, Pennsylvania
P rayer is incomparably the greatest privilege o f man. Anything conceivable or inconceivable may happen when one prays. Both Scripture and experience unite in telling us that the most wonderful things do occur when men pray. In answer to prayer there are droughts and rainfalls (Jas. 5 :17, 18) ; prison doors are opened (Acts 12:5 -10 ); the sick are healed (Acts 9 :3 4 ); the dead are brought to life (Acts 9 :4 0 ); missionaries are sent forth to the uttermost parts o f the earth (Acts 13:2, 3) ; in fact, every benefit and benefaction in human experience has been known to occur. , Intercessory prayer is the constant employment both o f the Son o f God and of the Spirit of God. (“ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7 :25). “ It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand o f God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom . 8 :34 ). “ The Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh interces sion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered . . . he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8 :26, 27, R. V .) . M eaning of T erms In a proper consideration o f the intercessory ministry o f the Holy Spirit, one should begin with definitions. What is meant by intercession? by ministry? by the Holy Spirit? Take these terms in their reverse order. “ God is revealed to us a Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each with distinct personal attributes, but without division o f essence, nature or being” is the Southern Baptist Theo logical Seminary’s definition o f the Trinity. The Father is
o f the stature o f the fulness o f Christ” (Eph. 4 :13 ). The Spirit came to inaugurate His age-mission on the day o f the great Pentecost (Acts 2 ), and He will ascend when that mission is finished, with the translation of the saints (2 Thess. 2 :7; 1 Thess. 4:13-16). By the term “ ministry,” as used here, is meant the work which one is given to do in behalf o f others. It is the serv ice which one performs and by which others are benefited and blest. Intercession is a form o f prayer. It is that form o f prayer which is most selfless and unselfish. The interces sor is the one who stands between the Giver and the re ceiver o f divine blessings. He approaches God in the inter est o f God’s glory and the welfare o f men. Like the attor- ney-at-law, he presents the case o f his client. Intercession is prayer for others. P rayer T hat I s in H armony with the W ill of G od With these definitions before us, we have sufficient clar ity to proceed to the consideration o f a proposition: The intercessory ministry o f the Holy Spirit is a perfect coun terpart on earth o f the intercessory ministry o f the Lord Jesus in heaven. The Spirit o f God is doing in us exactly what the Son o f God is doing for us. Take a statement from Romans 8:26 and add to it one from Romans 8:34, and this proposition becomes very apparent: “ The Spirit himself maketh intercession for us . . . . It is Christ . . . . who also maketh intercession for us” (R .V .). In his The Ministry o f the Spirit, A. J. Gordon throws together Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:26, 27, and Romans 8:34, and then adds, “ These passages, read together, clearly show the Spirit doing the same thing in us which Christ in heaven is doing for us.” There is a keynote to all true intercession : to get the ear of God, prayer must be in harmony with the will o f God. There is one Person in heaven who knows that will per fectly, and there is one Person on earth who knows it equally well. And this consideration contains the true in wardness o f a passage that is all too little understood. Matthew 18:19 says: “ If two o f you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them o f my Father which is in heaven.” By its deriva tion, that word “ agree” means “ to symphonize,” and that is a musical term. Two variant tones symphonize, or agree in sound, when each is in harmony with a third. This is somewhat different from the geometric law which says that two things equal to the same thing are equal to each other. In this case the two tones do not need to be equal; they only need to be in harmony with the same tone. This third tone is the keynote. If two other notes agree with the key note, they symphonize. N ow the keynote o f intercession is the will o f God. If two persons are inspired by the one Person who knows the will o f God to ask for any thing, that thing will be granted. O f this we may be absolutely certain. Now the Lord Jesus is making intercession for us ac cording to the will of God, and the Holy Spirit is making intercession in us according to the will o f God. These two always agree. It is our unspeakable privilege, therefore, to pray under the guidance o f the Holy Spirit. This truth brings us to the question of the qualifications of the inter- cessor.
the a b so lu te God, whom no man has ever seen, infinite, in telligent, personal, all- w i s e, all - powerful, everywhere present, eternal, and inex pressibly glorious. The Son is God manifest in the flesh in the per son o f Jesus Christ according to the rec ord o f the New Testa ment. The Spirit is the blessed Paraclete s e n t d o w n from heaven to indwell the disciples o f Christ and, through them, to carry on the work of Christ until “ we all come in the unity of the faith, and o f the knowledge of the Son o f God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure * Pastor, First Baptist Church.
There is a keynote to all true intercession: to' get the ear of God, prayer must be in harmony with the will of God . . . Two variant tones symphonize, or agree in sound, when each is in harmony with a third. This third tone is the keynote. If two other notes agree with the key note, they symphonize. Now the keynote of intercession is the will of God.
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He enables us to ex perience. Since He has commanded us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, He will not withhold from us the ability to obey His command, but the mo ment one is willing to obey, one will be filled. It is our blessed privi lege to accept by faith the filling of the Spirit. I f there be one fur ther requirement, it would be (though this would be taken for granted) that we must follow the leading o f the Spirit implicitly. ‘ ‘ Q u e n c h not the Spirit” (1 Thess. 5 :19 ). He is a fire which must be allowed to burn. His fire can be quenched by an un
T he I ntercessor ’ s A bandonment of S elf How can I qualify for the office o f an intercessor? If the Holy Spirit is to do in me what the Lord Jesus is doing for me, what sort o f person must I be ? Specifically what must I do in order that it may be possible for the Holy Spirit to make intercession through me ? I must renounce self as the source o f prayer. In John 16:13 we are told that the Spirit does not speak of Him self, but whatsoever He hears, that He speaks. W e under stand that to mean that He does not speak out from Him self, or on His own authority. His source is not within Himself. He speaks what He hears from the Lord Jesus. The relations between these two persons of the divine Trinity are most tender and beautiful. When the Lord came into this world, He submitted Himself wholly to the control of the Spirit. He was born o f the Spirit, led o f the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, anointed by the Spirit, bap tized in the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, crucified in the strength o f the Spirit, raised from .the dead by the operations o f the Spirit, and finally taken to heaven in the bosom o f the Spirit. Then after the ascension of the Son to heaven, the Spirit subjected Himself to the control of the Lord Jesus. He came forth from the Father and the Son and is continuously proceeding from them to men. He came to take the things of Christ and to show them unto men, to speak the words which He should hear from heaven, to effectuate in believers the work which the Christ had done and was doing for them, in short, to be the vice gerent on earth of the Christ in heaven. In view o f the fact that the Spirit is drawing continu ously from heaven, shall we draw upon our own resources while pretending to serve the Spirit in His intercessory ministry? N o ; let us by that autonomy of the self which we call the will, utterly renounce self as the source of prayer. W e must also renounce self as the wisdom o f prayer. “ For we know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Rpm. 8 :26 ). That is to say, first, that we are ignorant of the proper objects o f prayer, and, second, that we may be mistaken as to the right method of prayer. Because of our infirmities we do not see things in their proper perspec tive with relation to God and the universe, and thus we need a Guide both as to the objects and the methods o f prayer. For example, a mother prayed for the healing o f her sick child and prayed in such a spirit that she was unwilling to take “ No” for an answer, regardless o f the will of God. The child got well and subsequently entered a life of sin, causing that mother the pangs o f a thousand deaths and sending her at last to the insane asylum. She was wrong both as to object and method because she prayed wholly in the energy of the flesh and not in the power o f the Spirit. T he I ntercessor and the H oly S pirit Having renounced self as the source and the wisdom of prayer, we must ask fo r the Holy Spirit. W e are instructed thus in Luke 11:13. It is sometimes urged as an objection to this teaching that when Jesus spoke these words, the Holy Spirit was not yet given, but that now we need never pray for the Holy Spirit. T o this objection we may answer that it is one thing to have the Holy Spirit for life, and it is quite another to have Him for power. True it is that no one has spiritual life apart from the Holy Spirit, and equal ly true is it that our spiritual power is measured by the degree with which we are possessed by, the Holy Spirit. Any experience that is worth having is a proper subject of prayer. Furthermore, the great saints in all ages have prayed to be filled with the Spirit. Having renounced self and prayed for the Holy Spirit, we must accept His presence and guidance by faith. “ Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5 :18). What God commands,
Spurgeon used to say that praying is like ringing a bell in heaven. Some persons puil the rope so gently that the bell merely tinkles. Others pull it with such vigor that it peals out with a resounding blast. One who prays in the Spirit will surely pull that rope with all his might.
yielding spirit on our part. Any failure on our part to follow His leadership, any tendency to resist His prompt ings, to choose some other way than His, or to hesitate to express the thoughts which He inspires, is to dampen His burning zeal. These, then, are the rules for him who would qualify as a servant o f the Spirit in his intercessory ministry: Re nounce se lf; seek the filling o f the Spirit; accept the filling o f the Spirit by faith; follow the leading of the Spirit S pirit -I nspired P rayer Now we are ready to ask, What kind o f a prayer does the Holy Spirit inspire? This question may be considered under the specifications for Spirit-filled intercession. When one prays with the Spirit as Intercessor, one’s prayer will be very fervent. The Spirit does not inspire dead, inert, indifferent, careless, dull, or sluggish prayers. His intercession is so earnest that it sometimes reaches the point where it becomes “ groanings which cannot be ut tered.” Spurgeon used to say that praying is like ringing a bell in heaven. Some persons pull the rope so gently that the bell merely tinkles. Others pull it with such vigor that it peals out with a resounding blast. One who prays in the Spirit will surely pull that rope with all his might. Again, the prayer which the Spirit inspires is always intelligent. W e know not what to pray for, but He knows. There is no ambiguity in .His prayers. Look at the Phari see and the publican in the temple and learn what prayer which reaches the ear of God is like. Unlike the Pharisee, the publican knew what he needed, asked for it, and got it. Finally, the Spirit-inspired prayer js invariably success ful because it is according to the will o f God. “ If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth u s : And if we know that he hear us, . . . we know that we have the petitions that we desired o f him” (1 John 5 :1 4 ,15). There is nothing that can stand against the person or the group that prays in the Holy Spirit. That kind o f praying can do anything that God can do, and God can do anything that He wills to do. Prayer is life’s greatest venture, the Son’s constant occupation, the Spirit’s unceasing ministry, the saint’s most blessed experience, and this world’s greatest need. Let us study to pray in the Spirit as our first duty and our superlative privilege.
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