FEBRUARY, 1911
VOL. II. NO. 2 THE KING'S B U S I N E S S
ÜJ ALK about the questions of the time j there is but one question—how to bring the truths of God's Word into vital contact with the minds and hearts of all classes of the people. WILLIAM* E. GLADSTONE. "Thou, O God, hast made us for Thee, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." AUGUSTINE.
Published Once a Month by THE BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Bible Institute Press.
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Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in Heaven.—Psalm 119:89 H t b l r I n s t i t u t e (Incorporated) 260-264 South Main Street ( Second, Floor) . L»os Angeles, Ca l i f o r n ia The King's Business: Entered as Second-Class Matter Nov. 17, 1910, at the postoffice at L,os Angeles, Cal., Under the Act of March 3, 1879. DIRECTORS: | Lyman Stewart, President - Rer. A. B. Prichard, Vice Pre». T. C. Horton, Superintendent Joseph Irvine, Secretary-Treat. R. A. Hadden, Supt. Extension Work E. A. K. Hackett W. E. Blackstone S. I. Merrill W. L. Green DOCTRINAL STATEMENT We hold to the Historic Faith of the Church as expressed in the Common Creed of Evangelical Christendom and including: The Trinity of the Godhead. The Maintainance of Good Works. The Deity of the Christ. The Second Coming of Christ. The Personality of the Holy Spirit. . The Immortality of the Soul. The Supernatural and Plenary a^i- The Resurrection of the Body, thority of the Holy Scriptures. •JfflHS The Life everlasting of Believers. The Fellowship of the Church. The Endless Punishment of the Im- The Substitutionary Atonement. penitent. The Necessity of the New Birth. The Reality and Personality of Satan: The Institute trains accredited men and women, free of cost, in the knowledge and use of the Bible (1) Th« Institute Classes held daily except Satur- day and Sunday. (2) Extension Work. Classes and conferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by compe : tent evangelists under our direction. (4) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night for Spanish-speaking people and house visitation. (5) Shop Work. Regular services in shops and factories all the year. _ (6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work in homes for the Hebrew .peopje. (7)" Bible' WomeC "Hbuse-td-fiousfe work and neigh- borhood classes. (8) Aqueduct. Work among the 4000 men on the new aqueduct. . (9) OK Fields. A mission to the men on the oil fields. (10) Books and Tracts. Sale and distribution of selected books and tracts. PRAY FOR THE WORK AND WORKERS OF THE INSTITUTE, If ye abide in me and My Words ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you—John 15:7. Purpose Departments
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Before you apportion your gifts for the Lord's work for 1911 we would be glad to have you consider the Los Angeles Bible Institute. We can cordially commend to you any one of our ten departments. All our work is wisely and economically administered and is bringing Definite Results. If you place some of your funds with us designating the linne you prefer, we will guarantee you Big Dividends. Returns for 1910: 4 , 000 Meetings and Classes. Over 2 , 000 Conversions. Hundreds Helped. Departments: 6. Bible Women 7. Aqueduct 8. Student Aid 9. Foreign Missions 10. Book & Tract Department Wise investors will study carefully the Securities offered. "That which he hath given will he pay him again." Prov. 19:17. ' The call is to larger things in the Lord's work through the Bible In- stitute. The call is certain, distinct, definite. We hear it, we heed it, we honor it. "By faith" we face the future with earnest expectation and gladly give ourselves to the work of carrrying on His will. Service is joyful for Him. Every seeming sacrifice and self-denial is a real bless- ing. How we rejoice that we are permitted to labor together with Him. What genuine pleasure there is in the conscious knowledge that He can glorify Himself through such faithless, feeble instruments as we. Prayer- fully, patiently, pereistently, joyfully will we pursue the path in which fie leads to the end. 1. Teaching Work 2. Evangelistic 3. Spanish Mission 4 . Shop Work 5. Jewish Evangelism
The Bible and National Life. By G. CAMPBELL MORGAN. G OD'S two-fold purpose in this.dispensation is to call out the church, and to prepare ' this world for the coming kingdom. The Church's first duty is to bring individual souls to Christ, but its wider influence is to bear testimony to the nations. Its final responsi- bility is 'to preach the Living Word. It is significant to notice the prox- imity of two great houses in Queen Victoria Street. The symbol of The Times Publishing House is a clock with a figure of time; that of the Bible House is an open Bible with the words: "The Word of the Lord endureth forever." The Times is a mirror in which we see daily change, the Bible is a mirror in which we see things that never change—the practices of Time contrasted with the principles of Eternity. The Value of the Bible in National Life. The Book is God- breathed, and only inspired people can understand its spiritual teaching. But it has values for men whose eyes have not been opened to see these deeper things. , It .has set up moral standards which produce great civil- izations But we are in grave peril of loosening these, standards. We are largely acting in our national life as though we had o'utgrown the B l ^God's Word declares that the bedrock of morality is to know and love Him From His Word we learn the sacredness of life, the sanctity of marriage, the position of the child—"in the midst"—the conceptions of God which issue in love for the,helpless. A policeman lifts, his hand in the busy thoroughfare by the Mansion House and London's traffic is stopped—for the safety of one chi]5l! Where did the , man learn the value of that child? Where were .our great philantnropies born? No country where the Bible has not come has ever made provision for the unfit but has rather gone on the principle of the survival of the fittest. , t h e Biblical Conception of Man Makes for His Uplifting. When we see how he was created, his capacity, and God's high purpose for every human ife; then we are appalled at his ruin and degradation. Apart from the Bible, we might ,be content with an animal life, with amusements, and even with drunkenness. But when we learn that man was made to' "be filled with the Spirit," we understand the yearning that filled the Apostle Paul as he looked at Athens—fair and cultivated in ap- pearance, but failing to fulfill the divine conception: J The Bible Alone Contains the Evangel of the Forgiveness of bins. This doctrine is demonstrated by experience,, and proved, not by power to sin, but by hatred of it. No one can gain mastery over sin except by consciousness of sins forgiven. . This Evangel Begets a Passion for Souls. A critic may explain the conversion of a drunkard by the theory of "mental therapeutics, ' the in- fluence of mind upon mind. ' Yes, but the argument peculiar to Christian- ity is that the man who is set free from his sin becomes a. flaming mis- sionary to get others, converted. . . What is the responsibility of the Church in this matter? It is to in- carnate and proclaim the Bible. The abiding need is knowledge of the Word, obedience to the Word, and thus proclamation of the Word. — T H E LONDON CHRISTIAN.
Christ Our Redeemer in the Epistles and Revelation. By James H. Broods TJTHERE are three Greek verbs found in the inspired Epistles which (2> a r e translated into English by the word redeem/ The fiTst is agorazo defined in Bagster's Analytical Greek Lexicon, as mean- ]ng ,u t u 7 ' r e d e e m > s q u i r e by a ransom or price paid." It occurs 3 S ^ U ^ T i W T ^ i l 1 C ° r ' 6 : 2 0 ; ? : 2 3 ' 3 0 ; 2 P e t 1 1 R e v " The second word is 'the same as the preceding, with a preposition prefixed, meaning • out of." It is Exagorazo, and implies, of course that n a i d r Z ° o f t n n g ,S redeemed, acquired by a r'ansom or price paid, out of a previous condition. It is found only in the following places: Gal. 3:13; 4:5, Eph. 5:16; Col:- 4:5 loiiowing The third verb, lutroo, corner from a root which means to loosen unbind, unfasten, and then to release for a ransom, redeem, eTve ' liberate. It is found in Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1-18 aenver, There are two nouns translated redemption, both derived from 5? °n°' a n d ; h 7 e f ° r e deliverance, or liberation procured by but o n c r H e b 9 a i 2 a n X T h e * r s \ o i t h e s e * t r e s i s , a i d it is used once, Heb 9 12. The second is t he same word with the prefix of a preposition which means from. It occurs in Rom V24- r 1:30; Eph. 1:7, 14 ; 4 : 30 ;Co l. 1:14; Heb - 9 : 15; 1 ^ 5 ' ' ^ ' There are also two nouns rendefed,ransom, the first of which lutron, is not used in the Epistles, and thé second of which antilutron means a price paid m the room of or, for another, occurs 1 Tim 2 6 All of these words indicate that there is a bondage, from 'which deliverance is obtained by the payment of a ransom, or e q u i v aHt price S i d of y AH nd C ° T n t l * t e a C h f r ° m G e n C S ' S t o ¿ - / a t i o n tnat every child of Adam is by nature in a seven-fold or complete bondage, and that the only Redeemer is our Lord Jesus Christ, K a u s c h r P 3 l d t h ^ . r a n S O m P r i c e f o r a11 who are led by he Holy £ h ° s t , t o Relieve on His name, according to the good pleasure of the Fa t he rs will, "to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He h l th made us accepted ,n the beloved," (Eph. 1:6.) universal is the C r U d f i e d Redeemer, it ^s First—We were in bondage to thefworld. Eph. 2:42. As to the character of the world see Jas. 4:4; 1 Jno. 2:15, 16; 3:1; 5 .^9 Christ's redemption, Gal. 1:4. j u r i s ts b ? n d a £ ? t o t h e fl esh, Rom. 7:5, 25; 8-7 8- Gal. 4:29 ; 6:17. Christ's redemption, Rom. 8:3, 9 ; Gal. 5 :24- Phil 3 3' third—We were in bondage to, sin, Rom 3-9- 5-12- fi-17 m À slaves) ; 7:14. 23. Christ's redemption, Rom 6 •6 11 ' 12 1 Cor 1 i f 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18. ' C ° r ' 1 5 : 1 ' 3 ; r „ , S /.oQ nC lTi? Ae
Fourth—We were in bondage to the devil 2 Cor 4.3, 4;; Eph. 2:1 2!; 2 Tim. 2:25, 26. Christ's redemption, Heb. 2:14; 1 Jno. 3:8; Kev. zu.i, 2 10 ' Fifth—We were in bondage t o ' d e a t h , Rom 5 :21/; 6:23 ; 7 :5, Heb. 9-27- Jas. 1:15. Christ's redemptiqn, Rom. 5:10; 1 Lor. 15:Zi, neo. 2 : .15; 9:15; Rev. 1:18; 20:6. . Sixth—We were in bondage to the law, Rom. 3:19, 20, 5 / 0 , Ua . 3:10, 19, 21, 23. Christ's redemption, Rom. 6:14; 7:4, 6; 10:4; Ual.» 2:16'; 3:13; 4:4, 5; 5:18. , , . Seventh—We were in bondage to wrath, Rom 1:18 , .2 6-8, h-ph. 2:3; 5:6; Rev. 6:15-17. Christ's redemption, Rom. 5:9; 1 Ihess. 1:10, ^ ' H^ 6 redeemed us with His precious blood and with that alone in the infinite sufficiency of its value and. efficacy; no feeling, nor repentance nor faith, nor good resolutions, nqr charitable deeds nor ecclesiastical ordinances, forming any part of the ransom for our deliverance, Rom. 3:24, 25; 5:9; 1.Cor. 10:16;
mist. This book must be read always with this in view. It must not be quoted carelessly. The book is unique and must be interpreted in accordance with its purpose, or it can be made to teach harmful error. "But the final conclusions of the book are very wise. They are not, as yet, by any means up to the standard of the light of the New Testament. They are not full of Christ. But they may be taken as giving wisdom of a very practical kind for the conduct of our lives. We who have the New-Testament may go back to get suggestions from Solomon in our .Christian service. - . • • The first six verses of. the eleventh chapter contain a bunch of such rules. I. Give with prodigality, with seeming carelessness. "Cast thy bread on the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days." Perhaps the picture is of the farmer sowing rice on the overflowing waters. It seems to be foolish. The harvest appears in due time. The man who gives out what he has with parsimony never reaps. "Give and it shall be given unto you full measure, shaken down and running over." The true worker has always found that true. It may be he sows with tears, but he sows, and that broadcast, and in unlikely places. Nowhere in the Bible is there a better picture of the right kind of a Christian worker. He trusts his seed to the waters. He sows with seeming improvidence. He gives a "portion to seven and also to eight. He has enough for all.. He-has gotten into an understanding of God's bountifulness and dares to be like Him. When I see such a worker launching.iout I. know God is going-to honor him. Tears, but faith! Seeming improvidence, but an appreciation of God and the methods of His working. God give us such men and women in these days of self seeking. II. The Fullness of the Spirit. Verse third. This is the secret of all this abandon of faith and this sowing beside all waters. "If the clouds be full pf. rain,.they empty themselves on the earth." Only full- ness gives out a full mind and full heart, a rich experience, fullness of love and joy and hope. This is why it was impossible to touch Jesus without getting a blessing. It is a waste of exhortation to tell a man to sow beside all waters when he has nothing to sow. This is the reason of the exhortation,; "Be ye filled with the Spirit." God give us some Spirit-filled ministers in these days.. But if they are to walk in- the nower of the Spirit they must cast their bread upon the waters. ' The Soirit is no private blessing to be nursed. It is for the sake of the next man. It sends "you out. They who scatter, gather. They who keep, lose." Get full, but to keep full, give! III. Get down to business while men live. Dead men cannot be reached. Verse 3. "If the tree fall toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be." The time comes when our efforts will be of no avail. We work amid living issues and with living men. Now or never! Do what you have to do now—promptly. Do not take it all out in dreaming of the things you are to do by and by. Men are dying. The age is dying.
IV. Do not watch your environment. Verse four. "He that observeth^the wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." The farmer that must have ideal surrounding- never does anything. It is so in everything: No better thought could come to a young man starting out in life than the, suggestioris of this verse. The man who is always blaming his circumstances" f^r his inactiyity has not faith enough to be a minister ór a missionary or a business man. We have nothing to do with the environment. We may rejoice in favorable situations to a certain extent, but our faith is in God who sent us„ not in the good or the bad environment. Be not elated by that which is pleasant nor cast down' by that which is unfavorable. God knows the facts. The best farmer watches not the clouds. The best worker is not cast down by appearances. This takes faith. This is the spirit of a seasoned worker. Equipment nevfr gives courage. "The children of Ephraim being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle." • " ' ' There is good equipment in our day. There may be a call by and by to go out from it all and work with or without equipment as God shall direct. V. Diligence. Faithfulness to the end. ®Tn the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thy hand." In'the morning of life with its enthusiasm and when evening comes with its weakness and lessened strength. This is a word for the older workers. Do not say "There is no more for me to do." Natural zeal will decay, but if you have God you will still bring forthifruit in old age VI. Let us look forward to finding our reward "after many days " Not now but in the coming years.
Gladstone on the Bible.
r * * HE late Premier of . Great Britain, celebrated as a statesman and a scholar, thus expresses himself in his "Introduction to * the People's Bible": "Heaven and eartrh shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away," As they have lived and wrought, so thev will live and work. From the teacher's chair and from the pastor's pulpit; in the hum- blest hymn that ever mounted to the car of God from beneath a cottage roof, and in the. rich, melodious, choir Of the noblest cathedral, "their sound is gone out into all lands and their words into the ends of the world. Nor here alone but in a thousand silent and unsuspected forms will they unweariedly prosecute their holy office.
Who dotibts that, times without number, particular portions of Scripture find their way to the human soul as of embassies from on high, each with its own commission of comfort, of guidance, or of warning? What crisis, what trouble, what perplexity of life has failed or can fail to draw from this inexhaustible treasure-house its proper supply? Wh at profession, what position is not daily and hourly enriched by . these words which repetition never weakens, which carry with them now, as in the days of their first utterance, the freshness of youth and immortality? When"the solitary student opens all his heart to drink them in, they will reward his toil. And in forms yet more hidden and withdrawn, in the retirement of the chamber, in the stillness of the night-season, upon' the bed of sickness, and in the face of death, the Bible will be there, its several words how often winged with their several and special messages, to heal and 1,o soothe, to uplift .and to_ uphold, to invigorate and to stir. Nay, more, perhaps than this, amid the crowds of the court or the. forum or the street, or the market place, where every thought of every soul seems to be set upon the excitements of ambition or o.f: business or. of pleasure; there, too, even there, the still small voice of the liible will be heard, and the soul, aided by some blessed-word may find wings
A Series of Soul-Winning Studies.
"HOW TO PRESENT CHRIST TO MEN."
By Rev. Robert A. Hadden.
SECOND STUDY. I. THE SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS
1. POSSESSION. The worker needs a consciousness of his position, possession and 1 power in'^Christ'Jesus; (1) ' Spiritual Life in Christ (Jno. 5:24; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph, 2:1). (2) Sins Forgiven (Eph. 1:7; Rom. 5 :1). (3) Sonship with God (Jno. 1:12; Gal. 3:26; 4:6; Rom. 8:14-16), (4) Salvation Assured (2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:5). (5) Standing in Christ and therefore inherent, inalienable, invalu- a bk rights in Him (2 Cor. 5 :17; Eph. 1:3; 2 :5-6; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:10). 2. PRACTICE. Ln addition to a consciousness of possessions in r Christ, there must
be a life that commends itself to njien (2 Tim. 2:21; Luke 4:23; 1 Pet. 3:15). 3. PERCEPTION. The worker needs perception. (1) Vision of the sinner's need (Rom. Chapters 1: 2, 3; 2 Cor. 5:11). (2) Apprehension of the soul's value (Mark 8:36). (3) Comprehension of Present Opportunity (Gal. 6:10). (4) Communication by the Spirit (Acts 8:29-30; 16:9-10). 4. PASSION. (1) Consuming love for the salvation of men (2 Cor. 5:14; Rom. 9:1-3; Jer. 9:1-3). (2) Intense zeal in laboring for the salvation of men (2 Cor. 5:20; Acts 20:31; Rom. 10:1; 1 Cor. 9:20-22; Luke 13:34; Phil. 2:25-30). 5. PRAYER. Intense, Incessant, Importunate Prayer. x (1) For yourself, as God's messenger (1 Thess. 5:17; Col. 4:3). (2) For the Word, as God's Message (2 Thess. 3:1-2; ^Eph. 6:19-20). (3). For men, as the objects of Divine "Grace (1 Jno. 5 :16). 6. PRINCIPLES. The fullest, recognition must be given to the place, power and value of the Word of God in effective service. (1) Implicit confidence in its power to meet every need. a. Produce conviction (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12; Jer. 23:29; Acts 2:37). b. Produce faith (Rom. 10:17). c. Produce the New Life and nature (1 Pet. 1:23,; Jno. 5:24). d. Produce growth, blessing and power in the young be- liever's life (Acts 20:32; 1 Pet. 2:2; Rom. 15:4; Jno. 5:39; Acts 17:11 ;-Jno. 15:7; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). (2) Ability should be sought in the definite, correct presentation of the Truth concerning salvation by faith apart from works (2 Tim. 2:15; Rom. 4:3-5; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2-5 ; 2 Tim. 4:2). , 7. POWER. (1) Filled with the Word (Col. 3:16). (2) Filled with knowledge and wisdom (Eph. 1:15-21). (3) Filled with love (1 Cor. 13:1-13; 2 Cor. 5:14; Rom. 5:5). (4) Filled with courage (Eph. 6:19-20). (5) Filled with; the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).
II. THE PRACTICAL ESSENTIALS
1. PERSONAL. (1) Personal appearance, cleanliness and neatness is of great value in personal work. (2) Dolefulness frightens men and presents no evidence of gen- uine piety. 2. PREPARATION. Prepare for service by seeking to possess a working knowledge of God's Word. Study the best books upon personal work (Torrey, Mun- hall, A. J. Smith, Evans). Organize a personal workers' class; this will aid in interest and effectiveness. 3. PUSH. Self-cotisciousness aild inertia of spirit are two great foes to service ; the worker needs to constantly spur himself to service 4. PERSEVERANCE. The worker is liable to faint because results are not always imme- diate or apparent. Patience is a splendid asset in personal work (Gal. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:58). . 5. PERSUASIVENESS. Seek to obtain an immediate decision for Christ. This is often gained by a word of encouragement on the part of the Worker. Aim at results (2 Cor. 5:11; 1 Cor. 9:20-22). 6. POINT OF CONTACT. Study men, their personal characteristics; the modes of approach,, how and when to speak and when to be silent; the art of listening as well as the power of direct, definite address. 7. PROCEDURE. (1) Deal with those of your own sex as a rule. This is important, especially if the worker is a young person. (2) . Deal with the casé privately, if possible. Do not allow other workers to interfere with urgings and directions. (3) Do not exercise undue familiarity with any one. The hands of the workers should not rest upon the shoulders or arms of the person with whom you are dealing. . (4) Find the need of the person, quickly and intelligently; do not stumble on blindly and ignorantly in dealing with men. Guess work is poor work. (5) Do not argue. (6) Exercise Christian courtesy under all circumstances. Do not say sharp things. (7) Do not fear anyone, Insults are few and far between, and will not injure the worker when they do occur.
(8) Do not hurry the work. Getting a quick decision often makes superficial work. Take time to explain the way of life. (9) Look out for the side-track. Unsaved men are familiar with it and often leave the worker upon it while they hasten on. (10 Exercise tact, be wise in approach, speech, action. Natural in, method and work. (11) Be dead in earnest, but never excited or excitable. Quietness and confidence means strength. (12) Use the open Bible in every case if possible. (13) Do not use many texts of Scripture as a rule. Two or three texts thoroughly explained and understood are of greater value than to confuse the listener. (14) Do not add anything to the Word, whether your own experi- ence or that of others. Men often get an idea that conversion must come according to the experience of the relators. • Remember that salvation is a result of faith in Christ Jesus and is not dependent upon ; the experience ot any person. (15) Pray as you work. (16) Follow the convert, encourage to public confession of ( Christ and to membership in the church. Let it be a warm-hearted evangelistic, Bible believing, Bible studying church. Beware of the church where Christians are found in cold storage the year around. Beware of the church whose pastor has the reoutation of a "sweet-spirited man" who, however, minimizes the verbally inspired Word of God. Poisons, may be sugar-coated but they sicken and kill the partaker nevertheless., Find the church where God's Word is honored, and believers are. in har- mony with one another and a long step has been taken in the producing of a strong life. B rief Thoughts For Busy Teachers.
International Sunday School Lessons By J. H. Sammis Comment "Pith and Pivot" By T. C. Horton
Lesson for February 5, 1911.
THE FIG^IT OF FAITH.
ence judgment. Deut. 28:2,15-19. In either c a s e - through fulfilled t h r e at or promise, lt should be k n o wn t h at " J e h o v ah is God,"
' i
17
l M n gs i /.
I. CRISIS IN ISRAEL. Jeroboam's 1. The key-note of Israel's existence is: calf-worship culminated -in Jezebel's B a a l- "Ye a re My witnesses," Isa. 43:10, 12. God worship. Idolatry and immorality were a t chose one people to a nd t h r o u gh whom to t h e ciimajf, J e h o v ah mu st interfere or reveal Himself to all people Deut. 7:6. abandon His purpose and leave victory with Obedience would bring prosperity, disobedi- the Lie. T h e re is ft climax wh e re the very 1 i f W » 18:37-38. 2. Climax.
Taoth. Miracles are 'inevtricatly interwoven with the record, precept, and promise. E r a se the miracle—.nothing is left to cover our nakedness. • VI. CHARACTER OF THE PROPHET. Prophets were chosen from birth, Jer. 1:4, 5; Gal. 1:15, and cultured by Providence for their special tasks. One thing they had in common— they were "holy men," 2 P e t. 1:21. Elijah was the man for his mission. A Wilderness product'—hard fare, rough rai- ment, rude shelter, he asked no more; hence no flatterer; honest, fearless, no grafter, In- dependent, morally clean, he was the man to confront a voluptuous, licentious, idola- trous royalty. A like. independence of the world, its patronage, and its substance, is (essential to faithfulness and power in all the Lord's witnesses, to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus," 2 Tim. 2:3. VII. CUTTING OFF SUPPLIES. The subjection of an enemy is only a question of time if you cut off his supplies. Impious man dares to "contend with the Al- mighty in whose hand his breath is," Dan. 5:23; Job 40:9. Like the fall of a meteor the rough-clad Bedouin (brown limbed, with streaming Nazarite locks) prophet came upon Ahab, and his word crashed on the apostate's ear, "No dew, no rain, these years, but .by word of my mouth!" 1. Can Baal give rain? Now, we know t h at to whatever a m an devotes his time, his thought, his labor, himself, t h at is his god whom he worships; Time comes when the' long-suffering of God ceases. The comforts, gratifications, satisfactions of his sin have forsaken the worldling. The word has gone forth,. "No dew,, no r.aln, these years." Can Baal save him 7 Can all t h at has been his Strength and delight avail him now? 2. Can Baal stay the ruin of those rainless days? Baal was the Sun-god. His symbol a winged disc. Can the sun quench his f ery beams till rain returns? Can the dire consequences of his sins be stayed when they ho more afford pleasure to the sinner? No; the very gods he served become his scourge.. There is no more satisfaction in his ill-got gains, his "gold is cankered," Jas. 5:3; no more pleasure in'his- cups, •his " w i ne is a mocker," Pro. 20:1; no more gratification in his lusts, "a dairt strikes through his' liver," Pro. 7:23. Baal cannot help, but he can burn. VIII. CARING FOR HIS OWN. The Lord can give at all times more than we can ask or think," Eph. 3:20. But when "His judgments are abroad in the earth," J s a. 26:20; in such crises' He is wont to show Himself faithful and His own faith-full. He supplies their need, Phi. 3:19; they t r u st contented with the necessities; Heb. 13:5: To them the cup of cold water and the daily crust are more sweet and nourishing in pro- portion as they are more grateful t h an the Servants of Baal, with the best the world can give. 1. Elijah drank of the brook, 1 Kgs. 17:6. His drink came by natural means. There is no superfluity of miracle in the Bible. Natural means are to be de- pended on where they exist. 2. He fed the birds. This was miraculous. Natural means will not always avail. For various reasons not here. A miracle was needed to feed the prophet; miracle was needed to prove his mission. He was the true legate of the
foundations of creation mu st give w ay or judgment fall on apostate Nations, Churches v or Christians. Take heed! II. CONFLICT BETWEEN JEHOVAH AND BAAL. The campaign opened with Jezebel's a t- tempt to root out the true worship. She k began to "cut off the prophets," 1 Kgs. 18:4. Multitudes mu st have suffered martyrdom. Many went into "dens and caves of the earth," 1 Kgs. 18:3, 4. The cause of t r u th seemed at an end, 1 Kgs. 19:10. The pe- culiar form of Satanic opposition toflay is * "cutting off the prophets" in the form of the Bible, and in the effort to drive out faithful teachers and replace them with the products of "higher criticism," and "mod- ern thought." Let us not kneel to Baal, 1 Kgs. 19:18. And God bless the men of wealth and influence, the Obadiahs, who stand by us, 1 Kgs. 19:10. III. CHAMPIONS OF JEHOVAH. The principals In the warfare are God and Satan, Job 1:7-12. The fight is "not " against flesh and blood," Eph. 6:12. "Truth forever on the scaffold," but in t he persons of men in the flesh. In every crisis a Noah, an Abraham, a Mqses, an Athanasius, a l.uther, a Carey, has arisen. At this time it was Elijah. His Hebrew name w as "Elljahu": Eli-(God)-Jah-(Jehovah)u, • or hu, (He). T h at is, "God-Jehovah-is-He," or "Jehovah He Is God!" the very battle cry of the age, declaring the t r u th at issue. The enemy himself confessed the f a ct at every mention of the prophet. Bible names preach Bible sermons. Hq who says, "Jesus," friend or foe, proclaims "Jehovah-He- fr! Saves." He who says "Bible," says "THE Book." IV. CALL OF THE PROPHET. The prophetic office was peculiar to Is- rael. To and through chosen men God pt spoke to them and ,to us. From the division of the kingdom the prophet was most con- spicuous as the Legate of the Court of heaven. The kings were rebellious, the Lévites and Priests were "reeds shaken by the wind," Luke 17:24, craven, crawlers at the feet of idolatrous monarchs. The prophet was sent to oall t h em to repentance, to rebukè idolatry; to denounce, and visit judg- ment upon them: From the first, kings found that they could not lay hands on prophets with impunity; prophets, t h at they mu st implicitly obey orders; and all that they did and said was to be what they re- ceived direct from the Lord and not from men, or even an angel from heaven, 1 Kgs. 13:4, 18, 24. There* is much in all this for us. Dig it out. V. CREDENTIALS OF THE PROPHET. Wilfully deaf to the witness of Nature, Providence and Conscience, men mu st be left to their perversity or thundered at by the Supernatural, the Miraculous. God ac- credited His legates by signs and wonders. Miracles mu st not be judged a p a rt from the context, but mu st be viewed as part of thé Wonderful Book, wrought for the world-saving Self-revelatlon of God. They are works of r righteous judgment, or of tender mercy, accrediting holy words of holy men. You cannot say, "This goods is part cotton. I will draw the cotton threads and w e ar the wool." If so you would destroy fr t
•
true God, who was ministered to by the fowl of the air; who could shut or open the windows of heaven at will. 3. The brook failed, but the Lord did not fail. He could have brought w a t er f r om the rocks, Num. 20:11; b ut He had other resources and other plans, 1 Kgs. 17:8, 9. 4. He brings help from most unexpected sources, 1 Cor. 1:27- 29; (1) "water out of the flinty rock," Psa. 78:16. (2) Food from the ravens, unclean birds, yet used to feed a Nazarlte; thievish birds, yet sharing their plunder; carnivor- ous birds, yet bringing the flesh and grain with it. Or was it some miraculous, an- gelic food, like the manna, Ex. 16:15; the fish on the shore, Jno. 20:9; or the n u t r i- tious meal under the juniper tree? 1 Kgs. 19:5, 6. (3) Refuge and entertainment in Jezebel's own fatherland, 1 Kgs. 16:31; 17:9. (4) A table for many months spread by a poor widow who was on the verge of star- vation! "Who h a th known the mind of the Lord? Or who h a th been His counsellor?" Rom. ,11:34. " T r u st in H im at all times," H is opportunity is our extremity. We make our prayer and measure our expectation by the probability, or apparent possibilities. These have nothing to do with it. "All things are possible with God," Mark 10:27, and the most improbable is the most prob- able. If you have spurned favor from God you will be expected to exercise special faith In God. The Lord takes care of His own. "Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure," Isa. 33:16. "In the day of famine they shall be satisfied," Psa.' 37:19. "The righteous are ijever forsaken," Psa. 37:25. In the wilderness and in the widow's home God supplied all his need. The- oil of the Spirit and the meal of His Word are better t h an the food from - the king 's table. In daily dependence upon His Divine care we learn the lessons which fit us for further service. No - m a t t er through - w h at channels our needs are supplied, the claws of a bird or the hand of a widow, they all come by H is grace and from H is gracious hand. H e ' a l so serves who only stands and waits. Daily touch with the- throne encouraged Elijah to exercise- supernatural power in the rais- ing of the dead. A m an may be limited in his sphere of service, but there is no limit to his influence if he lives for God. I. BETWEEN THE LESSONS. See how it f a r es with them who t r u st the Lord, Psa. 84:11; in danger He hides {hem, 1 Kgs. 18:4; in famine He feeds them, Psa. 33:19; in exile He favors, Dan> 1:9; in blessing He ma k es t h em a blessing. Gen. 12:2. Better t h an fill the cruse and replenish the barrel, H e causes t h at they never go empty. Give us the cruse and the bin t h at never fail; others may have the mouldering surplus. Wealth takes wings, Pro. 23:5; God's daily morsel is self-perpetu- atlng. Israel had no famine in the Wilder- ness. God gave the portion of. a day in its day. It was a f t er silver was as stones JEHOVAH VERSUS BAAL. 1 Kgs. 18:1-40.
IX. COMPENSATION. Cups of cold water given to a disciple get their reward. .Note: . 1. The widow recognized Elijah as a prophet of Jehovah. 2. She believed God's word through the prophet, Gentile though she was. 3. She gave him the cup though the w a t er was scant. 4. She did more t h an share her last crust; she gave him all, 1 Kgs. 17:13-15. 5. At his word she went back to her empty "cruse" and "barrel" t o ma ke another. 6. She found a fresh supply. 7. She found it every day as did Israel in the Wilderness, as we have all our lives. Shall we please the Lord by the same charity and the same faith, in the same hope, with Elijah's loyalty and Elijah's courage? ' Let me tell you a story about one of God's ravens. A pious widow whose barrel w as empty, knelt with her children and prayed to the God of Elijah. There was a knock a t the door. The little son opened it and there stood an old gentleman dressed in a black suit. "Are you God's raven ?" cried the boy. "Wh at do you m e a n ?" said the old gentleman. "Wh y ," w as the reply, "we have no bread and mother prayed t h at God would send His ravens t h at we might be fed." "Yes," said the visitor, "I am God's raven." It is worth while to be an humble lay- m an like Eli • ha and bear a message f r om the King of Kings. Any man ought to be able to go fresh from the presence of God and look an earthly potentate in the face and say, " T h us saith the Lord." Faith makes a man fearless. Elijah was a man of like passions, yes, but also of unlike passions. For he had a passion for service. The t r u th is -not popular. No crowd cheers a pessimist, but truth is mighty and must prevail. God gives power for testimony and patience in testing. It was easier to tell an unpleasant tale' to Ah ab t h an it was to take food from a carrion bird: When Elijah shut up the heavens he. shut off his h uman source of supplies,, but he did not shut out God. The lonely life of the prophet by the brook is more remarkable t h an his meteoric message to Ahab. The Lord spoke as the sovereign of the universe through Elijah, but he be- came the shepherd to Elijah. He did not want. in the streets of Jerusalem t h at famine failed. "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked," Deut. 32:15. Geo. Mueller's board was never bare. H js multitudes of orphans fed there sixty years. They "lived from hand to mouth," because the hand was God's hand, and no "middle-man" between. F r om mouth to hand, because they asked and God gave. Hudson Taylor would have no fund but God's promise, and his a r my of mission- aries were supplied. II. ELIJAH AND THE DEAD. Jehovah can keep alive In famine, and bring alive from death. Baal could do neither. Wh at Israel rejects the Gentile? M i fe J f f i ^ meat," Mat. 15:27; Rom 11.11, 12. 1. The widow's son fell sick and
Pith and Pivot—T. C. H.
Lesson for February 12, 1911
saking "the Fountain of Living Wa t e r s" see to w h at straits they came. • Provision for man and provender for beasts alike failed. The poor brute shares the curse. In Nineveh they wore the sack-cloth, Jon. 3:7. They "are subject to vanity (Baal), but not willingly," Rom. 8:20. Pity the poor brutes abused by m a n 's brutality. 3. "Be- hold, Elijah," v. 8. Obadiah dreaded the mission. A price was on Elijah's head; would he not lose his own should he allow the prophet's escape? 4. "I will surely shew myself." They need not fear who are sent of God. Luther would brave the powers a t Rheims "though devils were ma ny a s tiles on the house tops." H ad he "business a t Metz" he would go though "it should rain Prince Georges nine days." , V. ELIJAH AND AHAB. 1. "Art thou he?" All sinners dull in sensibility to their sin lay the fault' to oth- ers. 2. Not I, "but thou." So N a t h a n, "Thou art the ma n ," 1 Sam. 12:6. 3. "Send and gather." Elijah commands Ahab. T r u th is not "always on the scaffold." It has al- ways a. voice of authority. And kings at last bow to it wijl they or nil they. VI. ELIJAH AND "THE PEOPLE. 1. "How long do you halt (limp, .hop to a n d fro) between two opinions?" "The peo- ple answered not a word," v. 21. No argu- ment can be made in favor of indecision where God and the soul are in question. 2. One against a multitude, Elijah proposes to abide the issue of a great miracle. It was too reasonable to condemn, and the people confessed "It is well spoken." VII. ELIJAH AND THE PROPHETS OF BAAL. '1. The Baalites. (1) Set up their altar, (if) They prepared their sacrifice. (3) They made their frantic petitions. (4) They whirled in their dervish dances to exhaus- tion. (5) They cut themselves till the blood ran. But there was (6) "no voice," "no an- swer:" "none regarded." They failed while —2. Elijah (1) He taunted t h em as they de- served—"You must- cry louder, he is a god, but a little deaf; or his attention is di- verted by other business; or he is on a journey, or taking a nap." God pity the souls t h at have gods like that when the ordeal comes! (2) He called the people near to test his preparations and the results. (3) He rebuilt the old altar. (4) H e used twelve stones, as later twelve "barrels of water," to show thkt Jehovah ignored the division of the nation. If He is to be known as the One God it shall be of the One people. C5) They slew and cut the bullock into its parts, and drenched the whole with water to (a) show t h at there was no deception-, (b) to greaten the effect of the miracle, (c) - to show (?) t h at God saves by blood and w a t er »rid flre. 1 Jno. 5:8; Jno. 19:34, 35; Acts 2i3. (6) He prayed; no frenzy, no physical demonstration, no cutting or abusing his flesh, just a juiet word with t h e' Lord in desire for the Lord's honor, and corrobora- tion. (7) The fire fell. (8) There was a complete demonstration. (9) F or the obedi- ence of the law, the vindication of justice, the Tm*-i'i1<"iticm of the land,' the preserva- tion of the faith, Baal's prophets were promptly and utterly exterminated. " J e- hovah, He is God," " E l i - J a h - H u ."
t
died,
1 Kg. 17:11.
W as this the reward
for her faith and charity? No; H e - had some better thing for her, Jno. 11:3, 4. 2. * Grief quickened her conscience. Great blessings, Luke 5:8; dangers, Jon. 1:12; griefs, 1 Kgs. 17:17, 18; strongly affect con- science. I saw a mother fling herself over t he coffin of her only son and cry, "O Willie, i Willie, if it had not been for your wicked * mother you would not have . been here!" , 3. The prophet prays with great power and k ' brevity, "My God," "brought evil," "on " widow," "thy servant's" entertainer? 4. "Three times." So the Lord, Matt. 26:44; 4 and Paul, 2 Cor. 12:8. "Men ought always to pray and not faint," Luke 18:1. 5. "The soul of the child came again." The soul lives "absent from the body," 2 Cor. 5:8; 12:2. 6. "See, thy son liveth." H a p py mother. There Will be millions of t h em K bye and bye. 7. "By this I know." The great unequivocal proof is the resurrection. Our never-failing cruse and barrel are silf- c flcient—but "life from the dead" is God 's peculiar signet. * 111. ELIJAH AND JEHOVAH. 1. God remembers His people. "In the third year," "On the third day," ("In the third dispensation"), 1 Kgs. 18:1; 1 Cor. 15:4; Hos. 6:1. 2. "Shew thyself." All times and events are in God's power. On a certain day He shut Noah in, on another He brought him forth, Gen. 7:13; 8:14-16; "in due time He sent forth His Son, "Gal. 4:4; and there is a "day and hour" when He will show Himself. . . ,. 3. ."I . will send rain." " He will not always chide, neither will He keep His anger forever," Psa. 103:9. We see t h at He relents before • Israel" repents. Since He turns to us ere we turn to Him how sure we may bei of a kind reception! Matt. 11:28-30. And God's purpose precedes Elijah's prayer. Praying Is In God's planning. He shall pray at God's Word and God will answer at his word. God moves Elijah to pray and Elijah moves God to act. We may not understand it, b ut so God has planned, and "the foolishness of God is wiser than men," 1 Cor. 1:25. Pray- ers and ploughs are alike in this, t h at bo.th . precede the blessing by the ordinance of the * Lord. 4. "And there was a sore famine In Pamarla." Wh e re was Ahab, the king? Where w as Baal, the god? Kings and gods should prevent famines. In all Samaria WPS there not " a handful of meal in a b a r- t rel," was there not "a little oil in a cruse?" So we must not put t r u st in princes, Psa. "nd idols, arc, nothings, Psa. 96:5. There had been no famine in Cherith; no want at Zarephath's widows. ^ IV. ELIJAH AND OBADIAH. 1 "Obadiah governor of his house." "Oba- diah" means "servant of Jehovah." Ahab preferred a servant of Jehovah to a servant of P a a l: Nebuchadnezzar a Daniel to a prince of Babylon. Ungodly employers are glad of eodly employees. Such should not ¿shore their u n s r d ly deeds. Obedlah "hid" and "fed" whom Ahab meant to kill. Take the n -,ij|p n[ an "Obadiah;" do the deeds of an Oh«d1ah. He "feared God greatly" and dared the wrath of the king bravely, for h« ^ffwred H im more "who when he had Mlled had power" to do worse, Luke 12:5. f o d ly servants are first servants of God. 2" "Find grass to save the horses, v. 6. For- • f •
Pith and Pivot—T. C. H.
with the consciousness t h at our God,, will s t a nd the test. C o n t r a st E l i j ah with - the palavering priests of- Baal. Compare! their prayers. T he m a n who h as the key:'.to heaven knows where thè fire is a nd how to ' bring it down. T he ffiìsè priests pfayed their p a rt well, they pranced a nd prayed, they cried and called, they p e r f o r m ed and prophecled, b ut t h e re was nothing doing. H ow vain, how foolish, how empty, It' all is when the spectacular of falsé systems is over. The h u n g ry heart,,, is left without comfort and cheer, when the, soul seeks some confirmation of its f a i th to have n o t h- ing b ut the chill. Of silent, Speechless goda of stone. God compels m a n to a choice. Behind -every false god is the face of , the f a t h er of lies, and it is a l w a ys a nd only a question of serving God or Satan. T h a nk Gpd for • every incident or occasion t h at forces m en a nd women t o show their colors a n a to declare their faith. Wh en m en test their gods they will know w h e t h er they a re t r ue or false. Our God will honor oùr f a i th befòre an unbelieving world if we give H i m the opportunity. drives for his life.. It sepms as if E t e r n al Righteousness• can scarcely keep its hand off him; and a t least will n ot spare .without a, scare. 6. "Ahab told Jezebel." (1) W h at " E l i j ah had done,"—why not w h a t Jehovah had done? (2), " H ow he h ad slain all the prophets,"^-why. not how we had slain all the imposters? Because t he i n f a t u a t ed m an preferred to accuse r a t h e r. t h a n , e x c u se the prophet. , It,, FLYING FOR 1 LIFE. 11 Again Elijah is in flight.' Jézebèl bound herself with a g r e at cursë; ;, -Aeti3 23:14,'to send him a f t er t he . prophets of Baal, and E l i j a h ' d id not stop till breathless he Oast hifnself u n d er a desert s h r ub ninety miles away, and wished, like Jonah, ~ to' die', : Jon. 4:3. And it s e e ms for mu ch the same reason, the failure of his testimony. B ut WV are' to preach a n d leave our réputation and' our success with H im who sends us. 2. Did Elijah flee this time (1 Kgs. 17:2, 3) without orders? It looks so. No' wonder he is in despair, and ; Without ah o b j e ct in 'life. Wh e re w a s t h at Elijahic faith t h at alone could h'ave averted a panic? May wè have wis- dom to seek the ephod a t every crisis, 1 Sam. 30:7, ,8 (but see 21:12). '2. But lest we wrong a faithful man: N a t u re itSelt in- structively counsels flight where no" clear reason a p p e a rs for s t a n d i ng our ground. "Flee ye to a n o t h e r ," said the Lord, Matt. 10:23;,.and H e did so, L u ke 4:30; and Paul fled from place to. plaSè," Aàts 'It: 10. ' " H e whô fights and r u ns tiWay lives ' t ô fight a n o t h er day." III., LONGING TO DIE. The prophet sèems to have becqme thor- oughly disheartened. Most preachers, h a ve their "blue Mondays." B ut the ablest, and bravest of men have beep s u b j e ct tip oc- casional despondency. . E v en "Christian" and "Hopeful," at that, are liable to. fall into the h a n ds of " t he . Giant Despair." There ; did iseçm >to be reason ,in .Elijah's ease. If so g r e at a. demcmstratipn, ,,an& so u n a n i mo us and h e a r t y ,a confession'did nôt
F r om the day t h at Cain built an altar of hewn s t o n e s - a nd presented to t he Lord , a bloodless' offering, down to this day, the devil h as been busy Inventing s h am religions a nd setting u p false' gods. T he devil is God's ape a nd is always found at t he old stand, doing business in the old fashioned devilish way. Men seem to enjoy being hoodwinked. T he h e a rt of m a n t u r ns n a t - urally ' from the God of all grace to the gods of all grades; - E l i j ah compelled a crises in Israel. H e issued a command to Aliab which forced a contest of faith. Elijah wen t u p a g a i n st the king, the princes, the prophets a nd the people. H e staked his all on a single test. There Is something splendid in holy boldness. You see it in Moses before P h a r a o h, Samuel before Saul, Daniel before the King, P e t er before the Jewish, leaders and P a ul before Agrippa. We ought to see it often in these days w h en t h e r e' are ,',so m a ny opportunities to prove t h at J e h o v ah Is the u n c h a n g i ng mighty One. * " ' , . , , S Men and womeii of God ought to be able to challenge the whote tribe of " i t e s" f r om Cainites to- t h e Eddyites to a t r i a l. of f a i th .FROM . CARMEL TO HOREB. Kgs. 18:41: 19:18. I. THE DROUTH BROKEN. >1. Agreat victory over Baal had been won. By this bannered s i g n, the prophet con- quered, " E l i - J a h - H u ," " J e h o v ah He is God!" T he Lord accepted: the, confession a s a renewal of t he broken covenant. H e poured out the showers of material bless- ing. T h at confession is Peter's, " T h ou art\_ the. Christ!", Matt. 16:16; It is our entrance;'; into the- covenant, Matt. 16:18; It will be ; Israel's confession preceding the end of their, long drouth, Acts 2:15-24. 2. Elijah's Word to ,Ahab, v. 41.' W h en a m a n gets right with God it .is his privilege to "eat, drink a nd be me r r y / '. L u ke 15:32; for a b u n- dance of grace is to follow. A h ab w as not right,- b ut it is the sequel t h at shows that. God took him a t his word so far. 3. "There is sound of abundance of rain,". F a i th not only sees thè invisible, b ut it h e a rs the in- audible. Elijah k n ew w h at we should all know: t h at to fulfill , the Lord's conditions is a sure g u a r a n t ee t h at H e Is about to, ful- fill His promise, Lev., 26:42. 4. While they feasted Elijah, climbed the promontory to greet the coming blessing:; to w a t ch a nd pray. Six t i m es he bowed in p r a y e r; t h e seventh time his servant reported a - "cloud like a m a n 's h a n d ." It w as the Lord's' h a nd a nd as f r om the p a lm a nd fingeis of the s t a t ue a t the public fountain in Cincin- nati it poured" t he blessed waters. Oh, for t he a p p e a r a n ce of such-a, sign today. Wh o se p r a y er is a s Elijah's? Wh o se e y e ' i s like his servants? 5. "Prepare!!'. Once more Ahab obeys t he p r o p h et of thè ] Lesson for February 18, 1911
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