Monthly publication of the B IO LA FELLOW SH IP
TheBibleInsti ute Hoar Dial Areas & Station Location
B IO L A
Time Days
broadcaster
CALIFORNIA
Bakersfield-Wasco KWSO Chico-Marysvilie KHSL Eureka
1050 9:30 A.M. MTWTF 1290 8:30 A.M. Sun. 790 8:00 A.M. Sun. 1430 8:00 A.M. Sun. 1130 9:30 A.M. MWF
KDAN
El Centro KAMP Fresno-Dinuba KFRE Los Angeles KRDU
>. 9
VOL. 1
i> SEPTEMBER, 1961
940 9:00 P.M. MWF KYTM 1460 9:00 A.M. MTWTF Los Angeles-Long Beach K6ER 1390 11:00 A.M. MTWTF KGER 1390 1:00 A.M. MTWTF Los Angeles-Burbank KBLA Los Angeles 1490 9:00 A.M. MTWTF KBBI 107.5 (FM) 8:30 A.M. MTWTF
C O N T K N T S COLD WAR CHRISTIANITY FAITH TO OVERCOME THE WORLD ....................... ILLUSTRATIONS .:................. THE SCARLET THREAD
Oxnard-Ventura-Santa Barbara KOXR Sacramento
3
910 8:30 A.M. MWF
KEBR
10:00 A.M. MWF
( FM )
Redding-Red Bluff KSDA San Bernardino San Diego XEMO San Francisco KOFY San Francisco San Francisco KEAR San Luis Obispo KGO KITO
... 6
1400 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 1290 8:30 A.M. MWF 860 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 1050 9:00 AM . MTWTF 810 9:00 P.M. MWF
... 9
...10
...12
97.3 (FM)
10:30 A.M. MTWTF
...13
KVEC KTUR
920 7:30 A.M. Sun. 1390 8:30 A.M. MWF
16
Turlock
=1 17
OREGON
PARABLES AND PEARLS ............. 20 JOHN: COPESTONE OF THE GOSPELS ........ 22 THE NAMES OF THE LORD GOD .................................. 23 COMMUNISM AND GOD'S PLAN FOR THE WORLD ........... ........32
Albany-Eugene
KWIL KWIL
790 8:00 A.M. MTWTF 790 •3:00 A.M. MTWTF 1350 8:00 A.M. MWF 1110 8:30 A.M. Sun 630 8:30 A.M. MWF 1150 9:00 A.M. Sun. 800 11:30 A.M. MTWTF WASHINGTON 550 11:30 A.M. MTWTF
Ashland-Medford KRVC
Bend
KBND
Coquille-Coos Bay KWRO Klammath Falb KAGO
Portland KPDQ
Blaine-Vancouver, B.C. ICARI
Pasco KPKW 1340 8:30 A.M. MWF Seattle-Tacoma KGDN 630 11:30 A.M. MTWTF Spokane KCFA 1330 11:30 A.M. MTWTF KCFA 1330 5:30 P.M. MTWTF Walla Walla KTEL 1490 8:00 AAA. MWF Wenatchee KUEN 900 10:30 A.M. MWF Yakima KUTI 980 8:00 A.M. Sun. OTHER STATES Caldwell-Boise KBGN 910 8:30 A.M. MTWTF KBFM 94.1 (FM) 8:30 A.M. MTWTF Lapeer, Michigan WMPC 1230 3:30 P.M. Tues. Pueblo-Colorado Springs KFEL 970 8:30 A.M. MWF Phoenix KHEP 1280 8:00 A.M. MTWTF Tuscon KAIR Denver _ KLiR 1490 9:00 A M . MTWTF 990 8:30 A.M. Tues.-Thurs.
gggpy war C hristianity
by Dr. Lloyd T. Anderson, Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, California
Pastor. “For whatsoever is ’bom of God over- cometh the world: and this is the vic tory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4 ). Y ou know there are many kinds of warfare but a new one has sprung up within the last few years and we call it “cold war.” A new termin ology is upon the lips of multitudes of people in this generation. We speak of a limited war, that is one country involved in conflict with another. And now- we speak of World wars and in connection, of course, with World War II, all out war with everyone and everything involved, it’s a tremendous catastrophe. N ow Christians know something about “cold war” for the Bible makes it very, very plain accord-
mg to Ephesians 6 verse 12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, ’but against principalities, against powers, against thé rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Again we read in 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 verses 3-6, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our war fare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds: ) Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge iall disobedi ence, when your obedience is fulfilled.” Now these Scriptures before us rec-
ognize the reality of a spiritual cold war. The Apostle Paul, you remember, is warning these Thessalonian believ ers by writing this, “But let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” You see God’s children are engaged in a continual battle against Satan and they are cautioned against him in Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place to the devil” and we are urged by the Apostle James to submit ourselves therefore unto God, to “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” You see nothing short of the whole armour of God will ever give believers adequate protection against the enemy’s on slaughts. The battle, for example, against false teachers is waxing hot ter and hotter as days go by. It is not one perhaps of human blood letting but of a constant warning of spiritual opposition. In the face of the terrific apostasy, which Jude describes in his wonderful epistle of only 25 verses, the Christian people are exhorted-to earn estly contend or to do battle for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. You remember that Paul called upon young Timothy in II Timothy 4, verse 7 to fight the good fight and to finish his course and to keep the faith as did the Apostle Paul. Now the great Apostle to the Gentiles knew something of the weakness of human flesh and the continual battle which needed to be waged in this di rection and so he wrote, , “I therefore so run not as uncer tainly, so fight I not as one that beateth the air 'but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” That is that I should meet a spiritual disapproval at the hand of the Lord Himself. Now cold war is going on all the time for the people of God but we need to be thankful this day, though it may
seem to be very, very difficult, that no one of His own dear children need go down in devastating defeat. “This is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith.” You see faith is a source of trouble to many, many people. I’ve had Chris tian people come to me complaining about their own spiritual faith. They feel that they do not have enough faith. They usually worry about its quantity. They look a t other people and seeing their spiritual accomplish- Our Response The Lord had a job for me but I had so much to do, I said, "You get somebody else, or wait 'til I get through." I don't know how the Lord made out, no doubt He got along, But I felt kind o'sneaky like, I knew I'd done Him wrong. One day I needed the Lord, needed Him right away But He never answered me at all and I could hear Him say (down in my accusing heart) Child of mine, I've got too much to do, you get somebody else or wait 'til I get through. Now when the Lord has a job for me, I never try to shirk, I drop what I have on hand, and do the Lord's good work. And my affairs can run along or wait 'til I get through, For nobody else can do the work that God's marked out for you! rnents wonder why they do not possess the same kind of triumphant faith. Then there are those who claim they have lost their faith. In a sense they’re much like the little boy who had been to Sunday school and the golden text of the Sunday school lesson for that day was, “Have faith in God” and the card bearing this little verse flew out of the. street car window and the boy cried out at the top of his voice, “I have lost my faith in God.” 4
Now we are not to be concerned about our faith but rather with its ob ject. You see too often we are occupied with faith itself and not with the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the object of our spiritual faith. We make the mistake of examining our faith, rather than the promises upon which we, in our faith, ought to be resting. If we were traveling a new public high way and we should approach a bridge, the strength of which we were not quite sure, would we stop to examine our faith in it or would we examine the bridge? Common sense, of course, "The Path to The Top of The Hill" We climbed the height by the zigzag path, And we wondered why—until We understood it was made zigzag To break the force of the hill. A road straight up would prove too steep. For the traveler's feet to tread; The thought was kind in its wise design Of a zigzag path instead. It is often so in our daily lives; We fail to understand That the twisting way our feet must tread By lo»e, alone, was planned. Then murmur not at the winding way; It. is our Father's will To lead us home by the zigzag path To break the force of the hill. —Anonymous would tell us to examine the bridge. You see, it is precious to know that faith, which is our possession, is the means erf victory urthis strange type of warfare. The flesh will offer strategy, human reasoning et cetera, 'but God says that it comes through another channel altogether. It comes through faith in Christ; faith in His Word, and faith in His omnipotent power. What is this faith upon which you and I happen to be leaning?
“For by grace are ye saved through faith.” There are many descriptions of faith but almost all of the definitions of faith that I have ever read, have made me understand it less than before I saw them. You may recall that it was the colored preacher who said, when he read the chapter before his con gregation, “I will confound it after wards.” Well, he meant that he would propound it to them. But, in a sense, it is very often true that instead of pro pounding, it is confounding. It is very likely that he did just that though he meant to expound the Scriptures. Now I ask again of you, what in actuality is faith? It is made up of three things: knowledge, belief, and trust. Knowledge always comes first. How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? You re member that Scripture declares that faith cometh by hearing. We must first hear in order that we may know what is to be believed and what is to be trusted. Psalm 9, verse 10 has this word: “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee . . .” What does John mean as we look at the original text here, when he writes about overcoming the world? It is not to go about as a bully attempting to in-, timidate everybody that we meet. If such should be possible, that would be overcoming the world by the world. It is not to shut one’s self up in a monas tery somewhere, and have no contact with the outside world. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world . . .”, said the Lord Jesus Christ in His high priestly prayer. Overcoming the world is not compromising with it. Our victory is His victory, and we overcome the world by simply trusting in Him, and it is my prayer on your behalf that you and I together, spiritually before Him, may be trusting the Lord and our faith may be a strong foundation of our Christian lives before Him. 5
e h a v e sh a r ed I John, chapter 5, verse 4 with you in our pre message. That wonderful Scrip- n the New Testament epistle of ‘For whatsoever is born of God srcometh the world:, and this is victory that overcometh the rid, even our faith.” ! experiences of the children of are types by which we might the will of God for our individ- ves. For each individual soul let ■the victory of Israel in the Old nent as it relates to the historical ience of every believer who might ing in a New Testament period conomy. invite you, first of all, to con- that faith of Israel that overcame eople and the land of the Egyp- You see the key thought in con- n with this is found in the great chapter on faith in the book of rws verse 27. ‘By faith he forsook Egypt, not ring the wrath of the king: for endured, as seeing him who is risible.” v Egypt stands for the world with auty and its glory, but the chosen >d were iii that land as slaves, good did all the glory do them lg as they were simply slaves, of these Israelites may have had w o r l d l y accumulation and h. Some of them might have been educated than others of their rs but they all had one thing in on and that was slavedom and im. Being in bondage they were ;ss and in a real sense they were humanly hopeless; and so it is every man in this world who is e of the Lord Jesus Christ. He the land of spiritual bondage and lot produce the liberty for which definitely is craving. No individ- dll ever know freedom from his y until he finds it by faith in the Jesus Christ.
6
You see the Israelites o f o ld took God at His W o r d . T h e y sprinkled blood where they were told to put it and on that awful and event ful night when the death angel swept over the land of Egypt, claiming the first bom, the people of Israel were protected and they went forth exactly as God had told them to go. They had no carnal weapons. It was a bold thing for an army of slaves to do but the victory that overcame Egypt for them was their own spiritual faith in the Lord. There was no human strategy. They simply took God at His own Word. This is the victory that over- cometh the world even our faith. There is only one way to come to God and that is on the basis of believing faith in Him for without faith, says the Scripture, it is impossible to please Him. Then as you look a little further in the Old Testament it will be to dis cover the people of Israel had a great faith that overcame in their wilder ness journey around Mt. Sinai. In He brews 11 again in verse 29, “By faith. Israel passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.” Now by faith in God they were taken across the mighty Red Sea on dry ground but having reached the other side and won the salvation victory, they were largely overcome by the world in their desire for the things of the land of Egypt they had recently left. They began to murmur and com plain, and they yearned for the leeks and onions, the garlic and the cucum bers of the land of bondage, the land called Egypt. God had something vast ly better for them in the land of Canaan. He had a land that flowed with milk and honey but unbelief pre vented them from entering into the land of Palestine. In Egypt they had worked hard and without pay, and now God was making it possible for them to be able to sit under their own vine
and fig tree in the land of Canaan that flowed with milk and honey. You see the wilderness is no place for the peo ple of God. May we ask you if you are a doubt ing Christian? Why are you unwilling to go all out and all the way for the Lord? It is such a pity to see so many "Willie and Papa" "1 should like to die," said Willie, If my papa could die, too, But he said he isn't ready, 'Cause he has so much to do. And my darling sister Nellie Says that I must surely die, And that she and mama— then she stopped, Because it made me cry. Nellie told me, I remember, Once while sitting on her knee, That the angels never weary Watching over her and me: And that if we're good, and mama Told me just the same before, They will let us into heaven When they see us at the door. There will be none but the holy, 1 shall know no more of sin, But I'll see mama and Nellie, 'Cause I know He'll let them in; But I'll have to tell the angel, When I meet him at the door, That he must excuse my papa, 'Cause he couldn't leave the store. Nellie says that maybe I Shall very soon be called away, But if I should go before him, To that world of light and joy, Maybe he'd want to come to heaven, Just to see his tittle boy! of God’s dear people overcome by the world rather than overcoming the world. They are crying for the very things that were a menace to them when they were living spiritually. Why not trust God for our pleasure and for our joy as well as to trust Him for our own provision day by day. Can it not be that you might be tired of wilderness wanderings? Is there no 7 if my dad were only ready, I should like to go today;
much more precious than of gold that perisheth . . .” What a wonderful New Testament truth that God is interested in you and me and that every trial that comes into your Christian life and mine is some thing to God which is more precious even than gold which is only a mone tary thing and will one day be pass ing away from this world. Yes to know the Lord and to permit Him to test us and to try us, and to recognize His glorious experience, is the greatest thing in all the world. Here obstacles turn out to be a blessing. We are not to be discouraged in the face of the big spiritual walls before us and the mighty mountains that loom up. God often permits them to come into our lives for the good of our faith. We are told to hold on by faith knowing that spiritual victory is a wondrous and a glorious certainty. The basis of our faith is clearly dis covered when we read in Joshua 6, verse 2, “And the Lord said unto Joshua, See / have given unto thine hand the city of Jericho, and the king thereof, and the m ighty men of valour.” It is the Word of God which really counts. Here the Lord speaks and speaking it becomes the Word of the Lord and those great walls of Jericho are still intact but they are just as good as down and so long a? we have a promise from the Book, we need have no worries at all. God is faithful and He will never go back upon His choice and His wonderful, wonderful Word. Many people criticise the Bible and they seek to discredit it in an effort to destroy the foundations of believing faith and thus leave men stranded without any hope. We have given what God said to Joshua and what more does any man want than that we take faith in what the Lord is able to give. 8
FAITH TO OVERCOME (cont.) doubt deep in your own human heart that there is a desire to dwell in the place of God’s appointment, in a land flowing spiritually with milk and honey and where victory in Christ may wondrously be found. Half-hearted liv ing for Christ neither leads a soul here nor there. We urge you to cast yourself wholly upon the Lord and discover how He responds to your faith in granting victory over the wilder ness in which you spiritually happen to be wandering. And then there’s another aspect of this great subject before us. We see the victory of faith that overcame when the people of Israel came to the land of Palestine. In Hebrews 11, verse 30 we read, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven clays” Now you see having crossed the swol len river Jordan the second generation of the children of Israel came to the shores of the land of Canaan which was the Promised Land and it was not until then they discovered that sailing was not altogether smooth. There were real difficulties but faith must have its testings and we can prais.e God for all of this. The first thing that we read concerning them is found in Joshua 6, verse 1, “Now the city of Jericho was straitly shut up because of the chil dren of Israel: and no people went out, and no people came into the walled city of Jericho.” There was a great wall and it must have proven to be a real trial to the faith of Israel who had been told by the Lord that they were only to overcome and capture the land of Jericho. You remember here Peter writes long, long ago in I Peter chap ter 1, verse 7, “The trial of your faith, being
IN THE FBI BULLETIN just received, we have ten wanted men listed—but they are not ten most wanted crim i nals. This is the most striking issue of this Bulletin that we have re ceived in a great while—pay atten tion to it!! F '«*—The man who puts God’s business above any other of his affairs. Second — The man who brings his children to church rather than just sending them. Third — The man who is willing to set the right example for his children. Fourth— The man who thinks more of his Sunday School Class than he does of his morning sleep. Fifth — The man who measures his giving by what he has left rather than by the amount he gives. Sixth — -The man who g o e s to church for Chrisfs sake rather than for himself or to please his wife. Seventh — The man who wants to help others rather than have others wait on him . Eighth — The man who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others. Ninth — The man who stands firm in his convictions as to the Word of God; one who is a backbone Chris tian. Tenth — The man who is more con cerned about w inning souls for Christ than he is about winning honors for himself. ARE YOU AM O N G THESE TEN MOST W AN TED MEN? * "The best way to live in the world is to live above it." * *
W H Y W ASTE OUR TIME? Some folk have strange ways of seeking notori ety. Perhaps you have read of the man who walked backward across the continent, using a mirror as his guideP H e neither proved nor ac complished anything by this strange stunt. H e was a minor news item. But is h e much worse in his think ing than the Christian who persists in looking backward; being con stantly preoccupied with his sins and failures of the past? The Bible suggests that we forget those things which are behind and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. * * * "People often grumble because they don't have what they want, when they should thank God for giv ing them what they deserve." * * * A M A N BOUGHT A STEAMSHIP TICK ET TO BOSTON from New Orleans. Fearing the expense of the meals he decided to take a supply of crackers and cheese to cancel that item. Pas sengers who missed him in the din ing hall told him of the excellent meals, but he remained silent and remained away. Finally, h e decided he would go on the last evening re gardless of cost. When he had fin ished the meal, which was a perfect feast to him , he went over to settle for the check and was shocked to find that the 'meals were included in the fare. We may sm ile at this man’s fool ishness but many of us starve our souls of God’s blessing rather than feast upon His goodness. The Psalm ist said, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusteth in H im .” 9
len rivers but it always goes straight on with an eye single to the glory of God Himself. I am sure that the story is familiar to all of us as to how the children of Israel marched each day around the mighty walls and on the seventh day they moved around the city seven times. All of the people were quiet, there, was no sound except the sound of the blowing of the horn. They uttered not a word and there were no questions. Faith never questions but moves forward. Certainly they did not understand and for six days their faith was tested but on the seventh day it testified and a mighty shout of triumph went up before the face of the. Lord. The increased activity near the end is surely significant of the increased ac tivities found today among God’s true children as the end of the age of grace begins to draw nigh. It is quite signi ficant to notice that the children of Israel were to take nothing from the city that was conquered. They were not to lean upon what they had con quered. They were to draw daily upon the Lord. You and I are to count heavi ly upon the Lord even in the hour of spiritual victory. It is so easy to lean upon what we have accumulated and 10
, “Whatsoever is born of God over- cometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5 :4 ). W e want to share with you the idea that out of the land of Israel and out of the history of this earthly people of God, God is bringing a people by faith into the Land of Promise and so we find that in the land of Canaan Joshua did not argue with the Lord as to the frailty of his own military powers nor the lack of equipment. Immediately he called for the priests and the people, and in Joshua 6:6 we read very clearly that God brought them a real spiritual vic tory. “Faith without works is dead.” Ac tion is a necessary thing and now God having spoken, it was time to go forth, hence the call issued by their leader Joshua. Mere empty profession is not to be mistaken for. true faith. Painted fire will never boil an egg. Later on we read, in Joshua 6, verse 12 that Joshua arose early in the morning. You see this mighty man was full of zeal and he was ready to go the limit for the Lord. True faith never worries about the circumstances nor the swol
rescue us from all peril, nothing is too hard for the Lord. Amid all of this we cannot close without reminding each one of you of the provision which our Lord made for one who took his people at their word. I refer to the woman whose name is Rahab. You remember in Hebrews 11, verse 31 we read: “By faith the harlot Rahab per ished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” It is wonderful that we should have this incident preserved for us ere the story of Jericho’s conquest by faith comes to an end. You see faith is not limited to certain people. Faith is not limited to certain things. It becomes a means in the hand of the Lord in the exercise of the believer’s life and heart for overcoming one and all. There are no favorites with God. He honors faith by whomsoever it might be exercised. When Jesus died on the cross it was not for a favored few but it was for the sins of the whole world that Jesus gave His life, hence anyone exercising faith in the Lord and in His wonderful Word is acceptable to God. No boundaries have been estab lished by the Lord over which man cannot go if he.trusts in Jesus Christ. Christ tasted death for every man and He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world. Grace alone can take a woman of ill repute such as this woman Rahab and give her a universal repute that put her in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew. She was a part of the lineal line through which Jesus ultimately was going to be born. Should you go to the hall of fame, or through Westminster Abbey or over all the world and see if any prostitutes have memorial tablets erected to their memory. I don’t think you’ll find any. 11
upon natural human resources of life. It is said that the soldiers and sailors in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, were not allowed to carry anything that would possibly be made to serve as a white flag, not even a white pocket hankerchief. In the battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil, we must have such victorious faith in the Lord who is the Captain of our salvation that we will never carry a flag of truce with this old world. You know we come to faith victory. In Joshua 6, verse 20 we read these words: “. . . And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trum pet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him , and they took the city.” The walls fell down flat for the Lord with whom they have to do and did do was a supernatural God. He is omnipotent. You see the walls of op position in our Christian experience are never broken down apart from trusting the Lord to accomplish a spir itual victory through us. Daily we need to ask the Lord for great things and we need to expect great thing at His hand. We cannot afford to be conservative with the Lord even if we might be conservative among ourselves as far as theology is concerned. We must be willing to ask God for big things and to move out and to believe that He will bring it to pass even as He himself has de clared. In a certain church there is a magni ficent painting back of the pulpit in which Jesus Christ is seen rescuing Peter who was sinking into the sea. Majestically the Master of the ocean is standing sovereign on the sea and Peter is crying out: “Lord save me or I perish.” Does it not remind you and me that Christ is standing above the place where we might be sinking. There was no peril for Him who can
Prayer Requests Pray for my husband who is an alcoholic. — Alhambra, Calif. We are Christian inmates in the Washington State Penitentary and are starved for Christian reading ma terial. We have no means of obtain ing any so pray for us that it might be possible to have this help. — Walla Walla, Washington N o te : We are sending them our K ing’s Business magazine as well as these monthly publications. For several years I’ve had a tract rack in. the Santa Rosa bus depot. Two other cults have their tracts there, too. Now another one appears and mine is moved behind a picture booth. Pray for the one responsible for this act that we might have our right ful place again. — Healdsburg, Calif. I would appreciate your prayers for my unsaved husband who drinks heavily. — Bend, Oregon Please pray for our church because four of the members are trying to get Sunday school materials in which are of modernistic background. — Oxnard, California Please pray with us for employment. We are missionaries on an extended furlough after cardiac and cancer sur geries from Congo, Africa. — Phoenix, Arizona These are only a sample of the many re ceived* Won’t you let us join in the prayers of your heart?) ♦ * * "Ourcivilization cannot survive materially unless it is redeemed spir itually." ♦ ★ ♦ " A cynic is aperson who doesn't care what happens just as long as it doesn't happen to him ."
It is only of God’s great hall of fame that we see Rahab, the prostitute. It reveals what God is willing to do for the most sinful and how His own blood can cleanse from all sin. The scarlet thread which this woman hung in the window is the means and the symbol and the sign by which she was going to be forgiven all of the brutal sins. The scarlet thread typifies the blood of Jesus Christ that by faith she was projecting her life into the future and seeing in the Lord Jesus Christ One who could redeem her from her sin. This is the victory that over- cometh the world even our faith. "I'll Serve— But Do I? " "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, real service is what I desire, I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, but don't ask me to sing in the choir. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I like to see things come to pass. But don't ask me to teach boys and girls, dear Lord, I'd rather just stay in my class. I'll do what you want me to do, dear Lord, I yearn for your work to thrive, I'll give you my nickles and dimes, dear Lord, but please don't ask me to tithe. I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, I'll say what you want me to say. But, I'm busy just now myself, I'll help you some other day." Yes, to be engaged in a cold war is a tremendous thing but to have faith that sees us through and causes us to recognize that God Himself is on the throne is the greatest thing in all the world. How wonderful to have this kind of faith and to believe in the Lord; to understand His purpose, and to know His glorious and wonderful Will. Yes, we’re engaged in a cold war and you and I are fighting .We’re fight ing for our lives but we’re fighting in the faith of One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
12
Q. Los Angeles. A listener would like to know, how can God possibly answer all the prayer requests that come to H im from all parts of the world? A. That’s a question that little children oftentimes ask, I don’t know whether this comes from a youngster or not but it’s a question that is sometimes raised by adults. The only reason that God can answer all the prayer requests that come to Him from all parts of the world is because He is the infinite One. Now we cannot conceive of infinity. All we can do is to accept the fact because we read repeatedy through the Scrip tures where God in one of His attri butes as being the infinite, eternal, and unchangeable God hears all the prayer requests because He is infinite. He hears them individually. He has in finite time to take care of each request. We cannot conceive of all this but just keep in mind that because He is infinite there is no problem whatever with God. Q. Chico, Calif. A number of wonderful Biola friends up there asked for an ex planation of the passage: Luke 22:32, “When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren.” Does this mean that Peter was not saved at this time? A. If you will notice that passage in Luke 22:32 our Lord was directing it to vacillating Peter, a dear man. He was zealous. He was on the spot. He was sometimes beforehand with his answers. Scripture says he
wanted three tabernacles, o n e f o r Moses, one for Elijah and one for our Lord Jesus Christ and God showed him that was wrong because Christ is preeminent. “This is my beloved Son, hear ye him.” Our Lord said that Satan had requested to have Peter that he might sift him but God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “Peter I’ve prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” Now when you are converted, that does not mean re generated. It means that today, but in that context—in the original language —which means when you 'are turned around from your vacillating position where you become such an easy prey to self-confidence and the attacks of the temptations of Satan. When you become more •and more established. When you become actually the petros that I see that you will become, a rock •foundation, you will be a great source of strength for all who come in contact with you. Q. Eureka, California. A listener would like to know, “Could you please ex plain for me the meaning of the title, ‘Lord Jesus Christ?’ ” A. Many folk call our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus, meaning no disparity at all, and I do not want to be overly critical. This is one of the names of our Lord. Matthew 1 tells us, “His name shall be called Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.” Some call Him Christ the anointed One but I confess to you 13
that by the parable in Luke 18. The parable of the unjust judge. This poor widow came and said avenge me of my adversary. He wouldn’t do it but again and again she came back and the para ble teaches by contrast. If that unjust judge would do that for importunity’s sake certainly the living God will the more hear those who cry unto Him again and again. And in this same gospel of Luke the 11th chapter we read that we are to ask, we are to seek, and wq are to knock. Everyone that asks receives. Yes, God wants us to ask again and again. We have wonderful stories. I remember reading more than once accounts from Dr. R. A. Torrey’s answers to prayer. George Meuller prayed for some friends for over 40 years. One was saved at his funeral, another saved not long afterwards. Q . Boise, Idaho. The Listener: “When Christ comes for his saints, will we be caught up bodily to meet H im? or will only our spirits meet H im in the air?” A. When Christ comes for His saints, that is the first phase of His second coming, then will follow the tribula tion period here upon the earth while His saints are with Him in the air at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Following the tribulation period upon the earth, Christ will come back to the earth with His saints, but we are caught up to meet Him in the air whqn He comes for His saints. Now this is a bodily rapture. However, we will not have our natural bodies but we will receive our resurrection bodies, our glorified bodies. 1st Thess. read chap ter 4, “The dead in Christ shall rise first and we which are alive and re main shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. And over in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 50 before and after, that particular verse we read that the living shall be chang ed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and we shall be changed and given our resurrection bodies. No it will not be only our spirits which will 14
friends that the title I love best of all is The Lord Jesus Christ. There we are giving Christ the fulness of ma jesty, of glory, of dignity, of honor and adoration that belongs to Him simply for this reason. Lord means His full 100% equality in the Godhead. He is every whit, every bit, all the way through deity. Jesu* is His name that connects H im w i t h us. He is thoroughly divine. He is thoroughly deity. He is thoroughly humanity. Now because of His person which is God and man, theothropic as they call it in theology, just means God-man personality. Be cause He is Lord Jesus because of His person. He has been entrusted of the Father in the Godhead to be the anoint ed One. Christ means His work. He is anointed. Why? Unto a glorious priest hood, unto a glorious prophetic office, unto a glorious kingship so-He is God -man anointed for a threefold infinite ly perfect work of prophet, priest and king. Q. Coos Bay, Oregon. This radiò friend would like to know, “Is it right to con tinue to bring the sarfie requests to God? If H e hears them once, and if H e is omniscient what is the reason for praying continuously about the same thing?” A . That’s a good question and the an swer is that it is right to continue to bring the same request to God for the simple reason that He has asked us to pray without ceasing, to pray continu ously. You remember in Genesis 18 when. Abraham prayed for the wicked cities of the plain it was He who put a limit on his praying. He said, “Lord don’t become impatient with me.” Finally he said in effect, “Lord I’m just going to ask you one time” but you read that record at the end of the 18th chapter of Genesis and there is not the slightest hint that God was at all impatient with Abraham’s re quest. Abraham put the limit. Now God does hear. He is omniscient but He tells us to go on and on. We’re told
the Holy Spirit might strengthen and empower us to hold out. All we need to do is to trust the Lord Jesus Christ and leave the results to Him. Q. Ashland, Ore. The listener says, “I’m very much concerned about world con ditions and feel that perhaps I should cash in my life insurance and give the money to missions. What do you think of this idea? A . Today, we find statesmen and men of world affairs, who hardly know which way to turn. Paul writing to Timothy in the first epistle tells Timo thy to beseech, everywhere, all believ ers to pray for those who are in au thority over us. Now this friend feels that he should cash in his life in surance. That’s a very personal matter and on the Bible Institute Hour we do not like to give specific advice in in dividual cases. We do not know what circumstances this particular listener is in however, he could lay himself open to a charge of hastiness in cashing in all of his life insurance. The Lord does tell us to make provision for those who are in our household, that we are to' take care of those who are dependent upon us, else we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers be cause unbelievers do take care of their loved ones. There has to be faith even in taking out life insurance. What about giving money to mis sions? Well if the desire is there surely the Lord can make it possible without cashing in the life insurance. I be lieve if the desire is truly there to give money to missions or to schools like the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, In corporated, which is committed to get ting the gospel out to the ends of the earth, I believe the Lord will help this dear listener in Ashland not to cash in all of his life insurance but to keep a reasonable amount in view of the size of the family which we do not know. But in view of the probable size of that family they can give money to missions upon every opportunity and God will 15
be caught up to meet Him. As a mat ter of fact its the spirits of the dead in Christ who are with the Lord now and at the time of our Rapture the spirits of the dead and their resurrection bodies will be reunited. The spirits of the living will be changed, that is the resurrection bodies will be given the living and together we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Our bodies, resurrection bodies, will be with Him. Q. Seattle, Washington. A young woman writes, “I am a Christian and have been going with a nice bay who is not a Christian. H e says he wants to take his stand for Christ but he’s afraid he could not hold out. H e goes to church regularly” and the .questioner goes on to ask. “Do you think 1 ought to con tinue going with this young man?” A. Affairs of the heart dear friends are very difficult to talk about until one can get a full insight into the real situation. We would only give some definite principles to follow and these will have to be applied in any individ ual case. We would say definitely that a Christian should not marry a non- Christian nor should a Christian marry one who is of a different faith which in essence, of course, is also a non- Christian. We believe that unifying in fluence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of both parties in any mar riage in order to assure success. Un fortunately even Christians find it rath er difficult to get along sometimes after they are married but it is much more difficult for "a Christian to live with a non-Christian but this questioner asks is it right to continue to go with this young man. I would think that under t h e circumstances it w o u l d be quite all right to continue to go with him and to point out this particular fact to the young mail that actually none of us can hold out in and of our selves in the Christian life. The Lord Jesus Christ, thank God, does not ex pect us to hold out. It’s in order that
accomplished, no matter how small. Q . Yakima, Washington. What are the two greatest words in the Bible? The listener says my pastor declares that they are love and grace. A. I think that the pastor of this list ener is emminently right, but I’m sure he is quite embarrassed with a question like that. We’re embarrassed because there are so many other things that we could say. Just as if you were asked what two qualities in your mother or your father you like the most or which are the greatest? Yes, I would say two of the greatest words in all the Bible are love and grace. If I were to choose I would say that the two greatest words are God and Christ, so you see there are many, many ways to look at the words of Scripture.
multiply it as that person gives it. in faith and prayer. Q . Spokane, Washington. Two words jot and tittle of the law. The listener in Spokane, Washington would like to know what are they? Read Matthew 5:18. A. It is true that there is a difference of opinion but I hold with many that the jot and tittle refer to some of the flawess letters and features of the He brew alphabet. The jot and tittle refer for instance to the yode which is like our Y. It’s a very small letter in He brew and the other portions relate to a little bit of a ledge on a letter makes a difference between the Hebrew D and R or the D and K so what our Lord Jesus was saying was this, not the slightest particular, not the smallest portion of a word of the law would go by default. None of it will be unreal ized. I will see to it that all of it’s If you are not receiving copies of the BROADCASTER monthly, you may have them come to your home or office auto matically by being a member of the Biola Fellowship. This is a group of faithful donors who invest monthly in the distinctive ministries of the Bible Institute of Los An geles, Inc. Specific monthly amounts are not set; this is a matter between you and the Lord. In maintaining this 53 year old work for the Saviour, we have found that faith fulness on the part of God’s stewards is the important thing. You are invited to become co-laborers with us in this vital testimony. The investment you make will bring you this publication monthly, here after, without your request.
More questions will be found on page 30.
(Coupon for mailing convenience)
The Biola Fellowship Plan
If you are already a member of the Fellowship and have received an extra copy of this publication, please pass it along to a friend so that he may also enroll in the Plan and receive these helpful monthly features from the broadcasts. Since all materials from the Biola radio programs are included in the BROAD CASTER, publication is generally complet ed near the end of the specific month. Your patience is greatly appreciated. □ I would like to become a member of the Biola Fellowship. I am enclosing $.---------------- .....--------for the ministries of Biola.
Name _.......... Address _...... City and State
16
Monthly Prayer Message: RESULTS OF FAITHFUL Thomas E. Steele
I REC EN TLY ATTENDED a c h u r c h i n a certain community and noticed that Wedneday night was “prayer meeting night.” Listed as attendant activities were the Junior Choir, the Junior High Choir, the Youth Choir, the Deacon’s Meeting, the meeting of the Board of Christian Education, the Music Com mittee which would meet promptly at 8:30, and — oh, yes — while the adults were in the prayer and Bible study session the young people would have their play night in the church patio. I’m certainly thankful that this is not necessarily typical of many fine evangelical churches for I found myself asking, “If they are going to do all these things, when are they going to pray?” I find as I study the book of Acts that the New Testament church was a PRAYING church. In order to see this truth will you open your Bibles with me to the very first chapter of the book of Acts and let us look at some of these great passages together. Now, you’ll notice that when the churches prayed, something vital and important always happened. Let us see the church at prayer in Acts 1:14. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the
women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” Even before its birth, these who were to make up the very first local church knew from their intimate association with Jesus Christ the importance of prayer. They had been instructed to tarry at Jeru salem for the coming of the Holy Spirit (the Day of Pentecost) and while wait ing they remained in prayer before the Lord. Regardless of what your doctrinal viewpoint may be there is a. relationship between our prayer life and the, presence and power of the Holy Spirit. There has never been a Spirit-filled Christian who did not have a very vital personal prayer life. The prayer life of the Church in the book of Acts seems al ways to result in a new working of the Holy Spirit of God. How vital and important this is to us today. Again, in Acts, chapter 2:42 we find the Church at prayer. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellow ship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.” As we read on in the verses that follow we discover that as a result of the prayers of God’s people great won ders resulted, many people were saved 17
from physical danger or harm, they asked for continued boldness to preach. God’s answer to their prayer, was a renewed filling of the Holy Spirit. But let me suggest that it was the spirit of resignation and willingness to be used, or to die if necessary that made it possi ble for the Lord to fill them anew with the Holy Spirit. A 14-year-old girl from northern California wrote recently and requested that we pray for the other members of her family. She mentioned that she was the only one in the entire family who was a Christian. Then with that uncanny ability of teenagers to ask dif- "Our Lord Jesus Christ" Jesus, these eyes have never seen That radiant form of Thine; The veil of sense hangs dark between Thy blessed face and mine. I see Thee not, I hear Thee not, Yet art Thou oft with me; And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot As when I meet with Thee. Yet though I have not seen, and still Must rest in faith alone; I love Thee, dearest Lord, and will, Unseen, but not unknown. When death these mortal eyes shall seal, And still this throbbing heart, The rending veil shall Thee reveal, All glorious as Thou art. — Ray Palmer ficult questions, she asked, “How do you win others to Jesus Christ, or how may I have courage to witness to my family about Him?” A Christian for only four months, this young girl was deeply burdened for the lost and was seeking help -in winning her loved ones for Christ. Well, I don’t suppose there is a sim ple answer to that question unless it is that which we find in this portion of Acts, “And when they had prayed . . . they were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with boldness.” Real prayer produces Spirit-filled 18
and added to the infant Church. Cer tainly this would teach us that the ef fective full-orbed prayer life of an individ ual or a church results in spiritual power, through the Holy Spirit. We. lament our powerlessness today and wonder a t ' the ineffectiveness of the Church’s witness in so many places; but the instruments of power that set the New Testament Church apart are just as real and just as effective today as they were in Peter’s day. If we, as individuals, are weak it is because we fail to pray, we must claim His promises. We see the Church at prayer again in Acts 4:23-31. Peter and John had been used of the Lord to heal a man lame from birth, following which they were apprehended by the authorities and placed in prison. Following, their release the Scripture says, i “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: . . . And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with bold ness.” Note, if you will, that when they had prayed, again something happened. Now, if we are not careful we will be overly cdncemed with the physical manifestations involved here and miss the cardinal point stated in verse 31 where we read that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spake the Word of God with boldness. In this case prayer resulted' in increased boldness and zeal for service. There is an interesting progression here. A threat to the very life of these people existed. Forbidden to preach un der pain of death they went to prayer, however, they did not ask to be sayed
Often people ask, “what can I do to stimulate an interest in missions in my church.” I wonder if the place to start is at the place of prayer, for if people are concerned enough to pray about missions, they will be concerned enough to do something. When I read these stirring experi ences from the book of Acts, my heart cries out to know more of the meaning " I Dare Not Idle Stand'' 1 dare not idle stand, White upon every hand The whitening fields proclaim the harvest near; A gleaner I would be Gathering, dear Lord, for Thee, Lest I with empty hand at last appear. I dare not idle stand. While on the shifting sand The ocean casts bright treasures at my feet; Beneath some shell's rough side The tinted pearl may hide, And I with precious gift my Lord may meet. I dare not idle stand, While over all the land. Poor, wandering souls need humble help like mine; Brighter than the brightest gem In monarch's diadem, Each soul a star in Jesus' crown may shine. I dare not idle stand, But at my Lord's command. Labor for Him throughout my life's short day; Evening will come at last. Day's labor all be passed, And rest eternal my brief toil repay. and reality of this kind of experience with the Lord. We know so little of the power of the New Testament Church today because we know so little, and practice so little, the simplicity and daring of their faith in God and the fulness of the Holy Spirit. I trust that these thoughts might stir your heart also. 19
Christians, and Spirit-filled Christians produce results in the work of God, for the Scripture says that through the ministry of a cleansed and praying church, believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. In Acts 12:5, we look in on another Church prayer meeting. James had been martyred and great persecution had broken out against the churches. Peter had been apprehended and im prisoned under heavy guard in order to please the Jewish religious leaders. Facing a new crisis, the reaction of the Church is again to pray. We read in verse five - that, “. . . prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” The verses which follow describe the miraculous deliver ance that resulted when the Church prayed. Nor are these situations limited to New Testament experiences. The annals of modem missionary history abound in examples of the miraculous deliverance of God in response to the prayers of God’s people. If in our Twentieth Century situation we fail and stumble at the seemingly impossi ble, it is because our faith is weak and inadequate, and our dedication is lack ing. Finally, let us- see the New Testa ment Church at prayer again in Acts, chapter 13:1-4. The church at Antioch had experienced a phenomenal growth under the able leadership of Paul, Barnabas, and others. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabus and Saul for the work whereunto l have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” The prayer life of the local church apparently has a very vital relation ship to the missionary emphasis of the church’s ministry.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker