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ever others may do, let us not forget to pray (cf. 2 Chron. 7:14)!
1rs AN IDEA This idea will help to keep the missionary passion burn ing in the hearts of our mem- bers»(Matt. 28:18-20). I V / Idea 1. “Glow”— In t h i s glow-meeting aft impressive service of /worship can be worked out w i t h candles; Have as your theme: “ Glow of C h r i s t i a n Testimony” (Matt. 5:16; Lk. 24:32). . ’ Idea 2. "G r o w ”— In thé grow-meeting B i b l e ’ Study should be emphasized. The spiritual growth of the society and of the members should be studied (2 Tim. 2:15; A c t s 2:42-47). • Idea 3. “Go” — T h e go- meeting can be of great in terest. Have an opening song and prayer, then each mem ber g o e s out and brings another young person back to C. E.—and to Christ if the other is not a Christian. • ' Idea 4. “S h o w ” — Show your church that your society is really alive. Have a mis sionary social in which dif ferent countries are represent ed by booths or decorations. Costume, program, and re freshments can all take on the “ round the world” effect. Call it, “ A Tournament of Na tions.”—Carlton C. Buck.
JULY 9, 1944 REAL IZ ING AMER ICA ’S CHRISTIAN RESOURCES
D euteronomy 8:1-20 By Chester J. Padgett
There is probably no other nation under .heaven that possesses such tre mendous spiritual possibilities as does America. Our great nation with its abundance of churches, trained spir itual leaders, Bible schools, Christian colleges, and theological seminaries could shake the world for Christ, if God’s conditions for spiritual power were fully met. Yet true Christians shamefully acknowledge that Ameri ca’s vast reservoir of spiritual re sources is not being utilized, and the church gives \little evidence of meet ing the need of the present hour. There are reasons for the church’s im potence, and when her inertia is ex amined in the light of Deuteronomy 8, these reasons become apparent. For Those Who Have Topics I. PROFIT AND POWER THROUGH * : EXPERIENCE (vs. 2-6). It was a "sad experience through which the Lord led His people for forty years in the wilderness; yet, God worked it out to their good, and in the trial of their faith He developed them for future usefulness. America’s wilderness experience of this present time may teach her thé same lessons learned by the Hebrews of old. 1. The lesson of' humility (v. 2a). Spiritual power w ill come when Amer ica confesses her awful sins of na tional pride, self-sufficiency, worldli ness, and ungodliness. 2. The lesson of honesty with God (v. 2b). America is being proved; her soul is being laid in the open. 3. The lesson of spiritual hunger (v. 3). America is suffering from mal nutrition of the soul; she must awake to her soul hunger, and begin to feast on the Word of God. 4. The lesson of heaven’s power (v. 4). God’s power is always made per fect in man’s weakness. Let America learn that her sufficiency is of God, if her spiritual resources would be loosed. 5. The lesson of a heavenly Father (v. 5). God chastens those whom He loves. The true Church must arise and return to the Father’s house ere the blessing falls. II. PROFIT AND TOWER THROUGH GRATITUDE (vs. 7-18). 1. America is a “good land,” and she is the gift of God to her people.
Evelyn Reeves
“ Almighty God, we make our ear nest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to gov ernment; and to entertain a brotherly love and affection for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And, finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the char acteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a hum ble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation.. “Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Read Psa. 33:12; Prov. 14:34.) Washington said, “The propitious smiles of heaven can never be ex pected upon a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which heaven itself has ordained.” IV. OUR CIVIL WAR PRESIDENT. In some of the darkest days that our country ever saw, back in 1863, the Senate of the United States, by resolu tion, called upon the President to set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation. Abraham Lincoln then issued .a proclamation calling upon the nation to return to the God it had forgotten, and to go to its knees in prayer. The day of' prayer came on April 30, 1863. Within less than two months after the nation went to its knees, the decisive victories came that turned the tide and saved the nation from the disastrous calamity that threatened it. In this hour of distress, which is world-wide, both among the nations, and in the church of Jesus Christ, is it not time for all the people to seek God in humility and prayer? Other wise, is there any real hope? What
Let us acknowledge the good hand of God upon us. 2. Prosperity often leads men to for get the gqo,dness of God (vs. 11-16). Spiritual resources are thus made in effective. 3. Prosperity often leads men to be lifted up of heart, ahd to boast of what their might and power have gained for them (vs. 14-17). Let Amer ica remember that there is no might, power, or ability that is not from Him (v. 18): 4. Lack of gratitude to God will bring destruction to pur nation iii th* end; it has happened to all other un grateful peoples (vs. 19, 20). III. PROFIT AND POWER THROUGH OBEDIENCE (v. 1). . If Christian people of our land will obey the Word of God, and if they will set themselves to do the will of God, our spiritual resources w ill be unstopped and the flood of the Spirit’s power w ill sweep over the land.
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