(Helpful to Sunday School Lesson of February 29, 1920; 1 Peter 2:1–5, 11–12; 19–25)
“Laying aside.” How necessary is this first step in Christian living. Many people quote another part of the Scripture that says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” but they forget the words of that injunction, which are, “Submit yourselves to God.” Now before there can be Christian living there must be a laying aside. How few Christians consider this cleaning up that is necessary, this pruning that must take place, this going down before there comes the going up and the bearing of …
(Helpful to Sunday School Lesson of February 1, 1920, Acts 8:4–39)
“Scattered abroad.” This sounds like a calamity; but what looks like a calamity to the world is God’s method of sowing the seed. Men who knew nothing about seed would say the farmer is throwing it away as he reaches into his bag and scatters it abroad; but it will come up if it die and bear much fruit. Persecution has always been followed by power in the Church. They put Jesus to death, but fifty days from His death one hundred and twenty were filled with Him and …
(Helpful to Sunday School Lesson of February 8, 1920, Acts 9:32–43)
“Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.”
The Acts of the Apostles might be called also “The Acts of the Risen and Seated Christ,” or, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” The things which Jesus had done as He walked on Earth are in this lesson done through faith in Him since the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. It is the same Jesus who is working, the same Jesus who is able to heal today; for He is “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.”—Psalm 73:26
Among the many wonderful things in the book of Psalms, there is nothing in my mind more wonderful than the fact that this book is such a transparent account of the inner dealing of a soul with God. You have history books and prophetic books in the Bible, but here you have a book which just seems to draw the veil aside to let you see something of the inner conflict of the spirit as the man talks with God. This …
(Excerpts from an address delivered at Watch Night meeting at the [Moody] Tabernacle by Mrs. J.D. Williams of C. & M.A. Bible School, St. Paul)
“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”—Philippians 4:6
Just two thoughts stand out in this verse for us in these few moments as we look into the Word: BE CARE FREE: BE PRAYER FULL. I believe as you have gone on in your Christian life you have found that nothing hinders prayer so much as anxiety; fretting and anxious care. Then, …
None of the Above: When There is No Candidate You Want to Support
“What do you do when you cannot support either candidate in an election?”
This question came after a lecture I gave on the history of freedom of religion in Europe and the United States. It’s a question I’ve been asked many times in recent months. Of course, I’m sure the questioner was thinking of the presidential election, but his question also applies to other political races where we might be tempted to simply sit out the election and say, “No thanks. None of the above.”
(Helpful to Sunday School Lesson of February 22, 1920, Acts 12:1–19)
“Was kept in prison.” How wonderful is the contrast between these words and the words in the 9th verse, “And he went out.”What a contrast of power is here. In the first place poor little puny government officials, needful as they are, honored as they must be by every Christian and obeyed as God has commanded them to be, yet how little is their power when God says, “Open the door and let them out.” It is so with every door that shuts against us. We are under …
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”—Isaiah 53:6
I want to speak, as the Holy Spirit shall enable me, on the great subject of God’s remedy for sin, which is appropriate in view of the Crusade which is to come; it is appropriate in view of this particular season of the year; but most of all it is appropriate because of the constant personal need in every one of our lives. May He so guide me in my speaking …
(Helpful to Sunday School Lesson of February 15, 1920, Acts 10:30–48)
“Behold, a man stood.” Cornelius did not know the Holy Ghost as yet, and it was necessary for God to use an angel. God speaks through the saints by the Holy Spirit. How important it is that we should thoroughly recognize this. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice.” Again, the Scripture says, “As many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God.” How many sad hearts are calling themselves Christians today, who must be led about by bit and bridle. There are …
“And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundation of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”—Isaiah 58:12
On the eve of the Crusade which is about to commence in this city I believe we stand poised on the brink of what might well be the greatest event in all the history of the church in Chicago. We have considered on two previous Sundays the message that we are to proclaim, the miracles that we must expect, and …
