pem&a
Monthly publication of the BIOLA FELLOWSHIP
TheBibleInstituteHour Dial Areas & Station Location
B I O L A broadcaster
Time Days
CALIFORNIA
Bakersfield-Wasco KWSO Chico-Marysville KHSL Eureka
1050 9:30 A.M. MTWTF
1290 8:30 A.M. Sun.
VOL. 1
NC
790 8:00 A.M. Sun. 1430 1 8:00 A.M. Sun. . 1130 9:30 A.M. MWF 940 9:00 P.M. MWF 1390 11:00 A.M. MTWTF 1390 1:00 A.M. MTWTF 1490 9:00 A.M. MTWTF MTWTF 8:30 A.M. MTWTF 1460 9:00 A.M.
KDAN
8
El Centro KAMP Fresno-Dinuba KFRE Los Angeles KRDU
AUGUST, 1961
KYTM
Los Angeles-Long Beach KGER Los Anqeles-Burbank KBLA Los Angeles KGER
CONTENTS
PATTERN FOR CHRISTIAN LIV ING ............................. PAUL: CONVERSION SUPREME STORYTIME ......................... CONVERSION: "A L L THINGS BECOME N E W " ...... ......... THE PROBLEM OF PRAYERLESSNESS .......... .
107.5 (FM)
KBBI
. 3 . 6
Oxnard-Ventura-Santa Barbara KOXR
910 8T30 A.M. MWF
Sacramento KEBR
10:00 A.M. MWF
(FM)
0
Redding-Red Bluff KSDA San Bernardino San Diego XEMO San Francisco KOFY San Francisco KGO San Francisco San Luis Obispo KVEC Turlock KEAR KITO
8:00 A.M. MTWTF MWF 8:00 A.M. MTWTF MTWTF
1400
1290 8:30 A.M.
.10
860
1050 9:00 A.M.
.14 .16 .23 .24 .26 .28 .30
810 9:00 P.M. MWF
MTWTF
10:30 A.M.
97.3 (FM)
920 7:30 A.M. Sun. 'MW F 1390 8:30 A.M.
THE AM ER IC AN
KTUR
SEX REVOLUTION
OREGON
Albany-Eugene KWIL KWIL Ashland-Medford
790 8\00 A.M. MTWTF 790 3:00 A.M. MTWTF MWF 1350 8:00 A.M.
KRVC KBND
Bend
8:30 A.M. Sun
1110
Coauille-Coos Bay KWRO Klammath Falls
JOHN: COPESTONE OF
MWF
630 8:30 A.M.
.34
1150 9:00 A.M. Sun.
KAGO
MTWTF
800 11:30 A.M.
KPDQ
WASHINGTON
Blaine-Vancouver, B.C.
MTWTF
SREÄHeO KFRE 50,000 watts 810 kc 940 kc STAFF Editor ....... ..... Ruth D. Gill Supervision . Thomas E. Steele Production .........Al Sanders Printing ..... .....Church Press Published monthly by the Radio Dept. BIBLE INSTITUTE OF LOS ANGELES 558 S. Hope St, Los Angeles 17, Cal.
550 11:30 A.M.
KARI
Pasco
_
1340 9:00 P.M. MTWTF
KPKW
Seattle-Tacoma KGDN
630 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
Spokane KCFA KCFA
1330 11:30 A.M. MTWTF 1330 5:30 P.M. MTWTF
Walla Walla KTEL Wenatchee KUEN
1490 8:00 A.M. MWF
900 10:30 A.M. MWF
Yakima KUTI
Sun.
8:00 A.M.
980 OTHER
STATES
Caldwell-Boise
_____
910 8:30 A.M. MTWTF
KBGN
Denver KLIR
8:30 A.M. Tues.-Thurs.
990
‘
__. „ .. - 3:30 P.M. Tues.
Lapeer, Michigan
1230
WMPC
Pueblo-Coiorado Springs KFEL 970
8:30 A.M. MWF
^ Ï o Ï e P
1280
8:00 A.M. MTWTF
TU| S " r
1490
9:00 A.M. MTWTF
the whole Bible, especially giving at tention to the New Testament. How ever, you do not realize that this great Apostle to the Gentiles is, in a sense, the leader of your faith. Of course, Christ is the head, the cornerstone! Stop and think a minute. Whom did (continued on next page) 3
that this radio series is going to highlight the Apostle Paul in your spiritual thinking and
W e t r u s t
lives, as the supreme Christian and evangelical leader. Paul is the evangel ical Christian’s religious authority and example in his Christian living. Many reading this have their faith based on
willingness of Peter to eat with the Gentiles; about this Paul testified, “I rebuked Peter to his face, for he was to be blamed.” These statements are not an effort to belittle the Apostle Peter for he was quite a testimony, but the New Testa ment shows clearly that he was not Christ’s chief witness. Paul now becomes the name before us. Jesus said of Paul that he should "Pray, Give or Go" Three things the Master hath to do, And we who serve Him here below And long to see His kingdom Come May pray or give or go. He needs them all— the Open Hand The willing feet, the Praying Heart— To work together and to weave A three-fold cord that shall not part. Nor shall the giver count his gift As greater than the worker's deed, Nor he in turn his service boast Above the prayers that voice the need. Not all can Go; not all can Give To speed the message on its way, But young or old, or rich or poor, Or strong or weak— we all can Pray. Pray that the gold-filled hands may Give To arm the others for the fray; That those who hear the call may Go, And Pray— that other hearts may Pray! bear His name before the Gentiles. Galatians 2:8 says that Peter was to work effectively taking the Gospel to the circumcision — the Jews; while Paul was to take it to the Gentiles ■— the uncircumcision. Peter wrote two books of the New Testament — I and II Peter, which are full of comfort and instruction. Paul wrote 14 books of the New Testament. Paul, the supreme Christian, is evangelical Christianity’s true leader and chief teacher. 4
God use in the most effective way, to spread the Gospel? It was not John, although he is called the beloved disciple and wrote his majestic Gospel. It was not Matthew who wrote the longest record of Jesus’ life, full of prophetic passages concerning the Mes siah. Peter was often the spokesman for the disciples but it was probably because of his impetuosity — he was not always right and was rebuked by Jesus. Sev eral times he assumed authority only to have our Lord chide him. A case in point might be noted when the Lord said He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, high priests and scribes and be killed; but, He would be raised from the dead on the third day. Peter boastfully de clared to the effect, “I am your repre sentative now and I will not let this happen to you.” Jesus quickly turned, and with judgment on His holy brow said, “Get thee behind me Satan”, or as one translator gives it, “get out of my way you Satan for this view of yours is not from God but from men.” Just a short time before this Peter had pleased the Lord with his great con fession, “Thou art the Christ.” But we must remember that Christ gave Peter the keys — yes, but not to the church, nor of heaven, for heaven — spoken of in Matthew 16 is the seal of Christian profession and Peter obedi ently used the keys to open the door of Christianity for the Jews on the Day of Pentecost . . . read Acts 2:38-42. Peter later did the same for the Gentiles in the home of Cornelius, a Roman cen- turian — read Acts 10:34-36. After fulfilling his commands and opening the door of the kingdom to Jew and Gentile, Peter fades out of the pic ture, never after assuming authority. It was James, not Peter who presided over the first great Council of the Church at Jerusalem. Paul gives ac count of a startling occurrence in his Galatian Epistle, 2:11-14 — of the un
We rejoice in Peter as in the rest of the Apostles, but we want to plead the supremacy of Paul now. So many folk write and say that Christ is so high and holy that they despair of ever being like Him. Look at Christ in Paul, that will help you. Paul is a pattern; Jesus is an example. But there is a divine excellency in Christ which we would do well to read in I Peter 2:21-23: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also' suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not . . .” Dr. Stalker suggests that Christ, to the average Christian, is as a picture by Raphael to the untrained eye. Not having an intelligent appreciation of great Art, I would have to have a simple landscape with trees, etc., for complete enjoyment. Christ was God incarnate; Paul was a demonstration of Christ’s- indwelling and directing imperfect human person ality. By the way, isn’t that what we all are? We’re just sinners saved by grace. Apart from the indwelling pres ence of Christ we have no degree of perfection. Study what Christ did with Paul and you will have a picture of what He can do with you and me. Paul was not always a perfect Christian. In his zeal for God he quarrelled with Barnabas—Acts 15—and lost his temper before the High Priest — Acts 23. How ever, Paul had sufficient grace in his heart to apologize to the High Priest. There is another word from Paul that is significant — “Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ.” Astounding, isn’t it? Egotism? No, it was not that ■— Christ had ordained him as an example. Paul could say, as could any other born- again Christian, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
West Berlin "Seeing-Eye” Controls Busy Traffic (Illustration from Biola broadcast) The FBI recently reported on the ingenius television traffic control used by West Germany. TV cameras, located at strategic places throughout the city, are able to spot any existing problems. Im mediately patrol cars are dispatched to these areas. So, seated at a desk
Munich's traffic is kept moving smoothly from this control room at police headquarters. in the control department of Police Headquarters, one officer can keep track of busy intersections through out the city. Doesn’t it stand to reason that if
TV camera, beyond woman standing at right end of crowd, transmits traffic situation. one mere man can devise a system whereby he may keep track of var ious events in various parts of one city, how much more can an in finite God watch over His children in every part of the world. God’s ear is not heavy that He cannot hear nor His eyes closed that He cannot see. 5
AUGUST RADIO MESSAGES
by Dr. William Ward Ayer And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.” Now the unique calling and power of Paul’s Christian life begins on the Damascus road at midday when a light more brilliant than that of the Syrian sun shone round about him. Paul lost his sight and found his Lord! A most unusual conversion! Many years ago in a religious confer ence in Illinois, a certain University professor attempted to explain Paul’s Damascus road experience as a sort of delusion that came to him. The pro fessor declared that the Apostle had suffered a sunstroke while traveling and only imagined that he had seen Jesus. This vision transformed the per secutor into a zealous A p o s t l e , so claimed the professor. An elderly minister, hearing the ex planation arose and suggested that the professor hurry back to his University in Chicago and get the faculty out in the sun that they, too, might share the blessed sunstroke of the Apostle Paul. I believe that the Apostle had sun stroke, but rather Son stroke. He met Christ on the road to Damascus. When some claim to have had Paul’s experience in conversion today, they must be reminded that our risen and glorified Lord does not appear to sin- 6
SUM P so m a n avenues in their supremacy flow out^fem his conversion — which was the flBkiediate work of our Lord — but, at tSjfinoment, it is the supremacy of Paul HBiis conversion which I now wish to SHsent for your thinking. For oifjjHuitial look into the sublime work of Hm Lord with Paul, let us turn to the iBBh chapter of the Book of Acts. TnMrerses given here are to re fresh yoflBnnd for clarity of our study to g e th e r» “And S a u l , yet breathing out threatBBkigs and. slaughter against the dSg iles of the Lord, went unto the h o n e s t . AncSBkesired of him letters to DamaUms to the synagogues, that if he fom flj any of this way, whether they mKk men or women, he might bring H m bound unto Jerusalem. And ai "he journeyed, he came near DarruqKs: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: AnM B fell to the earth, and heard a voice toying unto him, Saul, Saul, why j^mecutest thou me? Aru ttt? said, Who art thou, Lord? And f l Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to k i^ ^ a in s t the pricks.
ners and astound them now as then. The reason is that the dispensation of the grace of God is one of faith and not of sight. “. . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). But Paul’s conversion experience is both unique and supreme. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself won Paul, he is the ascended Lord’s only convert. After the ascension of Christ, everyone else was converted by the preaching of others. At Pentecost, Peter’s preaching influenced 3,000 Christward. Again, Paul stands supreme in con version because his condition was that of the hardest type of sinner to reach for Christ. In I Timothy 1:15, Paul refers to himself as the chief of sinners . . . this seems somewhat puzzling in the light of his declaration in Philip- pians 3:4-6 w h e r e the outstanding righteousness of Paul is laid before us by him. He says, “. . . as touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Now how do you reconcile that with his declaration of being the chief of sinners? Here is the solemn truth relative to the two declarations. Paul’s sin was the sin of Pharisaism, of self sufficiency and self righteousness. Self-righteousness is, in God’s sight, the blackest of sin. It is hard to reach the Pharisees for Christ; it is comparatively easy to reach the Publicans. General Henry Booth found it easier to win souls from the slums of London than did the ministers who preached to the upper stratum of society. When Mr. Moody was in Eng land a Pharisaical Christian said to him, “Mr. Moody, I do hope you will do something for the godless poor.” “Yes,” replied the evangelist, “but the greater need is to do something for the godless rich.” Hell will doubtless be filled with respectable people — they are the chief sinners of the day as well as Paul’s. During my pastorate in a University town in Indiana, I was privileged to (continued on next page)
A sacred trust my Lord to me has given: The wealth is His; to use it is my task. Whether 'neath skies all bright or tempest-riven His service leads, It is not mine to ask; He tells me not how long the time shall be Till He shall deem It best to call me home: I only hear Him saying unto me, "Occupy thou until I come." He does not say that I may choose my toil And only do the things that please me best; Nor does He tell me when I’ve served a while That I may lay His armour by and rest; But he asks for calm endurance to the end, Alike through joy or pain, through light or gloom, And promises to be my Guide, and Friend; So I must occupy until He come. How dare I then, enwrap the precious pounds In folds of uselessness, and lay aside! On every side rich fields of toil abound Where they may be increased and glorified. I may not understand why He to me Gives but perchance one talent, while to some He gives the five or ten; yet faith fully Must I still occupy until He come. Why should if matter whether one or ten, Since all are His, and but a trust retained To use for Him until He comes again To see how much my toil for Him has gained? But it does matter whether I, at last, Among the faithless meet a bitter doom, Or hear Him say to me, "W ell done! Thou hast Been faithful unto Me until I come!"
7
"Evening Questionnaire" This features an interesting eve ning questionnaire — something that would be well for all of us to consider at day’s end. It was writ ten by a saint of God, John Fletcher, who was known until the day of his death as the “sainted Fletcher.” This "pointed look at ourselves should profit each of us. The points to pon der are: Did I awake and think on things of spiritual value? Was 1 watchful in keeping my mind from wandering to worldly mat ters? Have I, this day, gotten nearer to God in prayer, or have I given way to a lazy, idle spirit? Has my faith been weakened by un- watchfulness, or quickened by diligence? Have I walked by faith, and seen God in all things? Have I made the most of my time as far as I had light, strength and opportunity? Have 1 denied myself in all unkind words and thoughts? Have I been delighted in seeing others preferred? What have l done this day for the souls and bodies of God’s dear saints? Have l laid out anything to please myself, when I might have saved the money for the Cause of God? Have my life and conversation adorned the Gospel of Jesus Christ? "Forgetful of God's Goodness" The Bible tells us about the chil dren of Israel who were delivered out of bondage, and who readily sang the praises of the Lord, but soon forgot His works. All too often we will sing the praises of the Lord while attend ing morning and evening service, but during the week we forget what the Lord has done for us. 9
lead a fine upstanding University pro fessor to Christ. His wife was a Chris tian and member of the chinch. He was highly respected, well educated and popular at the University and in the community and, a good husband. He always attended our evangelistic serv ices on Sunday evening. When I gave the invitation he held up his hand with stoic indifference that bespoke his feel ing of self satisfaction. But he had yielded as I was preaching. He was not a sinner of the Publican order, in fact he was not abashed in this action taken before the Lord, rather he held his head high. Later in an afternoon meeting, when the invitation was given he came forward and made a public acceptance of Christ and declared, emo tionally, “Well, preacher, you got me at last.” I told him that I did trust that it was the Lord and not I who had won him. In our evening service there was a time for brief testimonies and I was happy to see the newly saved professor rise to his feet and enthusiastically testify. His opening statement startled me. He said that he had been the worst sinner in the town. The people smiled — how could such a clean, cultured, moral gentleman be such a sinner — but he spoke the truth. He was of a type that is hardest to reach for Christ —a Pharisee. But God reached him by His grace even as He had reached Paul. Now you may be like that. I have met untold numbers who have claimed that they did not need the Lord Jesus Christ —they were good enough. Paul said: “Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have 1 counted loss for Christ. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ.” Now this shows that Paul had a most unique experience. This makes me to wonder if you have had that unique experience?
In Proverbs we read these words, “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established; turn not
I knew that the Lord wanted me to come to a Christian school, but I didn’t know which one. I read about Biola
to the right nor to the left; re move thy f o o t from evil.” Of all the peo ple that I can think of, I was th e last person who wanted to go to college. B u t having dedicated my life complete
and right away it appealed to me because of its spir itual content, but most of all, be cause Christ was pre-eminent and was taught in all courses offered at Biola. I knew I was not fully equip
ped to go out and serve the Lord, and I felt that Biola was fully qualified to prepare me. I felt also that I needed to grow spiritually and that there would be no better place to become spiritually mature than in the Christ- centered environment of Biola. Another thing that appealed to me was the personal interest that the teachers take in the students. They un doubtedly feel a responsibility to the Lord. The fact that every class period opens with a short devotion and with prayer is always a joy to me. The Christian fellowship was an other point where I could know men and women who love the Lord, and that these friendships would remain forever. What stood out mostly in my mind was that I would leam more about Jesus and His life and find that spiritual things are more important than material things. My desire is to leave Biola a soul-winner. Polly Hill Gila Bend, Arizona
ly to the Lord, I could do nothing else but come to Biola when He called me here. I felt that High School was as far as I wanted to go with my formal education; college was the farthest thing from my mind until the middle of my Senior year in high school. God spoke to me and showed me that a thorough Bible course would prepare me for a life of service for Him. I thank the Lord for giving me this op portunity of studying to become a workman approved unto Him, rightly dividing the Word of truth. I know that I will be better prepared to serve my Lord after my education here at Biola.
I thank God for a school that stands true to the Word of God and its teach ings. With David I can say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” And I can truly say that where He leads me I am willing to follow. Chuck Bisset Baltimore, Maryland BIOLA : Christian Training Center o f the West 9
by Dr. William Ward Ayer
doubly flaunts himself in the face of God: 1) by being a lost sinner and 2) by denying the fact and making God a liar. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus is so significant that we must spend an entire message in the study of some of its aspects. The glorified Christ is, in Saul’s con version, the personal worker. The sig nificance of this experience of Saul is both individual and prophetic in that Saul’s conversion combines two types of conversion recorded in the Bible; one is Jewish and the other is Gentile. Now read carefully. In I Corinthians 15:8, Paul declares himself to be “. . . one bom out of due time.” Undoubted ly, the manner of Saul’s conversion was Jewish and Christian: 1) It was Jewish, in that the Lord appeared to him personally as He will appear one day to the remnant of Israel during the Tribulation. Then they will meet their Messiah face to face and shall say, “What are these wounds in Thy hands?” and He will reply, “These are they which I re
e c o m e to further study on the conversion of Saul of Tarsus who became the Apostle Paul. You know we hear so little about real con version in many of our churches that I feel we must study the conversion of the Apostle Paul with great earnestness. Saul of Tarsus was a proud Pharisee, self-righteous and obstinate — there fore, difficult to win to Christ. There is a great difference between a Publi can and a Pharisee; it is comparatively easy to denounce our sinful self, but exceedingly hard to renounce our righteous self. If God rejoices over the penitent cry of the Publican, how much more over the repentance of the Phari see — but He rarely ever hears that cry. Pride, respectability, and self- righteousness comprise this most awful sin which denies the need of God’s mercy and therefore rejects it. Paul brought this truth to the world, the truth of the grace that is greater than all our sins. He. was the chief of sinners because, he, a self-righteous Pharisee was the type of sinner that n o w
sat at the feet of the masters of cul ture. Saul was, above everything else, a strict Pharisee believing rigidly in the Commandments of God. He says that as touching the law he was blame less. This does not mean that he was sinless, or that he never broke the law, but it does mean that when he did that which was contrary to the law, he ful filled what the law commanded by way of atonement in bringing his offering and sacrifice thus obeying God’s will in the matter. Some of the Doctors were the strict est of religionists, though not believing in Christ. (You and I can be religious and not Christian.) To Saul Christ’s "Dally Strength" "A s thy day thy strength shall be!" This should be enough for thee; He who knows thy frame will spare Burdens more than thou canst bear. When thy days are veiled in night, •Christ shall give the heavenly light; Seem they wearisome and long, Yet in Him thou shalt be strong. Cold and wintry though they prove, Thine the sunshine of His love; Or with fervid heat oppressed, In His shadow thou shalt rest. When thy days on earth are past, Christ shall call thee home at last, His redeeming love to praise, Who hath strengthened all thy days. disciples were fanatics and the world would be better off without them. There are many religions that are probably as active in their faith as are most Christians. The Mohammedans kneel and pray before Mecca three times daily; the Buddhists submit to bodily torture. There is a long list of religions — the people are sincere but their sincerity will not save them. Man must be right with God or he will hear the words, “depart from me, I never knew you.” I heard of a man who purchased a (continued on next pogo) 11
ceived in the house of my friends.” Paul was converted as these Jews will be one day. 2) But Paul’s conversion was also Christian. He was regenerated by the Holy Spirit and became a member of the Church, the Body of Christ, bap tized by the Spirit into that body at his conversion. The Tribulation saints will not be members of Christ’s Body. So we note that Paul’s conversion covered the complete repentive pro gram for both Jew and Gentile. How marvelous that is! Paul’s conversion stands supreme be cause of his condition — the hardest type to reach for Christ. He was in reality a sincere man but dead wrong. We have so many of them today, may be you are one of them. You see, earn estness is no guarantee of truth — neither is passiveness a guarantee of error. But sincerity and error combined form a great force for destruction. Then when we have the combination of sin cerity and truth working together, it is a force that is incomparable. Saul of Tarsus was a sincere man who was dead wrong. Let us look at something else that makes this conversion so remarkable. No journey ever taken by man, save the journey up Calvary’s Hill on the part of the Son of God, ever meant so much to the human race and its re demption as did Paul’s journey to Da mascus. The conversion of Saul of Tar sus is the next great event after the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. With the conversion of Saul of Tarsus the Gospel went beyond the Hebrew Na tion and began its worldwide outreach as it journeyed through the years to the Nations, spreading the Gospel to our forebears, whether Anglo-Saxon, Franks, Scots or Norsemen, and finally reaching into our own lives. We must look at Saul’s condition be fore his conversion. He was sincere but wrong in his belief. He was reared in a very strict Jewish home in Tarsus. In the matter of his education he had
PrayerRequests Please pray that my husband’s work may be steady. Also, will you remem ber my son who has gone into the Navy, that God will give him good friends with whom to associate. — Boise, Idaho I am a Catholic and would appreci ate your prayers. I am a security guard and listen to your programs on my transistor radio. — Hollywood, Calif. Please pray that I mdy be wholly yielded to the Lord and be able to win someone to the Lord. — Oakland, Calif. We need your prayers so urgently for our daughter who has become an al coholic. — Bend, Oregon Pleáse pray for my husband. I have just found the Lord as my Saviour. He is rebellious because I used to go with him to bars and drink with him. —-Portland, Oregon My wife and I have drifted away from the Lord. I think it is because we lost our five year old son. We need your prayers. — San Francisco, Calif. I am over eighty and it looks as if I will have to have an operation on my eyes. Pray that the Lord’s will may be done. — Los Angeles, Calif. My son desires to come to Biola and wants the Lord’s will. Please pray for him. — Spanaway, Washington Please pray for me. I haven’t been well, and my children seem so hard to manage. — Sacramento, Calif. Will you please pray definitely for our family. We are having marital problems at this time. Both my wife and I are born-again Christians so pray that the Lord will have His per fect will and way in our lives. — Tacoma, Washington
CONVERSION (continued) ticket in New York for a trip to Chi cago but boarded the wrong train. When the conductor took his ticket and noted the error he insisted that the passenger get off at the next stop. The man argued, “Why should I get off this train, I bought the ticket in all sin cerity and I should arrive in Chicago.” “Your avowal, no matter how sincere, does not make it right,” sai ( These are only a sample, of the many re- ceived Won’t you let us join in the prayers found further in this issue. 12 of your heart?) “ Bankrupt" It is not uncommon to learn that well known personalities have died bankrupt. On January 13,1864, Stephen Fos ter died in New York City. Hospital authorities declared that all his worldly goods amounted to $.35 and a slip of paper on which was writ ten, “Dear friends and gentle hearts.” To die financially bankrupt, is one thing—but to have wealth and yet be spiritually bankrupt is an even greater tragedy. The Bible says, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” One word, proclaimed by the death angel, aptly describes such a person . . . “FOOL.” But here is the secret . . . “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his right eousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” "A Product of Conscience" The White House has a collec tion of letters which are quite inter esting, but none is more heart- searching than this one which came from a child and was written in September 1895. “To His Majesty, President Cleve land, Dear President: I am in a dreadful state of mind and I thought I would write and tell you all. About two years ago, I used two postage stamps on letters that had been used before. My mind is con stantly turning on that subject, I think of it night and day. Now, dear President, will you please forgive me and I promise you 1 will never do it again. Enclosed find cost of three stamps and please forgive me for I was then but eight years old and I’m heartily sorry for what I have done. From one of your subjects.” If a child asks of a President the mercy of his forgiveness for having taken items from the government in this form, how much more should we feel our urgent need to go to God and ask for His continued pa tience in our robbing Him — we who have received so much! The Lord says: “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee . . .” "The Book Most Popular" Each week the New York Daily News has paid $25.00 for the best question submitted by a reader for some individual to answer. Here is one which received the award — it was addressed to Ralph A. Beals, Director of the New York Public Library. The question: “What is the most popular book in all the New York Libraries?” The answer. “To select the one book most constantly in demand from the millions of books used in the New York Public Library and its 70 branches is riot as difficult a task as it might seem. The one perennial best seller which retains its follow ing from generation to generation is the Bible. Morning, afternoon, and evening, until the main reading room closes at 10:00 p.m., there is always a group immersed in various translations and editions in our col lection of the Holy Scriptures.” Yes, the Word of God stands sure forever. It, alone, is able to make one wise unto salvation. M O N T H L Y PRAYER MESSAGE by Rev. Thomas E. Steele M a y i , a second time, depart from the “academic” approach to the subject of prayer to write concerning some very practical matters which the Lord has laid on my heart? So many of our listeners have writ ten to share wonderful lessons learned over the years as they have fellow- shipped with the Lord. Some have sent quotations, booklets, etc. Still others have written asking some very per tinent and practical questions with which we must deal if we are to grow in an understanding and effective prac tice of prayer. A young housewife in Oregon wrote, “It seems as if I have time to do every thing else but pray; this, I should put first, but I just can’t seem to get my self to do it.” Our Lord might have told this lady, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” The weakness of the flesh seems to be a problem that many of our friends are facing in their prayer hours. A young man who is a college student wrote, “Why is it difficult for me to pray?” He genuinely seemed to want to have a deeper and more vital ex perience with the Lord in prayer, but he was having real difficulty. We would like to deal in a personal way with these problems for many of us have faced similar ones. If Satan can keep a believer off his knees, he can keep him out of fellowship with Christ and completely destroy the ef fectiveness of his walk and witness! This is, indeed, the greatest area of defeat for any Christian today. The individual prayer life often fails to measure up to the ideal. If you will be honest, thoroughly honest, with yourself you will find you •'will admit that it is not always easy to pray! Sometimes, your own prayer experi ence is more delightful than others, but again, you will fall from that high pinnacle to times when prayer comes forth merely as a form! Because prayer is part of our "life that is hid with Christ in God . . we have been greatly disturbed personal ly, in dealing with others, at our will ingness to accept a lower standard of spiritual living than that which God has made available to us in His Word. We are saved by grace through faith, and yet we persist in the folly that through itself determination we can live victoriously over sin and tempta tion; that through the energy of the flesh we can pray, and accomplish things for God. Paul said, “I know that in my flesh liveth no good thing.” And God said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit . . .” Constant surrender to Him is the answer. Prayerlessness is a problem of the affections. In Cplossians 3:2, The Apostle Paul writes, “Set your affection on things above and not on things on the earth.” Is it not strange that we seem to have time to adjust our schedule to do the things we really want to do? We be lieve that this applies to prayer also. Prayer,' in a very real sense, is a matter of personal fellowship with God. It is a two-way communication in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our FRIEND. We can always find time to spend with those with whom we really wish to be. The same thing ap plies to our fellowship with the Lord, if we love Him. He should be the cen trality of our thinking. Notice this verse more closely: “Set your affection . . .” To set implies a definite act of the will, which will should be in surrender to Hi m. “.... your affection (or your thought life) on things above. . . ” To our eter nal shame our prayer life is something that is an appendage to the day’s ac tivities. And as an afterthought we hurriedly take time for a few minutes of perfunctory prayer. God has not been in our thoughts at all, we have been planning in an opposite direction. Suddenly we remember and give the Lord a few moments of thought. We need to know the reality of which David speaks in Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the Lord »t all time»: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The success of prayer, in a very real sense, depends on the con tinuity and surrender of our thought life to the Lord. But let me hasten to say that the problem of prayerlessness Is also the prob lem of our faith life. Do we really be lieve God? Notice the words of our Saviour in John 14:13, 14 — “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do i t ” Here in Los Angeles County there is a tax exemption for veterans. The government has instructed us that if we report to a certain place, present our credentials, and sign a slip of paper, we will receive a tax reduction. It is a very simple procedure and a very simple promise on the part of the government. I have yet to see a person who has stumbled over its simplicity and refused to claim the benefit. God’s promises concerning prayer are equally simple, and based upon the changing character of our Mighty God Himself, through unbelief — just as the children of Israel failed to claim the Promised Land, so we fail to march in faith on to the promised ground of prayer and reap its rich benefits. May we suggest several simple Steps to those who do not pray in faith be cause they do not really love the Lord: First — ask Gpd to put His finger of conviction upon anything in your life that may be displeasing to Him, or might grieve the Holy Spirit. Secondly — Acknowledge to God that your prayerlessness is a sin before Him and confess it to Him. Finally — Yield yourself afresh to the Holy Spirit day by day, exposing every facet of your being and every circumstance of your life to the ade quacy of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has blessed experiences and untold re sources await those who will wait be fore Him saying, “Lord teach us to pray . . .” 15 Q. From Tucson, Arizona comes this question: “Since there was music and dancing when the prodigal son came home, suggested to us in Luke 15:25, how is it that we condemn dancing today?” A. That question is often asked by young folk. They point to David danc ing before Saul, and to passages in the Old Testament where the Jews danced. So they ask, why condemn dancing today? Well, we were not there back in Old Testament times to see what the dance consisted of, but we do know that the modern dance is lustful and licen tious, and stands to be condemned. If you were to take away from the dance of today, its suggestiveness, or all the possibility of evil thinking, the dance would fall of its own weight; there would be no appeal to it at all. It is based upon the sinful, lustful condition of man’s heart. I have had young people tell me that they could dance and their thoughts were absolutely pure. Well, that may be in isolated cases, but the cases would be rare, indeed. We do not like to call anyone a liar right to his face, but the dance of today is a hellish thing and has no relationship whatever to any of the dances condoned in the Word of God. Q. A listener fjrom this area writes: l am almost heartbroken when we see our loved ones separated. Is it wrong to grieve? A. The ultimate in grief is when we 16 Q, “Was there a difference between John’s baptism and Christian baptism as we know it today?” Acts 19:3-5 is referred to here. A. The answer is “Yes.” That differ ence is very clearly set forth in Acts 19:3-5. The Apostle Paul says, “. . . Into what then were ye baptized?”— 1901 Version is used. He had asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed and they said they did not even hear the Holy Spirit was given. So He said, “Into what were ye baptized? And he re plied into John’s baptism.” Paul said “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.” Thus John’s baptism was a baptism to encourage the people of Israel to repent individually in order that they be prepared for the coming of their Messiah who was to redeem them—in other words it was a preparatory bap tism. Note verse 5—“And when they heard this they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.” They did not argue about it, they recognized that there was another act necessary on their part, to accept the authority of Christ, recog nizing He had already come. That He had worked out in God’s will the work of redemption on Calvary’s cross. So they were baptized into the name and under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Messiahship and His mes sage. Q. In Seattle, Washington, there is this concern expressed: “/ have heard ministers say in the Communion Serv ice, We shall now partake of the wine? The dictionary defines wine as fer mented juice of grapes. / think most people would interpret wine as perhaps being alcoholic. Since we do not use fermented wine in our service, do you think the pastor should call it urine?” A. Let us state in reply to this question that there certainly is a difference be tween the dictionary definition of wine and the usage of the word wine in relation to the sacramental juice in the. Communion Service. We believe that it is perfectly satis factory for the pastor to use the word wine. We have to understand what he means by that. As a matter of fact we do not know just exactly what that wine was that our Lord made at the feast of Cana of Galilee — but we do know that our blessed Lord would never, never c r e a t e anything, nor would He recommend the use of any thing that would lead men definitely or directly into sin. The Word of God is very clear in denouncing the use of wine. Again let us state that our Lord would never do anything that would lead an individual to sin. Of that you may be absolutely sure. Q. From Walla Walla, Washington we have this query: “Do you feel that there w ill be worldwide revival before the Lord returns?” A. We do not see that any Scripture definitely points to worldwide revival before the Lord’s return. If there is such a Scripture, certainly we would not be able to look for the immediate or imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the opposite to world wide revival will obtain. When He comes will He find faith on the earth? The implication seems to be that in stead of worldwide revival there will be worldwide apostasy and unbelief. (continued on page 20) 17 lay our loved ones in the grave. The Lord knew we Would have natural sorrow and it is perfectly normal to do so, but thank God, He told us we do not sorrow as others who are not be lievers. We must remember that Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus. There are Bible students who believe that Jesus wept because of the unbelief of the loved ones of Lazarus, but it is generally held that Jesus wept because others were weeping and His heart was touched at their sorrow, even though He knew what He was going to do. It is wrong to doubt God’s goodness in our grief, but it is not wrong to grieve. Q. A good question comes from a list ener in Sacramento, California. The question is: “Our church holds a fel lowship supper every week and the attendance is good, the conversation, however, goes upon various things which are not really spiritual . . . what can be done about this . . . why do people come to dinners but will not actually go to church?” A. There are two kinds of church din ners, generally. One is where the saints come together, break bread and talk about the things of the Lord. It is just for church members and a rather close ly knit group. Then there is another type of church dinner designed to attract outsiders in the hope that they will become inter ested to attend services. Both types are very worth while. The second type mentioned is for those who are not Christians. Natural ly, if the time is spent talking only about Christian things, they will not be interested. They will not come back —in large part the conversation must be of a nature to attract them. If your own personality and things about your home are brought into the conversa tion they will naturally get much of the Gospel even though the discussion may not be termed spiritually minded per se. BIOLA in a lens-eye view Hotel Manager Deward Lowrey Mr. Deward Lowrey, a grad uate of Biola, manager of the hotel, shows the attractive fur nishings of rooms which are now available for renting in the downtown buildings. A growing number of people from all parts of the country are finding the convenience of liv ing in the downtown buildings. Features include the fact that the hotel is within easy walk ing distance to all large depart ment stores, it adjoins the Church of the Open Door, is next to the Los Angeles Metro politan Library, has a dining room in connection, and has economical rates. All proceeds go toward the training of Biola students, Capt. Louis Brown "The Crisis in Morality,” Biota’s newest film production, reveals the manner in which Communists are smuggling narcotics into the ,country seek ing to trap our yduth. Pictured above is Captain -Louis Brown of the United States Custom Service. H eholds in his hand a btir of heroin valued on the illicit market at about $15,000. Pictured at the right is Mr. Virgil Wemmer, director of Biola Films, during the time of the production. “The Crisis in Morality” is available for showing in your church or religious gathering on a rental basis. For more information and a descriptive catalog of other productions, write to Biola. Film Director Virgil Wemmer Dr. Samuel H. Suther land, president of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc., points out some of the new developments on Biota’s La Mirada Campus to two graduates of the school, Mr. Robert Broyles and Miss Mar garet Kraft, More than 1,000 students are ex pected to attend the four schools of the organi zation this year. Dr. Sutherland points out campus features. A t the left, Mr. Paul Mickelson, president of Supreme Records, selects a recording of the Scottish Junior Singers for the Biola radio programs with the help of Mr. Thomas Sheffrey, engineer for the broadcasts. The selection which featured during August was ■ “Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord.” Below are Dr. Daniel Rose, director of the Jewish Department (left), and Mr. Eugene Poole, Biola field representative during a recent outdoor program on the Biola La Mirada Campus. Through the bene volence of Mr. Rose, the beautiful and important Memorial Library has been constructed in his name. He is soon to celebrate his 93rd birthday. Dr. Daniel Rose (left) and Mr. Eugene Poole continued from page 17 questions and answers Q. Eugene, Oregon is the place from whence came this question: “Is there any Scripture to indicate that before the Lord returns all nations will actu ally hear the Gospel?” A. There is a statement in Matthew 24:14—“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come.” Perhaps that has to do particularly with the Tribulation period when the Gospel of the Kingdom will be pro claimed once again. But we believe, at least, that there will be a presenta tion of the Gospel to all parts of the world, not necessarily to every individ ual before the Lord comes. Millions have died since the time of our Lord to this present hour who did not hear the Gospel. So not every per son will hear, but every part of the world will have the Gospel presented. Incidentally, that was fulfilled in the very first century when the Apostles were sent everywhere preaching the Gospel —| it was worldwide at that time of the habital world. Q. Now this question c o m e s from Washington State. It runs as follows: We have in our church a man who is chairman of the Board of Deacons', Superintendent of the Sunday School and he is president of the Men’s Broth erhood. Don’t you think it would be better to divide church offices up among other members? A. This question will be answered on a purely impersonal basis as we do not know the do not know the church and we do not know any of the circumstances. Let me put it this way — that in general it is a wonderful thing to be able to divide up the work of the local church. On the other hand there are times and churches where apparently only one stands out as a natural leader. That could be the implication in this situation. I trust that this letter was not written out of jealousy, but only principles are involved. If there is one man who can do the job and there does not seem to be anyone else qualified, no, it isn’t wrong for him to have all these offices. However, it is best to divide the work up among as many people as possible, that everyone might have a part in the carrying on of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Q. This question comes from Portland, Oregon — it is interesting. The Bible says that the Devil entered into Judas at the Last Supper. The listener asks if the Devil was not already in Judas for the Lord said, “Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil?” A. Certainly the devil was already in Judas — “and one of you is a devil.” May we say that the Devil entered into Judas early in the years that he was an 20 chickens under her wings; and yc would not!’ To whom was Christ talk ing, was it the people right at that time or those of today?” A. Verses 37, 38, 39 come at the end of a very important chapter, full of denun ciation of the spiritual leaders, actually misleaders in Israel. Our Lord has to say again and again, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees.” The intent of this prophecy, of course, is against those living in that day. Christ said, "How often would I” —- historical fact — “and ye would not,” another historical fact. It shows that they countered their wills against Christ. Of course, here, just as from every portion of the Word of God, we can derive (note the word derive) a spiritual lesson. The lesson to be gotten here is that we are to allow the Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ to have their way in our lives each time. They did not do that in Israel. As a result the spiritual economy was left unto them desolate. Christ was speaking to the people of His own day. Q. Now a letter comes along from San Luis Obispo, California with a ■ query stated this way: “Were Adam and Eve spirit beings like angels, perhaps, before they were given human bodies? Does the Bible tell us anything about this? A. We believe, absolutely, that Adam and Eve were not spirit beings before they were given human bodies. That is the teaching of one of the cults that is in existence today. Certainly there is nothing in the Word of God that would lead us to that conclusion. We read in Genesis 2:7 —- “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nos trils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” That is just about as clear and plain as anyone could state it. There was no pre-existence of Adam and Eve. Adam became a living soul when God breathed into his body the breath of life. That is what GOD has to say. 21 Apostle, although he was far from be ing an Apostle in the actual sense of the word. In connection with the Last Supper, the Devil entered into Judas for a special purpose, a particular rea son. We believe that the Holy Spirit infills the believer from time to time for a special purpose or work to with stand some special temptation. Even so, the Devil comes in in a special way to do a special job. The Devil was doubtless in Judas all during our Lord’s earthly ministry, but the Devil entered into Judas in a particular way for a particular purpose at the time of the Last Supper. Q. In San Bernardino a listener wants to know “Are there some sins more terrible in the sight of God than others” — i.e. the sin of dancing just men tioned? A. May we refer our friend, in connec tion with that particular question to Galations 5:19, 20, 21. And let us pre face this reading with the statement that we do not believe for a moment that there are any sins more hated in the sight of God than others—all sin is heinous to Him. We read that the works of the flesh are these: adultery, which is terrible, a l s o fornication, uncleanness, lasci viousness, idolatry, a n d witchcraft. These are terrible. Then the next is hatred, a little later on wrath, strife and envyings. You see such sins as wrath and strife are listed along with idolatry and adultery. All these are sinful and Christians commit them. In our standard of society some are greater than others, but before God all sin is heinous. That is the reason Jesus Christ had to die on the cross to make an atonement for sin. Q. One interested in Bible study in San Francisco, California sends this: “In Matthew 23:37, the Lord said, ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
Made with FlippingBook Annual report