November 1928
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selves. They are, in fact, most intelligently obsessed with self. It’s all self—morning, noon and night. We can’t get away from self here. We lug it along with us, even through our dreams. Oh, yes, young sir, we talk sensibly; but we’re mad right enough, all the same.’ ”—E. Herman in “Creative Prayer.” | | God Can’t Forget Me Hudson Taylor said: “Before I had children of my own, I used to think, ‘God will not forget m e'; but when I became '’a father I learned something more—‘God can not forget me.’ ” Selective Rapture To A. W. “Do you believe that the teaching of a ‘selective rap ture’ is an inspiration to holy living?” By selective rapture is meant that at our Lord’s com ing, only Christians who are upon a certain high spiritual level, or enlightened in second-coming truth will be taken. The writer does not believe that the Scripture teaches this idea. We do not know that those who have held 'this teaching have lived any holier lives than those who hold that when Christ comes He will take all the members of His Body, the true church. If only a very few will be taken, the value of the hope would seem to be decreased in the fear of being left behind. 1 Cor. 15 :23 seems to make it very clear that “they that are Christ1s” will be taken at His coming. It is certain that those to be raised from the dead at His coming are “the dead in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:13-16) . There is little reason to believe that believers who are living at that time, will be selected on a basis altogether different from that of those who are asleep. a» Pessimists In Prayer “Many of God’s people are pessimists in prayer,” says Dr. Northcote Deck. “A pessimist is one who habitually looks on the dark side of things, who counts the discour agements, and discounts the deliverances. Applied to human affairs, it is excused that ‘if you, expect little you will not be disappointed.’ “But such a state of mind, such an outlook and expec tation applied to earthly things, is apt to become habitual, and unconsciously become our attitude towards spiritual things as well. Thus, there is adopted a God-dishonoring attitude that undermines the expectations of faith and causes prayer with many of God’s children to become a power unavailed of. “God has no use for pessimists in prayer. ‘Ye haye not because ye ask not’ is the Spirit’s explanation of the usual poverty of soul. ‘Expect great things from God aqd you will get them’ is the sober and triumphant verdict of George Muller, the latter-day apostle of prevailing prayer. Surely, then, seeing we have the resources of the Saviour on which to draw, we may safely be the most habitual optimists in prayer. For, abiding in Him, being led out by Him in intercession, we shall not be confounded. To the ardent soul who would excel in prayer, pessimism is a state of mind that needs to be consciously and constantly guarded against, even as constantly we need to enlarge our expectations by recording and recalling God’s deliverances in the past.”
cause an eclipse to answer a prayer, and in turn we might ask, Did not God foreknow the whole situation, including the prayer, and could He not have planned the enemy’s defeat in precisely this way? It is certain that nothing could terrify the heathen more than to have their sun-god hide his face at noonday when they were engaged in battle. Does Professor Wilson’s interpretation rob the pas sage of a miracle altogether? The writer does not think so. The point of the passage is stated in verse 14, “the Lord fought for Israel.” In any case, what occurred was a great lesson in faith. It was an immediate and com plete answer to prayer. God prepared beforehand to grant the request, God brought the enemy to the right place at the appointed hour. The inspired writer says that it was the extraordinary answer to prayer that made this day at Gibeon unlike all others. . a» Instantaneous Sanctification To T. A. M. A Bible teacher is quoted as saying,. “Some tell us that to be regenerated is to be sanctified. That is not sound teaching. The word ‘sanctify’ means ‘to be made holy.’ A person may be regenerated without having had the expe rience of sanctification.” Our correspondent desires our opinion of these statements. It is true that the meaning of the word “regenerate” is not the same as that of the word “sanctify,” yet we are plainly taught that there is an instantaneous act of sanc tification coincident with our acceptance of Jesus Christ. The word means primarily “to set apart” and hence comes to mean a separated or holy life. In Heb. 10:10 we read: “We are sanctified through the offering o f the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” In v. 14 we read : “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” In 1 Cor. 1 :30, Paul says: "O f him are ye in Christ Jesus who is made unto us . . . . sanctification.” Of every truly regenerated person, it is said, “Ye put on the new yyan which is created in right eousness and true holiness” (sanctification). Therefore, in Christ, a true child of God is already set apart. We must not, however, overlook the fact that great stress is laid upon the progressive work of sanctification. “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). “This is the will o f God, even your sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:3). Try This on a Thief “That rascal has stolen my boots!” cried a young noble man, excitedly, to Francis d’Assisi. “Run after him and give him your socks,” was the quiet reply. And are we surprised that the name of St. Francis is loved today the whole world over, and his life is an inspiration to us all? mm Self-Obsession “Every man who finds his center in self is on the way to madness—is, indeed a little mad. When Peer Gynt found himself in the lunatic asylum, he could not realize that the people around him were mad. They talked so sensibly and well, they discussed their affairs and plans with such lucidity and shrewdness, that he was amazed thereat. He turned to the physician in charge for enlight enment. ‘Ah,’ said the doctor, ‘don’t you see how it is ? They talk very sensibly, I admit; but it’s all about them
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