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HI. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SOUL-WINNER. Someone was interested In my soul’s welfare, and that is why I am a Chris tian now. Who can say that you were Interested in their spiritual welfare? Christ has no hands but our hands To do His work today; He has no feet but our feet To lead men in His way. He has no tongue but our tongues To tell men how He died; He has no help but our help To bring them to Hig side. We are the only Bible This careless world will read; We are the sinner’s gospel, We are the scoffer’s creed. We are the Lord’s last'message « Given In deed and word— What if the line is crooked? What if the type is blurred? Conclusion The agile athlete who once eclipsed all comers, in a few years becomes frail and helpless, with only a few sil ver- cups left to comfort him. The humorist who became rich by making everybody laugh, often wept himself to sleep, and then dropped into an eternity without Christ. The eloquent preacher, with his silver tongue, passed away like a fleeting cloud. The singer who thrilled the crowd in breathless ecstasy is no more heard. But the soul- winner lives his life over many times in the lives of those he has led to Christ. “He that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). Suppose someone would offer me a thousand dollars for every soul I won to Christ. Would I try to win more souls than I am endeavoring to win now? Is it possible that I would at tempt to do for money what I hesitate to do in obedience to God’s command? —Annie Johnson Flint.*
can appropriately express. Each for ward movement of Christianity has been market! by a fresh outburst of song. For Those Who Have Topics I. SINGING OF OUR SAVIOUR. “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (1 Cor. 14:15). It is impossible to truly sing songs of Salvation if we do not have Christ living in our hearts. To “ sing with the spirit” is to sing as the Spirit bears witness in our hearts. It is to sing what we know to be truth because we have experienced it. Those who have not partaken of salvation have no "understanding” (cf. Rom. 8:7, 8 ; 1 Cor. 2:10,11). They may produce the words and music, but God regards both as being empty and useless. Con cerning such worship Jesus said, “This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” Throughout the Psalms we find many verses of praise to God for His mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. Those who have experienced the power of God have a "new song.” It is a song that springs from the heart cleansed in the blood of Christ. It is a song of praise to God (Psa. 40:1-3). Let us sing together now a hymn concerning our salvation (“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” or “Be neath the Cross of Jesus” ). H. SINGING OF OUR STRENGTH AND JOY. Since the Christian joy tomes from within, and does not rest upon out ward circumstances, the Christian can look to God and sing praise at all times. We read in Acts 16:25 that Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God in prison. They certainly could find no joy in their surround ings, but they looked up, and saw Him . in whom they rejoiced with “joy un speakable and full of glory.” David saw this when he said, "In the night hig song shall be with me.” Those who trust God, and thank Him in their most difficult experi ences, will be led to sing, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him” (Psa. 28:7). HI. SINGING—A SERVICE TO*GOD. Singing is a great work. There are many different ways in which we may set forth the Word of God, and singing is one of them. In Colossians 3:16 we see that we may teach and correct one another with spiritual songs. M a n y times music melts hearts that are hardened against the spoken word. A group of young people from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles were
IT’S A N IDEA During June we have two topics on “Christianity in Song.” Why not emphasize the ministry of song during this month? • Idea 1. Have carefully and prayerfully prepared s o n g services at the Christian En deavor meetings. Give the his tory or story of each song used. • Idea 2. Have your pastor or choir director speak at one of your meetings on “The Hymn Book.” I n v i t a t i o n s shaped like tiny hymn books could be given out prior to this meeting and large music staff posters announcing the meeting could be placed in the church. • Idea 3. Make your June so cial a “Musical” or “Hymn Book” party. With musical g a m e s , hymn-guessing con tests, and a singing devotion al period, your evening would be both entertaining and prof itable. • Idea 4. Why not have an after-church “Sing” a n d in vite the entire congregation? Or you could invite neighbor ing societies and have a real “Singspiration.” —Carlton C. Buck.
follow when self is first (Matt. 4:19). 5. We must be willing to*persevere. Did you notice that when the Lord told the discouraged fishermen to cast their nets again, it was right in the same place where they previously had caught nothing (Lk. 5:1-11)? But let us not .forget that it is not our efforts, but “it is God which worketh in you” (Phil. 2:13). II. ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR THE SOUL-WINNER. 1. This is a lost world, and it is God’s will that none should ’ perish (Rom. 3:10-23; 2 Pet. 3:9). 2. The joy of soul-winning is beyond compare (Psa. 126:6). 3. The business is a success (Isa. 55:10, 11). 4. Every soul-winner has at his dis posal the gift of the Spirit (Acts 1:8), the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16), over thirty thousand promises in the Word of God, and his wages assured (John 4:36). 5. No difficulties are insurmount able (2 Cor. 9:8). -------f •• .. 'Reprinted by permisslsm Evangelical Pub lish er!, New York and Toronto.
JUNE 11,1944 SINGING OUR FAITH 1 C o r in t h ia n s 14:15; C o l o s s ia n s 3:16 By Kathryn Smithers Lee
Christianity is the religion of music. Other religions have hardly advanced beyond the most primitive rhythmical measures, and they know nothing of children’s music. From the earliest days the Hebrew people used music, and through the centuries God’s truth has spread around the world, with music having played an important part. God’s attributes, His creation, Christ and His cross, the Christian life, have all been found subjects which music
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