TRIUMPH -- May 1958
Editorial
The Bible says, "That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
I heartily testify to the truth of this verse. I love God. I love Him through His Son as He commands us to. It is He Who has called me from my former life of unbelief to this present one of wholehearted trust in Him. Likewise, it is He Who has permitted my present affliction. If I once had some doubt in my mind concerning His purposes in all this, the doubt has long since been dispelled.
Maybe I am in this paralyzed condition as a result of my past sinful life. Maybe God has permitted Satan to sift me and thus try my faith. Perhaps God is chastening me or trying to ready me for a greater ministry. Maybe He could not use me with a healthy body, but can as I am. But whatever be the purpose for my affliction, and as I look back, I must still say, "All things work together for good . . ."
There are today some names written down in the book of heaven--people I wouldn't have met were it not for Mr. Polio Bug. The way has been opened through this that I can now send out the message of God to thousands instead of the small group which made up my congregation when I was well. I have experienced in my own life the power of God as never before, something for which I had earnestly prayed but never knew.
If I never again in this life have a strong body; if I never come to the place that I can fully understand God's ways; even if my ministry should be reduced to zero, yet I shall say, by the grace of God, "all things work together for good" to the child of God.
May this also be true of you.
Your servant for Jesus' sake,
Art Gordon
Dear Shut-In
While reading the life story of a very devoted servant of God I came across the phrase that went something like this: "those who say that you are weak in faith because you suffer physical ailments are cruel." Although this dear lady suffered all her life, she was greatly used of God. Her statement set me to thinking. The following poem is the result.
TAKE HEED! to this quote from God's Word:
"First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.'
They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise (of His coming) as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:3-10 RSV).
Who are the "ungodly" mentioned here? Revealed elsewhere in the Bible they are those people who have not accepted God's plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
If the "ungodly man" shall be thus dealt with, as we read above, where do you stand?
---- P R I D E ----
If there is one sin, more than any other, that is keeping people out of the Kingdom of God, it surely must be PRIDE.
Pride is just the opposite of the standard set forth in the Bible. The Bible says that you are a sinner. Pride says, "I'm not so bad." The Bible says that you need the righteousness of Christ. Pride says, "I'm as good as the next fellow." The Bible says that you must become as a little child in humility. Pride answers, "Never."
To be saved one must become humble in his whole outlook. Jesus tells us that if we are ever to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven we must become as a child. What is more humiliating than that?
A child makes no hesitation about trusting himself to another. He does not question Christ's ability to save and keep him. He is perfectly willing to be wholly dependent upon the Savior. This is not so, however, with many grown-ups. They take pride in being self-sufficient. To be dependent upon another shows weakness, they reason, and they don't want to be weak even with relation to God.
This seems to be the reason so many people have difficulty in adjusting to afflictions and especially handicaps. They hate the thought that they are not able any longer, to do for themselves. They dislike the idea of being dependent upon others and thus their pride is wounded.
This subject might be illustrated by the two letters: "I," and "C." The "I" stands for the proud and unbending self. The "C" stands for the "I" after it is bent and humble. If we are to come to Christ, we must be willing to bend to His wishes. As long as we are determined to be self-sufficient we shall never come to Him. When we come to Him we must come with the self bowed low and recognizing our own need and dependence upon Him. It must be: C-hrist, not "I." John, the baptizer, expressed it well, when he said, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
This is the very heart of the gospel and Christianity. The Bible says that we are all lost sinners. We are no more able to save ourselves than we are able to lift ourselves out of the mud by our boot straps. Our only hope of Heaven and eternal life is found in the One Who paid for our sins on the cross. We must confess that we are sinners, that Christ is our Savior, and that the resultant salvation is entirely apart from all our own efforts or self-righteousness. This leaves no room for pride.
What is the end of this thing called pride? The Bible says, that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." God can do nothing for the one who persists in selfish pride. He will, however, pour out His grace upon the one who humbly bows himself to the divine will. We must bow, to enter the door God has prepared for our salvation. Jesus said, "I am the door." What of pride then?
PRIDE WILL NEVER SEE THE INSIDE OF HEAVEN!
'Till I learned why Jesus died,
Then in Him I did confide,
Now in me He doth reside.
Gone forever, selfish pride!
Sermon Series - X
The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians - (Continued)
Chapter 2, verses 4-6
"But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ."
NEGATIVE
Last month we considered the first three of a list of characteristics, setting forth the pure motives of the Apostle Paul and his co-workers. We shall continue with this list in our present study. Note, they are viewed from the negative.
NOT AS PLEASING MEN
Of himself and the other preachers, Paul affirms, " . . . we were . . . put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God . . . " God had entrusted to these men the sacred task of spreading the gospel message. Paul says, simply but firmly, "even so we speak." As they were entrusted so they fulfilled their trust.
Their preaching was not to please man but God. It would be wonderful if we could always please all men, but you know as well as I, that this is impossible. In fact if we tried to please certain ones we would find ourselves displeasing God.
God has called us to preach. He has equipped us to preach. He has given us the message to preach. He gives the increase in our preaching. And He, one day, will try our works, whether they have been with the proper motives. God, then is the One we must please in our ministry.
But how easy it is to slip into the error of men-pleasing. You know how it is. Mr. Mon E. Bags has contributed so much to our church and I dare not mention a certain teaching from the Word, for he doesn't like it and if he got angry our church would fold up. Maybe this is a bit exaggerated but if we looked down under the veneered surface I wonder if we wouldn't find ourselves, more or less catering to someone or 'ones for one reason or another.
My dear preacher friend, it would be much better to displease every member of your congregation than to displease God. They may cast you out as unworthy to fill their pulpit, but better that, than to stand "blood-guilty" before the One Who trieth the heart.
NEITHER . . . USED WE FLATTERING WORDS
The apostle continues, "neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know . . . "
This is a trick as old as the hills. The salesman tells the housewife she looks like an intelligent woman and she buys a set of encyclopedias from him. The politician tells his constituents that they are above average mentally and they vote for him. The preacher tells his parishioners that they are "jolly-good fellows," and they keep him for another year.
Poor, indeed, is this method when it comes to giving out the gospel of Christ. In fact the gospel itself contains the truth that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The gospel first shows a man to be hopelessly and helplessly lost in sin; then it presents the good news that he may be saved through faith in Christ.
Flattery may gain a few followers for now but will gain no converts for eternity. If we remain true to God's gospel we shall have no room for flattery.
NOR A CLOKE OF COVETOUSNESS
Paul calls God to witness that their ministry in Thessalonica was not performed as " . . . a cloke of covetousness . . . " The people knew that the preachers had not used "flattering words," but only God could know whether they were pretending to serve the people and all the while were forwarding their own ends. Paul realized that God alone knows the hearts of men and thus their motives. And, before God, he declares his motives pure.
I wonder how many evangelists and pastors and missionaries are ministering for the next check. And too, I wonder how many laymen are visiting in their community to increase the attendance in their church. I wonder how many wives are praying for the salvation of their husband that they may have a happier home life.
There is nothing wrong with a preacher receiving a pay check, yet if this is his primary interest he has the wrong motive. There is nothing wrong with increasing church attendance, but if this is the only end of visitation, then again the motive is wrong. There is nothing wrong with wanting a happier home life, yet to pray for one's mate, just to get this, shows the motive to be wrong.
In each case the proper motive would be: for the glory of God and the good of those who are ministered to, visited, and prayed for. Otherwise, the motives are selfish.
NOR . . . SOUGHT WE GLORY
Paul has thus far said, "we didn't seek your pleasure; we didn't seek your money or possessions," and now he says, "nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others . . . "
As apostles they could have demanded respect, but they went, not to gain respect and praise but to present the saving gospel to these folks.
One good way of judging whether you are preaching just for the praise of men is to observe how you feel and act when no one comes to you after the message and compliments you. If you go home and kick the dog, growl at the children, and argue with your wife, then there undoubtedly should be some real self-examination done. Of course I realize that a compliment once in awhile does help a hard working preacher to keep on. But, lest we find ourselves catering to the praise of men, we must keep our hearts and minds to our main task: preaching the gospel without fear or favor.
Paul cared not for the praise or glory of men. But in another place he tells us, in what he does glory, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing (glorying)? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy." His glorying was not in himself but in his converts. He went to Thessalonica with no other purpose than to win the people to Jesus Christ, that when Christ should appear they would meet Him as a prepared people.
I cannot be the judge of your motives, nor can anyone else. You must judge and decide for yourself, always remembering that God is your witness and it is He Who finally "trieth (your) heart." Ask yourself the important question: WHAT MOTIVATES ME?
From the Pastor's Pen
by Harry W. Rickards, Jr., Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Oxford, PA
FIRST THINGS FIRST
"In all thy ways acknowledge him . . . " Proverbs 3:6. " . . . that in all things he might have the preeminence" Colossians 1:16.
Someone has written, "God waits to be wanted." It has also been said, "God is more interested in the worker than He is the work." There is a great deal of thought in these statements. What is being emphasized here? Just this--let us have the right object in view, the right goal, the right purpose for every action; let us put "first things first."
The above two verses have come to mean much to me and I have begun to see that the truths set forth are the "first things" that God desires in our lives. He wants you and me to acknowledge and recognize His Son in ALL our ways. He demands that His Son have preeminence in ALL things.
Have you recognized the Lord Jesus Christ in ALL your ways--in all of the steps that make up your daily walk through life? This covers every problem and need, every situation and circumstance, every heartache and joy. Is Christ first in your home life, your business life, your social life? Do you ever ask yourself the question, "Can I do this and give Him first place? Can I go there and still give Him first place? Can I keep Him first in my life in that particular business transaction? This difficult experience that I find myself going through, have I really acknowledged and recognized Christ in the midst of it?
Perhaps, as you read this, you are going through some "deep waters." You cannot see ahead; everything around you seems to be darkness; you have not the answer to the need nor the wisdom to solve the problem. Will you stop just where you are? Tell your Heavenly Father, right now, that you will give to Christ first place in this situation and recognize Him in the midst of it When you do this, God is able by the Holy Spirit to perform for you. God is able to take over and win for you the victory.
I know a man who at the present time is going through a very difficult experience. He has told me that he cannot live a Christian life until after he is out of this experience. He has failed to see that if he would give to Christ His rightful place of preeminence, God would take over and perform mighty things for him.
On the other hand I knew of a young lady who was engaged to marry a young man when suddenly she realized that he was refusing to give the preeminence to the Lord Jesus Christ in their life together. Though marriage to this particular young man would have meant immense wealth and luxury for her, she returned his ring. That girl today has found real satisfaction and true joy in a life where Christ has been acknowledged as FIRST.
My dear reader, Christ desires to be acknowledged and recognized in every step you take along life's pathway. He longs to be first in every phase of your life. In this kind of living there is true satisfaction, real joy, and a life that counts for Him.
The Readers' Page
The poems and letter excerpt on this page were contributed by readers of TRIUMPH.
by
Frances Hery
Dear Friends,
When I first received your TRIUMPH paper I wanted to sit right down and write to you. I am sorry that I haven't been able to write before and tell you that your TRIUMPH is far more than a paper. It is rightly named, it is wonderfully good, it is surely a miracle. I should say it is at least three sermons in one. I am sure it is a great blessing to all of us who read it. I am keeping them together and value them very highly. I wish I could tell you how much I appreciate your TRIUMPH.
Mrs. A.P.
Cortland, Ohio
