TRIUMPH -- 1958 - February

 TRIUMPH -- February 1958

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Editorial

Many of you, I am sure, have things for which you have been earnestly praying.  And no doubt you would welcome a prayer partner.  But, maybe no one seems too interested in your problems.  I would feel honored if you would let me share with you your requests.  I can't do a lot but I can pray for you.  You may not hear from me but you can be sure that I will list each request and voice it before our God at least once a week and even more often as God brings it to mind.  "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know unto God."

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Our paper goes into nearly 2000 homes now.  Many are passing it on to others.  God is blessing.  Don't stop praying.

Your servant for Jesus' sake,

Art Gordon


Dear Shut-In

As I travel from room to room in my electric wheel chair, I look down occasionally at a 3x5 index card which hangs on the chair's control box.  On this card I have written a verse of Scripture--the verse that most impressed me during my morning Bible reading.  One day as I meditated upon Isaiah 49:13, two words stood out and their message gripped my heart.  These words were:

"HIS AFFLICTED."

Since I have been chosen to experience the ministry of suffering, I have come to realize, as never before, that there are many people on this old globe who are also suffering afflictions of one sort or another.  I don't think we have a right to try and put different types of afflictions into categories, saying one is worse than the other.  As you well know, a toothache--at the time--can be pretty grievous.  Whether your particular affliction is classed as more serious or less serious, nevertheless, it proves to be a burden to you.

Rather than continue on in this vein, let me remind you of those two words again in Isaiah, "his afflicted."  When we add the first to the second, it makes all the difference in the world.  Just to say "afflicted" is disheartening.  But to say, "his afflicted," is heartening indeed.

This is like the drop of water to the parched tongue, the light in darkness, the shelter in the time of storm.  The Psalmist expresses it like this:  "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in him will I trust.  Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday" (Psalm 91:1-2,5-6).

God at times delivers His children out of affliction, but beloved, He also delivers them in affliction.  He will not permit anything to come to His own that they cannot bear.  He will, with the temptation, make a way of escape.

You are afflicted.  But, have you become "his afflicted"?  If not, He offers Himself to you through His Son, Jesus Christ.  For "as many as received him (Christ), to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."    (John 1:12).

Please decide to receive Christ as your Savior and thus become a child of God.


OUTLOOK

In December, I received a letter from Mrs. Betty Angelo which I felt adequately expressed the outlook of a heart which has been touched by the Savior.  I also felt that it should be shared with all the readers of TRIUMPH.

Of the coming year, she had this to say:

"Isn't it wonderful to know that God will be our constant companion in this new year ahead and that we do not have to fear anything when Jesus is near?

I remember not too many years back when I would face the new year fearing what it would bring.  After accepting Christ as Savior and Leader of my life however, I face it with enthusiasm knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Oh! that people all over the world would know the joy that comes to those who trust in God.

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How's your standing,
What's your outlook
For this coming year?
Is it grounded in the Bible,
Or on restless fear?

If your standing
And your outlook
In these coming days,
Should be founded in the Bible,
You'll be filled with praise.

Let your standing
With your outlook,
In this fleeting hour,
Be in Jesus of the Bible--
Rest upon His power.

Blessed Jesus,
Holy Savior,
You our future hold;
'Tis the promise from the Bible:
Safe--Thine arms enfold.



Current Events & Comments

WHISTLING IN THE DARK

When I was a boy of about ten I lived just a stone's throw from the village of Russellville.  To walk the distance only took a few minutes but on a dark night those few minutes seemed like an eternity.  On both sides of the road were high banks.  About midway on one bank was an empty building and on the other, a few trees.  for a boy of ten and on a dark night that building and those trees concealed all kinds of foreboding objects.  I traveled this road, however, many times.  The thing that seemed to help me most was the fact that I could whistle.  I don't know what effect whistling has upon the evil forces dwelling in darkness but I do know it had some sort of encouraging effect upon me.  Of course if there had been real danger, whistling, no matter how vigorously performed, would have done little or no good.

Many prominent men in our country are like the scared boy whistling in the dark.  John Daly and Time Magazine (my source of news in 1958) are constantly quoting competent men--not at all alarmists--who are daily warning the American people of the imminent danger.  Yet we have many who are trying to throw up a smoke-screen to becloud the real threat to our existence.

This is something like the drunk, lying on the railroad tracks and calling to his buddies, "Come back, there is no danger; why worry, everything will turn out all right"; and all the while a big Diesel Streamliner is only a few seconds from crushing out his life.

It is time, my dear reader, for you to awaken to the danger.  Be not found among the people of the last days who cry:  "Peace, Peace, when there is no peace."  It is time to stop whistling in the dark.  It is time to stop pretending and to face the facts squarely.

In the days of Noah the people believed not the warning brought by God's servant.  But, on that eventful day the flood did come as God had promised.  The people did perish.  Noah and his family, however, were safe within the ark.

There is only one safe place for you in this perilous time:  within the Ark of safety--even the Lord Jesus Christ.  The song writer expresses it thus:  "harbored in Jesus, safe and secure; Harbored in Jesus, safe evermore."


Sermon Series - VII

The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians - (Continued)

Chapter 1, verses 7-10

AN EXAMPLE

A chain reaction took place in the city of Thessalonica.  Verse six which we considered last month says that these new converts imitated the apostle and the Lord, especially in the reception of "the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."  Now, we learn in our present text (7-10) that they themselves became an example to others:  "So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia."

The word "ensamples" means a model or pattern.  The seamstress will know what I mean if I say:  should the pattern be not true the dress will be spoiled.  Sometimes the dressmaker will depart from the pattern intentionally, however.  For one who is not skilled in her profession this might be disastrous, at least to the finished product.

Our pattern for a perfect, well formed Christian life--following our conversion--is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  To depart from this pattern is disastrous.  I might also say that it takes quite a bit of cutting and trimming to bring us into conformity with our Divine Pattern.  Sometimes this cutting process is not so pleasant but you can be sure it is necessary.

The Thessalonians became an example to "all that believe," in their immediate locality and the neighboring one.  What a wonderful work the Holy Spirit had wrought in their lives.  In modern terminology, their testimony was being felt not only in their home town but also in their county and state.  This could only be as a result of their vital contact with the Savior.  As the type of the printing press comes in contact with the paper and leaves its exact impression, so we-as we come in contact with the Master Printer--become the agent to show Him to the world about us.  The further we walk from Him, dimmer grows the image and the harder it is to see Him.

They were examples in three particular ways.  First:

"For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing"  (verse 8).

SOUNDED OUT

The Word of the Lord did not gather dust in the homes of the Thessalonian Christians as it does in so many homes today.  Rather, it "sounded out" from them, not only into their county and state, but "also in every place."  These Christians became instruments comparable to the "sounding boards" which are built into auditoriums to give the speaker's voice distinctness for the listener in the very last row.  As the words glance off the "sounding board" to the audience, so the Word of the Lord sounded out from these converts.  And so it should from you and me.

The radio transmitter has nothing original to say; it merely carries the message from the speaker at the microphone to the receiver in the home.  Thus we who have received the Word of the Lord are to carry it, unchanged, to a world lost in sin.

Their "faith to God-ward," again is shown to be the key that unlocks the storehouse of God's infinite power.  The Word, when mixed with faith, becomes God's power unto salvation and also power in its (the Word's) propagation.  I fear that the static from the storms of doubt in the modern day Christian is so loud that the listeners do not receive a distinct and clear presentation of the Word.  Let us begin to broadcast the "good news" with a static free "faith to God-ward."

The Thessalonian Christians were an example in a second way.

"For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (verse 9).

TURNED . . . TO SERVE

"How ye turned to God from idols," is said in reverse in the Acts:  "that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God."  Regardless of which way you say it, they both suggest true repentance upon which conversion rests.  There has to be a "turning" in every person's life, for "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

These people forsook their old, superstitious beliefs--along with their idols and turned to the "living and true God."  The idols of the world and the natural man are lifeless and false.  They cannot hear; they cannot act.  Prayers to them are in vain.  But, Oh! what a contrast is our God--living and true.  He both hears and acts in behalf of His own.

They willingly placed themselves into the position of slaves to God, as the word "serve" indicates.  They ceased to be the slaves of sin.  Might I suggest that you are even at this moment serving one of two Gods.  You are either a slave to sin or a slave to God.  Maybe to you, sin seems to be the better master and the less restricting of the two, but you can be sure that "the wages of sin is death" at last.  On the other hand, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  The yoke of Christ is easy; the yoke of sin is heavy.

Why will you longer serve those things which bring you hurt?

A third way in which the Thessalonian Christians were an example is found in these words:

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come" (verse 10).

AND TO WAIT

The Thessalonians became an example in that they maintained the blessed hope.  As taught by the apostle, they were expecting the Lord to return for them.

Their hope was based on the fact of Christ's resurrection.  Without the resurrection there could, of course, be no second coming.  Without the promise of His coming we would be hopeless indeed.  But there has been a resurrection; there will be a second coming, and we shall be saved "from the wrath to come."

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Christ saves us from the pending wrath
It's sure to come you know;
Regardless what you think or say
You'll reap just what you sow.

But wrath need not be your reward,
For on the cross was laid
The wrath of God--Yes, on His Son
And thus the debt was paid.

(Continued next month)


From the Pastor's Pen

by Rev. Ivan H. French,

Pastor of McCoy Memorial Baptist Church, Elkhart, Indiana.

"SONS OF GOD:  NOW AND THEN"

One of the most precious truths to the heart of the believer is that stated by the apostle John in his first letter:

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as he is pure."  (I John 3:2,3).

There is a very real sense in which the hope of the Christian is fixed on things to come in a future life.  But this hope of things to come has a great effect upon the present life.  That is the truth taught in these verses.

In this present life, the Christian is a child of God.  He became such by receiving Christ as his Savior and experiencing the New Birth.  For all his imperfections and failures, he is a member of the family of Almighty God and has a glorious future awaiting him.

There are going to be some wonderful changes in the believer when Christ returns.  While we may not know in great detail what those changes will be, God knows and He views us today not as what we are but as what we shall be.

A story is told of an artist who had in his mind the conception of a great picture which he was going to paint.  He stretched his vast canvas straight across one side of his large studio, put up the scaffolding, and brought the large, thick brushes, and prepared the paint.  He painted with great sweeps of his brush as he put in the background.  Day after day he would walk back and forth putting a daub of blue here, a daub of grey there, and some black.  One day he came down from the scaffolding to look at it.  He kept moving back, back, back.  A visitor had come in unnoticed, and as the artist moved backward he bumped right into him.  He turned around and said, "Why, I didn't know you came in.  What do you think of that picture?  That is going to be the Masterpiece of my life.  Isn't it magnificent?"  The other said, "I don't see anything there but a lot of great daubs of paint."  "Oh, I forgot," said the artist, "you can see only what is there, while I can see the picture as it is going to be."  So now while we can only see one another as we are, the Lord sees us as we shall be when He comes back again.

Then, we are going to see Him as He is and we shall be like Him.  It is almost staggering to try to contemplate all that that statement means.  I'm sure it means that we shall have a body like the resurrection body of Jesus because the apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 3:21 that our vile body will one day be fashioned like unto His glorious body.  That body will not be subject to sickness, pain or death.  So many of the limitations that bind us now will be cast off then.

But even more wonderful than the thought of our bodies being like Christ, is the fact that we shall be like Him in our moral natures--sinless.  No more to fail our Lord day after day; no more to battle with the flesh from within and temptations from without.  Then we shall be able to worship and serve Him without all the impediments of sin that are upon us today.

This is a wonderful prospect for the future.  But this future prospect is to shape our present practice:  "and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."  The man who is looking for the coming of Jesus Christ has a great incentive for holy living.

If he is occupied with Christ, he will not be occupied with the world that crucified Him.  If he is expecting his Master to return soon, he'll be busy keeping the house in order.  If he knows that some day he is going to be changed into the image of Christ he does not want that change to be so radical that he'll be virtually unrecognizable--so he seeks prayerfully to grow into the likeness of Christ even now.

In these disturbing days when so many of the saints are asking, "How much longer will He tarry?" let us dwell much on the promise of our Savior's coming again, and see to it that this hope is doing its purifying work in our lives.

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A drowning man does not need swimming lessons
but someone to save him.
A sinner does not need lessons in reform
but Jesus the Savior

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There is nothing eternal about your church;
eternal life comes only through faith in Christ Jesus

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Jesus on the cross paid my debt and set me free

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GOD CAUSETH US TO TRIUMPH

God causeth us to triumph, through Jesus Christ alway;
With loving arms about us, He leadeth day by day.

He giveth us the vic-t'ry, though life would bring defeat;
Yea, more than conquerors we, in Him we are complete.

And though our hearts be aching, our bodies racked with pain;
Blessed promise of His Word:  His sons we still remain.

The evil one would bind us, Christ died to set us free;
Where the Lord--the Spirit is, there's perfect liberty.

The tempter's power is broken, the captives now are free;
To purchase our redemption, Christ died upon the tree.

Ne'er more shall we surrender, to doubts along the way;
As Christ has died to save us, He lives for us today.

And when our journeys over--of earth we take our leave,
Our Lord awaits us yonder, our person to receive.

So why be longer servile, to Satan one more day?
When God makes us to triumph, through Jesus Christ alway.