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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CONTENTS

Experience has taught us that "no man

liveth to himself", ora himself. Even in Preface .. .............. Page
4
simple accounts, such as appear in this work,
many have been the kind and unselfish hearts Foreword. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Introduction.
9
11
participating. Margaret Edge and Dorothy
Rpbison poured over personal experience data
wich came in from the secretary of the prayer Chapter
classes, and then arranged the notes in the 1 .
W a n t e d ! R o b e r t J a m e s Babcock! 21
form of readable experiences. They looked
up the individuals involved, or called them
2,
3.
0.

Youth P r a y s - T h i n g s Happen! . .
...
Youth's A d v e n t u r e s In P r a y e r
, 31
39
I by telephone, to determine the correctness 4. Scientifically Impossible-
1
I
of the experiences credited to them. Also
they spent days in checking and rechecking Yet It Happened ..
Young Dave S t e w a r d In Action
. . .. .. .. 50
60
I quotable references, many of which have gone
fnto this work. Agnostics and Drunkards Too !... 69
Several members of the class kindly co- ...
.....
S w e e t h e a r t s Again 79
operated by permitting me to tape-recora ..
.....
M o d e r n Day M i r a c l e s 88
their personal experiences. Stranger Than Fiction .....
. 99
After the manuscript was first prepared, Youth L e a d s t h e Way ..
..... 108
Pastor G. P. Friesen gave unstinted time, ..
A f t e r T h i s , Who Could D o u b t ? , 118
crowding it around his already heavy pastor-
Margaret Persevered. ...... 127
I a1 load, completely re-editing and retyping
the manuscript. A l l Sufficient. .......... 134
We wish here to express our appreciation ....
W o r r i e d About Conditions? 143
to these and all others who have contributed .......
T h a t G u a r d i a n Angel 152
to making this work possible. "I Found What I Wanted ...... 160
. ... . . .
God Always A n s w e r s 17 1
The Author.
A Young H e r o ...... ... ,. 177
This Is the Life! ......... 180
....
T h i s Can Change Your Life 190

P R E F A C E
What Is The Prayer of Reception?
There is no such term as "The Prayer of
~ e c e ~ t i o nto
" be found in the Bible or any
other work, so far as we know, except our
own lessons and books.
We use this term to distinguish this
particular tgpe of prayer from other tgpes
of prayer. For instance, there is the prayer
of commitment. This prayer commits the an-
swer to the Lord. This prayer says, "If it
be Thy will," then do so and so for me, or
for another. But the prayer of reception
being based on any one of the 3,573 Bible
promises, does not say, "if it be Thy will,
forgive my sins which I have confessed to
Thee", because God has definitely promised in
I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 11 and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
!The prayer of reception does not say,
e ear Lord, although I have confessed my sins,
and fulfilled the conditions, yet if 14
Thy will, give me the wisdom I need", because
God has already promised, "1f any of you lack
I wisdom, let him ask o f God, that giveth to
'' I
I
I
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is
I like a wave of the sea driven with the wind
l
and tossed. For let not that man think that
he shall receive anything of the Lord. 11
James 1:s-7.
Therefore, the prayer of reception is
based on claiming a Bible promise; for in
this type of prayer, "we must ask for the
things that He has promiseden-p ducat ion, p.
258. Also in this type of prayer, we have
the assurance, "The conditions met, the prom-
ise is unequivocal. 11 --Ibid.
The author of the book "Education" quotes
Mark 1 1 ~ 2 4before the statement, "We must ask
for the things that He has promised." So the
full quotation is as follows: "In the prayer
of faith there is a divine science; it is a
science that everyone who would make his life-
work a success must understand. Christ says,
'What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall
have them.' Mark 11:24. He makes it plain
that our asking must be according to God's
will; we must ask for the things that He has
promised, and whatever we receive must be
used in doing His will, The conditions met.
the promise is unequivocal. "--Education, pp:
257,258.
- . - -
"~elievethat ye receive" is the basis
of the prayer of reception. We have three
wonderful and astonishing quotations from our
favorite author which build on this Scripture.
They teach us that we have a perfect right to
offer a prayer of reception in the present
. ..
perfect tense. They follow:
1. I I for any gift He has promised,
we may ask; then we are to believe that we
receive, and return thanks to God that we
have received. "--Id.,p. 258.
2. "SO we may ask for these blessings,
and believe that we receive them, and thank
God that we have received them. I? --Steps to
Christ, p. s=rmy and Navy edition^^
3. 11 We are to trust in His promises,
When we come t o H i m i n f a i t h , e v e r y p e t i t i o n
e n t e r s t h e h e a r t of God. When we have asked
f o r His b l e s s i n g , we should b e l i e v e t h a t we
r e c e i v e i t and thank H i m t h a t we have r e -
ceived it.&- he D e s i r e of Ages, p. 200.
I n b o t h t h e books, " S t e p s t o C h r i s t " and
"The Desire of ~ g e s "t h e a u t h o r p u t t h e word
1I
have" i n i t a l i c s f o r emphasis. This a g r e e s
w i t h t h e beloved d i s c i p l e John who c r i e d o u t
a s t h e Holy S p i r i t burned i n h i s h e a r t : "We
know t h a t we have t h e p e t i t i o n s t h a t we de-
s i r e d of h i m . " I John 5:15. This d i s c i p l e
was n o t alone i n t h i s d i v i n e u n c t i o n . The
g o s p e l w r i t e r Matthew h e a r d Jesus Himself
d e c l a r e , " ~ n da l l t h i n g s , whatsoever ye s h a l l
ask i n p r a y e r , b e l i e v i n g , ge s h a l l r e c i e v e . I1
Matthew 21:22.
For y e a r s t h e s e , and o t h e r s i m i l a r s t a t e -
ments of S c r i p t u r e , were fuzzy t o us, u n t i l
we came t o l e a r n t h a t t h i s k i n d of r e c e i v i n g
prayer-the p r a y e r of reception--is based on
claiming B i b l e promises; f o r J e s u s made c l e a r :
I1
I f ye a b i d e i n me, and my words a b i d e i n you,
ye s h a l l a s k what ye w i l l , and i t s h a l l be
done unto you." John 15:7. I t was i n t h i s
connection t h a t J e s u s promised, I I Whatsoever
s o s u r e l ~ - _ ~t hse g i f t of God i n His promise- # 1!
I f we r&ve t h e promise, w c h a v e - t h e ---gift.
,Education, p. 253.
Again and again t h e a u t h o r of t h e book
flEducaEion" emphasizes that this kind of
payer i s based on claiming a B i b l e promise:
RFor pardon of s i n , f o r t h e Holy S p i r i t , f o r
a C h r i s t l i k e temper, f o r wisdom and s t r e n g t h
t o do His work, f o r any g i f t He h a s promised,
we may a s k ; then we a r e t o b e l i e v e t h a t we
r e c e i v e , and r e t u r n thanks t o God t h a t we
-
have r e c e i v e d ."--a, p , 258,
"We need look f o r no outward evidence
of t h e b l e s s i n g . The g i f t i s i n t h e promise,
and we may go about our work a s s u r e d t h a t
what God h a s promised He i s a b l e t o perform,
and t h a t t h e g i f t , which we a l r e a d y p o s s e s s ,
w i l l be r e a l i z e d when we need i t most. --Ibld,
This book, t h e r e f o r e , i s w r i t t e n t o en-
courage our f a i t h a s we c l a i m B i b l e promises,
having f i r s t f u l f i l l e d t h e i r simple c o n d i t i o n s ,
and having determined t h a t t h e answers t o our
p r a y e r s w i l l a l l be used u n s e l f i s h l y t o ad-
vance t h e cause of our Lord J e s u s C h r i s t i n
the earth.
The a u t h o r of t h i s book s t r o n g l y ur e s

g i v e i t you ...
ye s h a l l ask t h e F a t h e r i n my name, he w i l l
ask, and ye s h a l l r e c e i v e ,
t h a t your joy may be f u l l . " John 16:23,24.
t h e r e a d e r t o secure h i s t e n l e s s o n s on 'The
Prayer of Reception". Also "The Study Guide
t o t h e Prayer bf R e c e p t i o n n , a 200 page book;
Therefore, t h e k i n d of p r a y e r we a r e d e a l i n g and he A B C f s of B i b l e ~ r a y e r "c o n t a i n i n g
w i t h mainly i n t h i s book-the p r a y e r of r e - twelve sermons by t h e a u t h o r . These d e a i
ception-is based on claiming s p e c i f i c B i b l e thoroughly, though n o t e x h a u s t i v e l y , w i t h t h e
11 d i v i n e s c i e n c e " of c l a i m i n g B i b l e promises.
promises, a f t e r f u l f i l l i n g t h e i r c o n d i t i o n s .
The a u t h o r of t h e book d ducat ion" makes We a l s o s u g g e s t you s e c u r e our book " ~ o d ~ s
t h i s v e r y c l e a r when t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t s Promises Solve My ~ r o b l e m s " , a 320 page, h a r d
a r e made: 11 How t o e x e r c i s e f a i t h should be cover book of c l a s s i f i e d promises f o r almost
made v e r y p l a i n . To every promise of God every imaginable time of need. You may s e c u r e
there are conditions. I f we a r e w i l l i n g t o them e i t h e r through your Book and B i b l e House,
do His w i l l , a l l H i s s t r e n g t h i s o u r s . What- o r d i r e c t l y from G. A. Coon, Route 1, Roan
e v e r g i f t He promises, i s i n t h e promise it- Mountain, Tenn. 37687. ($3.50 each. ) The
self. 'The seed i s t h e word of God.' Luke book "youth Prays-God ~ n s w esr" i s i n t e n d e d
8:11. As
- - sure= a
---s t h e oak i s i n t h - -
e acorn, p r i m a r i l y t o s t i m u l a t e t h e f a i t h of t h o s e who
r e a d , t o go f a r t h e r w i t h God and f i n d a f u l -
n e s s i n Christ never b e f o r e experienced.
Because some of t h e e x p e r i e n c e s we r e -
l a t e i n t h i s book b o r d e r on t h e f a n t a s t i c ,
we want our r e h d e r s t o know t h a t e v e r y chap-
t e r i s true. Every e x p e r i e n c e i s f a c t u a l -
n o t a mere composite. Names and p l a c e s have
been, i n some i n s t a n c e s , s u b s t i t u t e d , t o keep
c o n f i d e n c e s , or f o r o t h e r i m p o r t a n t r e a s o n s .
The c o n v e r s a t i o n a l q u o t e s a r e n o t i n t e n d e d
t o g i v e a verbatim, word-for-word r e p r o d u c t i o n ,
b u t a r e a s n e a r l y t h e e x a c t words and thoughts
e x p r e s s e d a s v e r a c i t y c a n make them,
What you r e a d h e r e h a s been checked, and
i n some c a s e s double checked, t o make s u r e of
i t s t r u t h f u l n e s s , WAq.8t God h a s done f o r
o t h e r s , He can do f o r you!
Much of the emphases i n t h e q u o t a t i o n s
a r e our own.
The Author.
FOREWORD
"Answers Like ~ o m i n o s "
I was s e a t e d i n t h e o f f i c e of one of t h e
l e a d e r s of our church, d i s c u s s i n g t h e manu-
s c r i p t I had p l a c e d i n h i s hand. What i s now
t i t l e d "Youth Prays-God Answers" was o r i g i n -
a l l y t i t l e d "The Prayer of ~ e c e ~ t i o n " .
I was charmed a s t h i s man of God s h a r e d
one p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e a f t e r a n o t p e r of
p r a y e r answers which he had r e c e i v e d from
t h e hand of God immediately a f t e r r e a d i n g our
manuscript. I w i l l g i v e you o n l y a b r i e f
s k e t c h from memory of what he s h a r e d w i t h me
t h a t day.
He s a i d , "Glenn, my w i f e and I r e a d your
manuscript t o g e t h e r a s we t r a v e l e d a c r o s s t h e
continent. A s you know, we had r e c e i v e d a
c a l l t o t h e General Conference, and had l i s t -
ed our home on t h e West C o a s t - f o r s a l e . We
were unable t o p u r c h a s e a home i n t h e Takoma
Park a r e a u n t i l we s o l d our home i n t h e West.
The r e a l e s t a t e b r o k e r had announced, t h a t ,
t h e market b e i n g what i t was, he could n o t
promise t o s e l l t h e house i n t h e f o r e s e e a b l e
f u t u r e , and would t h e r a f o r e r e l e a s e u s from
t h e l i s t i n g c o n t r a c t s i n c e we were i n an emer-
gency. We had t o s e t t l e i n t h e Takoma Park
a r e a b e f o r e I could meet over-seas appoint-
ments a l r e a d y s e t up. These appointments
would keep me away f o r months. We r e c o g n i z e d
t h a t we c o u l d n o t b e o u t of t h e S t a t e s f o r
t h e s e many months w i t h o u t h a v i n g f i r s t s o l d
our home i n t h e West.
"So i n t h i s c r i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n which
we found o u r s e l v e s , we d e c i d e d t o f o l l o w
m i n u t e l y t h e s c i e n c e of p r a y e r a s o u t l i n e d i n
your manuscript. I went t o Takoma P a r k t o
t a k e c a r e of p r e s s i n g problems c o n n e c t e d w i t h
my new work, and my w i f e r e t u r n e d t o t h e West.
" I n a m a t t e r of a b o u t t h r e e d a y s , the
house h a d s o l d . I was n o t i f i e d t o r e t u r n i m -
m e d i a t e l y and s i g n t h e s a l e s c o n t r a c t . From
t h e n on, a n s w e r s cclme t h i c k and f a s t . We
were a b l e t o meet a p p o i n t m e n t s l i k e c l o c k -
work. So I know t h i s s c i e n c e r e a l l works. 11
With a h o l y joy he e x c l a i m e d , 'Glenn,
we d i d n o t r e c e i v e j u s t one o r two a n s w e r s t o
p r a y e r . A c t u a l l y , t h e a n s w e r s came l i k e dom-
i n o s . I I Then h e opened one of o u I1r f a v o r i t e
books e n t i t l e d " s t e p s t o C h r i s t , b y E. G.
White, and r e a d t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t : "SO
we may a s k f o r t h e s e b l e s s i n g s , and b e l i e v e
t h a t we r e c e i v e them, and t h a n k God t h a t we
-
have r e c e i v e d them." p . 51 (Army and Navy
Edition).
T h i s book, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e t e n l e s s o n s
and t h e i r "Study Guide" on he P r a y e r of Re-
c e p t i o n " c o n s t i t u t e what tre t e r m " a p i l o t
program. During t h e coming months we hope
t o smooth o u t a n y w r i n k l e s i n a l l of t h e s e
works and t h e n p e r h a p s p u b l i s h a l l t h r o u g h
one of o u r p u b l i s h i n g h o u s e s . I n t h e mean
t i m e we s o l i c i t a n y a d d i t i o n a l i n s t r u c t i o n ,
c r i t i c i s m , o r m a t e r i a l which you, t h e r e a d e r ,
f e e l m i g h t s t r e n g t h e n t h i s program.
INTRODUCTION
God Wanted T h i s Book W r i t t e n
"Three weeks a g o , " began a l a d y whom we s h a l l
c a l l Mrs. Nyder, "I had l o s t a l l hope. My f a i t h
had grown weak, and I was m i s e r a b l e . I was ready
t o g i v e up e v e r y t h i n g . The problems of l i f e were
c r u s h i n g me! I was c a v i n g i n !
"Then you came. You b r o u g h t God's message t o
my needy s o u l . A s t h e m e e t i n g s p r o g r e s s e d , f a i t h
began t o s p r i n g up anew i n my b r e a s t , and h o p e ' s
lamp was l i g h t e d . Now I am happy i n J e s u s . Every-
t h i n g h a s changed. I owe i t a l l t o you a s God's
instrument.
"When I h e a r d t h e o t h e r day t h a t you were
p r a y i n g f o r a f i n a n c i a l l o a n on t h e book you were
ready t o send t o p r e s s , I t a l k e d t o t h e Lord a b o u t
whether I s h o u l d be a p a r t of your p r o j e c t . I f i -
n a l l y promised H i m t h a t i f , by t h e f o l l o w i n g eve-
n i n g when I went t o t h e m e e t i n g , you d i d n o t have
t h e money, I myself would t a k e my money o u t of sav-
i n g s and l o a n i t t o you f o r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e
book. "
And t h a t i s e x a c t l y what happened. We had
gone t o t h e c h u r c h on t h e n i g h t r e f e r r e d t o . As I
walked i n t o t h e v e s t i b u l e , my w i f e , who had pre-
ceded me by a few moments, c a l l e d t o me and whis-
p e r e d , "There i s someone h e r e who wants t o s e e you
about making a l o a n on t h e book.''
I was e x c i t e d ! t h r i l l e d ! I g o t t h e name and
had t h e song l e a d e r page h e r f o r me. W i t h i n a mat-
t e r of moments, Mrs. Nyder and I m e t , and I h e a r d
h e r make t h i s h e a v e n - i n s p i r e d o f f e r :
It
I want t o l o a n you p a r t of t h e money needed
f o r t h e p u b l i s h i n g of y o u r book," Mrs. Nyder began.
L a t e r , when my w i f e and I went t o v i s i t Mrs. Nyder,
w e l e a r n e d t h a t s h e was t a k i n g h e r l a s t penny o u t
of s a v i n g s t h a t s h e might b e a p a r t o f t h i s s o u l -
w i n n i n g p r o j e c t - - t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of "YOUTH PRAYS-
GOD ANSWERS".
To u s , i t i s d e l i g h t f u l l y r e f r e s h i n g t o t r a c e
e v e n t s from a s f a r back a s s e v e n o r e i g h t months,
when my w i f e and I were a s k i n g God t o show u s where
H e wanted u s t o h o l d m e e t i n g s d u r i n g t h e f a l l , win-
t e r and s p r i n g of 1967-1968. The p r o m i s e s we o f t e n
c l a i m f o r g u i d a n c e a s we l o o k f o r w a r d t o t h e f u t u r e
are:
I s a i a h 42: 16: "I w i l l b r i n g t h e b l i n d by a
way t h a t t h e y knew n o t ."
P r o v e r b s 3:5, 6: " I n a l l t h y ways acknowledge
him, and h e s h a l l d i r e c t t h y p a t h s . "
Psalms 32:8: "I w i l l i n s t r u c t t h e e and t e a c h
t h e e i n t h e way which t h o u s h a l t go: I w i l l g u i d e
t h e e w i t h mine e y e . "
James 1:5: " I f any of you l a c k wisdom, l e t
him a s k o f God, t h a t g i v e t h t o a l l men l i b e r a l l y ,
and u p b r a i d e t h n o t ; and i t s h a l l b e g i v e n him."
A s we w e r e a s k i n g , b e l i e v i n g and c l a i m i n g some
of t h e s e p r e c i o u s p r o m i s e s l a s t f a l l , we f e l t im-
p r e s s e d t o make a l o n g d i s t a n c e t e l e p h o n e c a l l . I t
was t o S t . H e l e n a , C a l i f o r n i a , t h e a r e a where Mrs.
Nyder l i v e s . Of c o u r s e we n e v e r dreamed a t t h a t
t i m e t h a t t h e r e was a Mrs. Nyder t h e r e . But God
knew a l l t h e t i m e . He knew t h a t Mrs. Nyder, and
o t h e r d i s c o u r a g e d h e a r t s , needed a message of as-
s u r a n c e t h a t God w a n t s t o i n s t r u c t e v e r y s o u l i n
t h e way h e s h o u l d go. God w a n t s t o g u i d e e v e r y o n e
w i t h H i s e y e . He i s e a g e r t o g i v e wisdom t o H i s
troubled children.
A s we c a l l e d S t . Helena we t a l k e d w i t h o u r
old-time f r i e n d s , P a s t o r and Mrs. H a r o l d Brown. W e
e x p l a i n e d t o them t h a t t h e p r e s i d e n t of t h e North-
e r n C a l i f o r n i a Conference had been w a n t i n g u s t o
come t o h i s f i e l d f o r r e v i v a l s e r v i c e s ; t h a t on
s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s h e had c o n t a c t e d u s , b u t up t o
now we had been u n a b l e t o respond t o h i s i n v i t a -
t i o n . However, we had promised him t h a t s h o u l d we
be a b l e t o come a t a f u t u r e d a t e , we would l e t him
know. So now we were c a l l i n g o u r good f r i e n d s t h e
Browns, s o t h e y i n t u r n would n o t i f y t h e p a s t o r of
t h e S t . Helena church-who had y e a r s b e f o r e i n v i t e d
us f o r a series of m e e t i n g s w i t h him-that we were
now a v a i l a b l e . Thus one e v e n t l e d t o a n o t h e r , and
now we were h o l d i n g t h e long-planned m e e t i n g s i n
t h e S t . Helena church.
I t i s t h r i l l i n g t o u s t o ponder how t h e v e r y
l a d y , Mrs. Nyder, who had been s o d i s c o u r a g e d , was
t o b e t h e one who would l o a n u s a s i z e a b l e sum of
s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s f o r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of
t h e book "YOUTH PRAYS-GOD ANSWERS"! (May w e add
p a r e n t h e t i c a l l y h e r e t h a t when Mrs. Nyder o f f e r e d
t o l o a n t h e money t o u s , we i m m e d i a t e l y o f f e r e d i n
t u r n t o give h e r , n o t merely o u r n o t e , b u t a l s o
s e c u r i t y , i n t h e form of a Deed of T r u s t t o some
p r o p e r t y we own which i s w o r t h more t h a n t h e money
she has s o kindly loaned us.)
"I do n o t want any s e c u r i t y , I 1 r e p l i e d Mrs.
Nyder, almost i n s u l t e d t h a t we s h o u l d o f f e r i t .
But t h e n a s we e x p l a i n e d t o h e r t h a t i n c a s e any-
t h i n g s h o u l d happen t o my w i f e and me, s h e s h o u l d
b e p r o t e c t e d , s h e u n d e r s t o o d and p e r m i t t e d u s t o
do b u s i n e s s i n a b u s i n e s s - l i k e way.
Another i n t e r e s t i n g f a c t we l e a r n e d was t h a t ,
b e f o r e Mrs. Nyder was i m p r e s s e d by t h e Holy S p i r i t
t o b e a p a r t of o u r p r o j e c t i n t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of
"YOUTH PRAYS-GOD ANSWERS", s h e had p l a n n e d t o t a k e
a much-needed v a c a t i o n w i t h h e r e l d e r l y mother. But
now a l l t h e money s a v e d f o r t h a t p u r p o s e was b e i n g
loaned-even t h e h a l f d o l l a r s and q u a r t e r d o l l a r s
s h e had s o car-fully s t o r e d away i n two l i t t l e c a n s .

When we e x c l a i m e d t h a t we h e s i t a t e d t o a c c e p t h e r
v a c a t i o n money, Mrs. Nyder answered w i t h a s w e e t
and c o n f i d e n t s m i l e , "That i s a l l r i g h t . God w i l l
t a k e c a r e of t h a t i n His own way."
Not m e r e l y was t h e l o a n of Mrs. Nyder a n t i c i -
p a t e d by o u r h e a v e n l y F a t h e r l o n g months b e f o r e we
met h e r , b u t o t h e r m i r a c l e s by which we were a b l e
t o p u b l i s h "YOUTH PRAYS-GOD ANSWERS", a l o n g w i t h
a companion book "STUDY GUIDE TO THE PRAYER OF RE-
CEPTION", were e q u a l l y p l a n n e d f o r i n advance by
o u r Lord.
L e t u s s h a r e w i t h you some o f t h e s e p r o v i -
d e n c e ~s o you w i l l know, w i t h u s , t h a t God wanted
t h i s book p u b l i s h e d . The f i r s t r e l a t e s t o o u r s e -
c u r i n g a C a d i l l a c c a r , which i n t u r n made i t pos-
s i b l e f o r u s t o s e l l o u r V.W. f o r enough more c a s h
s o t h a t we were a b l e t o m a i l a n o t h e r $1,350 t o t h e
publishers. T h i s i s how t h e Lord worked i t o u t :
D r . A l v i n Dougan, who w i t h h i s charming w i f e
had i n v i t e d u s t o b e t h e i r g u e s t s i n t h e i r p r i v a t e
u p s t a i r s a p a r t m e n t d u r i n g o u r Napa and S t . H e l e n a
s e r i e s o f m e e t i n g s , a s k e d me one day i f I would b e
w i l l i n g t o go and v i s i t a p a t i e n t o r two of h i s
down i n Oakland--one p a t i e n t a t l e a s t , b e i n g a
r a t h e r famous p e r s o n a l i t y .
With a young a l c o h o l i c f r i e n d , whom we s h a l l
c a l l J i m Tonwag, D r . Dougan and m y s e l f , we s t a r t e d
f o r Oakland. We made t h e t r i p i n D r . Dougan's 1954
C a d i l l a c . We had n o t gone v e r y f a r b e f o r e I began
t o admire t h i s car-almost mint p e r f e c t . I had
f e l t f o r some time t h a t i t was n o t f a i r f o r me t o
u s e my V.W. V a r i a n t f o r s u c h heavy d u t y work a s t o
h a u l a t r a i l e r around. Yet I could n o t , I f e l t ,
a f f o r d a new l a r g e r c a r . But h e r e was a n o l d c a r ,
y e t a b i g one and a good one. I thought o u t loud,
" I f o n l y I had a c a r j u s t l i k e t h i s , i t would s a t -
i s f y my n e e d s i n o u r e v a n g e l i s t i c t r a v e l s . " Dr.
Dougan l a t e r t o l d a f r i e n d t h a t h e o v e r h e a r d me,
w h i l e r i d i n g on t h a t t r i p , p r a y i n g , "Dear L o r d ,
It
p l e a s e g i v e me a c a r j u s t l i k e t h i s one.
A s D r . Dougan, J i m and I a r r i v e d a t t h e Mer-
r i t t H o s p i t a l i n Oakland, we made t h e v i s i t s and
r e t u r n e d t o h i s c a r . J u s t a s we were r e a d y t o
move o u t o f t h e p a r k i n g a r e a , we s p i e d a 1954 Cad-
i l l a c , d r i v e n by an e i g h t y - f o u r - y e a r - o l d gentleman,
M r . Rosenberg.
11
Excuse me, D r . Dougan," I e x c l a i m e d , " b u t l e t
me o u t f o r a moment." I h e a r d D r . Dougan and J i m
l a u g h i n g a t me a s I r a n o v e r t o t h e e l d e r l y g e n t l e -
man and h i s 1954 C a d i l l a c .
"Is t h i s t h e C a d i l l a c t h a t was f o r s a l e ? ' ! I
inquired pleasantly .
Not e x p e c t i n g t o h e a r s u c h words from a t o t a l
s t r a n g e r , M r . Rosenberg s o r t of growled b a c k , "No!"
H i s t o n e had a f i n a l i t y t h a t s h o u l d h a v e c a u s e d me
t o have u t t e r e d a l i t t l e apology and r u n back t o
t h e c a r I was supposed t o b e i n a l l t h e w h i l e .
But I c o u l d n o t a p o l o g i z e . Something s p u r r e d
me on and I a s k e d p l e a s a n t l y a g a i n : "Would you
consider s e l l i n g i t ? "
With a somewhat more p l e a s a n t t o n e i n h i s
v o i c e t h e e l d e r l y gentleman a s k e d , "What w i l l you
g i v e me f o r i t ? "
Very n o b l y I r e p l i e d : "I w o u l d n ' t t h i n k of
p l a c i n g a v a l u e on y o u r p r o p e r t y . I t
A s i f p e r s u i n g a new, y e t p l e a s a n t t r a i n of
t h o u g h t , t h e gentleman c o n t i n u e d , "Would you g i v e
me $500 f o r i t ? "
II Could I have y o u r name and a d d r e s s , p l e a s e
s i r ? " I i n q u i r e d , s t a t i n g t h a t we would c a l l on
him l a t e r . So I j o t t e d down t h e information--Mr.
W i l l i a m Rosenberg, 1850 A l i c e S t . , Oakland, C a l i -
fornia.
On our r e t u r n t r i p t o Napa, D r . Dougan and J i m and
I t a l k e d a b o u t t h i s q u i c k answer t o p r a y e r . We de-
c i d e d t h a t s i n c e t h i s was F r i d a y a f t e r n o o n i t might
run us t o o c l o s e t o t h e Sabbath hours t o v i s i t t h e
e l d e r l y gentleman t h a t day, s o t h e Doctor volun-
t e e r e d t o t a k e us down t h e f o l l o w i n g Sunday.
Before we s t a r t e d Sunday, D r . Dougan, h i m s e l f
a k n i g h t l y gentleman, c a l l e d M r . Rosenberg, a s k i n g
i f Sunday would be s a t i s f a c t o r y , o r whether any
such b u s i n e s s would i n t e r f e r e w i t h any r e l i g i o u s
principles. Receiving a n e g a t i v e r e p l y t o t h e
l a t t e r q u e s t i o n , we were on o u r way t o A l i c e S t r e e t
and a m u l t i m i l l i o n d o l l a r r e t i r e m e n t home f o r Sen-
i o r C i t i z e n s . We walked i n t o t h i s p l u s h home, i n -
q u i r e d f o r M r . Rosenberg, and came t o t h e conclu-
s i o n t h a t any c a r t h a t was owned by an occupant of
t h i s p a l a t i a l home must b e i n a l m o s t p e r f e c t con-
dition.
The q u e s t i o n i n our minds b e f o r e we made t h e
t r i p was whether t h e c a r would b e worth t h e f u l l
$500. J i m had s u g g e s t e d we c u t t h e gentleman down
t o $350 o r perhaps $400.
To t h i s I r e p l i e d , " J i m , we must t a k e our r e -
l i g i o n i n t o o u r b u s i n e s s . We must p r a c t i c e t h e
Golden Rule. I f t h e c a r , w i t h o u t d o u b t , i s worth
t h e $500, t h e n we s h o u l d , w i t h o u t doubt pay t h a t
sum. I f t h e c a r i s n o t worth t h i s amount, t h e n
t h a t i s a d i f f e r e n t m a t t e r . I mention t h i s be-
cause sometimes we e x p e c t God t o answer o u r p r a y e r s
w i t h o u t r e a l i z i n g t h a t t h e r e a r e c o n d i t i o n s t o an-
swered p r a y e r , and one of t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s i s t h a t
we p r a c t i c e t h e Golden Rule.
J i m was n o t a p r o f e s s e d C h r i s t i a n . I n f a c t ,
b e f o r e we made t h e t r i p t o Oakland t h a t Sunday,
J i m , D r . Dougan and I had gone t o look a t a n o t h e r
o l d C a d i l l a c r i g h t n e a r t h e d o c t o r ' s home i n Napa.
It was p r i c e d a t $250. J i m , a one-time c a r s a l e s -
man h i m s e l f , decided t h a t he would show us how t o
g e t t h e p r i c e of t h e c a r down. So a s we looked a t
t h i s o l d c a r Saturday n i g h t , J i m suggested t o the
gas s t a t i o n o p e r a t o r t h a t he check t h e compression
on t h e c a r , and t h e n g i v e a f a l s e r e p o r t t o t h e
owner. By s o doing t h e owner would d o u b t l e s s ac-
c e p t a l e s s e r f i g u r e f o r h i s c a r a s t h e t e s t would
prove i t n o t worth t h e a s k i n g p r i c e .
L a t e r I e x p l a i n e d t o J i m t h a t a man of t h e
world might f e e l t h a t t h i s i s a shrewd way o f doing
b u s i n e s s , b u t i t h a s no p a r t i n t h e C h r i s t i a n ' s bus-
i n e s s d e a l i n g . "The Golden Rule f o r b i d s i t , J i m , "
I began k i n d l y . "I am n o t c h i d i n g you f o r y o u r ac-
t i o n s . I am merely e x p l a i n i n g t o you t h a t a s a
C h r i s t i a n I could n o t r e s o r t t o t h e s e methods. Nei-
t h e r w i l l I Jew down t h e o l d gentleman tomorrow on
h i s 1954 C a d i l l a c i f i t proves t o b e worth t h e
p r i c e he i s asking.'' J i m gave grudging a s s e n t , b u t
i n h i s h e a r t I am s u r e he f e l t I was t o o n a i v e .
The 1954 C a d i l l a c proved t o be almost mint
p e r f e c t . The p a i n t , t h e chrome, t h e t i r e s , t h e
motor, t h e i n t e r i o r - e v e r y t h i n g about i t , even t h e
r a d i o , was almost p e r f e c t .
A day o r two l a t e r I t o l d one of t h e p a s t o r s
where we had meetings t h a t I had purchased a 1954
C a d i l l a c i n answer t o p r a y e r .
He t e a s i n g l y r e p l i e d , "You w i l l n o t be a b l e t o
s e l l your Volkswagen, and t h e n you w i l l p r o b a b l y b e
f o r c e d t o t a k e a s u b s t a n t i a l l o s s on t h e C a d i l l a c ! "
But n o t s o . The V.W. s o l d f o r a good p r i c e .
And t h e v e r y day i t s o l d we m a i l e d through t o t h e
p u b l i s h e r s a l l t h e c a s h r e c e i v e d f o r t h e c a r which
was e x a c t l y t h e amount t h e p u b l i s h e r s r e q u i r e d .
D r . Dougan e n j o y s r e l a t i n g t h i s m i r a c l e ex-
p e r i e n c e t o h i s p a t i e n t s . I have r e l a t e d i t t w i c e
i n a s many churches. I d e s i r e d o u r p e o p l e t o know
t h a t what o u r f a v o r i t e a u t h o r s t a t e s about God's
guidance i s t r u e , and how o t h e r s have claimed God's
g u i d a n c e i n even t h e s m a l l d e t a i l s of l i f e .
"To Moses f a i t h was n o guesswork; i t was a
r e a l i t y . He b e l i e v e d t h a t God r u l e d h i s l i f e i n
p a r t i c u l a r ; and i n a l l i t s d e t a i l s h e acknowledged
~ i m . " - E d u c a t i o n , p. 6 3 . So i f we w i l l o b s e r v e t h e
c o n d i t i o n s t o p r a y e r , i n c l u d i n g t h e Golden R u l e , we
may e x p e c t God t o g u i d e us i n e v e r y d e t a i l . How-
e v e r , had we been g r e e d y , o r had o u r r e q u e s t been
made t o s a t i s f y t h e d e s i r e f o r l u x u r y , t h i s c o u l d
h a v e b e e n a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t m a t t e r . But o u r
r e q u e s t was made t h a t we m i g h t b e a b l e t o p u b l i s h
t h e book "YOUTH PRAYS-GOD ANSWERS", a s w e l l a s
a n o t h e r book e n t i t l e d "THE STUDY GUIDE TO THE PRAY-
ER OF RECEPTION", and s t i l l own a c a r t h a t would
meet o u r n e e d s .
About t h i s same t i m e , a p r o f e s s i o n a l f r i e n d of
o u r s i n S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , l e a r n i n g we needed
funds w i t h which t o d e f r a y t h e e x p e n s e s o f p u b l i -
c a t i o n , s e n t us a s i z e a b l e check a s a l o a n . We
gave him a l s o o u r p e r s o n a l n o t e , and s e c u r i t y i n
addition.
So, a s you r e a d t h e s e w o r k s , you w i l l r e j o i c e
w i t h u s i n t h e knowledge t h a t God wanted t h e s e
books p u b l i s h e d . He wanted them p u b l i s h e d t h a t
s o u l s might b e won t o J e s u s . He wanted them pub-
l i s h e d s o t h a t our youth, as w e l l as those o l d e r
i n y e a r s , might be i n s p i r e d t o launch o u t i n t h e
g r a n d b u s i n e s s i n which a l l heaven i s i n t e r e s t e d .
Yes, God i s i n b u s i n e s s . The a n g e l s a r e i n
b u s i n e s s . The Holy S p i r i t i s i n b u s i n e s s . And
a l l who l o v e God a r e i n b u s i n e s s t o o . The b u s i n e s s
i s soul-winning. T h a t b u s i n e s s i s l i f t i n g up t h e
b l e s s e d c r u c i f i e d , r i s e n and soon-coming S a v i o u r .
It i s c r y i n g o u t , "Whosoever w i l l may t a k e t h e wa-
t e r of l i f e f r e e l y . "
You can i m a g i n e how t h r i l l e d we a r e t o s h a r e
t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h you, o u r r e a d e r s . How won-
d e r f u l i s o u r Lord! We f e e l somewhat l i k e t h e
l i t t l e g i r l i n Alabama whom we s h a l l c a l l E l l e n .
L i t t l e E l l e n had p r a y e d and p r a y e d f o r a b i c y c l e .
She had t o l d J e s u s s h e would u s e t h e b i c y c l e m o s t l y
i n m i s s i o n a r y work, l i k e e n r o l l i n g f o l k i n t h e
Voice of Prophecy Correspondence C o u r s e s . When, i n
a t h r i l l i n g and unexpected manner, h e r p r a y e r was
answered, s h e r a n i n t o t h e h o u s e , k n e l t w i t h h e r
mother and t h a n k e d h e r Lord f o r t h e b i c y c l e and
f o r H i s wonderful love. I n s h a r i n g t h e experience
w i t h u s , E l l e n c l o s e d i t w i t h t h e s e words: "I hope
J e s u s comes w h i l e I am s t i l l a l i t t l e g i r l , b e c a u s e
I would l o v e t o s i t on H i s l a p and f e e l H i s f a c e . "
Some day we s h a l l s e e t h e f a c e of H i m who s o
f r e e l y g i v e s us a l l t h i n g s n e e d f u l t o win s o u l s ;
t h a t i s , when we a s k , b e l i e v e , and c l a i m .
As an added t h o u g h t r e g a r d i n g what God prom-
i s e s H i s c h i l d r e n , we would l i k e t o s h a r e w i t h you
t h e f o l l o w i n g poem which hangs on t h e w a l l of t h e
home o f o u r g r a c i o u s h o s t e s s :
WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED
God h a t h n o t promised s k i e s always b l u e .
Flower-strewn pathways a l l o u r l i v e s t h r o u g h .
God h a t h n o t promised s u n w i t h o u t r a i n ,
Joy without sorrow, peace w i t h o u t p a i n .
But God h a t h promised s t r e n g t h f o r t h e day,
Rest f o r t h e l a b o r e r , l i g h t on t h e way;
Grace f o r t h e t r i a l , h e l p from a b o v e ,
U n f a i l i n g sympathy, undying l o v e .
My w i f e , who h a s l a b o r e d s o e a r n e s t l y , even
i n t o t h e s m a l l h o u r s o f t h e morning, t y p i n g , c o r -
r e c t i n g and e d i t i n g t h i s work, h a s f a l l e n on h e r
knees w i t h me, d e d i c a t i n g t h i s l i t t l e work t o o u r
Youth everywhere. May i t i n s p i r e t o " u n f a i l i n g
Sympathy, undying love" f o r s o u l s o u t of C h r i s t ;
a d f o r t h o s e a l s o who a r e b r u i s e d and b u f f e t e d by
the enemy u n t i l t h e l a s t s p a r k of hope seems quench-
ed. May t h e A, B , C's of t h e prayer of reception
work f o r o t h e r young people, and t h e i r e l d e r s , even
as i t has worked f o r those whose e x p e r i e n c e s a r e
r e v e a l e d i n t h i s work. This i s :he d e d i c a t e d pur- Chapter 1
pose of t h i s book. And may you, t h e r e a d e r , cry
out with us-"YOUTH PRAYS--GOD ANSWERS"! WANTED !
The Author
R O B E R T JAMES BABCOCK!

HE SHERIFF'S car rolled into the

driveway of The Mountain School,
Whimsted, Washirlgton. Kathryn
Breadwell, a teacher, was busily
engaged in her teaching, but then
chanced to Deer out of the window of the " B ~ E
~ouse",as i t was called, just in time to see
Sheriff Hart Kiplinger get out of his car,
walk briskly up the front walk and knock at
the door.
Sheriff Kiplinger had responded to an
all-points-bulletin for the immediate arrest
of Robert James Babcock, age seventeen, of
Costa Mesa. The authorities were aware of
the fact that Bob had at one time been a
student at The Mountain School; that an emer-
gency appendectomy had forced him into Gen-
eral Hospital, and that his stay at the
school had been abruptly terminated. NOW the
authorities were checking to make sure of his
whereabouts.
Bob was not a hardened criminal; however
he was moving in that direction rapidly. In
addition to the more common habits of smok-
i n g and d r i n k i n g , Bob had had a few f l i n g s
w i t h some of t h e m i n d - a f f e c t i n g d r u g s . He
had been i n v o l v e d i n gang f i g h t s . He had
t e r r o r i z e d t h e neighborhood. He had e i t h e r
thrown r o c k s o r f i r e d s h o t s t h r o u g h t h e
windows of homes and p a s s i n g c a r s . He had
been i n v o l v e d i n v i o l e n t d i s a g r e e m e n t s w i t h
h i s a i l i n g f a t h e r , b e s i d e s a t l e a s t one c a r
t h e f t and problems which i n v o l v e d g i r l s he
had da.ted.
Even b e f o r e t h i s s i c k e n i n g e x p e r i e n c e of
r e b e l l i o n and havoc, B o b ' s conduct had been
f a r from s a t i s f a c t o r y w h i l e he had a t t e n d e d
t h e Costa Mesa c h u r c h s c h o o l . There t h e y had
'dismissed h i m a s a 1Ir o t t e n a p p l e " which was
r a p i d l y c o n t a m i n a t i n g t h e whole b a r r e l .
The a u t h o r i t i e s knew t h a t i t was a b o u t
t h e time Bob was d i s m i s s e d from t h e C o s t a
Mesa c h u r c h s c h o o l t h a t he had been admit-
t e d t o The Mountain School, a new s c h o o l j u s t
opening under t h e l e a d e r s h i p of R. W. H o l l i s -
t e r and h i s wife.
The H o l l i s t e r s had known Bob when he was
s t i l l i n t h e c h u r c h s c h o o l . I t was because
of t h e i r e a g e r n e s s t o s a l v a g e him t h a t , know-
i n g h i s p a s t , t h e y s t i l l c o n s e n t e d t o h i s be-
i n g a d m i t t e d t o The Mountain S c h o o l . He was,
w i t h t h e r e s t of t h e s t u d e n t s , e n t e r i n g t h i s
new s c h o o l t o become a p a r t of a b i g , l o v i n g
f a m i l y . The atmosphere of sympathy and under-
s t a n d i n g would c r e a t e a f e l l o w s h i p o p p o r t u n i t y
t h a t Bob had b e e n d e p r i v e d of e v e r s i n c e his
p a r e n t s had b e e n d i v o r c e d . Bob had been
farmed o u t t o d i f f e r e n t homes s i n c e t h e n and
had n o t known t h e l o v e and s e c u r i t y that a
home atmosphere p r o v i d e s .
However, b e f o r e l o n g t h e f a c u l t y a t The
Mountain School was t o be s a d l y d i s a p p o i n t e d
i n Bobf s b e h a v i o r . I n s p i t e of t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e t e a c h i n g f o r c e had t a k e n Bob i n t o t h e i r
v e r y h e a r t s , he was u n r e s p o n s i v e . He s u l k e d .
He was b e l l i g e r e n t . He disobeyed almost
every rule. He c o n t i n u e d t h e v e r y t y p e of
l i f e he had s t a r t e d e a r l i e r i n t h e church
day s c h o o l a t Costa Mesa. I n s p i t e of t h i s ,
t h e f a c u l t y was s o e a g e r t o s a l v a g e Bob t h a t
t h e y f o r g a v e him r e p e a t e d l y . They ~ a v gh i m
chance a f t e r chance t o change h i s way of
living.
Some of t h e f a c u l t y , i n c l u d i n g Kathryn
Breadwell, s p e n t s o much time c o u n s e l l i n g Bob
t h a t i t seemed t h e i r v e r y h e a l t h was a t s t a k e .
Hours which s h o u l d have been devoted t o r e s t
and s l e e p were s p e n t i n s t e a d i n e x h a u s t i v e
c o u n s e l l i n g s e s s i o n s w i t h poor Bob, t r y i n g
t o p e r s u a d e , t o i n s p i r e him t o a h i g h e r f o r -
mat of t h i n k i n g , and t o a n o b l e r l i f e .
I t seemed everyone had f a i l e d . There
was no change.
A f t e r m u l t i p l i e d a t t e m p t s t o s a l v a g e Bob,
c o v e r i n g a p e r i o d of months, t h e f a c u l t y
f e l t f o r c e d t o t h e d e c i s i o n t o l e t h i m go.
Even a s t h e y v o t e d t o d i s m i s s h i m , some of
them wept a s t h e y c a l l e d Bob t o t h e " B i g
House" t o announce t o h i m t h e i r d e c i s i o n .
What a p i c t u r e of c o n t r a s t ! There were
h e a r t b r o k e n f a c u l t y members on t h e verge of
t e a r s ; and t h e r e , t o o , s t o o d Bob-belliger-
e n t , w i t h lowered eyebrows and drawn f a c e .
When t h e d e c i s i o n was r e a d t o h i m , he g r u n t -
ed, "I j u s t want OUT"!
However, a s t h e f a c u l t y members began t o
t e n d e r l y e x p l a i n t h a t t h e y d i d n o t want t o
have h i m go, b u t t h a t i t was t h e o n l y t h i n g
they c o u l d do, Bob's a t t i t u d e began t o change
a l i t t l e . He began t o s e e t h a t he was about
t o l o s e t h e o n l y r e a l home he had e v e r known.
Although he had n o t been g r a t e f u l n o r
r e s p o n s i v e , The Mountain School had been good
f o r Bob. He had l e a r n e d something of l o v e
and a f f e c t i o n and had come t o know many won-
d e r f u l C h r i s t i a n s . A l l of a sudden, the
s t a r k t r u t h dawned on him t h a t i t was soon
a l l t o b e l o s t . His d e a r e s t f r i e n d s on e a r t h
had done a l l t h e y c o u l d and h e was a b o u t t o
l o s e them a l l . Where would he go from h e r e ?
A s t h e d r e a d f u l t r u t h a c t u a l l y dawned
upon h i s c o n s c i o u s mind, he s a t and gazed a t
t h e f l o o r , r e l i v i n g t h e good t i m e s h e h a d
had i n t h a t w o n d e r f u l atmosphere. T e a r s be-
gan t o flow from h i s e y e s . Then h e c r i e d
openly, unable t o c o n t r o l himself. He sob-
bed a s he p l e a d e d w i t h t h e s e d e a r f a c u l t y
members t o g i v e him j u s t one more chance!
He promised and vowed t h a t he would n e v e r
a g a i n c a u s e them t r o u b l e o r h e a r t a c h e .
Would t h e y f o r g i v e him and e x t e n d mercy j u s t
t h i s one more t i m e ?
I s h a l l n o t soon f o r g e t what happened
that night. I have worked w i t h young p e o p l e
i n c o l l e g e s and academies i n v a r i o u s p a r t s
of America, b u t n e v e r have I h e a r d of any-
t h i n g a s d r a m a t i c a s what happened t h a t
night.
A s t h e members of t h e f a c u l t y l o o k e d i n -
t o t h a t p i t i f u l f a c e , and l i s t e n e d t o t h a t
pleading voice, they could not r e f u s e f o r -
giveness. I t t o o k j u s t a moment t o t a k e a
v o t e , when a s one man, t h e members of t h e
f a c u l t y v o t e d t o g i v e Bob a n o t h e r chance.
Though Bob wanted t o s t a y , t h e f a c u l t y
were even more a n x i o u s t o have him remain.
Wonder of wonders! What a s c h o o l ! How l i k e
o u r Lord who n e v e r t i r e s of f o r g i v i n g t h e
wayward !
I t was o n l y a m a t t e r of d a y s however, be-
f o r e t h e h i g h hopes and s i n c e r e f a i t h of t h e
f a c u l t y were t o f a l l c r a s h i n g t o t h e ground.
I t was p a i n f u l l y c l e a r t h a t t h e o l d Bob was
s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e new; and d e s i r e a s he
m i g h t t o do r i g h t , h e was a c a p t i v e of h i s
old nature, h i s old rebellion, h i s old l i f e .
I t was t h e n t h a t t h e l a s t r a y of hope f o r Bob
seemed t o b e d i s a p p e a r i n g on t h e h o r i z o n .
Bob knew b e t t e r t h e n e x t y e a r t h a n t o r e -
q u e s t a d m i s s i o n t o The Mountain S c h o o l , and
s o e n r o l l e d i n t h e p u b l i c s c h o o l i n Costa
Mesa and l i v e d w i t h h i s grandmother f o r a
while.
Here h e plunged d e e p e r i n t o h i s w i l d l i f e
of s i n . H i s father evidently f e l t that t h i s
was due t o t h e p e r m i s s i v e a t t i t u d e of t h e
grandmother, s o d e c i d e d t h a t Bob must come
t o l i v e w i t h him i n Sacramento. Here he
would make s u r e t h a t Bob " t o e d t h e mark".
The f a t h e r had e v i d e n t l y l o s t h i s t o u c h
w i t h h i s boy and had n o t r e a l i z e d how f a r he
had gone i n r e b e l l i o n ; f o r when he t r i e d t o
d i s c i p l i n e h i s son, h e found no s i g n of r e -
sponse. I n s t e a d , t h e f a t h e r f o u n d h i s boy
b e l l i g e r e n t t o t h e p o i n t t h a t he f e a r e d Bob
m i g h t u t u r n on him p h y s i c a l l y .
The f a t h e r was s t u n n e d ! I n e x a s p e r a t i o n
he o r d e r e d Bob o u t of t h e house. In a f i t
of r a g e Bob l e f t w i t h j u s t t h e c l o t h e s he
wore-nothing more.
After a l l t h e c o n f l i c t subsided, Bob's
f a t h e r began t o r e f l e c t : What would become
of h i s boy? How f a r would he go b e f o r e t h e
law would r e s t r a i n him? A l l of t h e w o r s t
p o s s i b i l i t i e s loomed up i n h i s mind. I t was
t h e n t h a t he a s k e d t h e p o l i c e t o i s s u e a n
all-points-bulletin f o r h i s arrest. The
f a t h e r a s k e d t h e p o l i c e t o p l a c e him i n a
d e t e n t i o n home f o r boys u n t i l he was twenty-
one.
Before t h e p o l i c e c a u g h t up w i t h Bob, he
had s l i p p e d i n t o h i s g r a n d m o t h e r ' s home i n
Costa Mesa when she was away, f o r g e d h e r
name on a c h e c k , c a s h e d i t , a n d was on h i s
t o a l l h i g h o l d time".
Although h e now had money i n h i s p o c k e t ,
he r e a l i z e d t h a t now he had a b s o l u t e l y no
one t o whom t o t u r n . His f a t h e r had k i c k e d
him o u t ; he had s t o l e n from h i s grandmother;
and t h e s c h o o l had d i s m i s s e d him. Worse
t h a n t h i s , he f e a r e d t h a t h i s f a t h e r might
send t h e p o l i c e a f t e r him.
He was m i s e r a b l e . Now he had no f r i e n d s
a t 211. He became d e s p e r a t e l y l o n e l y . Fond
f i l l e d h i s mind. He remembered t h e
"good o l d days" a t The Mountain School. How
he wished he had k e p t h i s promises t o them
and had been w i l l i n g t o r e c e i v e t h e h e l p
they so kindly offered. I f he c o u l d o n l y r e -
t u r n t h e r e , what a d i f f e r e n c e i t would make!
How he longed f o r h i s f r i e n d s a t The Mountail?
School.
F i n a l l y he r e s o r t e d t o more d e c e p t i o n .
He would go t o The Mountain School and a s k
them t a l e t him s t a y t h e r e f o r j u s t a few
days. He would t e l l them t h a t he had been
suspended from t h e p u b l i c s c h o o l f o r t h o s e
few days and would t h e y mind i f he s t a y e d
t h e r e a s a g u e s t u n t i l t h e time of h i s sus-
p e n s i o n was over. The more he t h o u g h t about
i t , t h e more he l i k e d t h e i d e a .
So he headed s t r a i g h t f o r t h e mountains
of Whimsted. He was t h r i l l e d a t t h e s i g h t
of t h e mountains of t h e S t a t e Park. In spite
of t h e f a c t t h a t he was now a f u g i t i v e from
j u s t i c e , t h e v e r y t h o u g h t of once more r e a l l y
b r e a t h i n g t h e f o r g i v i n g atmosphere of The
Mountain School s p u r r e d him on u n t i l he a r -
r i v e d a t t h e school.
T h i s was home! How good i t f e l t ! But
now what t o do? He l i n g e r e d around t h e C O P -
n e r of a b u i l d i n g where he would be s u r e t o
meet some of t h e f a c u l t y members.
by.
I t was n o t long u n t i l one of them walked
He g r e e t e d t h e t e a c h e r w i t h a s m i l e and
t o l d him h i s l i e . True t o t h e s p i r i t of t h e
s c h o o l , he was g r a n t e d p e r m i s s i o n t o s t a y for>
a few days and was g r a n t e d t h e p r i v i l e g e of
u s i n g t h e lower bunk i n Tom L a r s o n f s room.
Between t h e time Bob a r r i v e d on t h e
s c h o o l campus and t h e a r r i v a l of t h e s h e r i f f
about a week l a t e r , he was t o w i t n e s s f i r s t -
life .
hand an e x p e r i e n c e t h a t c o u l d change h i s
A s Providence would have i t , a group of
s t u d e n t s from La S i e r r a C o l l e g e , some n i n e
hundred and f i f t y m i l e s away, had j u s t a r -
r i v e d on campus f o r an u n u s u a l s e r i e s of
meetings. These young p e o p l e were t e e n a g e r s
and young a d u l t s i n t h e i r e a r l y t w e n t i e s .
They came by t r u c k and c a r . Some f l e w i n
w i t h D r . Fred Paulman, founder of t h e s c h o o l ,
i n h i s p r i v a t e plane. They had come t h e r e t o
s h a r e and t e a c h seven l e s s o n s on he P r a y e r
of ~ e c e p t i o n ".
These young p e o p l e had n o t come t o mere-
l y p r e s e n t t h e t h e o r y of "the p r a y e r of r e -
c e p t i o n " , b u t w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , each one of
t h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s had e x p e r i e n c e d a t h r i l l i n g
new dimension of l i v i n g through answered
prayer. Each t o l d of t h e change of l i f e he
or she had e x p e r i e n c e d a s t h e r e s u l t of t h i s
kind of p r a y i n g . T h e i r glowing f a c e s and en-
t h u s i a s t i c v o i c e s d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e y had now
found what t h e y wanted. One a f t e r a n o t h e r
t h e y r e l a t e d how t h e y had t u r n e d t o one of
t h e 3,573 promises r e c o r d e d i n t h e Word, and
had ASKED. BELIEVED. and CLAIMED t h e ~ r o m i s e .
saying, "i t h a n k YO;, Lord, I have r e c e i v e d '
t h e answer t o Your promise i n t h i s v e r s e of
Scripture". They c i t e d two a u t h o r i t i e s f o r
t h e i r procedure. The f i r s t was Matthew 21:
22, " ~ n da l l t h i n g s , whatsoever ye s h a l l a s k
i n p r a y e r , b e l i e v i n g , ye s h a l l r e c e i v e . I I
The second a u t h o r i t y was t a k e n from t h e
II ...
book ducatio ion", page 258. There i t r e a d s :
f o r any g i f t He h a s promised, we may
ask; t h e n we a r e t o b e l i e v e t h a t we r e c e i v e ,
and r e t u r n thanks t o God t h a t we have r e -
ceived",
To make i t e a s y t o remember, t h e A B C I S
of p r a y e r were worded t h i s way: This i s t h a t e a c h promise of God i s "seed".
4
A , i s Ask--Matthew 7:7. he seed i s t h e word of God." Luke 8 : l l .
B, i s Believe--Mark 11:24. Now what i s t h e s i n i f i c a n c e of our
d

C , i s Claim, o r receive-John 11:41. Lord1s u s i n g t h e term 'seed"? We t u r n t o

The s t u d e n t s a t The Mountain School s a t
spellbound a s they l i s t e n e d , n o t t o o l d peo-
p l e b u t t o young p e o p l e t h e i r own age, t e l l
of an encounter w i t h J e s u s . They began t o
s e e t h a t C h r i s t l s l o v e i s f u l l , r e a l , and
personal. One of t h e s e promises i s , " ~ h o u ~ h
your s i n s be a s s c a r l e t , t h e y s h a l l be a s
white a s snow; though they be r e d l i k e crim-
son, t h e y s h a l l be a s wool". I s a i a h 1:18.
Another promise i n d i c a t e d how t h i s change
can t a k e p l a c e : "1f we c o n f e s s our s i n s , he
i s f a i t h f u l and j u s t t o f o r g i v e u s our s i n s ,
and t o c l e a n s e us from a l l u n r i g h t e o u s n e s s " .
I John l : 9 .
The l e s s o n s t a u g h t , t h e e x p e r i e n c e s r e -
l a t e d brought an atmosphere t o The Mountain
School t h a t was almost heavenly. The v e r y
a i r seemed charged w i t h an e l e c t r i c c u r r e n t
of l o v e , joy, hope and power. H e a r t s were
broken! Confessions followed. Lives were
changed! Excitement p r e v a i l e d everywhere,
b u t no f a n a t i c i s m . The Holy S p i r i t had
v i s i t e d t h a t q u i e t campus, hidden away i n
t h e o u t s k i r t s of t h e g r e a t s t a t e p a r k ,
With a joy t h a t was c o n t a g i o u s , s t u d e n t s
and f a c u l t y a l i k e claimed f i r s t one promise
of S c r i p t u r e and t h e n a n o t h e r . The young
t e a c h e r s from La S i e r r a College-called
r I panelists"--were d r i l l i n g t h e youth i n t h e
t r u t h t h a t , "FOP any g i f t He h a s promised, we
may a s k , " and, I I The c o n d i t i o n s met, t h e prom-
i s e i s unequivocal".-Education, p. 2.58.
It
The promise i s unequivocal" because
11
God i s n o t a man, t h a t he s o u l d l i e " . Num-
b e r s 23:lq.
But t h e r e i s a n o t h e r f a c t o r i n t h e c e r -
t a i n t y of t h e promise t h a t i s n o t commonly
understood by s t u d e n t s of t h e S c r i p t u r e s .
Godfs o t h e r book, t h e book of n a t u r e , t o
f i n d t h e answer.
Rutherford P l a t t , a p r i z e winner i n s c i -
ence, has d e c l a r e d t h a t every normal a p p l e
seed c o n t a i n s t h r e e p h y s i c a l departments of
an apple t r e e - t h e t r u n k , t w o l e a v e s , and
roots. I t would r e q u i r e , he d e c l a r e s , a
powerful magnifying g l a s s t o s e e them, b u t
t h e t i n y , t i n y t r e e i s r i g h t t h e r e nonethe-
less.
When I f i r s t r e a d t h i s s t a t e m e n t by M r .
P l a t t i n h i s book, h his Green World", pages
2.5 and 29, I c o u l d , by f a i t h , always from
then on, see a t i n y , t i n y a p p l e t r e e i n every
normal apple seed, and a t i n y , t i n y oak t r e e
i n e v e r y normal acorn.
So, d e c l a r e s our f a v o r i t e a u t h o r : "As
s u r e l y a s t h e oak i s i n t h e a c o r n , so s u r e l y
i s t h e g i f t of God i n His promise. I f we
-
r e c e i v e t h e promise, we have t h e giftw.--=-
ucation,, p . 253.
This t r u t h 1 s r e p e a t e d f o r emphasis, a s
follows: "We need look f o r no outward e v i -
dence of t h e b l e s s i n g . The g i f t i s i n t h e
promise, and we may go about our work a s s u r e d
t h a t what God has promised He i s a b l e t o p e r -
form, and t h a t t h e g i f t , which we a l r e a d y
p o s s e s s , w i l l be r e a l i z e d when we need i t
most. !I --Id.,p. 2.58,
You s e e , f r i e n d s , what s c i e n c e t a u g h t
Rutherford P l a t t , E l l e n G. White r e c e i v e d by
d i v i n e i n s p i r a t i o n and r e v e l a t i o n . There-
f o r e , s c i e n t i f i c a l l y , we have a p e r f e c t
r i g h t t o r e t u r n t h a n k s t o God t h a t we have
r e c e i v e d t h e g i f t i f we c l a i m a simple-but
dynamic-Bible promise, and f u l f i l l i t s
e q u a l l y simple-but essential-conditions.
 So t h e d r i l l i n g of t e x t s and i d e a s went
on. "What i s ' A f i n t h e p r a y e r of recep-
tion"?
The answer came back, "Ask, Matthew 7:7".
"What i s ' B f i n t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n " ?
Again t h e answer, " ~ e l i e v e , Mark 11:24".
" ~ n dwhat does ' C ' s t a n d f o r " ?
A c h o r u s of v o i c e s answered, "Claim, o r YOUTH PRAYS-THINGS HAPPEN!
r e c e i v e , and r e t u r n t h a n k s t h a t we have r e -
c e i v e d . John 11:41T1.
There was no q u e s t i o n now b u t what Bob
had found what he wanted. Never b e f o r e had
he u n d e r s t o o d t h e dynamics of t h i s wonderful
t h i n g c a l l e d " t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n " based
on 1' B e l i e v e t h a t ye r e c e i v e " , Mark 11: 24.
Never b e f o r e had he w i t n e s s e d o r been a b l e
t o r e c e i v e t h e l o v e of God s o broad, s o
s t r o n g , so i n t i m a t e , so p e r s o n a l !
That n i g h t a s Bob climbed i n t o h i s bunk, OB ARRIVED on t h e campus of The
Tom Larson overheard him s i g h i n r e l i e f , "oh, Mountain School on a Wednesday
i t ' s so good t o be back home"! morning. The s h e r i f f came t o
But t h e n e x t day t h e s h e r i f f came t o t a k e a r r e s t h i m t h e f o l l o w i n g Tuesday
Bob away. morning.
But s o much had happened i n t h o s e few
days! God had spoken t o Bob's h e a r t , and he
had responded. An i n d i c a t i o n of t h i s was
shown i n t h e f a c t t h a t he had c a l l e d h i s
grandmother and c o n f e s s e d h i s crime of f o r -
gery and t h e f t . He had a p o l o g i z e d t o h i s
f a t h e r f o r h i s rudeness. More t h a n t h i s , he
had asked f o r and o b t a i n e d v i c t o r y over smok-
i n g and d r i n k i n g and a v a r i e t y of o t h e r bad
habits. He had met C h r i s t and what a change
it had made!
On t h e Sabbath between t h e above mention-
ed days, Hugh James, t h e man r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
t r a i n i n g t h e s e young p e o p l e , had come t o be
w i t h t h e group. He n o t i c e d Bob s i t t i n g a l o n e
i n the afternoon, deep i n t h o u g h t . En-
gaging him i n c o n v e r s a t i o n , Hugh found t h a t
Bob was wondering how he might come back t o
The Mountain School and make a new s t a r t .
H i s problem was p r i n c i p a l l y a f i n a n c i a l one.
More s p e c i f i c a l l y , he needed a b o u t e i g h t y
d o l l a r s a month, He would work o f f t w e n t y
d o l l a r s , b u t t h a t s t i l l l e f t a s i z e a b l e sum
t o be r a i s e d . Hugh t o o k t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o
s h a r e w i t h Bob a w o n d e r f u l promise. He t u r n -
ed t o P h i l i p p i a n s 4:19 and r e a d , " ~ u m t y God
s h a l l s u p p l y a l l your need a c c o r d i n g t o h i s
r i c h e s i n g l o r y by C h r i s t J e s u s . "
Bob saw t h e l i g h t ! He b e l i e v e d , He be-
l i e v e d with a l l h i s heart-a h e a r t t h a t had
responded t o t h e i n v i t a t i o n of J e s u s ; a h e a r t
t h a t was f u l l of a p p r e c i a t i o n t o t h e f a c u l t y
members f o r t h e i r l o v e and k i n d n e s s . For t h e
f i r s t time Bob c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d what l o v e
r e a l l y was, P r i o r t o t h i s he found i t impos-
s i b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d how t h e f a c u l t y members
c o u l d l o v e him when he was s o mean. Now he
began t o s e e what t r u e l o v e was, and he was
t h r i l l e d with i t !
But a l l of a sudden t h e f e a r e d b l a c k
c l o u d on t h e h o r i z o n was overhead. The s h e r -
i f f was t h e r e now t o b r i n g t o a sudden end
a l l of t h e new joys and p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h a t
had f l o o d e d Bob's mind,
The s h e r i f f accompanied Bob t o h i s room
where he g a t h e r e d up h i s few p o s s e s s i o n s ,
He t h e n s c r i b b l e d a h u r r i e d n o t e t o h i s room-
mate Tom:
" 1 f v e l e f t a few t h i n g s f o r you t o keep
t i l l I r e t u r n ; b u t i f f o r some r e a s o n t h i n g s
d o n ' t work o u t , u s e them f o r y o u r s e l f , Don't
f o r g e t t o c l a i m t h e B i b l e p r o m i s e s f o r me,
If
Sincerely,
" B O ~ .
With t h a t , Bob c l i m b e d i n t o t h e c a r , a
new man i n C h r i s t J e s u s - y e t a p r i s o n e r of
the State. T h i s t r i p might be f o r a l o n g
time-in f a c t i t c o u l d be s e v e r a l y e a r s .
This event e l e c t r i f i e d t h e e n t i r e stu-
d e n t body and t h e v i s i t i n g s t u d e n t s from La
S i e r r a College. Word s p r e a d l i k e w i l d f i r e .
Hardly had t h e c a r d i s a p p e a r e d o u t of s i g h t
when l i t t l e groups of s t u d e n t s c o u l d be s e e n
a l l over t h e campus, p r a y i n g , They were ask-
i n g t h a t somehow God would i n t e r v e n e and work
the impossible.
They e x p e c t e d g r e a t t h i n g s . Had t h e y n o t
s e e n a m i r a c l e a l r e a d y ? They had c l a i m e d
I John 5:16 f o r Bob a l r e a d y - a promise f o r
backsliders-and i t had b r o u g h t a b o u t a dy-
namic change. Eow t h e y t u r n e d t o a n o t h e r
promise. T h i s time t h e y opened t h e i r B i b l e s
t o P r o v e r b s 21:1, he k i n g ' s h e a r t i s i n t h e
hand of t h e Lord, a s t h e r i v e r s of w a t e r : he
t u r n e t h i t w h i t h e r s o e v e r he w i l l . ' !
This promise s t a t e s t h a t God c a n move on
t h e h e a r t s of men t o do t h e t h i n g t h e y had
p r e v i o u s l y had no i n t e n t i o n of d o i n g , - - l i k e
d o i n g a complete r i g h t - a b o u t - f a c e .
S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e s t u d e n t s were a s k i n g
God t o work upon t h e h e a r t s of Bobf s f a t h e r
and t h e a u t h o r i t i e s t o have them u n d e r s t a n d
t h a t something had happened t o Bob d u r i n g
t h e p a s t week, and t o i m p r e s s them t o drop
t h e c h a r g e s and a l l o w Bob t o r e t u r n t o The
Mountain School. In addition t o t h i s re-
q u e s t , t h e y were a l s o a s k i n g God t o p r o v i d e
means--at l e a s t e i g h t y d o l l a r s a month-to
d e f r a y t h e c o s t of h i s t u i t i o n . Someone,
somewhere would have t o v o l u n t e e r t o h e l p
t o t h i s extent. T h i s was a l a r g e r e q u e s t ,
b u t w i t h one a c c o r d t h e y p l a c e d t h e i r f i n -
g e r s on t h e B i b l e p r o m i s e s and Asked, Be-
l i e v e d , and Claimed t h e p r o m i s e s . Then t h e y
thanked God t h a t v e r y moment, f o r answering
t h e i r prayer,
I t was a g l o r i o u s s i g h t . F a c u l t y mem-
b e r s , y o u t h , and c h i l d r e n u n i t e d t h e i r
h e a r t s i n p r e s s i n g t h e i r p e t i t i o n t o God.
A l l day l o n g t h e s p i r i t of p r a y e r p r e v a i l e d
on t h e campus. B e f o r e s t u d e n t s and f a c u l t y
r e t i r e d f o r t h e n i g h t , another importunate
p r a y e r season was conducted.
I t must have b e e n t h r e e o r f o u r days be-
f o r e any word was h e a r d from Bob. Then t h e
telephone rang. The o p e r a t o r a s k e d f o r
P r i n c i p a l R. W. H o l l i s t e r . I t took j u s t a
few m i n u t e s f o r word t o g e t around t h a t a
l o n g d i s t a n c e c a l l had come f o r t h e p r i n c i p a l .
"who i s i t from"? t h e s t u d e n t s were ask-
i n g . A n t i c i p a t i o n r a n h i g h t h a t i t might b e
from Bob o r from someone i n v o l v e d i n t h e i r
prayer request.
I t d i d n o t t a k e l o n g f o r t h e " ~ i gHouse"
t o f i l l up w i t h s t u d e n t s . E a g e r l y t h e y a -
w a i t e d word from t h e i r p r i n c i p a l . Soon he
came i n t o t h e room and w i t h a b r o a d s m i l e on
h i s f a c e he began t o t e l l them of t h e c o n v e r -
s a t i o n . Bob's f a t h e r had c a l l e d .
"What d i d he s a y ? What d i d he s a y w ? The
s t u d e n t s could h a r d l y c o n t a i n themselves.
I t was h a r d f o r M r . H o l l i s t e r t o g e t a
word i n edge-wise. But f i n a l l y he was a b l e
t o speak.
" ~ o bs f a t h e r wants t o know i f t h e r e i s
a s p o n s o r who w i l l pay f o r B o b ' s t u i t i o n ,
s h o u l d he be a l l o w e d t o r e t u r n .
"I t o l d h i m t h a t I t h o u g h t t h e r e was a
s p o n s o r , b u t t h a t I would have t o c a l l h i m
back when I was c e r t a i n " .
There was a buzz of e x c i t e m e n t t h a t f i l l -
ed t h e a i r . "I knew t h e Lord had answered
o u r p r a y e r s " , someone s a i d . T h i s was r e p e a t -
ed over and o v e r again-even b e f o r e i t was
a c t u a l l y known t h a t a sponsor c o u l d be found.
Mr. H o l l i s t e r immediately c a l l e d Hugh
James a t La S i e r r a C o l l e g e and t o l d h i m of
t h e developments. Hugh promised t o go r i g h t
t o work on t h e problem and c a l l back t h e n e x t
day.
Again, a l l day l o n g t h e s t u d e n t s a t The
Mountain School c l a i m e d t h e p r o m i s e of Pro-
v e r b s 21:l. Now t h e y had even g r e a t e r incen-
tive to press their petition. They were s u r e
t h a t God would f i n d j u s t t h e r i g h t p e r s o n t o
f i n a n c e Bob a t The Mountain S c h o o l . B o b ' s
f a t h e r had made i t c l e a r t h a t he c o u l d a s -
sume no r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f i n a n c i a l l y due t o t h e
heavy s u r g e r y b i l l s he was h a v i n g t o pay.
The n e x t day D r . Paulman c a l l e d . Hugh
James had c o n t a c t e d h i m and he had b e e n a b l e
t o a r r a n g e f o r s e v e r a l s p o n s o r s f o r Bob.
They were now f r e e t o c o n t a c t B o b ' s f a t h e r
and have Bob r e t u r n t o The Mountain School.
What r e j o i c i n g t h e r e was t h a t day i n t h a t
l i t t l e school!
Mrs. B r e a d w e l l , i n r e l a t i n g t h i s e x p e r i -
ence t o me exclaimed, " T O t h i n k t h a t t h e r e
a r e s o many s t u d e n t s who would l o v e t o come
t o The Mountain School b u t have no sponsor1'!
Then she added r e f l e c t i v e l y , " ~ u t h a t ' s
where p r a y e r comes i n " .
The God who t u r n e d t h e Red Sea a s i d e and
made a way f o r His c h i l d r e n i n a n c i e n t d a y s ,
had i m p r e s s e d Bob's f a t h e r and t h e c i v i l
authorities. The g r e a t God who had moved
back t h e o v e r f l o w i n g waves of o l d J o r d a n , had
moved on t h e h e a r t s of i n d i v i d u a l s back i n
t h e Los Angeles a r e a t o sponsor B o b ' s t u i -
tion. I l e a r n e d l a t e r t h a t some of t h e s e
s p o n s o r s were young p e o p l e w i t h v e r y l i m i t e d
incomes. I s n f t i t w o n d e r f u l how our God
works t o f u l f i l l His p r o m i s e s t o His r e p e n t -
ant children!
P r o f e s s o r H o l l i s t e r t r i e d f o r two days t o
c a l l Bob1 s f a t h e r b u t h e c o u l d n o t g e t
through. F i n a l l y on t h e t h i r d day Bob's
f a t h e r c a l l e d s a y i n g t h a t t h e i r phone had
been o u t of o r d e r and he was c a l l i n g t o f i n d
o u t i f t h e r e was any word f o r h i m .
"yes t h e r e s u r e i s " , M r . H o l l i s t e r r e -
plied.
Wef r e w a i t i n g f o r Bob now a.
'~11of t h e a r r a n ements a r e made.
The n e x t day Bob and h i s f a t h e r a r r i v e d ,
bag and baggage. His f a t h e r was s o a p p r e c i -
a t i v e of a l l t h a t t h e school had done f o r h i s
boy and i n d i c a t e d t h a t he had complete con-
f i d e n c e i n t h e i r a u t h o r i t y and t h a t what-ver
t h e y decided was b e s t f o r Bob, he was i n con-
p l e t e agreement.
~ l t h o u g hBob had t r i e d t o remain coura-
geous during t h e time s i n c e he had been f o r -
c i b l y taken away by t h e s h e r i f f , he had,also,
found t h a t h i s s t r e n g t h was n o t t o o g r e a t .
He had begun t o smoke again. But now h e r e
a t The Mountain School among h i s f r i e n d s who
had experienced a r e v i v a l and a r e f o r m a t i o n-, . a s k , i t s h a l l be done f o r them of my F a t h e r
he was beginning t o s e e v i c t o r y a g a i n f o r
himself.
11W h a t f s t h e b e s t promise f o r me t o c l a i m
f o r v i c t o r y over my tobacco"? he asked one
of t h e s t u d e n t s .
"HOW about Jeremiah 33 :3 ? h i s k i n d young
f r i e n d responded. Together t h e y t u r n e d t o
t h e t e x t and r e a d , " C a l l unto me, and I w i l l
answer t h e e , and shew t h e e g r e a t and mighty
t h i n g s , which thou knowest not."
Say, t h a t s g r e a t I f ! Bob responded.
" ~ n dh e r e f s a n o t h e r t e x t t o go w i t h t h a t
one. This one i s found i n E z e k i e l 36:26,27.
Look a t what i t s a y s : ' A new h e a r t a l s o w i l l
I g i v e you, and a new s p i r i t w i l l I p u t w i t h -
i n you; and I w i l l t a k e away t h e stony h e a r t
o u t of your f l e s h , and I w i l l g i v e you an
h e a r t of f l e s h . And I w i l l p u t my s p i r i t
w i t h i n you, and cause you t o walk i n my s t a t -
u t e s , and ye s h a l l keep my judgments, and do
themi."
his S c r i p t u r e i s e x a c t l y what I need",
s a i d Bob. He thought of h i s dark a n 3 s i n f u l
p a s t ; of a l l h i s v a i n e f f o r t s t o change h i s
course of a c t i o n , h i s thoughts and h i s wa s.
l f ~ h a t fwhat
s I must have--a new h e a r t K!
exclaimed Bob e m p h a t i c a l l y . He knew i n h i s
h e a r t t h a t t h i s was going t o be t h e answer-
t h e o n l y answer. With a new h e a r t he could
obey God and be s u c c e s s f u l .
A t l a s t he had found t h e way t o r e a l suc-
c e s s . More t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e Bob wanted
what t h e B i b l e v e r s e had promised.
"DO you r e a l l y want what God s a y s He w i l l
g i v e you, ~ o b " ?h i s f r i e n d asked.
" ~ e s ,I do. I r e a l l y do".
hen I have a n o t h e r v e r s e t o s h a r e w i t h
you. I t fs a k i n d of a super promise". With
t h a t t h e f r i e n d 11 t u r n e d t o Matthew 18:19,20
where i t s a y s , I f two of you s h a l l a g r e e on
e a r t h a s touching a n y t h i n g t h a t t h e y s h a l l
which i s i n heaven."
"We a r e b o t h a g r e e i n g t h a t one of t h e
g r e a t and mighty t h i n g s you need i s a new
heart-an o b e d i e n t h e a r t . And s i n c e b o t h of
us a g r e e , i t makes i t doubly c e r t a i n t h a t
you w i l l r e c e i v e i t 1 ' , h i s f r i e n d continued.
Then t h e y k n e l t t o g e t h e r and asked God
t o f u l f i l l t h e promise He had made. They be-
l i e v e d and claimed t h e promise, and w h i l e
they were t h e r e on t h e i r knees, t h e promise
was f u l f i l l e d ! Something happened t h a t made
Robert James Babcock a new man!
1f
I have never so much a s wanted one p u f f
of a c i g a r e t t e from t h a t mement. I know
t h e s e promises work. P r a i s e God"! Bob's
testimony was v i b r a n t w i t h f e e l i n g and pos-
i t i v e assurance.
Bob now r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e r e i s no need
t h a t God w i l l n o t supply; no longing t h a t He
w i l l n o t s a t i s f y ; no h a b i t of s i n over which
He w i l l n o t g i v e v i c t o r y , and no s i n t h a t He
w i l l n o t f o r g i v e i f we come i n simple f a11 i t h
through t h e m e r i t s o r J e s u s our Lord. For
w i t h God n o t h i n g s h a l l be impossible." Luke
1:37.
Bob had met J e s u s . He had begun t o know
H i m p e r s o n a l l y now. Religion and t h e way of
r i g h t e o u s n e s s were becoming a t t r a c t i v e and
meaningful now. Oh, how t h i n g s had changed!
 11
From t h a t p o i n t o n , t h e s c h o o l d i d n o t
have a momentf s t r o u b l e w i t h Bob", confided
11
Mrs. Breadwell. He grows more s i n c e r e a s
each day goes by. Truly, we have seen t h e
working of t h e Lord h e r e . To see t h e com-
p l e t e change i n a l i f e l i k e t h a t i s a thrill
t h a t can only be experienced. It i s hard t o
p u t i n t o words. The young people from La
S i e r r a and t h e i r program of p r a y e r were used
of God t o r e a c h t h a t h e a r t . Prior t o that
time a l l of our e f f o r t s were i n vain-we
c o u l d n o t g e t through t o him. Wefre a l l so
g r a t e f u l and so happy f o r what h a s happened",
I t h a s been s i x months ago t h a t t h i s won-
d e r f u l e v e n t took p l a c e . As I w r i t e t h e s e
l i n e s f o r t h i s book, I f e l t I must check on
Bobf s p r o g r e s s . I f m happy t o t e l l you t h a t
t h e r e p o r t was, "Bob i s j u s t making wonderful
p r o g r e s s , and f i n d i n g renewed courage e a c h
day! The f e e l i n g s of r e b e l l i o n he e n t e r t a i n -
ed f o r h i s f a t h e r have a l l vanished. He
f e e l s now t h a t h i s f a t h e r was a c t u a t e d o n l y
by t h e most u n s e l f i s h motives i n t h e way he
d e a l t w i t h him when he r a n away from home".
This i s t h e d i f f e r e n c e p r a y e r makes.
Youth p r a y i n g and working f o r youth! I s n ' t
i t wonderful! We a r e o n l y s e e i n g t h e begin-
ning of g r e a t t h i n g s t h a t w i l l y e t t a k e place
t o Drove t h a t t h e r e i s a God i n heaven t h a t
l o v e s His c h i i d r e n and d e l i g h t s t o answer
l a r g e r e q u e s t s u n s e l f i s h l y made.
We a r e n o t s u g g e s t i n g t h a t Bob w i l l have
no problems w i t h himself i n t h e f u t u r e - f a r
from i t ! Rather, we a r e saying t h a t he now
h a s t h e t o o l s which, i f he w i l l , he may use
t o shape h i s c h a r a c t e r . Whether he i s de-
f e a t e d o r v i c t o r i o u s i n t h e s t r u g g l e , de-
pends upon h i s a l e r t n e s s and determination-
or f a i l u r e - i n u s i n g t h i s wonderful s c i e n c e
he l e a r n e d a t The Mountain School.
Chapter 3
YOUTH'S ADVENTURES IN PRAYER
just
-
A R R I V E D on The Mountain School cam-
pus a t midnight. A g u e s t room was
w a i t i n g f o r me a t t h e "Big House".
Because I was v e r y weary, I r e -
q u e s t e d t h e p r i v i i e g e of - s l e e p i n g
i n t h e n e x t morning, which of c o u r s e was
graciously granted.
However, a s d a y l i g h t dawned, something
impelled me t o g e t up and go t o t h e c a f e -
teria. There I w i t n e s s e d a f e l l o w s h i p be-
tween f a c u l t y and s t u d e n t s which was unique.
I n j u s t a few minutes I f e l t a p a r t of a b i g ,
loving family.
While most of t h e f a c u l t y members e a t i n
t h e i r own homes, one o r two of them e a t w i t h
t h e s t u d e n t s on a r o t a t i o n b a s i s . That p a r t -
i c u l a r morning t h e f a c u l t y member p r e s e n t had
Volunteered t o make t h e pancakes. I t seemed
t h a t one of t h e s t u d e n t s had done a poor job
of making pancakes t h e morning b e f o r e , and
now t h e f a c u l t y member was going t o I I show
them how i t was done" !
What a time we had t h a t morning! Some-
one had c l e v e r l y mixed some c h e e s e c l o t h i n
with the batter, and when the pancakes were
served it was evident that the cook had not
been too successful! There was much good
humor evident that morning, and all enjoyed
a good meal as well. I found the meals to
be very tasty although many of the frills
were omitted. The students looked healthy
and seemed to enjoy their meals. There was
a good spirit prevailing in every department
of the school. No holier-than-thou attitude
was to be seen anywhere.
After breakfast I went back to the I1~ig
~ o u s e "and soon realized that something of
special interest was absorbing the attention
of the students. I saw them busily talking
to each other and after observing for a while,
I asked what the trouble was.
I was told that Eddy, one of their fellow
students, was told by his parents that he was
going to have to leave the school that morn-
ing. They told me how Eddy had begun to love
The Mountain School, and how that after much
prayer and Bible study he was preparing to
be baptized at the next baptismal service.
Now his parents had decided that Eddy was
getting too much religion and it was time for
him to come home. The did not want their
K
boy uniting with this queer" church.
The students were looking for a promise
that they might claim to either change the
parents' minds, or else to help Eddy, if
taken back home, to witness to his new-found
faith.
When Eddy' s parents arrived, he pleaded
with them to let him stay. He tried to tell
them what a wonderful school this was and
how much it had done for him. In his attempt
he was so emotionally involved that a few
tears came to his eyes. But all his pleas
fell on deaf ears. In fact, it made his par-
ents only the more determined to remove their
boy from a place that was having such an in-
fluence upon him,
The parents were determined, and it was
not long until Eddy's things were packed in
the car and the last goodbyes were said.
Again, faculty and students pressed their
petitions to God, asking Him to intervene.
They asked God to impress these parents and
allow Eddy to return, if that was His will.
If it was not, then they asked that Eddy be
given words to speak and power to live so
that the parents would be converted by their
sonfs life and example.
Before the week was over, Eddy wrote to
his friends at the school. He told how he
was enjoying his new-found faith and that the
Lord was giving him courage to remain true to
his convictions. It The preacher is coming
over tonight and my parents think that he
will prove me to be wrong. But I know what
the Bible says, and I'm determined to live by
it", wrote Eddy.
A week later Eddy wrote again. He said,
II
Claim promises for me, and it may be that
God will use me to convert the minister who
is coming over again this evening to see me
to try to persuade me to give up my new-
found faith".
prominent, and leading out valiantly as
a prayerband leader was Bob-this once trig-
ger-happy, knife-wielding youth who just a
few weeks earlier had been taken away by the
sheriff. He was now a Bible-carrying, prom-
ise-claiming firebrand. He knew what it
was to have prayers answered. He knew, too,
what Jesus in the heart can do to one1s out-
look on life. His life was infecting the
lives of many other students.
The entire student body reflected an a-
wareness of the presence of 3 eavenly angels
on the campus. Even their singing was fired
with enthusiasm. As I sat and listened to
them s i n g , I c o n t r a s t e d t h e music I h e a r d
w i t h t h a t of many o t h e r t e e n a g e r s i n o t h e r
p l a c e s I had h e l d meetings. What a d i f f e r -
ence !
When I began t o speak, t h e moment I an-
nounced by t e x t , p e n c i l s and notebooks came
out. I s h a l l n o t soon f o r g e t t h e e a r n e s t n e s s
and z e a l t h e s e s t u d e n t s e x h i b i t e d i n an a t -
tempt t o memorize and p r a c t i c e t h e t r u t h s
they learned.
Soon i t was time t o a s k f o r d e c i s i o n s f o r
baptism. I had p r e v i o u s l y t a l k e d w i t h P r i n -
c i p a l H o l l i s t e r about t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s . "I
t h i n k t h e r e ma be two or t h r e e who w i l l want
t o be b a p t i z e d $: , he t o l d me. You can imagine
our s u r p r i s e when f i f t e e n young people i n -
d i c a t e d t h e i r d e s i r e t o p r e p a r e f o r baptism
when t h e i n v i t a t i o n was extended. There
were s e v e r a l more who i n d i c a t e d a d e s i r e t o
a t t e n d t h e c l a s s e s b u t t h e y were n o t s u r e
t h a t t h e y wanted t o be b a p t i z e d a t t h i s time.
S t i l l o t h e r s , who had a l r e a d y been b a p t i z e d ,
wanted t o a t t e n d j u s t t o r e f r e s h t h e t r u t h s
i n t h e i r minds. A l l were welcomed.
As t h e week drew t o a c l o s e , I i n v i t e d
any s t u d e n t s who would l i k e t o , t o w r i t e out
t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e of t h e p a s t week and g i v e
i t t o me a s a s o u v e n i r of our time t o g e t h e r .
One young man wrote :
"When we were t o l d t h a t i t was time f o r
t h e Week of P r a y e r , I c o u l d h a r d l y b e a r t h e
thought of having t o s i t through a n o t h e r l o n g
week of sermons and t e s t i m o n i e s and p r a y e r s .
But t h i s has been a good week. A few t h i n g s
have changed i n my l i f e . I have had my f i r s t
r e a l experience i n prayer. I ' v e seen p r a y e r
answered. I ' m i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e B i b l e now.
I n f a c t , I might be a p r e a c h e r myself some
day".
I s h a r e d some of t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h
the faculty. h his i s worth a y e a r ' s pay",
s a i d one t e a c h e r . Incidentally, the teachers
a t The Mountain School have been g i v i n g t h e i r
s e r v i c e s f r e e , except f o r board, room and
utilities. Maybe t h i s accounts i n p a r t f o r
t h e u n s e l f i s h , u n s t i n t e d l o v e and s e r v i c e
these teachers render t o t h e i r students. I
t h i n k i t i s t h e n i n e t h wonder of t h e world!
For t h e most p a r t , t h e s e a r e a l l h i g h l y - q u a l -
i f i e d teachers. Talk about people dying f o r
a cause!-these t e a c h e r s a r e l i v i n g and g i v -
i n g f o r a cause!
The s t u d e n t s a r e t a u g h t t n a t God l i v e s
and l o v e s and t h a t He i s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e
l i t t l e t h i n g s of l i f e a s w e l l a s the l a r g e .
They have experienced t h a t God w i l l answer
p r a y e r even i n l i f e ' s minor m a t t e r s . I t h i n k
of Linda, a young s i x t e e n - y e a r - o l d s t u d e n t .
She wrote me a l e t t e r i n which she s h a r e d a n
experience t h a t i l l u s t r a t e s t h i s point:
"I had s t u d i e d h a r d f o r a B i b l e t e s t we
were t o have. When we were r e a d y t o w r i t e
t h e t e s t , t h e t e a c h e r asked u s t o w r i t e f o u r
memory v e r s e s we were supposed t o have l e a r n -
ed. I had memorized them and began t o w r i t e .
I wrote t h e f i r s t two o u t without h e s i t a t i o n .
Then my mind went b l a n k . I could n o t remem-
b e r a word of t h e o t h e r two. I decided t o
c l a i m t h e promise of James 1:5 f o r wisdom.
As soon a s I opened my e y e s I s t a r t e d w r i t i n g
and d i d n ' t s t o p u n t i l I had w r i t t e n a l l f o u r
memory v e r s e s . When I r e c e i v e d my paper
back, I n o t i c e d t h a t t h e f i r s t two memory
v e r s e s had s e v e r a l m i s t a k e s i n them b u t t h e
l a s t two were word p e r f e c t . God i s good!
He answers t h e p r a y e r s of t h o s e who ask".
Another s t u d e n t had a s i m i l a r e x p e r i e n c e .
This young l a d y was having t r o u b l e diagram-
i n g s e n t e n c e s f o r h e r E n g l i s h I1 assignment.
"I s a t and looked a t t h e s e n t e n c e s f o r t h e
l o n g e s t time. I f i n a l l y decided t h a t t h i s
was j u s t w a s t i n g time, so I asked t h e Lord
f o r wisdom and claimed James 1:5. Once again
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 "SO I p r a y e d " , Tom w r o t e , "and I claimed l i v e d a l i f e of s i n , b u t I knew, t o o , t h a t
t h e promise of Matthew 7:7,8: 'Ask, and i t God loved me. So I p r a y e d and promised God
s h a l l be g i v e n you; s e e k , and ye s h a l l f i n d ; t h a t i f He would s a v e me I would s e r v e H i m .
II Somehow I remembered h a v i n g h e a r d my

...
knock, and i t s h a l l be opened u n t o you: f o r
e v e r one t h a t a s k e t h r e c e i v e t h
'I a s k e d God t o h e l p me f i n d t h e crown.
r f a t h e r r e a d i n t h e Psalms, 'Behold, t h e eye
of t h e Lord i s upon them t h a t f e a r H i m , upon
I t o l d H i m I b e l i e v e d He would, and t h e n them t h a t hope i n His mercy; t o d e l i v e r t h e i r
thanked H i m t h a t He had found i t and a s k e d s o u l from d e a t h , and t o keep them a l i v e . . . , I
H i m t o d i r e c t me t o it. I went back t o t h e Psalms 33:18,19. I prayed again.
11 The waves were g e t t i n g b i g g e r , and my
new d o r m i t o r y and began l o o k i n g t h r o u g h t h e
sawdust and sand on t h e f l o o r . A s I was s t r e n g t h was g e t t i n g weaker. God had s a v e d
l o o k i n g my roommate came t o j o i n me. Togeth- o t h e r s o u t of t i m e s of t r o u b l e . I was now
e r we looked. I t o l d my roommate t h a t God a s k i n g H i m t o h e l p me. Promises of t h e B i b l e
had answered my p r a y e r , b u t I was j u s t h a v i n g somehow came t o my mind. I remembered Psalms
t o e x e r c i s e f a i t h i n His promise. A s I made 34:6,7: ' T h i s poor man c r i e d , and t h e Lord
my way t o t h e c o r n e r of t h e b u i l d i n g I saw h e a r d him, and saved h i m o u t of a l l h i s
something s h i n y l y i n g i n t h e c o r n e r . I want troubles. The a n g e l of t h e Lord encampeth
o v e r t o i t and p i c k e d up my t i n y crown! round a b o u t them t h a t f e a r h i m , and d e l i v e r -
II
I knew God would answer my p r a y e r " , Tom e t h them.'!
s a i d , " b u t even s o I a c t u a l l y jumped f o r joy, "I knew t h e Lord c o u l d save me. I prayed
I was s o g r a t e f u l . God i s s o good! He ex- a g a i n and swam w i t h a l l my might toward t h e
t e n d s H i s g r a c e , when we l e a s t d e s e r v e it. I I s h o r e . It seemed a c o u p l e of waves were now
And s p e a k i n g of Godf s w o n d e r f u l g r a c e , h e l p i n g me. P r e s e n t l y I found I was a b l e t o
l e t us share the following experience w i t h touch ground. Then I r e s t e d f o r a moment.
II
you. I t i s t h a t of a young man b e f o r e h e By t h i s time my b r o t h e r s could s e e I was
had g i v e n h i s h e a r t w i t h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n t o i n t r o u b l e , and t h e y s p u r r e d me on, encourag-
Jesus. i n g me n o t t o g i v e up even though t h e y knew
"During August of 1966 my b r o t h e r s and I t h e y c o u l d n o t p h y s i c a l l y h e l p me. W i t h one
went t o t h e beach. I t was a b i t c h i l l y and more mighty t r y I was a b l e t o make i t t o
no one wanted t o g e t wet. But s i n c e we had shore and f e l l e x h a u s t e d on t h e ground.
come t o s w i m I d e c i d e d t o be b r a v e and jump "I t h a n k e d God f o r what He had done f o r
in. I swam o u t p a s t t h e b r e a k e r s and soon me, and have t r i e d , t o t h e b e s t of my a b i l -
found myself i n calm w a t e r . I was h a v i n g a i t y , t o keep my end of t h e b a r g a i n . I love
good time o u t t h e r e i n t h e P a c i f i c a l l by t h e Lord and am d a i l y t h a n k f u l t o H i m f o r H i s
myself. goodness t o me. Now I f e e l a s d i d David
"soon t h e w a t e r s became rough and I de- when h e s a i d , ' I w a i t e d p a t i e n t l y f o r t h e
c i d e d t o go back i n . But t r y a s I m i g h t , I Lord; and he i n c l i n e d u n t o me, and h e a r d my
was b e i n g t a k e n f u r t h e r o u t a l l t h e time.
My s t r e n g t h was b e i n g e x h a u s t e d and I knew I
needed h e l p . By t h i s time I was s o f a r o u t
cry.
ble p i t , ...
He b r o u g h t me up a l s o o u t of a n h o r r i -
s e t my f e e t upon a r o c k , and
e s t a b l i s h e d my g o i n g s . And he h a t h p u t a new
my b r o t h e r s c o u l d n ' t h e a r my s h o u t s f o r h e l p . song i n my mouth, even p r a i s e u n t o o u r God.'
"I knew I w a s n ' t r e a d y t o d i e . I had Psalms 4 0 :1-3.
 I t was t h r i l l i n g t o s e e how t h e f a c u l t y
members p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e what was b e i n g
t a u g h t on t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n . Often
f o l k who have matured f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t t o
l e a r n something e n t i r e l y new and p u t i t i n t o
p r a c t i c e . But n o t s o a t The Mountain School.
On more t h a n one o c c a s i o n I h e a r d men and
women-some w i t h t h e i r Masters degrees--pray-
i n g i n c h i l d l i k e f a i t h and s i m p l i c i t y . Along
w i t h t h e s t u d e n t s t h e y asked, b e l i e v e d , claim-
ed and r e t u r n e d t h a n k s t o God f o r h e a r i n g and
answering t h e i r p r a y e r s .
One such p r a y e r i n v o l v e d t h e s c h o o l water
pump, I t was obvious t h a t something would
have t o be done t o p r o v i d e enough d r i n k i n g
and cookin w a t e r f o r t h e s t u d e n t s and t h e
faculty. W ' e wanted t o p u t i n a new pump on
a c e r t a i n day, b u t t h e f u n d s were n o t a v a i l -
a b l e " wrote one of t h e f a c u l t y members.
"we decided t o make t h i s a m a t t e r of
prayer. Even a s we prayed, a f u r t h e r d i s a s -
t e r f r u s t r a t e d our s i t u a t i o n . The w e l l caved
i n . We c o n t i n u e d t o p r a y , and b e f o r e t h e
week was over enough money came i n t o pay f o r
t h e f i x i n g and r e c a s i n g of t h e w e l l , a s w e l l
a s b e i n g a b l e t o i n s t a l l a new pump! The
w e l l - d i g g e r s a i d t h a t i f t h e pump had been
i n s t a l l e d e a r l i e r we would have l o s t i t when
t h e w e l l caved i n . Now we have a good w e l l
and a good pump. God knew o u r needs b e f o r e
time .
we d i d , and He s u p p l i e d them i n His good
"We a r e s o t h a n k f u l t h a t we c a n s e r v e
s u c h a God", t h e t e a c h e r concluded.
One of t h e t e a c h e r s had a d r a m a t i c ex-
p e r i e n c e i n which she p r a y e d f o r h e a l i n g and
God answered. She wrote t h e f o l l o w i n g
account.
II
For t h r e e y e a r s I had been having prob-
lems w i t h h i g h b l o o d p r e s s u r e . The work
h e r e a t The Mountain School i s a r e a l mental
and e m o t i o n a l s t r a i n , s o t h i s d i d n o t h e l p
my problem any-it only aggravated it. A f t e r
l e a r n i n g t h e A , B , C 1 s of p r a y e r , I s t a r t e d
p r a y i n g f o r h e a l i n g from h i g h b l o o d p r e s s u r e .
This problem had k e p t me u p s e t f o r some time.
"I claimed I11 John 2, 'Beloved, I wish
above a l l t h i n g s t h a t t h o u mayest p r o s p e r and
be i n h e a l t h , even a s t h y s o u l p r o s p e r e t h . '
and I s a i a h 26 : 3 , ' Thou w i l t keep him i n p e r -
f e c t peace, whose mind i s s t a y e d on t h e e : be-
cause he t r u s t e t h i n thee.'
"I p r a y e d e a r n e s t l y s e v e r a l t i m e s a day,
u s i n g t h e A, B , C f s of p r a y e r . I n two weeks
I went back t o t h e d o c t o r f o r a checkup. My
blood p r e s s u r e was normal f o r t h e f i r s t
time i n more t h a n t h r e e y e a r s , and I have n o t
had any t r o u b l e s i n c e . I t r u l y b e l i e v e t h e
Lord h a s c o m p l e t e l y h e a l e d me and He h a s
given me peace of mind a s He h a s promised."
T r u l y t h e Lord i s good t o t h o s e who i n
c h i l d l i k e f a i t h c l a i m t h e v a s t r e s o u r c e of
power and h e l p t h a t He h a s promised.
I was e a g e r t o l e a r n t h e r e a c t i o n of t h e
young p e o p l e t o a p o s s i b l e d i s a p p o i n t m e n t
such a s c o u l d have come t o Tom had he n o t
found t h e t i n y winding crown t o h i s watch.
know", one of t h e i r t e a c h e r s a s s u r e d
"I IW
t e a t t h e r e a r e t i m e s when God must t e a c h
h
me,
u s a l e s s o n i n c a r e f u l n e s s . Hence we p r a y a
p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n i n t h e s p i r i t of commit-
ment. We a l s o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t God must
t e a c h us p a t i e n c e . Hence we do n o t become
b i t t e r when God chooses t o answer our p r a y e r s
i n a way, o r a t a t i m e , which we do n o t ex-
p e c t " . We c a n always know t h a t He who s p a r e d
not H i s own Son, b u t d e l i v e r e d up C h r i s t on
the c r o s s f o r u s (Romans 8:32), w i l l f r e e l y
g i v e u s a l l t h i n g s t h a t a r e f o r our b e s t
good.

Chapter 4
SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE--
YET IT HAPPENED !
COULD have r a t e d t h e newspaper head-
l i n e s , " began P e t e r Graham, a t e e n -
age s t u d e n t a t La S i e r r a C o l l e g e ,
"had I n o t l e a r n e d t h e p r a y e r o f
e c e p t i o n l a s t week".
La s i e r r a - C o l l e g e i s a l i b e r a l a r t s
c o l l e g e , now a p a r t of Loma Linda U n i v e r s i t y ,
and b o t h s i t u a t e d i n an a r e a t h a t i s s u r -
rounded by b e a u t i f u l mountains n e a r R i v e r -
s i d e and San Bernardino, C a l i f o r n i a .
You w i l l remember t h a t i t was from L a
S i e r r a College t h a t Hugh James and h i s group
of young people came t o b r i n g t h e i n s p i r a t i o n
and i n s t r u c t i o n on t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n t o
The Mountain School.
Now back t o P e t e r . 11
I had made a r r a n g e -
ments w i t h some f r i e n d s of mine t o go h i k i n g
i n t h e h i g h S i e r r a s , " P e t e r went on, " b u t the
weather t u r n e d bad. I t r a i n e d , f r o z e and
t h e n snowed. So my f r i e n d s changed t h e i r
minds and t o l d me t h e y were n o t going. E u t
I went anyway.
"I know I was f o o l i s h t o go by myself, e s -
p e c i a l l y when t h e weather c o n d i t i o n s were s c
bad", he s a i d t o t h e p r a y e r c l a s s ; "but I
claimed a promise b e f o r e I s e t o u t , and I
guess t h a t i s what saved me."
The B i b l e promise t h a t P e t e r claimed was
one t h a t t h e c l a s s had used a few n i g h t s be-
f o r e i n b e h a l f of a b a c k s l i d e r . This promise
impressed P e t e r so much t h a t he decided t o
use i t b e f o r e going on h i s hazardous journey.
I t was t h e promise of I John 5:16.
claimed t h e sentence t h a t r e a d s , " .
s h a l l a s k , and he s h a l l g i v e him l i f e
. .. . .
Peter
he 11
" ~ f t e rI had reached t h e t o p , I was walk-
i n g along a narrow, i c y ledge when a l l of a
sudden a g u s t of wind unbalanced me and I
s t a r t e d s l i d i n g down a two thousand f o o t
precipice"!
The c l a s s s a t i n r a11p t a t t e n t i o n a s P e t e r
continued h i s s t o r y . I n an i n s t a n t I slam-
med a g a i n s t a huge rock some f i f t y f e e t down
the mountain. Had t h e r e n o t been a cushion
of snow a g a i n s t t h a t rock, I would have s u r e -
l y broken my neck o r back. I had h i t t h a t
rock w i t h a t e r r i f i c blow.
1I
When I r e a l i z e d t h a t I was s t i l l a l i v e ,
I thanked God. Then I began t o e v a l u a t e my
position. I peered around t h e snowbank and
r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e r e was a s h e e r drop of about
two thousand f e e t on e i t h e r s i d e of me. It
f r i g h t e n e d me f o r a moment, and I j u s t s a t
t h e r e , t o o s c a r e d t o move. I realized that,
b a r r i n g a m i r a c l e , t h e r e was n o t a chance
t h a t 11I would g e t out of t h a t s p o t a l i v e .
There was no one around t o h e a r my c r y
f o r h e l p , except God. I t was t h e n I r e a l -
i z e d what my need was, and I claimed a B i b l e
Promise t o f i l l t h a t need. I remembered
James 1:5, ' I f any of you l a c k wisdom, l e t
him a s k of God,
him'.
... and i t s h a l l be given
I f t h e r e was one t h i n g above a n o t h e r
t h a t I needed j u s t t h e n , i t was wisdom. So
I ASKED, and I BELIEVED t h a t God would g i v e
me wisdom. I CLAIMED t h a t promise and t h e n
THANKED H i m f o r having g i v e n me wisdom t o
know how t o g e t o u t of t h a t predicament.
11
But now what t o do? P r e s e n t l y I was
impressed t o u s e my f i n g e r n a i l s t o d i g
through t h e t h i n l a y e r of i c e t o make s t e p s
on which I c o u l d s a f e l y p l a n t my f e e t and
s o g I1e t t o s a f e t y
But my v i s i o n was v e r y poor and I c o u l d
v e r y e a s i l y be d i g g i n g s t e p s i n t h e wrong
direction. But I p r a y e d and b e l i e v e d t h a t
God would h e l p me, and so I began t o work
cautiously, but diligently. My f i n g e r s be-
came raw from c h i p p i n g away t h e i c e , b u t I
k e p t on, b e l i e v i n g t h a t God was l e a d i n g me
i n the r i g h t direction.
" ~ r e s e n t l yI r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e t e r r a i n
was much more l e v e l , and I v e n t u r e d t o s t a n d
up. I t was a n l y t h e n t h a t I r e a l i z e d t h a t I
was back on s a f e ground.
where I had come from and was impressed how
I looked back t o
God had answered my p r a y e r . Had I come up
any o t h e r way t h a n t h e way I had come, I
would have worked my f i n g e r s raw i n v a i n .
This was t h e o n l y r o u t e t h a t c o u l d p o s s i b l y
lead t o safety. And God l e d me i n t h a t p a t h .
I s t o o d t h e r e and o f f e r e d a p r a y e r of thanks
t o God f o r His w i l l i n g n e s s t o h e l p me o u t of
a predicament I would n o t have g o t t e n i n t o
i f I had used good common s e n s e and s t a y e d
home. 11
A s i g h of r e l i e f came over t h e c l a s s a s
Peter finished h i s story. They a l l a g r e e d
t h a t h i s c o n c l u s i o n s were j u s t i f i e d , and
r e j o i c e d i n God1s l o v e and mercy.
As soon a s P e t e r s a t down, Dick Weaver,
a college senior, stood t o h i s f e e t t o share
h i s e x p e r i e n c e of only a few days e a r l i e r .
11
Semester exams have always been a head-
ache t o me, I1 Dick began. This time I f e l t I
was n o t a s w e l l p r e p a r e d f o r them a s I should
l i k e t o have been. I had s t u d i e d f a i t h f u l l y
during t h e semester, b u t due t o c i r c u m s t a n c e s
beyond my c o n t r o l , I was u n a b l e t o review f o r
t h e exams I was t o t a k e t h e n e x t day.
"I went t o bed, b u t I c o u l d n o t s l e e p .
I rolled, tossed, and tumbled, b u t s l e e p
n o t come. Now I was f a c e d w i t h t h e
r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t if I c o u l d n o t s l e e p , I
would n o t have t h e a l e r t n e s s I so d e s p e r a t e l y
need;d i n t h e morning.
J u s t t h e n I remembered t h e c h a l l e n g e
t h a t had been g i v e n i n t h e c l a s s on The
Prayer of Reception. We had been t o l d t o
take our Bibles, p l a c e our f i n g e r on a
promise, and t h e n Ask, B e l i e v e and Claim t h a t
promise, and God would answer t h a t k i n d of
prayer.
"So I claimed t h e promise of Matthew 11:
28-30, which s a y s : 'Come u n t o me ...
w i l l g i v e you r e s t t . That i s e x a c t l y what I
and I
needed. Then I thanked God t h a t He had g i v e n
me t h e promised r e s t .
"With t h a t I t u r n e d o u t t h e l i g h t , climb-
ed back i n bed, and t h e n e x t t h i n g I knew i t
was morning. I g o t up and f e l t r e f r e s h e d -
unusually r e f r e s h e d . I wrote my exams and
made t h e b e s t marks I b e l i e v e I have e v e r
made. There i s no q u e s t i o n i n my mind t h a t
t h e Prayer of Reception i s t h e g r e a t e s t
t h i n g I have e v e r come a c r o s s , " Dick s a i d i n
conclusion.
Dick had g r a s p e d t h e promise of Matthew
11:28 l i k e a drowning man r e a c h e s a t a styaw;
but he d i s c o v e r e d i t was, n o t a s t r a w , b u t an
anchor. (See Hebrews 6:13-19.)
When Dick was through, other students
t e s t i f i e d t o t h e God " t h a t cannot l i e " ( T i t u s
1:2 , because i t i s 1I i m p o s s i b l e f o r God t o
I
l i e ' ( ~ e b r e w s6 :18), f o r lthath he s a i d , and
s h a l l he n o t do i t ? o r h a t h he spoken, and
s h a l l he n o t make i t good" (Numbers 2 3 : 1 9 ) ?
 A l i c e Black was a t t e n d i n g h e r f i r s t c l a s s
t h a t n i g h t P e t e r and Dick r e l a t e d t h e i r ex-
periences. A s t h e y , a l o n g w i t h o t h e r young
p e o p l e , t o l d how God was answering p r a y e r ,
Alice s a t spellbound.
fI
Could t h i s b e t h e answer t o Q problem?"
thought Alice. She wanted s o much t o b e l i e v e
t h a t i t was, because she r e a l i z e d t h a t s h e so
d e s p e r a t e l y needed h e l p . F o r , you s e e , A l i c e
was a b a r b i t u a t e a d d i c t . H e r problem had
been hounding h e r s t e p s f o r y e a r s , and l i k e
a c l e v e r s p i d e r i t had f a s t e n e d I t s web
around h e r u n t i l t h e r e seemed no way o u t .
Unless one h a s gone t h r o u g h t h e e x p e r i -
e n c e , o r had a l o v e d one i n v o l v e d w i t h t h i s ,
i t i s v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o imagine t h e torment
t h a t it brings t o the heart. The b o d i l y and
m e n t a l s u f f e r i n g , t h e f e e l i n g s of remorse
and f r u s t r a t i o n combine t o make l i f e a weary
and v i c i o u s c i r c l e w i t h o u t hope, w i t h o u t
freedom and w i t h o u t t h e sweet- f e l l o w s h i p of
our Lord. I n v a i n one c r i e s o u t , "How l o n g ,
0 Lord, how l o n g ? "
To p o i n t up t h e s e r i o u s n e s s of A l i c e ' s
s i t u a t i o n , I might t e l l you t h a t h e r f a t h e r
i s a m e d i c a l d o c t o r , and w i t h a l l of h i s
m e d i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e problem, he had
been u n a b l e t o b r i n g her r e l e a s e f r o m t h e
habit. He r e c o g n i z e d what i t was d o i n g t o
h e r and, t r y a s h e might, p r a y a s he d i d , and
p l e a d w i t h h e r a s he d i d , n o t h i n g changed t h e
picture. A l i c e was I1hookedt'--and "hooked"
good.
I do n o t know whether A l i c e e v e r c o n f i d e d
i n a minister. P e r h a p s , knowing a s s h e d i d
t h e h o p e l e s s n e s s of h e r c o n d i t i o n , s h e was
ashamed t o t e l l anyone f o r f e a r t h a t h e r con-
f i d e n c e would be b e t r a y e d . She p r e f e r r e d t o
s u f f e r i n q u i e t desperation, alone.
As A l i c e s a t , l i s t e n i n g t o t h e s t u d e n t s
r e l a t e r e a l answers t o prayer-answers to
r e a l problems-her h e a r t became s t r a n g e l y
warm. Confidence was once a g a i n awakened-a
c o n f i d e n c e t h a t had l a i n dormant f o r s u c h a
l o n g time. She compared h e r s e l f and h e r con-
d i t i o n w i t h t h e v i b r a n t y o u t h and t h e i r mar-
v e l o u s e n c o u n t e r s w i t h a r e a l God, and H i s
response t o t h e i r prayers. She a l l o w e d h e r -
s e l f , v e r y c a u t i o u s l y , t o ponder t h e p o s s i -
b i l i t y t h a t s h e , t o o , might have t h i s k i n d of
an experience. But j u s t a s hope began t o
r i s e i n h e r h e a r t , a v o i c e seemed t o s a y ,
lice, your c a s e i s h o p e l e s s . You have
t r i e d b e f o r e h o v e r and over again-and you
have f a i l e d e a c h time. You w i l l n e v e r be
a b l e t o g i v e i t up. You're hooked f o r l i f e . "
But t h e n a s t h e s e young p e o p l e , w i t h
f a c e s r a d i a n t w i t h v i c t o r y , spoke, i t seemed
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of p e r s o n a l v i c t o r y might b e
Her h e a r t b e a t w i l d l y w i t h i n h e r
hers too.
b r e a s t a s she c o n t e m p l a t e d how d i f f e r e n t
l i f e would be-how happy she c o u l d be i f
only-.
The moderator of t h e c l a s s announced t h a t
i t was now t i m e f o r them t o d i v i d e i n t o s m a l l
g r o u p s , a b o u t 6 t o a group, and p u t t h e l e s s o n
of t h e e v e n i n g i n t o p r a c t i c a l u s e . Each
A l i c e found
group was l e d by a p a n e l i s t .
h e r s eI I l f i n one of t h e s e s m a l l g r o u p s .
Now we a r e g o i n g t o s e l e c t t h e name of
one i n d i v i d u a l , a b a c k s l i d e r . Then, conform-
i n g t o t h e seven g r e a t laws of s o u l w i n n i n g ,
we w i l l work t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e Lord t o r e -
c l a i m t h a t p a r t i c u l a r b a c k s l i d e r " , he s a i d .
A l i c e watched and l i s t e n e d c a r e f u l l y a s
t h e y were i n s t r u c t e d t o t a k e t h e i r B i b l e s
and p l a c e t h e i r f i n g e r s on a s p e c i f i c p r o m -
is0 and c l a i m i t f o r t h a 71t s p e c i f i c p e r s o n .
The p a11 n e l i s t q u o t e d from E d u c a t i o n " , page
258, For any g i f t He h a s promised, we may
a s k ; t h e n we a r e t o b e l i e v e t h a t we r e c e i v e ,
and r e t u r n t h a n k s t o God t h a t we have r e -
c e i v e d , I!
A s p e c i f i c name was chosen f o r whom
p r a y e r was t o be o f f e r e d . O h , the confidence
the p a n e l i s t displayed t h a t this individual
would r e t u r n , r e g a r d l e s s of h i s waywardness-,
h i s u t t e r abaildon of t h e way of r i g h t . Just
t o h e a r t h a t k i n d of f a i t h e x p r e s s e d was a
r e a l balm t o A l i c e ' s h e a r t .
"Now we w i l l open our B i b l e s and t u r n t o
I John 5:16 and p l a c e our f i n g e r on t h e t e x t
and t h e n p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e t h e A , B y C 1 s of
B i b l e p r a y e r . W e ' l l Ask, B e l i e v e and Claim
t h e promise f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l mentioned.
Then b e f o r e we r i s e from our k n e e s , we w i l l
t h a n k God t h a t we have r e c e i v e d , i n embryo
f o r m , o u r r e q u e s t , I1 t h e p a r i u l i s t i n s t r u c t e d .
A l i c e f e l t a s u r g e of f a i t h a s s h e , w i t h
s i x o t h e r young p e o p l e , k n e l t t o p r a y w i t h
opsn B i b l e s . How wonderful i t was t o be i n
t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e God of heaven!
A l i c e would n o t p e r m i t h e r s e l f t o b u r s t
i n t o t e a r s b e f o r e t h e group. She wanted t o
g i v e v e n t t o h e r f e e l i n g s , b u t wisdom r e -
strained her. I t might provoke some ques-
t i o n s , and she d i d n o t want t o have t o ex-
p l a i n t o snyone. She k e p t h e r f a c e a s s e r e n e
a s p o s s i b l e throughout t h e e n t i r e o r d e a l .
A f t e r t h e p r a y e r s e a s o n was o v e r , t h e c l a s s e s
d i s m i s s e d and A l i c e made h e r way t o h e r c a r
a s quickly a s possible.
h his w i l l work f o r me"! s h e s a i d , once
i n h e r c a r and away from t h e e a r s of o t h e r s .
I1
I t ' s going t o work f o r me. I know i t i s .
God i s no r e s p e c t e r of person:. and I am go-
i n g t o t a k e H i m a t H i s word, s h e mused,
more e x c i t e d t h a n she had been i n a l o n g
time.
When she a r r i v e d home, s h e l o s t no time
i n opening h e r B i b l e t o Matthew 11:28. Oh,
how sweet t h a t promise sounded, "come u n t o
me, a l l ye t h a t l a b o u r and a r e heavy l a d e n y
and I w i l l g i v e you r e s t . I I
I1
That means me," t h o u g h t A l i c e . "I'm
included i n t h a t v e r s e . I need r e s t - r e s t
w i t h o u t d r u g s . I1
F a l l i n g on h e r knees w i t h t h e B i b l e open
b e f o r e h e r , A l i c e asked-she asked God t o
f u l f i l l thk promise. Here was One t o whom
she c o u l d open h e r s o u l . He would n o t b r e a k
h e r c o n f i d e n c e , n e i t h e r would He b r e a k His
word. J e s u s had promised, "Heaven and e a r t h
s h a l l p a s s away, b u t my words s h a l l n o t p a s s
away" (Matthew 24:353.
AS A l i c e p r a y e d , she found h e r s e l f
b r e a t h i n g a pEayer of c o n f i d e n t f a i t h , " ~ o r d ,
I do b e l i e v e . Now I c l a i m t h e promise You
have given. Thank You, Lord, f o r h a v i n g
g i v e n me v i c t o r y .
I1
I t was so v e r y simple. Yet i t had work-
ed f o r o t h e r s . I t must work f o r h e r t o o .
Three weeks l a t e r I h e a r d A l i c e r e l a t e
what had happened. " ~ f t e rI p r a y e d , I climb-
ed i n t o bed and t u r n e d o u t t h e l i g h t . I fell
i n t o a sweet s l e e p and t h e n e x t t h i n g I knew,
t h e sun was s h i n i n g t h r o u g h my window! I t
was morning, and I h a d n f t had a s i n g l e b a r -
b i t u a t e ! I c o u l d h a r d l y b e l i e v e i t ! I went
a l l day w i t h o u t any h e l p from d r u g s . That
n i g h t I r e p e a t e d t h e prodecure. Once a g a i n
I k n e l t down and c l a i m e d t h e promise. Again
I s l e p t soundly and woke up r e f r e s h e d . I
have done t h i s now f o r t h e p a s t t h r e e weeks,
and I have had t h e most marvelous t h r e e weeks
I have s p e n t i n t h e p a s t number of y e a r s !
I t ' s marvelous! The g r e a t e s t e x p e r i e n c e I
have ever had! "
She c o u l d h a r d l y c o n t a i n h e r s e l f a s she
r e l a t e d her v i c t o r i o u s experience. " ~ o dh a s
n o t o n l y g i v e n me p h y s i c a l r e s t ; I now have
s p i r i t u a l r e s t , a s w e l l a s t h a t peace of mind
t h a t He a l o n e c a n g i v e . I l o v e H i m so much
f o r what He h a s done f o r me," she concluded.
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e x p e r i e n c e s of answered p r a y e r , and t h r i l l i n g
t o t h e e x p e r i e n c e A l i c e had j u s t gone
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YOUNG DAVE STEWARD IN ACTION
Y, BUT I ' m hungry!" exclaimed Dave
t o no one i n p a r t i c u l a r a s he made
h i s way t h r o u g h l i n e a t t h e c a f e -
teria. his c r i s p ocean a i r c e r -
t a i n l y g i v e s a f e l l o w an a p p e t i t e . r t
With a t r a y l o a d e d w i t h good v e g e t a r i a n
food, he made h i s way t o an empty t a b l e . s a t
down, and a f t e r g i v i n g t h a n k s 30; a l l h i s
b l e s s i n g s , p r e p a r e d t o s a t i s f y h i s hunger.
A s he a t e , he g l a n c e d around t h e l a r g e
d i n i n g room, n o t i c i n g t h e n e a t arrangement of
t h i n g s . A s h i s e y e s wandered around t h e y
sudden1;r focused on a man s i t t i n g a l o n e a t
one of ;he t a b l e s . He l o o k e d s o f o r l o r n and
unhappy. Before h i m was a s m a l l bowl of
c e r e a l and a g l a s s of milk.
" ~ leo o k s a s i f h e d o e s n ' t have a f r i e n d
i n t h e trorld, n o r a penny t o h i s name, II
t h o u g h t Dave. "He l o o k s u t t e r l y d e j e c t e d . I
wonder i f I c o u l d s a y something t o c h e e r h i m
It
UP
As Dave a t e h e wondered about what he
might say t o t h i s man. He had no i d e a how t o
approach him, s o h e d e c i d e d t o c l a i m t h e
promise of James 1:s f o p wisdom. Not knowing
a n y t h i n g about t h e man's c i r c u m s t a n c e s , Dave
c e r t a i n l y needed t h e L o r d ' s h e l p i n making
t h e r i g h t approach.
Thanking God f o r answering h i s p r a y e r ,
Dave f i n i s h e d h i s meal and walked over t o t h e
t a b l e where t h e man was s e a t e d . With a s m i l e
he began, "Excuse me, s i r , my name i s David
Steward. I ' m a t h e o l o g y s t u d e n t a t La S i e r r a
College i n R i v e r s i d e . t t
The gentleman s t o o d and o f f e r e d Dave h i s
hand. " I ' m happy t o meet you, David," he
s a i d a s t h e two shook hands warmly. "1've
been watching you, and wishing t h a t my l i f e
c o u l d be a s f u l l of a m b i t i o n a s y o u r s seems
t o be. Won't you s i t down, p l e a s e ? "
When t h e y were s e a t e d , Dave s a i d , "Well,
I ' v e j u s t found a new l i f e i n J e s u s which
h a s g i v e n me tremendous hope. I f you d o n ' t
mind, I ' d l i k e t o s h a r e some e x p e r i e n c e s
w i t h ,,vou. I I
Not a t a l l , I t answered Davef s new ac-
quaintance. " I n f a c t , you may b e t h e answer
t o a problem t h a t n e e d s t o be s e t t l e d i n my
own l i f e . Go r i g h t ahead."
A s t h e y t a l k e d t o g e t h e r , Dave began t o
n o t i c e s e v e r a l i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g s about t h i s
man. I n s p i t e of t h e c o n d i t i o n of h i s
c l o t h e s , and t h e wan and h o p e l e s s e x p r e s s i o n
of h i s countenance, h i s r e s p e c t f u l conduct
and v e r b a l e x p r e s s i o n s were r e f l e c t i v e of a
r i c h c u l t u r a l background. F u r t h e r , h i s con-
v e r s a b i o n r e v e a l e d t h e f a c t t h a t Dave was
speaking w i t h a former Harvard U n i v e r s i t y
man !
Dave c o u l d n o t h e l p wondering how a
s u c c e s s f u l man l i k e t h i s , c o u l d d e t e r i o r a t e l I
t o t h i s low l e v e l . It
There must be a r e a s o n ,
he t h o u g h t , "and maybe t h i s i s what he wants
t o t a l k about. I f
Dave r e a l i z e d t h a t t h i s was a g r e a t c h a l -
l e n g e , s o a g a i n he p r a y e d f o r wisdom and t a c t ,
a s k i n g God t o # i v e h i m words t o speak, words
t h a t would be meat i n due season."
"YOUP s t o r y i s very i n t e r e s t i n g , Dave, I I
11
t h e man s a i d . I wish I had a l i f e w i t h
I1
meaning t o i t , " he went on. I ' v e got a
problem. I t seems I ' m running away from
something c o n t i n u a l l y . "
Then i n a v e r y s e r i o u s t o n e he asked,
II
Could I be running from ~ o d ? " Before Dave
could answer, he continued, shaking h i s head,
"NO, God wouldnf t be c a l l i n g a f t e r - me. I'm
j u s t no good, I f m t o o r o t t e n . "
There was a moment of s i l e n c e and Dave
took advantage of i t . "You remind me of one
of t h e g r e a t men i n t h e B i b l e t h e Apostle
Paul. He c a l l e d himself t h e ' c h i e f of s i n -
n e r s * . He wanted t o do r i g h t , b u t i n h i s
own s t r e n g t h and without God, he could n o t .
But i n t h e v e r y n e x t c h a p t e r , i n t h e book of
Romans, he speaks of f i n d i n g a new l i f e - l i f e
w i t h t h e S p i r i t of God i n c o n t r o l . I I
The man s a i d nothing. He was t r y i n g t o
g r a s p what Dave had j u s t s a i d . Dave con-
t i n u e d , "1n t h e B i b l e , i n t h e t h i r t y - s i x t h
c h a p t e r of E z e k i e l , God s a y s t o you and me,
s p i r i t w i l l I p u t w i t h i n you
you t o walk i n my s t a t u t e s . I
...
' A new h e a r t a l s o w i l l I g i v e you, and a new
and cause
"1n o t h e r words, t h e r e i s n o t h i n g we can
do b u t submit t o God, knowing t h a t He w i l l
a c c e p t us a s we a r e . Then we w i l l be renew-
ed and do t h e t h i n g s we should, n o t i n our
own s t r e n g t h b u t by t k e m i r a c l e of Godf s
g r a c e and power. I I
Very t h o u g h t f u l l g t h e man s a i d , "You
know, God has approached me twice b e f o r e , and
b o t h times I have r e f u s e d ~ i r n . "
With t h a t t h e man s t o o d t o h i s f e e t , ex-
tended h i s hand and s a i d , "Young man, y o u f l l
never know what you've done f o r me. Thanks
a lot. This h a s been another encounter w i t h
God ! l1
E l l e n G. White h a s recorded t h i s s t a t e -
ment: l ' l I f any of you l a c k wisdom, l e t h i m
ask of God, t h a t g i v e t h t o a l l men l i b e r a l l y ,
and u p b r a i d e t h n o t , and i t s h a l l be given
him.' Such a promise i s of more v a l u e t h a n
gold or s i l v e r . I f w i t h a humble h e a r t you
seek d i v i n e guidance i n every t r o u b l e and
p e r p l e x i t y , h i s word i s pledged t h a t a g r a c -
i o u s answer w i l l be g i v e n you. And h i s word
can never f a i l . Heaven and e a r t h may p a s s
away, b u t h i s word w i l l never p a s s away.
T r u s t i n t h e Lord, and you w i l l never be con-
founded o r ashamed. 'It i s better to trust
i n t h e Lord t h a n t o p u t confidence i n man.
T t i s b e t t e r t o t r u s t i n t h e Lord than t o p u t
I 5, P.As427.
Dave and h i s f r i e n d made t h e i r way t o
I
t h e door, Dave was t h i n k i n g f u r i o u s l y how he
might enhance t h e v i s i t he had j u s t had,
1 Suddenly he s a i d , "would you l i k e a l i t t l e
' book I have which has h e l p e d me t o f i n d t h e
way of hope?"
"Why, yes, 11 t h e man r e p l i e d , "I would II
a p p r e c i a t e a n y t h i n g t h a t might h e l p me.
" ~ o o d . I f y o u l l l g i v e me your a d d r e s s
1'11 b r i n g i t over t o n i g h t , I I Dave s a i d .
With t h a t t h e man gave h i m an a d d r e s s of
a h o t e l and t o l d h i m he would look f o r him
that night.
Dave made h i s way back t o h i s h o t e l room,
and s i n c e t h e convention he was a t t e n d i n g was
about over, and t h e r e s t of t h e c o n v e n t i o n e r s
were going t o a dance t h a t n i g h t , he decided
t h a t he would e n j o y v i s i t i n g t h e o l d man
again.
I1
So t u c k l n g h i s p e r s o n a l copy of
Steps t o ~ h r i s t " - u n d e rh i s arm, he made h i s
way t o t h e a d d r e s s he had been given.
I t was a dingy h o t e l , n o t a t a l l a p l e a s -
ant p l a c e t o l i v e . He climbed t h e s t a i r s and
found t h e room t h a t was i n d i c a t e d on h i s s l i p
Of Paper. He knocked, b u t t o h i s sorrow,
e v i l and n o t good. I f he were t o remain i n
t h i s c o n d i t i o n f o r e v e r . t h e n . a s s o u have ask-
-
ed, what i s t h e purpose of h & a n i i y i n t h i s
world?"
"But, " Dave continued, " s i n c e God c r e a t e d
man f o r a purpose, i t was s t i l l His p l a n t o
f u l f i l l t h a t purpose and t o b r i n g humanity
back from t h e r u i n and d e g r a d a t i o n i n which
we f i n d i t today. You see, when God i s a g a i n
t h e c e n t e r of each l i f e , and e v e r y a c t i o n and
thought d e a l s w i t h s e r v i n g o t h e r s , then, and
o n l y then, can humanity have f u l f i l l e d i t s
own, and God's purpose f o r i t , i n t h i s
world. "
Dave's roommate had a t h o u g h t f u l expres-
II
s i o n on h i s f a c e . Dave, I I he exclaimed, "I
b e l i e v e you've g o t something t h e r e ! But t e l l
me, hpw does man go about f u l f i l l i n g t h i s
purpose? I t ' s a n a t u r a l t h i n g f o r 6 s t o want
our o m way. I n my work I see i t every day.
And i t seems t o be g e t t i n g worse i n s t e a d of
better."
"Yes, I t h i n k y o u ' r e r i g h t , I' agreed Dave,
11
H e r e f s a v e r s e t h a t s a g s much t h e same
thing." Turning t o erem mi ah 13:23 he r e a d ,
"Can t h e E t h i o p i a n change h i s s k i n , o r t h e
leopard h i s spots? hen may ye a l s o do good
t h a t a r e accustomed t o do e v i l . I I
"God knew t h a t man, i n h i s s i n f u l s t a t e ,
was i n c a p a b l e of choosing God a s t h e c e n t e r
of h i s l i f e i n o r d e r t o t h i n k and do good t o
o t h e r s , so He had t h e prophet E z e k i e l pen
t h i s promise over h e r e i n t h e 3 6 t h c h a p t e r :
" ' hen w i l l I s p r i n k l e c l e a n w a t e r upon
you, and ye s h a l l be c l e a n : ... and a new
w i l l I p u t w i t h i n you ...
h e a r t a l s o w i l l I g i v e you, and a new s p i r i t
and cause you t o
walk i n my s t a t u t e s , and ye s h a l l keep my
judgments and do them.'
" ~ u t , Dave added, "God gave mah t h e
freedom of c h o i c e . He compels no one t o
have t h i s new h e a r t a g a i n s t h i s w i l l . As t h e
a p o s t l e Paul s t a t e d i n h i s second l e t t e r t o
t h e C o r i n t h i a n church, ' I f t h e r e be f i r s t a
w i l l i n g mind' (I1 C o r i n t h i a n s 8:12). You s e e ,
i t becomes a p e r s o n a l d e c i s i o n . No one i s
f o r c e d . Each man must decide f o r h i m s e l f .
"You've p r o b a b l y heard t h e e x p r e s s i o n
fnew b i r t h e x p e r i e n c e f . This i s t h e p o i n t a t
which a change t a k e s p l a c e . The ' o l d manf,
o r t h e n a t u r a l man who t e n d s t o do e v i l , now
changes a s a r e s u l t of having t h e 'new h e a r t f .
He now becomes a fnew man' whose thoughts and
a c t i o n s t e n d t o s e r v e God and h i s f e l l o w man.
He becomes a happy, obedient C h r i s t i a n and
t h u s f u l f i l l s t h e purpose God o r i g i n a l l y i n -
tended him t o . I 1
Dave c l o s e d t h e B i b l e and p u t i t back on
the bedside table. His roommate s t r a i g h t e n -
ed up and s a i d , "Yes, I do b e l i e v e you've
g o t something t h e r e . I ' v e tried t o forget
t h e e n t i r e problem because I c o u l d never
come up w i t h a r e a s o n a b l e s o l u t i o n , nor
c o u l d I f i n d anyone e l s e who could. But
you've g i v e n me something t o t h i n k about.
You've s u p p l i e d a few of t h e m i s s i n g p i e c e s .
Thanks s o much. 'I
They b o t h climbed i n t o bed and t u r n e d o u t
the l i g h t s . J u s t a s Dave was about t o f a l l
a s l e e p , h i s roommate s a i d , "Say, Dave, do you
have any r e a d i n g m a t t e r on t h i s s u b j e c t ? I ' d
l i k e t o go over t h i s again. I1
II
Sure. Yes, I can send you something a s
soon a s I g e t back t o c o l l e g e . I ' l l g e t your
a d d r e s s i n t h e morning and send i t t o you
j u s t a s soon a s I can. I I
" ~ o o d , I f 1 1 look forward t o g e t t i n g i t .
Goodnight. "
Dave f e l t good i n s i d e . He had been a b l e
t o s h a r e h i s f a i t h i n Jesus w i t h two i n d i v i d -
u a l s t h a t day, I t seemed t h a t t h e Holy
S p i r i t had somehow g i v e n him words t o speak.
"Thank You, Lord. Thank You," Dave
prayed a s he was about t o drop o f f t o s l e e p .
 There vas no question in Dave's mind that
the prcyer of reception was a powerful tool,
in the hands of the Holy Spirit. It worked,
and he was thankful for it.
Chapter 6

AGNOSTICS AND DRUNKARDS TOO !

LETTER for you, Dick, If the mail

carrier announced as he passed the
open door.
"Great! Thanks a lot." Dick
closed his book and reached for the
-- envelope. He looked at the return
address, and what he saw sent a twinge of an-
xietv through him. It was from his friend
~haries,a young man who had spent his Easter
vacation with him at La Sierra College.
Charles was an agnostic, an3 Dick had
wondered on more than one occasion since that
visit just how some of f'
his answers had gone
over with Charles. But," he thought to him-
self, If how do you answer a fellow who asks
questions like: 'Why do you want to be a
minister?' 'What can you give the world that
a humanist can1 t?' "
Dick remembered that he had told Charles
of some personal answers to prayer in trying
to answer these questions. He had told him
of Dynamic Bible Living classes he had at-
tended, and of some of the marvelous answers
to prayer many of the students had experienc-
ed. For a solid hour-and-a-half they had
 b a n t e r e d back and f o r t h . He wondered if he
abrupt .
had spoken too p o i n t e d l y , o r perhaps been t o o
With growing concern he opened t h e l e t t e r
and began t o r e a d :
"Dear Dick:
11 I have a s t r a n g e f e e l i n g t h a t I
must w r i t e t o you t o n i g h t . So h e r e
goes! I t ' s about my v i s i t w i t h you
over E a s t e r ,
" ~was t r e a l l y a pleasure t o
t a l k w i t h you, and the f i r s t time I ' v e
d i s c u s s e d r e l i g i o n i n a long time.
Since then I have thought about our
c o n v e r s a t i o n of t e n .
" ~ u whatt I r e a l l y want t o s a y
i s t h a t I admire you. Your dedica-
t i o n t o your c o n v i c t i o n s i s some-
t h i n g I have r a r e l y seen i n any young
person.
"Although I dont t a g r e e w i t h
your b e l i e f s , s t i c k by them. Ifm
s i c k of a l l t h e s u p e r f i c i a l i t y i n
young people l i k e you.
11I n h i s book, 'You C a n ' t Go Home
A g a i n f , Thomas Wolf wrote, 'We i n
America a r e l o s t , b u t I b e l i e v e we
s h a l l be found, l or something l i k e
t h a t . Dick, I b e l i e v e ( a n d t h i s has
come t o me r e c e n t l y ) t h a t t h e r e must
be a God. This i s something I r e a l l y
w a s n ' t s u r e of a t one time. But I
want t o f i n d Him. I ' m not s u r e how
t o do i t .
"I d e t e s t s a l v a t i o n by works,
and d e s p i s e f e a r a s a motive f o r
s e r v i n g , or t r y i n g t o s e r v e , God. tt
As Dick f i n i s h e d r e a d i n g t h e l e t t e r , he
sensed a f e e l i n g of hope. He sensed a l s o
t h a t Charles was s e a r c h i n g f o r s p i r i t u a l
h e l p , and f e l t t h a t w i t h God's h e l p he might
I be used t o h e l p Charles. He r e s o l v e d t o keep
i n c l o s e r touch w i t h h i s f r i e n d .
He reviewed a g a i n t h e v i s i t he and f r i e n d
Charles had had. He r e h e a r s e d i n h i s mind
t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n s and t r i e d t o t h i n k of any-
t h i n g t h a t might have been l e f t unsaid. He
had merely witnessed t o t h e experience he
had had s i n c e he had l e a r n e d t h e p r a y e r of
reception. He remembered t h e s t a t e m e n t made
i n " C h r i s t 1 s Object Lessons", pp. 299,300:
"Far more than we do, we need t o speak of
t h e p r e c i o u s c h a p t e r s i n our experience.
No more e f f e c t i v e means can be employed f o r
...
II
winning s o u l s t o C h r i s t .
He had done h i s b e s t . Now God was doing
the r e s t . Each day he remembered Charles i n
p r a y e r , c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e Holy S p i r i t would
continue t o have His way i n h i s h e a r t .
Dick had another soul-winning problem now
t h a t was absorbing much of h i s time. He was
worried about h i s buddy, Don. For y e a r s t h e y
had been 11v e r y c l o s e t o each o t h e r , b u t l a t e l y
Don was goofing" around and n o t r e a l i z i n g
how i t was a f f e c t i n g him or where i t was
leading h i m . "I wish I knew how I could help
him," Dick thought a s he l a y on h i s bed.
Dick and Don had been b u d d i e s through
h i g h school. They b o t h played t h e trombone
and had s p e n t many p l e a s a n t hours p l a y i n g and
p r a c t i c i n g t o g e t h eI I r . Often t h e y would g e t
t o g e t h e r J u s t t o f o o l " t o g e t h e r on t h e i r
horns,
During t h e summer t h e y o f t e n camped o u t
and h i k e d up t h e mountain t r a i l s . They s k i e d
t o g e t h e r too and played b a l l - j u s t everything
two young f e l l o w s enjoy doing.
Don l i v e d w i t h an uncle and a u n t who had
loved him a s t h e i r own. He a t t e n d e d Sabbath
school and church r e g u l a r l y , and was q u i t e a
l i k e a b l e , s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d young f e l l o w . I t
Was always n i c e t o have h i m around.
They had come t o La S i e r r a College t o -
 g e t h e r and had b o t h a p p l i e d t h e m s e l v e s d i l i -
g e n t l y t o t h e i r s t u d i e s . But a s t h e y e a r I
I
Thy w i IlIl , p l e a s e l e t h i m s t a y w i t h me t o -
night.
.*

p r o g r e s s e d , Dick began t o s e n s e a change i n As i f Dick had spoken a l o u d , Don s a i d ,

Don. I t soon became a p p a r e n t t h a t w o r l d l y " I ' m g o i n g t o spend t h e n i g h t w i t h my u n c l e
i n f l u e n c e s were g r a d u a l l y and s t e a d i l y c r e e p - and a u n t , b u t 1'11 s e e you a g a i n . I t ' s so
i n g i n and crowding o u t t h e h i g h s t a n d a r d s good t o b e back home." And w i t h t h a t he was
-
t h a t had been a p a r t of D o n f s c h a r a c t e r . This gone.
t r o u b l e d Dick and f i n a l l y he c o u l d s t a n d Dick r e t u r n e d t o h i s room and a g a i n c l a i m -
i t no l o n g e r and took t h e problem t o t h e Lord I
ed t h e promise of I John 5:16. He a l s o p r a y -
!
i n prayer. He asked God t o i m p r e s s Don w i t h ed, hank You, Lord, f o r showing me how t o
t h e d i r e c t i o n i n which he was g o i n g and approach Don a b o u t h i s n e e d of Thee. Thank
ef-
f e c t a change of D o n f s h e a r t . You f o r g i v i n g me t h e wisdom You have prom-
As i t o f t e n happens, some t h i n g s seem t o i s e d i n James 1:5.11
g e t worse b e f o r e t h e y b e g i n t o g e t b e t t e r . He had h a r d l y f i n i s h e d h i s p r a y e r when a
This p r o v e d t r u e i n Don's c a s e . B e f o r e t h e l i g h t t a p on t h e door was h e a r d . Dick open-
y e a r was over he was no l o n g e r a s t u d e n t , had ed t h e door and t h e r e s t o o d Don. H i s f i r s t
been f i r e d from h i s f i r s t Job, and was p l a n - q u e s t i o n was, " ~ a yI s t a y t h e n i g h t w i t h
n i n g t o j o i n t h e A i r Force. Apparently very you? l1
h o p e l e s s and f o r s a k e n , he f e l t he had n o t h i n g "You surely may, Don. Come on i n ! " A s
t o lose. t h e two of them a g a i n began t o r11e m i n i s c e
I n t h e meantime Dick had j o i n e d a Dynamic about o l d t i m e s , Dick t h o u g h 11 t , God i s c e r -
L i v i n g P r a y e r c l a s s conducted on t h e c o l l e g e t a i n l y answering my p r a y e r . 11
campus. The w o n d e r f u l answers t o p r a y e r t h a t When i t was c o n v e n i e n t Dick s a i d , Don,
were r e l a t e d by o t h e r c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s gave I ' d l i k e t o t e l l you a b o u t a r e c e n t exper-
h i m courage t o p r a y t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n i e n c e I f v e had t h a t ' s r e a l l y dynamic. It
f o r h i s wayward f r i e n d . h a s made C h r i s t i a n i t y come t o l i f e f o r me.
Although Don went ahead w i t h h i s p l a n s Would11 you l i k e t o h e a r i t ? "
and t o o k a f o u r - y e a r - h i t c h w i t h t h e A i r F o r c e , Of c o u r s e , " Don r e p l i e d , s t i l l i n t e r -
Dick was n o t d i s c o u r a g e d . H e was c l a i m i n g ested i n h i s p a l l s plans.
t h e B i b l e promise found i n I John 5:16, t h a t "YOU know," Dick s a i d , "I u s e d t o t h i n k
God would g i v e Don l i f e . And " a c c o r d i n g t o " t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y was s o r t of a Imamby-pambyf
h i s " f a i t h " (Matthew 9 : 2 9 ) h i s p r a y e r was t o t h i n g : b u t I ' v e had a change of h e a r t a b o u t
b e answered, b u t n o t i n t h e immediate f u t u r e . i t a l l . I f v e found something t h a t ' s r e a l l y
Another s c h o o l y e a r was w e l l under way, great !"
and most of t h e s t u d e n t s were away f o r t h e Then he went on t o r e l a t e some of t h e
New Year v a c a t i o n , when Don showed up on t h e t h r i l l i n g e x p e r i e n c e s he and o t h e r s had had
c o l l e g e campus. During h i s f i r s t m o n t h ' s i n answer t o t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p f ; i o n .
l e a v e from t h e A i r Force he had d e c i d e d t o Don was v i s i b l y impressed. You may n o t
l o o k up h i s o l d buddy and p a y him a v i s i t . b e l i e v e m;, by t h e way I ' v e a c t e d l a t e l y , "
Dick was d e l i g h t e d t o s e e him. A s t h e y he s a i d , b u t I f v e always been i n t e r e s t e d i n
t a l k e d , Dick d a r t e d a s i l e n t p r a y e r t o heaven. religion. But l i k e F e l i x i n t h e B i b l e , I
11 Dear Lord, i f I ' m t o h e l p Don, and i f i t be
Youth Prays….God Answers
Pages 74 & 75
just never found the „convenient season‟ to actually yield to it.”
Then Don shared some of his problems and struggles and
how all of these frustrated him “Really, I‟m quite discouraged. I‟d
like to know how to be a real Christian, Dick, but I‟m so sinful. I
don‟t think there‟s much hope for me anymore. How can God
forgive a sinner like me?”
Without saying a word in reply, Dick reached for his copy
of “Steps to Christ” and shared a couple of passages with Don:
“You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free.
Harmony with God, likeness to Him, - what can you do to obtain
it?
“It is peace that you need, - Heaven‟s forgiveness and
peace and love in the soul. … You can never hope, by your own
efforts, to secure it. But God offers it to you as a gift … It is yours
if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it.”
Then Dick read from the chapter entitled, “The Privilege of
Prayer,” “Steps to Christ,” p. 49, dealing with conditions to
answered prayer.
Then from the book “Education,” page 258, he read: “For
the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for
wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised,
we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return
thanks to God that we have received.”
Dick turned to Don and asked, “Wouldn‟t you like to claim
this promise for forgiveness, right now? I‟ll help you.”
Don agreed, and so the two of them knelt together with the
Bible opened to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.”
At first Don found it hard to ask for forgiveness and
cleansing. But when he let the Holy Spirit take charge, he was
thrilled. And the words, “I thank You for forgiving me,” came
from a sincere heart.
As they rose from their knees, both young men had a
deeper appreciation of the Bible and for the wonderful love of a
wonderful Saviour.
“I‟m so glad I came to visit you, Dick. I know my life is
going to be different as a result of it,” Don said gratefully.
“You‟re not half as glad as I am, Don. Let‟s determine
now, that if we don‟t meet again here on this earth, we‟ll meet each
other in heaven. O.K?”
“It‟s a deal, Dick,” and the two of them shook hands, both
beaming with Christian happiness.”
Then there was Alicia, another youthful soul-winner and a
member of the prayer class. Her enthusiasm and smiling face
greatly encouraged the other members of of the prayer class as she
related her experience in the Lord. A definite answer to prayer for
her sister was just realized, and Alicia was bubbling over with
enthusiasm. She wanted to share her experience.
Alicia had been concerned over her sister June‟s lack of
interest in the church. She virtually never attended. And lately she
had expressed much doubt as to the validity of the Bible and it‟s
account of the miracles.
“It‟s ridiculous!” she told Alicia, “for anyone to believe
that a sea could open up and make a path for people to walk
through. It‟s just a fairy tale. You‟ll never get me to believe all that
stuff in the Bible.”
At the first meeting of the prayer class, Alicia learned how
to claim a promise for a backslidden church member. She was so
impressed with all she heard that she decided
 t o p r a y f o r t h i s s i s t e r , c l a i m i n g t h e prom-
i s e g i v e n i n I John 5:16, " ~ es h a l l a s k , and
He (God) s h a l l g i v e h i m l i f e . -"~
One week went by; t h e n two. Twice a day
and e v e r y n i g h t A l i c i a p r a y e d f o r June.
loved h e r s i s t e r and wanted s o much t o s e She e e r , and one of t h e s e was p e r s e v e r a n c e .
h e r e n j o y i n g a good C h r i s t i a n e x p e r i e n c e .
Three weeks p a s s e d w i t h no a p p a r e n t s i g n t h a t
God was h e a r i n g h e r p r a y e r s .
But A l i c i a n e v e r wavered o r became d i s -
couraged. She had been t a u g h t t h a t w h i l e
God does n o t f o r c e t h e w i l l , i t i s p a r t of
-
H i s wonderful gospel t o f r e e t h e w i l l .
t r u t h i s t a u g h t throughout t h e e n t i r e BiT b lhei.s
When Adam and Eve s i n n e d i n t h e Garden of
Eden, S a t a n u s e d a k i n d of h y p n o t i c power
o v e r them. To g i v e them hope, God promised
t o " p u t enmity" between S a t a n and t h e human
r a c e , Gen. 3:15. T h i s i s one of t h e func-
t i o n s of t h e o s p e l of our Lord J e s u s C h r i s t .
He p r o m i s e s , 'If t h e Son t h e r e f o r e s h a l l make
you f r e e , ye s h a l l be f r e e indeed", John 8:
36. oras as much t h e n a s t h e c h i l d r e n a r e p a r -
t a k e r s of f l e s h and b l o o d , he a l s o h i m s e l f
l i k e w i s e t o o k p a r t of t h e same; t h a t t h r o u g h
d e a t h he might d e s t r o y him t h a t had t h e power
of d e a t h , that i s , t h e d e v i l ; and de-
l i v e r them who t h r o u g h f e a r of d e a t h were a l l
t h e i r l i f e t i m e s u b j e c t t o bondage. " Hebrews
2:14-15.
~ e s u swas s e n t 11 t o p r e a c h d e l i v e r a n c e t o
t h e c a p t i v e s ; t o s e t a t l i b e r t y them t h a t a r e
b r u i s e d . ' ' Luke 4:18. Theref o r e , A l i c i a p r a y -
ed a p r a y e r of f a i t h . She p r a y e d i n J e s u s t
name and by t h e i n s p i r a t i o n of t h e Holy
S p i r i t , s u p p l i c a t i n g t h e t h r o n e of g r a c e f o r
a b a c k s l i d e r , Can i t be t h a t God w i l l n o t
answer t h e p r a y e r He Himself h a s i n s p i r e d u s
t o o f f e r ? I s not the reason Satan trembles
when he s e e s t h e w e a k e s t s a i n t p r a y i n g , be-
c a u s e h e knows t h a t I I h e a v e n l y a n g e l s who ex-
c e l i n s t r e n g t h 1 ' w i l l d r i v e him o f f t h e r e a l
b a t t l e f i e l d of t h e w i l l of man She andhad
l e a vl eea rh ni m
f r e e t o choose t o s e r v e God? ed
one of t h e m e e t i n g s of t h e p r a y e r c l a s s
g e n e r a l c o n d i t i o n s t o answered p r a y -
During t h e f o u r t h week of c l a i m i n g One the
promise, A l i c i a was much encouraged.
n i g h t , a s s h e was t a l k i n g t o h e r f a t h e r , he
s a i d , "You c a n ' t imagine how much June h a s
changed! Why t h a t s i s t e r of y o u r s i s even
p l a n n i n g t o go back t o church!"
A l i c i a was e l a t e d ! On Wednesday June
came over t o s e e A l i c i a . "Sis," she s a i d ,
"when a r e you g o i n g t o make a n o t h e r one of
my f a v o r i t e n u t r o a s t s ? Why d o n ' t you make
one f o r t h i s S a b b a t h ? We can go t o church
and h a v e d i n n e r t o g e t h e r a f t e r w a r d s . 0. K. ?I1
" ~ n ds u r e enough," A l i c i a s a i d a s she
finished t e l l i n g her t h r i l l i n g experience t o
t h e c l a s s , "she w a s w i t h me i n c h u r c h l a s t
Sabbath!.. T h i s i s a d e f i n i t e answer t o my
prayer. "
We must a l s o s h a r e w i t h you t h e e x p e r i -
ence of L i l a , a n o t h e r soul-winner. Before
h e r e x p e r i e n c e i n J e s u s s h e had b e e n a s l a v e
t o many e v i l h a b i t s .
"I was s o ashamed,
II
she w r o t e , "1 c o u l d
n o t l o o k my p e o p l e o r my f r i e n d s i n t h e f a c e .
J u s t t h i n k of i t ! I had been u s i n g s n u f f
and c o f f e e s i n c e I was f i v e . And f o r y e a r s
I had b e e n a d r u n k a r d , s p e n d i n g a l l my e a r n -
i n g s f o r t h e s e v i c e s and l e t t i n g my Lord go.
"I f o u g h t m y s e l f , t r y i n g t o s t o p my de-
g r a d i n g h a b i t s , b u t i t was u s e l e s s . Several
t i m e s I f e l t l i k e g i v i n g up c o m p l e t e l y . I
f e l t l o s t w i t h o u t God and w i t h o u t a f r i e n d
I
i n t hI I e world.
Then, God s e n t you and y o u r w i f e t o s e e
me a t j u s t t h e r i g h t time. Now God h aHow s given
I
me complete v i c t o r y over e v e r y t h i n g .
prayed f o r a h a t r e d of my s i n s 1 and I r e -
c e i v e d i t . I have no more d e s i r e t o u s e
tobacco o r d r i n k any k i n d of a l c o h o l s i n c e
we p r a y e d t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n t h e n i g h t
you came.
11
I am o v e r j o y e d w i t h t h i s new way of
life. I t ' s wonderful t o know f o r myself t h a t
God w i l l answer p r a y e r s o q u i c k l y ! I g i v e
my Lord a l l t h e c r e d i t f o r t h e v i c t o r y ! Mope
t h a n t h i s , I ' m g o i n g t o s h a r e t h i s wonderful
e x p e r i e n c e and t h i s new p r a y e r l i f e w i t h
e v e r one, wherever I go.
'May God c o n t i n u e t o use you t o s h a r e
w i t h many o t h e r s t h i s p o w e r f u l approach t o
G.0 d. 11 S i n c e r e 1
X9
" ~ i l a
L i l a became one of t h e most s u c c e s s f u l
soul-winners we e v e r met. Many of h e r d e a r
f r i e n d s have t e s t i f i e d t h a t L i l a i s t r u l y a
v i c t o r i o u s C h r i s t i a n . She c o n t i n u e s t o b e
v i c t o r i o u s b e c a u s e she i s c o n s t a n t l y s h a r i n g
h e r e x p e r i e n c e and t h a n k i n g God f o r what He
h a s done f o r h e r .
From a h o p e l e s s drunkard t o a g l o r i o u s l y
happy C h r i s t i a n ! What h a t h God wrought!
The amazing t h i n g i s t h a t He i s w a i t i n g
t o do t h e same f o r you! Can you b e l i e v e
that?
L e t your f a i t h go, and t r y i t !
I
Chapter 7
SWEETHEARTS AGAIN
OM AND Evelyn Black were i n t r o u b l e
-serious t r o u b l e , L i k e many o t h e r
a m b i t i o u s young c o u p l e s w i t h t h e
husbana s e e k i n g 11 an e d u c a t i o n h o u r
Evelyn was t h e b r e a d winner , t h e
s i l e n t p a r t n e r , s o t o speak.
Her work was of such a n a t u r e t h a t i t
k e p t h e r secluded. She d i d n o t make many
f r i e n d s because she j u s t n e v e r met many
s t u d e n t s , When Tom and Evelyn walked t o -
g e t h e r a c r o s s t h e campus o r a t t e n d e d t h e
c o l l e g e e n t e r t a i n m e n t s , f r i e n d s would s t o p
and speak t o Tom and p r a c t i c a l l y i g n o r e
Evelyn. This u n f a i r s i t u a t i o n was g i v i n g
h e r an i n f e r i o r i t y complex, and was a l s o
weakening h e r s p i r i t u a l l i f e .
Hugh and Lucy James were q u i t e concerned
about t h e s i t u a t i o n ; s o much s o t h a t t h e y
and a n o t h e r c o u p l e met t o g e t h e r t o d i s c u s s
what c o u l d b e done a b o u t t h e unhappy r e -
l a t i o n s h i p t h e y observed d e v e l o p i n g between
Tom and Evelyn. They concluded t h a t what
Evelyn needed was a n o t h e r job where she c o u l d
meet more p e o p l e , o r p e r h a p s t a k e some c l a s s
work so as to be exposed to the rest of the
student body.
But coming up with some suggestions is
one thing; implementing them, quite another.
Frustrated as to how to implement their
ideas, and realizing it was next to impossi-
ble, Hugh and Lucy decided to forget the
wnole matter.
I wonder--did they ask God for guidance?
Did they bring this young couple before God
in prayer? Or was this a case of II leaning
unto" their "own understanding", Proverbs 3 :
5?
Hugh and Lucy may have forgotten Tom and
Evelyn?s problem, but God did not; for He
says in Isaiah 49:15,16, "yea, they may for-
get, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I
have graven thee upon the palms of my hands."
I IHe would have us understand how earnest-
ly and tenderly His heart yearns over us in
all our trials and temptations. " - t t ~ o ~ p e l
workers", p. 210.
God also says, "I will guide thee with
mine eye", Psalms 32 :8. And He did truly
guide Tom and Evelyn again straight to Hugh
and Lucy's door.
They had heard of the James1 many fabu-
lous experiences of answered prayer. Per-
haps among these they might find a solution
to their problem.
As Hugh and Lucy shared their experiences
and conditions of answered prayer with Tom
and Evelyn, they also explained the differ-
ence between presumption and faith. For one
to claim Bible promises without fulfilling
the conditions would be presumption. It
would also be presumption for them to use
the answer to prayer for selfish purposes
instead of God's cause. An inspired writer
states: 11 Whatever we receive must be used
in doing His will. The conditions met, the
promise is unequivocal. t t --Educationtt,p. 258.
After this discussion, the two couples
fell on their knees before the open Bible as
suggested in "Christts Object Lessons", page
147. They claimed, through Jesus Christ, the
fulfillment of God's promise as found in
philippians 4:19. They ASKED, Matthew 7:7.
They BELIEVED, and told God they believed He
would do just as He had promised, Mark 11:24.
"Say, I will believe, I do believe. l It--
~estimonies",Vol. 5, page 514. Then they
did what "Steps to Christ" suggests: "Thank
God that we have received," page 51 (Army-
Navy edition).
A few weeks later Tom and Evelyn were
seen strolling hand in hand across the wide
college
f1
campus.
Just like sweethearts again," thought
Lucy as she and Hugh were watching them. 11
"The Lord has surely answered our prayers,
commented Hugh.
"I wonder if anything new has developed!"
11
remarked Lucy. "Let's go ask them.
Evelyn was first to answer. h he Lord
doesn't want me to go downtown to work. He1s
given me a job in the library for the summer.
He wants me to go to college, and I have al-
ready registered. Tom has a job too; one
that can be fitted in around his 7I
classes
when college begins this fall.
Then came the most thrilling news of all.
Tom was to receive three dollars an hour at
a time when seventy-five cents was the usual
wage.
Thus had the Lord answered all their
Prayers of faith so Evelyn could go to col-
lege. She made many friends with both stu-
dents and teachers.
Evelyn and Tom were now supremely happy.
As they walked about the campus, arm in arm,
they reminded one of two angels walking on
earth.
 I t h i n k one of t h e most w o n d e r f u l m a r i t a l
m i r a c l e s was t h e one of which P a u l Jones was
a part. T r u l y God "worketh m i r a c l e s among
you." G a l a t i a n s 3:5.
Handsome, keen-minded, and k i n d - h e a r t e d
Paul had seemed t o be one who would some day
be a n o u t s t a n d i n g l e a d e r . With a d e v o t e d
w i f e and f o u r l o v e l y c h i l d r e n , he had e v e r y
p r o s p e c t of b e i n g a s t r o n g worker f o r t h e
Lord.
Then t h e d e v i l s t e p p e d i n w i t h a n o v e r -
whelming t e m p t a t i o n . And P a u l Jones began
t o s l i p s p i r i t u a l l y , H i s young f r i e n d s be-
came concerned. A group of them met t o g e t h -
e r t o c l a i m p r o m i s e s and t o p r a y f o r him.
11Dear Lord, we c l a i m t h e promise of I
John 5:16. And a c c o r d i n g t o t h i s promise, we
a s k You t o g i v e P a u l Jones l i f e , We b e l i e v e
You a r e g i v i n g b a c k s l i d e r P a u l l i f e , and we
-
r e t u r n t h a n k s t h a t You have 6 i v e n P a u l Jones
l i f e , I n J e s u s 1 name, Amen,
And was P a u l J o n e s 6 i v e n l i f e ? Of c o u r s e !
When God s a y s , "I w i l l , He always keeps H i s
word. here h a t h n o t f a i l e d one word of a l l
h i s good p r o m i s e , " I Kings 8:56.
But i t took time. I n s t e a d of P a u l Jones
t u r n i n g h i s back and f l e e i n g from e v i l , he
became c o m p l e t e l y i n f a t u a t e d w i t h t h e w i f e
of a f e l l o w c h u r c h member.
Content t o be w i t h e a c h o t h e r , P a u l and
D e l l a were s o b l i n d e d by t h e w i l e s of S a t a n
t h a t t h e y l e f t t h e i r f a m i l i e s and went t o an-
other state. P a u l a c t u a l l y a p p e a r e d t o be
g o i n g f r o m b a d t o worse, u n t i l some of h i s
f r i e n d s gave up a l l hope f o r h i m .
O t h e r s d e c i d e d t h e y c o u l d no l o n g e r p r a y
t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n i n h i s c a s e , Their
f a i t h wavered a s t h e y l o o k e d a t a p p e a r a n c e s
and n o t a t t h e r o m i s e of I John 5:16.
them God s a i d , 'He t h a t w a v e r e t h i s l i k e a
Of
wave of t h e s e a d r i v e n w i t h t h e wind and
t o s s e d . For l e t n o t t h a t man t h i n k t h a t he
s h a l l r e c e i v e any t h i n g of t h e Lord." James
1:6,7*
P a u l and D e l l a e n t e r e d a n o t h e r c o u n t r y
f o r a q u i c k d i v o r c e from t h e i r former mates.
L i v i n g t o g e t h e r a s man and w i f e , t h e y b o t h
d e c l a r e d t o t h e i r saddened C h r i s t i a n f r i e n d s
t h a t t h e y n e v e r f e l t s o n e a r t o God. The
love they f e l t f o r each o t h e r , they s a i d ,
was d i v i n e .
I do n o t know when I have w i t n e s s e d a
more a p p a r e n t l y h o p e l e s s c a s e . I n s p i t e of
t h e h o u r s I had p r e v i o u s l y t a k e n t o d i s s u a d e
P a u l from p l u n g i n g i n t o t h i s l i f e of s i n ,
t h i s s e r i o u s c o n d i t i o n worsened s o f a s t t h a t
some q u e s t i o n e d me: "Why h a s t h i s happened
when we were c l a i m i n g I John ( I 5:16?Iv
My answer t o them was, Keep c l a i m i n g
t h e promise.
I?
Although t h e c a s e of P a u l J o n e s a p p e a r e d
u t t e r l y h o p e l e s s , n o t a l l who knew h i m de-
c l a r e d i t t o be so. H i s f a i t h f u l f11r i e n d s ,
Mary and Lynn, c o n t i n u e d t o p r a y , Lord, we
r e t u r n t h a n k s t h a t You have g i v e n P a u l l i f e
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e promise of I John 5:16."
With g r e a t f a i t h i n t h e i r h e a v e n l y F a t h e r
t h e y a l s o opened t h e i r B i b 11 l e s and c l a i m e d t h e
promise i n G e n e s i s 3:15, I w i l l p u t enmity
between t h e e and t h e wom~nn." Then t h e y d i d
a s we a r e t o l d t o do i n C h r i s t ' s Object
Lessons1', page 147: "With your B i b l e i n your I?
hands s a y , We "have done11 a s Thou h a s t s a i d .
We " p r e s e n t Thy promise.
A t l e a s t t h r e e t i m e s a day Lynn c l a i m e d
b o t h p r o m i s e s , and o c c a s i o n a l l y he added
I s a i a h 42:16, "I w i l l b r i n g t h e b l i n d by a
way t h a t t h e y knew n o t ; I w i l l l e a d them i n
P a t h s t h a t t h e y have n o t known: I w i l l make
straight, , , .
d a r k n e s s l i g h t b e f o r e them, and crooked
and n o t f o r s a k e them.
Although most of P a u l ' s f r i e n d s consid-
l? things
e r e d him a s " i n c u r a b l e 1 ' , Lynn would n o t g i v e
UP. How c o u l d he when he had a l r e a d y r e -
 t u r n e d t h a n k s t o God t h a t he had r e c e i v e d t h e
answer?
H i s f a i t h and c o n f i d e n c e had so grown b y
t h i s time t h a t he even went s o f a r a s t o say,
"1111g u a r a n t e e t h a t P a u l and D e l l a w i l l n o t
s t a y together. The promise I ' m c l a i m i n g i s
Genesis 3:15. I t has never f a i l e d . That's
why I c a n g u a r a n t e e t h a t P a u l and D e l l a w i l l
n o t , c a n n o t , s t a y t o g e t h e r ! They may even
marry, b u t t h e y wonf t s t a y together!"
Do you t h i n k Lynn was presumptuous i n
making such b o l d s t a t e m e n t s ? Before you an-
swer i n t h e a f f i r m a t i v e , l e t me s h a r e w i t h
you t h e f o l l o w i n g from S. D. Gordon i n h i s
work " Q u i e t T a l k s on p r a y e r " :
"One of t h e q u e s t i o n s t h a t i s more o f t e n
asked i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h a n any o t h e r p e r -
haps i s t h i s : may we p r a y w i t h a s s u r a n c e f o r
t h e c o n v e r s i o n of our l o v e d o n e s ? No ques-
t i o n s e t s more h e a r t s i n an a u d i e n c e t o b e a t -
i n g f a s t e r t h a n does t h a t . I remember speak-
i n g i n t h e Boston noonday m e e t i n g , i n t h e o l d
Broomfield S t r e e t M. E. Church, on t h i s sub-
j e c t one week. P e r h a p s I was speaking r a t h e r
positively.
And a t t h e c l o s e of t h e m e e t i n g
one day a keen, c u l t u r e d C h r i s t i a n woman
whom I knew came up f o r a word. She s a i d , '1
do n o t t h i n k we can p r a y l i k e t h a t . ' And I
s a i d , Why n o t ? ' She paused a moment, and
h e r w e l l - c o n t r o l l e d a g i t a t i o n r e v e a l e d i n eye
and l i p t o l d me how d e e p l y h e r t h o u g h t s were
stirred. Then s h e s a i d q u i e t l y , '1 have a
brother. He i s n o t a C h r i s t i a n . The t h e a -
t r e , the wine, the c l u b , t h e c a r d s - t h a t
i s his l i f e . And he l a u g h s a t me. I would
r a t h e r t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e t h a t my b r o t h e r
were a C h r i s t i a n . B u t , ! s h e s a i d , and h e r e
both h e r keenness and t h e t r a i n i n g of h e r
e a r l y t e a c h i n g came i n , '1 do n o t t h i n k I
can p r a y p o s i t i v e l y f o r h i s conversion, f o r
h e i s a f r e e a g e n t , i s he n o t ? And God w i l l
n o t save a man a g a i n s t h i s w i l l . '
fI
I want t o s a y t o you t o - d a y what I s a i d
t o her. Man a f r e e agent, t o use t h e old
-
~ h r a s e , S O f a r a s God i s c o n c e r n e d ; u t t e r l y ,
w h o l l y f r e e . And, he i s t h e most e n s l a v e d
agent on t h e e a r t h , s o f a r a s s i n , and The self-
i s h n e s s and p r e j u d i c e a r e concerned.
purpose of our p r a y i n g i s n o t t o f o r c e o r
h i s w i l l ; never t h a t . It i s t o f r e e
h i s w i l l of t h e warping i n f l u e n c e s t h a t now
t w i s t i t awry. I t i s t o g e t t h e d u s t oAnd u t of
h i s eyes so h i s s i g h t s h a l l be clear.
once he i s f r e e , a b l e t o s e e a r i g h t , t o b a l -
ance t h i n g s w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e , t h e whole
p r o b a b i l i t y i s i n f a v o u r Of h i s u s i n g h i s
w i l l t o choose t h e o n l y r i g h t .
"I want t o s u g g e s t t o you t h e i d e a l p r a g -
e r f o r s u c h a one. It i s an a d a p t a t i o n
of J e s u s ' own words. I t may b e p l e a d e d w i t h
much v a r i e t y of d e t a i l . I t i s this: d e l i v e r
h i m from t h e e v i l one; and work i n h i m Th;y_
-w i l l f o r h i m , by Thy power t o Thy g l o r y i n
J e s u s , t h e V i c t o r 1 s name. And t h e r e a r e
t h r e e s p e c i a l p a s s a g e s upon w h i c h t o b a s e
this prayer. F i r s t Timothy, second c h a p t e r ,
f o u r t h v e r s e (American v e r s i o n ) , 'God our
Saviour, who would have a l l men t o be saved.'
That i s God's w i l l f o r your loved one.
Second P e t e r , t h i r d c h a p t e r , n i n t h v e r s e ,
' n o t w i s h i n g ( o r w i l l i n g ) t h a t any s h o u l d
p e r i s h b u t t h a t a l l s h o u l d come t o r e p e n t -
ance. ' That i s God1s w i l l , o r d e s i r e , f o r
t h e one you a r e t h i n k i n g of now. The t h i r d
p a s s a g e i s on our s i d e who do the p r a y i n g .
I t t e l l s who may o f f e r t h i s p r a y e r w i t h a s -
surance, John, f i f t e e n t h c h a p t e r , s e v e n t h
v e r s e , ' I f ye a b i d e i n Me, and My words a b i d e
i n you, you a s k what i t i s Your w i l l t o a s k ,
and I w i l l b r i n g i t t o p a s s f o r you1 " (pp.
191-193.
To go on w i t h o u r s t o r y of D e l l a and P a u l .
About s i x weeks l a t e r a p e n i t e n t D e l l a made
a l o n g - a l s t a n c e t e l e p h o n e c a l l t o h e r husband
 I
g-va
o o c
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rl
drl k
d o a,

g c . ., .
"E .

3 X d 3 k-rl a i - v
.

*:2:2dht?

Chapter 8
MODERN DAY MIRACLES
EILL NEVER be t h e same," were t h e
words of Sue Winner when she and
h e r husband Frank came t o v i s i t me
one day. They were r e j o i c i n g and
p r a i s i n g t h e Lord f o r t h e miracu-
l o u s answers t o p r a y e r He had g i v e n them-dur-
i n g t h e p a s t s i x months.
Frank Winner had f a c e d f i n a n c i a l bank-
ruptcy. He had had t h r e e b u s i n e s s f a i l u r e s .
He was w i t h o u t a job. The f i n a n c e company
was a b o u t t o f o r e c l o s e on h i s home. The
u t i l i t y b i l l s were a l l i n a r r e a r s . A t times
t h e r e was n o t even any b r e a d i n t h e cupboard.
On t o p of a l l of t h e s e problems Frank and Sue
were e n t e r t a i n i n g t h e i d e a of s e p a r a t i o n be-
cause of i n c o m p a t a b i l i t y .
The p i c t u r e had become s o d a r k t h a t Sue
found h e r s e l f i n t e a r s i n c h u r c h r e p e a t e d l y .
Things were a t an impasse. Both Frank and
Sue d e c i d e d t h a t i t was i m p o s s i b l e f o r them
t o l i v e t o g e t h e r under t h e p r e s e n t circum-
s t a n c e s . But "man's e x t r e m i t y i s God's op-
p o r t u n i t y . 11
About t h a t time Frank began t o a t t e n d a
c l a s s i n t h e P r a y e r of Reception conducted
by Hugh James a t Angwin H a l l on t h e La S i e r r a
C o l l e g e campus. H e was o b v i o u s l y f r u s t r a t e d ,
b u t Hugh t r e a t e d h i m k i n d l y . I n f a c t Hugh
gave Frank s o much of h i s time t h a t I t r i e d
d i p l o m a t i c a l l y t o encourage Hugh n o t t o l e t
p e o p l e d i v e r t t o o much of h i s time from h i s
c o l l e g e work, and a l s o from t h e i m p o r t a n t
p r a y e r c l a s s e s he was s u p e r v i s i n g .
But i t soon became e v i d e n t t h a t t h e time
ugh s p e n t w i t h Frank was b e g i n n i n g t o p r o -
duce f r u i t . Never b e f o r e , i n h i s e n t i r e
l i f e , had Frank had an answer t o p r a y e r . Now
he began t o r e c i e v e answers--almost d a i l y .
I t was j u s t l i k e a m i r a c l e !
There was t h e time t h e w a t e r was t u r n e d
o f f , I1 a s Sue t o l d i t t o me:
A n o t i c e came one day t e l l i n g us t h a t
t h e w a t e r would b e t u r n e d o f f i n f i v e days
i f t h e b i l l wasn't paid. I t was r e a d and
duly f i l e d w i t h a l l t h e o t h e r long-overdue
bills. I n a l l of our p r e s s i n g problems i t
was soon f o r g o t t e n .
"Five d a y s l a t e r when I t u r n e d on t h e
f a u c e t t o f i l l t h e t u b s o I c o u l d do a wash-
i n g , no w a t e r came o u t . The v e r y s i l e n c e of
t h a t p a r t i c u l a r f a u c e t , which had always
p l a y e d a d r i p , d r i p , d r i p , s h o u l d have t o l d
me t h a t something was wrong, even b e f o r e I
t r i e d t o t u r n i t on. For now i t was s i l e n t .
" A t any r a t e , I r a n n e x t door t o f i n d
out whether t h e y were h a v i n g a w a t e r problem.
NO problem t h e r e . They had a l l t h e w a t e r
t h e y needed, s o i t w a s n ' t a broken l i n e . I
decided t o c a l l t h e w a t e r company and f i n d
o u t what was wrong. To my c h a g r i n t h e y s a i d ,
'We s h u t t h e w a t e r o f f . D i d n ' t you r e c e i v e
the c u t o f f n o t i c e ? ' I t o l d them I h a d n ' t .
Then something p r i c k e d my memory. I looked
t o make s u r e , and t h e r e f i l e d n e a t l y away
among t h e u n p a i d b i l l s was t h e n o t i c e .
 "What was I going t o do? There w a s n ' t
any money t o pay t h e b i l l , much l e s s the
turn-on charge. Maybe God would h e l p Frank
g e t hold of some cash. So I k n e l t down i n
p r a y e r and claimed t h e promise i n P h i l i p p i a n s
4:19, 'My God s h a l l supply a l l your need. '
I s a i d , 'Dear God, You know we have NEED of
water. P l e a s e h e l p Frank g e t some c a s h to-
day s o t h i s b i l l can be p a i d . I b e l i e v e You
a r e h e l p i n g Frank t o g e t h o l d of some money,
and thank You f o r i t . I n J e s u s 1 name, Amen.
AS I r o s e from my knees I saw I would have
to h u r r y o r I would be l a t e t o work.
''?hat n i g h t , upon a r r i v i n g home, sweet
music g r e e t e d my e a r s . Drip, d r i p , d r i p ! I
thanked t h e Lord r i g h t t h e n f o r h e l p i n g Frank
g e t some money t o pay t h e water b i l l .
"When Frank a r r i v e d home, I asked him
where he had g o t t e n t h e money. I T
11What money?" Frank exclaimed.
"Well, d i d n ' t you pay t h e water b i l l ? " I
asked.
I1
Why, no!"
"weii, how d i d t h e b i l l g e t p a i d t h e n ?
I t was t u r n e d o f f t h i s morning when I went
t o do t h e washing,but t h a t d r i p , d r i p , d r i p
t e l l s me t h e b i l l h a s been paid.
11 -. mystery was soon solved.
"The The n e x t
door neighbor came over and handed Frank a
receipt. 'Your water b i l l i s p a i d , ? he s a i d .
'1 had t o go pay my b i l l today, so I j u s t
p a i d yours too. You can worry about paying
me back when you g e t on your f e e t f i n a n c i a l -
l y , ' he s a i d .
Then w i t h a smile, Sue continued, "God
was good. He d i d n ' t answer my p r a y e r t h e
way I expected w i t h cash, b u t He d i d answer
it. From t h a t I l e a r n e d a very v a l u a b l e l e s -
son, Never t r y t o t e l l God HOW t o answer
your p r a y e r s . He has a thousand ways, of
which we know nothing. No, w e ' l l never be
t h e same. Our t r u s t i n our heaxenly F a t h e r
i s growing by l e a p s and bounds.
Then Sue t o l d me of t h e time t h e r e was
no bread i n t h e house and no money t o buy any.
But she found some oatmeal f l o u r and what she
thought was wholewheat f l o u r , b u t l a t e r found
i t was buckwheat pancake f l o u r . Then she
found some d r i e d y e a s t i n t h e back of t h e r e -
f r i g e r a t o r t h a t was over a y e a r o l d , accord-
ing t o the e x p i r a t i o n date. 11
"It was a l l I had," Sue s a i d , and so I
claimed t h e promise of P h i l i p p i a n s ,$:I 9 and
decided t o make some b r e a d w i t h what I had
and lIIe a v e t h e r e s u l t s w i t h God.
I proceeded t o make t h e bread dough.
This was n o t t h e procedure I g e n e r a l l y follow-
ed when making b r e a d ; b u t t h e n , it seemed
nothing was f o l l o w i n g i t s u s u a l procedure
t h e s e days. I watched t h e dough r i s e , f a s c i -
n a t e d w i t h t h e f a c t t h a t God was answering my
p r a y eII r r i g h t b e f o r e my eyes.
When t h e b r e a d was done a more d e l i c i o u s
l o a f I n e v e r t a s t e d ! Truly God does provide
a s He has promised i f we have f u 11l f i l l e d a l l
t h e c o n d i t i o n s He h a s l a i d down.
But Frank and Sue were s t i l l f a c e d w i t h
many problems. Many t i m e s Frank was ready t o
d e c l a r e bankruptcy and f o r g e t i t a l l .
One day Frank came over t o i n q u i r e of me
what
11 c o u r s e he should follow. My answer was,
I have had many f i n a n c i a l problems t o o , b u t
a s s e r i o u s a s t h e y were, I d i d n o t have t o go
bankrupt. I always claimed P h i l i p p i a n s 4:19,
?My God s h a l l supply a l l your need.'"
W i t h a s i g h of r e l i e11 f , Frank r e p l i e d ,
hat's my answer, t o o .
L a t e r Frank claimed t h i s promise, and t h e
wholesome manner i n which H e asked, b e l i e v e d ,
and claimed by r e t u r n i n g thanks t h a t he KAD
r e c e i v e d , was most i n s p i r i n g . Frank t o l d me
how he had k n e l t down, w i t h - h i s B i b l e open,
and prayed i n c h i l d l i k e s i m p l i c i t y , claiming
P h i l i p p i a n s 4:19. Then he had r e t u r n e d thanks
t o God t h a t he HAD r e c e i v e d a job.
And, b l e s s h i s h e a r t , a f t e r f o u r l o n g
months of g r i n d i n g t r i a l , God gave Frank a
job which averaged more t h a n two hundred d o l -
l a r s take-home pay p e r week. Although t h e
job i s s e a s o n a l , and t h e pay i s n ' t always t h i s
h i g h , Frank and Sue have l e a r n e d t o t r u s t
t h e i r heavenly F a t h e r .
A t t h e time when Frank f i r s t g o t t h e job,
a n o t i c e came saying t h a t t h e f i n a n c e company
was going t o f o r e c l o s e on t h e i r house. Frank
went t o t h e f i n a n c e o f f i c e and was informed
t h a t he must immediately c a t c h up on a l l t h e
s i x hundred d o l l a r s t h a t he was i n a r r e a r s ,
o r t h e house would be s o l d t o t h e h i g h e s t
bidder. Frank t o l d them he could now keep up
t h e p r e s e n t payments of n i n e t y - f i v e d o l l a r s
a month and a l s o pay one hundred and f i v e
d o l l a r s on t h e d e l i n q u e n t b i l l . He o f f e r e d
t o pay two hundred d o l l a r s a month f o r a p e r -
i o d of s i x months. But t h e f i n a n c e company
was adamant and wanted t h e e n t i r e amount NOW!
A l l o r nothing!
Frank had Someone more powerful t h a n a
f i n a n c e company working w i t h him. Frank and
Sue had claimed two promises from God's word
Jeremiah 33:3, "I w i l l ...
concerning t h e i r home: P h i l i p p i a n s 4:19, and
shew t h e e g r e a t
and mighty t h i n g s , which thou knowest n o t . "
They had k n e l t and asked, b e l i e v e d , and r e -
turned thanks t h a t t h e y HAD r e c e i v e d t h e i r
home. They had f a i t h t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e
f i n a n c e company would n o t be allowed t o f o r e -
c l o s e on t h e i r home. But t h e y had t o do
something quickly. Time was of an essence.
Frank was impressed t o go t o t h e Veterans
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e and l a y h i s problem be-
f o r e t h e man i n charge. Then t h i n g s s t a r t e d
humming! The man c a l l e d t h e f i n a n c e company,
took Frankf s house out of t h e i r hands, and
wrote Frank up a new c o n t r a c t w i t h payments
of only one hundred and twenty-five d o l l a r s
a month i n s t e a d of t h e two hundred d o l l a r s
Frank had o f f e r e d t o pay.
This answer t o t h e i r p r a y e r had happened
i n a m a t t e r of moments. I t was something
t h a t would o r d i n a r i l y have taken months t o
complete.
Truly, t h i s i s a s t o r y of modern day m i r -
a c l e s , demonstrating t h a t God i s ready and
~ i l l i n gt o do f o r H i s o b e d i e n t and b e l i e v i n g
c h i l d r e n " g r e a t and mighty t h i n g s , which
thou knowest n o t . "
E s t h e r and E l i a r e happy f o r a good neigh-
bor. Sometimes t h e Lord uses neighbors l i k e
Mrs. G a r r i s o n t o b r i n g answers t o p r a y e r s .
A t l e a s t He d i d i n t h i s case.
E s t h e r was b a p t i z e d and became a member
of t h e Seventh-day A d v e n t i s t church a s t h e
r e s u l t of t h e p r a y e r s and e f f o r t s of members
of t h e p r a y e r c l a s s . With two small c h i l d -
r e n and e x p e c t i n g t h e t h i r d soon, i t was i n -
e v i t a b l e t h a t a washing machine of some k i n d
w o d d have t o be purchased. But t h e y had no
money.
Mrs. G a r r i s o n , t h e good neighbor, h e a r d
about i t , and went over t o see E l i andI1 Es-
ther, s a y i n g , I I L e t t s p r a y about i t . II
Claiming t h e promise i n I11 John 2 , Be-
mayest p r o s p e r ...
loved, I wish above a l l t h i n g s t h a t thou
I' Then they thanked t h e
Lord f o r h e a r i n g them and awaited t h e answer.
L a t e r , Mrs. G a r r i s o n , p a s s i n g by t h e
College Market, was impressed t o s t o p and
r e a d t h e a d s on t h e b u l l e t i n board.
"FOR SALE," she r e a d , "NEW KENMORE AUTO-
MATIC WASHER-DRIER. f f
She knew t h a t E s t h e r and E l i could h a r d l y
a f f o r d t h e o l d type washer, l e t a l o n e one
l i k e t h i s one; b u t f a i t h was s t r o n g and she

was soon t a l k i n g t o t h e owner on t h e t e l e -
phone.
Yes, she s t i l l had i t , and would be g l a d
f o r them t o s e e i t . She was a s k i n g one hun-
d r e d d o l l a r s f o r i t . Mrs. G a r r i s o n e x p l a i n e d
t h e s i t u a t i o n and p l a n s were made f o r them t o
see it.
L i k e most women, E s t h e r was e x c i t e d o v e r
t h e p r o s p e c t s of owning a n a u t o m a t i c washer
f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h e r l i f e ! But when h e r
e y e s b e h e l d i t , s h e exclaimed, "Oh! What a
b e a u t i f u l machine! We c o u l d n e v e r a f f o r d one
like this!"
How t h e Lord must d e l i g h t i n opening t h e
windows of heaven and showering b l e s s i n g s
and h a p p i n e s s upon H i s c h i l d r e n . The l a d y
looked , a t E s t h e r and s a i d , " 1 l v e j u s t been
o f f e r e d one hundred and f i f t y d o l l a r s c a s h
f o r t h i s machine, b u t I ' m w i l l i n g t o l e t you
have i t f o r t w e n t y - f i v e d o l l a r s .
i id you s a y one hundred and t w e n t y - f i v e
d o l l a r s ? " E s t h e r asked.
11
No, I s a i d t w e n t y - f i v e d o l l a r s . T I
E s t h e r was s o e x c i t e d she was a l m o s t i n
tears. "Only God would do s u c h a t h i n g f o r
me, " she exclaimed.
E l i was a l m o s t a s happy a s E s t h e r . They
p a i d t h e l a d y and t h e n E l i i m m e d i a t e l y began
t o s e e about t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n . To h i s g r e a t
dismay h e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e house had n o t
been w i r e d f o r t h e t y p e of s e r v i c e t h e y need-
e d t o o p e r a t e t h e machine t h e y had j u s t pur-
chased.
T h i s posed a r e a l problem n o t e a s i l y
s o l v e d . E l i began t o wonder, "Now, why would
God do a t h i n g l i k e t h a t ? He a l l o w e d us t o
buy a washer we c a n ' t use! I f
~ ~ a th i en good n e i g h b o r came t o t h e r e s -
cue. " E l i , " s h e s a i d , " d i d n ' t I h e a r you
t a l k i n g akout f i n d i n a a n o t h e r house? "
Yes, r e p l i e d E l i , "we've been t a l k i n g
a b o u t i t . 11
11
" A l l right, s a i d Mrs. G a r r i s o n , " w e'll
I1
j u s t a s k t h e Lord f o r a house f o r you.
A few days l a t e r E l i came home w i t h some
e x c i t i n g news. He had found a house t h a t he
l i k e d v e r y much. There was o n l y one t h i n g
wrong. The d e p o s i t was f i f t y d o l l a r s . There
was something e l s e t h a t was n o t t o o good,
either. The monthly r e n t was one hundred and
t w e n t y - f i v e d o l l a r s , which he knew was t o o
e x p e n s i v e f o r him. He had a l r e a d y a n t i c i p a t -
e d what Mrs. G a r r i s o n was g o i n g t o s a y a b o u t
t h i s problem!
H i s f a i t h and c o n f i d e n c e i n God were
growing. So t h i s time when t h e y k n e l t t o
p r a y , E l i s e n t up a p r a y e r of h i s own. He
p r a y e d , 11Lord, s i n c e You made t h e p r i c e of
t h e washer come down, I know You c a n , do t h e
same w i t h t h e house. I f i t be Thy w i l l , max
t h e r e n t be lowered t o be w i t h i n our means?
Back went E l i , t h i n k i n g about t h a t f i n e
house and hoping and b e l i e v i n g t h a t he would
occupy i t one day soon. And God d i d f o r him
j u s t what He p r o m i s e s t o do f o r a l l , " D e l i g h t
t h y s e l f a l s o i n t h e Lord; and he s h a l l g i v e
t h e e t h e d e s i r e s of t h i n e h e a r t . " Psalms 37:
4.
The owner b r o u g h t t h e d e p o s i t down t o
twenty d o l l a r s and s a i d t h a t t h e r e n t would
b e one hundred and f i v e d o l l a r s a month i n -
s t e a d of t h e o r i g i n a l one hundred and twenty-
five dollars.
True i t i s t h a t when we obey G o d l s r e -
q u i r e m e n t s , 11God 11 s t a n d s back of e v e r y prom- 11
i s e He h a s made. - - C h r i s t ' s O b j e c t Lessons,
P. 147.
A v e r y d e a r f r i e n d of ours, Dorothy
Robison, w r o t e t h e s e words:
''My d a u g h t e r ' s s c h o o l b i l l was h i g h .
R e a l i z i n g t h a t she c o u l d n o t t a k e h e r n i n e -
weeks1 t e s t u n t i l i t was p a i d , I p r a y e d and
 c l a i m e d t h e promise, 'My God s h a l l s u p p l y a l l
your need.' P h i l i p p i a n s 4:19.
"My husband and I d e d i c a t e d our Income
Tax r e f u n d toward t h i s b i l l . We t h o u g h t i t
would amount t o one hundred and n i n e t e e n d o l -
l a r s , b u t we r e c e i v e d o n l y s e v e n t y - n i n e d o l -
lars. I was g r e a t l y d i s a p p o i n t e d , t o s a y t h e
l e a s t , b u t we managed t o s c r a p e t o g e t h e r a
l i t t l e more money and t h e s c h o o l a l l o w e d mv
daughter t o take her t e s t s , although t h e b i l l
was n o t p a i d i n f u l l .
11
~ a s yt e a r I had performed some s e r v i c e s
f o r which I r e c e i v e d a f i f t y d o l l a r g i f t . I days l a t e r :
assumed t h a t t h e same amount would be f o r t h -
coming f o r t h e same s e r v i c e s t h i s y e a r . This,
a l s o , I had d e d i c a t e d toward t h e s c h o o l b i l l .
"A few days ago I r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r con-
taining the g i f t . I n s t e a d of f i f t y d o l l a r s ,
i t was o n l y t e n d o l l a r s . I was r e a l l y d i s -
couraged, and shed a few t e a r s . I know t h e
B i b l e s a y s we ought t o ' l e a p f o r j o y f , Luke
6 : 2 3 , when t r i a l s come, b u t I was r e a d y t o
l e a p i n anger. There was b i t t e r n e s s , r e s e n t -
ment and discouragement i n my h e a r t .
11 I s a i d , fWhy, Lord, why?! I was n o t
r e a l l y a c c e p t i n g t h e t r i a l which t h e Lord
had a l l o w e d t o come t o me. I went around
a l l t h a t evening t a l k i n g d i s c o u r a g e m e n t . I
was d i s c o u r a g i n g everybody.
11
During t h e n i g h t I r e a l i z e d I was d o i n g
S a t a n ' s work, and I a s k e d t h e Lord f o r f o r -
g i v e n e s s . A p e a c e came over me, and I know,
m e n t a l l y a t l e a s t , what i t was t o ' l e a p f o r
j o y f . The Lord t o o k away t h e b i t t e r n e s s and
discouragement. I d i d n ' t know where t h e
money was coming from, b u t I f e l t t h a t t h e
Lord would p r o v i d e , and w i t h t h i s I went t o
sleep.
he f o l l o w i n g day a n o t h e r l e t t e r came
c o n t a i n i n g a f o r t y d o l l a r check. It said
t h a t a m i s t a k e had been made and t h i s was t h e
b a l a n c e of t h e f i f t y d o l l a r s t h a t was due me.
I t h e n r e a l i z e d why t h e Lord had d e l a y e d t h i s
money i n coming. He was t e s t i n g my f a i t h , and
e n d e a v o r i n g t o s t r e n g t h e n me.
" I p r a i s e d t h e Lord t h a t t h e b i t t e r n e s s
and d i s a p p o i n t m e n t had b e e n t a k e n from my
h e a r t b e f o r e He s u p p l i e d t h e need. The b i l l
i s s t i l l n o t c o m p l e t e l y p a i d , b u t I have
f a i t h t h a t t h e Lord w i l l s u p p l y t h e r e s t of
t h e money, even a s He h a s promised. I know
t h e b i l l w i l l be p a i d i n 11 t i m e f o r my d a u g h t e r
t o t a k e h e r f i n a l exams.
Dorothy s e n t me t h i s p o s t s c r i p t a few
"Not o n l y h a s t h e Lord p r o v i d e d
f o r t h e payment of t h e o l d s c h o o l b i l l , b u t
He h a s g i v e n my d a u g h t e r a Job f o r t h e sum-
mer which w i l l pay almost a l l of h e r n e x t
y e a r ' s s c h o o l b i l l a s w e l l ! T r u l y t h e Lord
h a s s u p p l i e d a l l my n e e d , a b u n d a n t l y , more
t h a n I c o u l d a s k o r t h i n k . P r a i s e H i s name!
Never a g a i n w i l l I e v e r h e s i t a t e t o ' l e a p f o r
J O Y ' when t r o u b l e comes m$: way. I know t h e
Lord w i l l s e e me through.
Out of t h e d e p t h s of h e r e x p e r i e n c e ,
Dorothy h a s w r i t t e n a poem (which h a s been
s e t t o m u s i c ) , and gave u s p e r m i s s i o n t o
s h a r e i t w i t h our r e a d e r s . I t f o l l o w s :
BELIEVE GOD1 S PROMISES
Do n o t f a i l n o r be d i s c o u r a g e d ,
As you walk t h e upward way;
For t h e l o v i n g arms of J e s u s
Are a b o u t you a s you p r a y .
A s you k n e e l b e f o r e your Maker,
Open now your h e a r t t o H i m ;
T e l l H i m of your t r i a l s and s o r r o w s ,
Ask H i m t o f o r g i v e e a c h s i n .
Kneeling t h e r e i n calm submission,
L e t your e y e s toward h e a v f n l o o k ;
Ask God's S p i r i t now t o g u i d e you,
A s you open wide H i s Book.
 T e l l Hin of you joys and p l e a s u r e s ,
T e l l H i m of each t r i a l and c a r e ;
And then r e a d each p r e c i o u s promise,
He has w r i t t e n f o r you t h e r e .
Thou a r t p r e c i o u s t o t h e Saviour,
On t h e c r o s s He d i e d f o r you;
A l l your p a s t m i s t a k e s a r e covered;
J e s u s f l i f e h i d e s them from view.
He h a s promised t o f o r g i v e you;
He has covered every s i n ;
He has promised l i f e e t e r n a l ;
He h a s promised s t r e n g t h t o win.
Turn, and r e a d each p r e c i o u s promise,
And t a k e courage now, anew;
For t h i s i s t h e v o i c e of Jesus;
And i t r s speaking now, t o you.
A s you h e a r t h e v o i c e of J e s u s ,
You may c l a i m each promise t r u e ;
And then thank H i m f o r t h e answer,
He h a s w r i t t e n t h e r e f o r you.
Ask, b e l i e v e , and c l a i m each promise,
Rnowing God w i l l do H i s p a r t ;
And y o u ' l l f i n d a sweet peace f i l l i n g
Each chamber of your h e a r t .
God has given you t h e answer,
Sing a song of p r a i s e and l o v e ;
And when J e s u s comes i n g l o r y ,
He w i l l t a k e you home above.
--Dorothy Robi son
December, 1960
Chapter 9
STRANGER THAN FICTION
I S an o l d adage t h a t says,
H
t t ERE
Never underestimate t h e power of
11
a woman. After experiencing f i r s t
hand t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of many
s i s t e r s i n claiming c e r t a i n B i b l e
promises, I b e l i e v e t h e r e i s something t o i t .
There i s a l s o a statement penned by my
f a v o r i t e author i n t h e book "Evangelism",
page 647, t h a t t e l l s us: he i n t e r e s t s of
C h r i s t ' s kingdom c a l l f o r d i l i g e n c e and
f11 a i t h f ~ l n e s s . ~Again
~ i n Volume 5' of t h e
Testimonies", page 109, she s a y s , " ~ e r v e n t
p r a y e r , h u m i l i t y , and e a r n1 I e s t n e s s must be
combined w i t h God's help.
Nina was a combination of a l l of t h e s e
a s she and h e r husband Ken k n e l t t o g e t h e r tShe o
b r i n g a s e r i o u s problem b e f o r e t h e Lord.
had h e r Bible opened t o Matthew 21:22 which
s a y s , " ~ n da11 t h i n g s , whatsoever ye s h a l l 1 I
ask i n p r a y e r , b e l i e v i n g , ye s h a l l r e c e i v e .
Husband Ken 11 suggested, j u s t b e f o r e they
prayed,
of course."
.This, w i l l be a p r a y e r of commitment,
 "NO," Nina answered w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n ,
11 t h i s w i l l be a p r a y e r of r e c e t i o n . "
11But, Honey, " Ken argued, 'we j u s t canf t
t e l l God what t o do. I know we need t h e
money we would have g o t t e n f o r t h i s .job, b u t
one d o e s n ' t p a i n t i n a heavy r a i n storm. You
know t h a t !
"Yes, Dear, I know t h a t you c a n ' t p a i n t
while i t fs r a i n i n g . But i t i s n l t going t o
r a i n ! Even i f t h e weather f o r e c a s t does say
so, God can and w i l l h o l d back t h e storm.
So, l e t ' s ASK, BELIEVE, and C L A I M t h i s prom-
i s e i n Matthew 21 s o we can a l s o b r i n g Mal-
a c h i 3:8-10 b e f o r e God. He means what He
says i n Mark 11:24. 'What t h i n g s so ever ye
d e s i r e , when ye p r a y , b e l i e v e t h a t ye r e c e i v e
themh and ye s h a l l have them,' d o e s n f t ~ e ? "
Yes," Ken answered, s t i l l n o t f u l l y
convinced, b u t weakening a l i t t l e under h i s
N i n a ' s e a r n e s t reasoning, f f l e t l s p r a y a
p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n and thank H i m f o r hold-
i n g back t h e r a i n . 11
"I overheard them arguing t h e r e on t h e i r
knees--a r a t h e r s t r a n g e procedure", confided
Nina's f a t h e r , who was v i s i t i n g them a t t h e
time. "But n e i t h e r Ken nor I were aware of
t h e d e s p e r a t e s i t u a t i o n t h a t Nina had g o t t e n
into. Neither d i d we know t h a t many o t h e r s
were a l s o involved.
Nina was so r i g h t when she argued t h a t
God means what He s a y s . She b e l i e v e d t h a t
t h e promised b l e s s i n g s i n Malachi 3:s-10
were given on a s t r i c t l y c o n d i t i o n a l b a s i s .
E s p e c i a l l y d i d she know t h i s because of t h e
r e c e n t experience through which they were
even t h e n p a s s i n g .
A few months p r e v i o u s Ken and Nina had
r e c e i v e d a t e r r i b l e disappointment from an
u n s u c c e s s f u l b u s i n e s s adventure i n t h e E a s t .
I n f a c t , i t was so f r u s t r a t i n g t o Nina, t h e
f a m i l y t r e a s u r e r , t h a t , even though t h e t i t h e
check had been w r i t t e n , she decided n o t t o
m a i l i t . because t h e i r bank account was de-
pleted.
A s a r e s u l t , God could n o t keep H i s p a r t
of t h e b a r g a i n made i n Malachi 3, and one
t h i n g a f t e r a n o t h e r occurred t o keep Nina
from r e p a y i n g the f u l l amount of back t i t h e .
I n s t e a11d of being " t h e head, and n o 71t t h e
t a i l " o r above ... and n o t beneath, a s
t h e Lord promised i n Deuteronomy 28:ll-14,
Ken and Nina were two months behind w i t h t h e
house r e n t and one month i n a r r e a r s w i t h t h e
utilities. They had a l s o r e c e i v e d n o t i c e
. .
from t h e c o l l e g e t h a t Ken could n o t matricu-
l a t e f o r t h e second semester u n l e s s t h e
e i g h t y d o l l a r s he owed was p a i d , p l u s an ad-
vance on t h e n e x t s e m e s t e r ' s t u i t i o n .
Things had f i n a l l y come t o a c r i s i s .
Nina r e a l i z e d t h a t something must be done
immediately. Although she and Ken t r i e d t o
conceal t h e i r weighty problem from t h e i r
f r i e n d s and c l o s e a s s o c i a t e s , they were g e t -
t i n g more and more concerned over t h e m a t t e r .
!I
Nina reasoned, How can Ken continue t o
t e a c h o t h e r s t h e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n w i t h i t s
s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s , one of which i s t i t h i n g ,
when I a m f a i l i n g t o comply?" The outlook
was anything b u t hopeful.
On t h e day t h a t Ken and h i s working p a r t -
n e r were scheduled t o do a p a i n t job f o r a
p a r t y i n Santa Monica, t h e drenching r a i n was
f o r e c a s t and they r e c e i v e d word n o t t o come.
No work meant no pay. No pay check meant
no food. no b i l l s p a i d , i n c l u d i n g t h e back
ti the.
I n s t e a d of worrying Ken by speaking of
t h e i r problem, Nina q u i e t l y went t o t h e only
Source of h e l p she knew. She had a l r e a d y
t o l d t h e Lord t h a t t h e back t i t h e would be
p a i d from t h e money r e c e i v e d from t h i s prom-
i s e d work i n Santa Monica. Now she began t o
reason w i t h God a s He has asked a l l of His
c h i l d r e n t o do ( I s a i a h 1:18).
 e ear Lord, ' 1 she s a i d , " ~ o u f v epromised
t h a t You w i l l never go back on Your Word;
t h a t each and e v e r y one of us can t r u s t i n
You completely. And so i t d o e s n ' t seem q u i t e
f a i r f o r us t o f a i l i n f u l f i l l i n g our prom-
i s e t o You. I promised t o pay back a l l t h e
t i t h e t h a t we owe from t h i s d a y ' s work.
i t w i l l be impossible f o r me t o keep my word But
t o You i f t h e r a i n s t o r m r e a c h e s Santa Monica
a s i t has been p r e d i c t e d . Dear Lord, a s You
calmed t h e storm on t h e Sea of G a l i l e e , You
can hold back, or change t h e c o u r s e of t h e
storm t h a t i s t h r e a t e n i n g t o keep me from
f u l f i l l i n g m y promise t o You. I know t h a t
You can do t h i s , f o r Thy name ' s honor and
g l o r y , and I b e l i e v e t h a t You w i l l do i t , and
so I thank You f o r doing i t . I n J e s u s ' name,
Amen. 11
T h i s , then, was t h e j u s t cause f o r Nina' s
g r e a t d e t e r m i n a t i o n a s she d i s p u t e d w i t h Ken
over t h e type of p r a y e r t h e y should use. "If
ever I heard my daughter speak w i t h firmness,"
t e s t i f i e d h e r f a t h e r , ' P t was t h a t morning a s
they were on t h e i r k n e e s o f f
Ken gave i n f o r t h e sake of peace, b u t
h i s h e a r t was n o t i n t h i s p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n .
Yet, he and h i s p a r t n e r Royal were soon on
t h e i r way t o Santa Monica.
As t h e y t r a v e l e d along t h e freeway, Ken
and Royal d i s c u s s e d t h e f o o l i s h n e s s of t h e i r
wives. ( R o y a l ' s w i f e , Vina, had a l s o prayed
t h a t i t might n o t r a i n . ) Under t h e circum-
s t a n c e s t h e y were s t i l l of t h e opinion t h a t
t h e y should have prayed a p r a y e r of commit-
ment and n o t a p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n . They
f u l l y expected t o s e e t h e dark s t o r m - c l o u d s
r o l l i n from t h e ocean w i t h t h e two i n c h e s
of p r e d i c t e d r a i n .
God was honoring N i n a ' s p r a y e r of f a i t h ,
f o r when Ken and Royal a r r i v e d a t Santa
Monica a f t e r t h e one-hundred-mile d r i v e , t h e
storm had n o t y e t appeared. A l l t h a t day
they worked long and h a r d , e x p e c tWhen ing t o
t h pack
e
up and r e t u r n home a t any time.
lady f o r whom t h e y were working remarked,
flSomeone a t USC ( U n i v e r s i t y of Southern
~ a l i f o r n i a )must have prayed f o r good weather
f o r t o d a y ' s g r a d u a t i o n , " Ken and Royal sud-
denly came11 t o t h e r e a l i z a t i o n t h a t they knew
who t h a t someone'' was.
They had t o admit t h a t t h e p r a y e r Nina
had prayed t h a t morning was a p r a y e r of r e -
c e p t i o n , f o r t r u l y t h e y r e c e i v e d an answer.
The n e x t day was F r i d a y , and t h e young
p a i n t e r s were on t h e job a t seven o t c l o c k i n
t h e morning, and d i d n o t s t o p working u n t i l
t w o o ' c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . They l e f t
s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r so a s t o g i v e them p l e n t y
of time t o g e t ready f o r t h e approaching
Sabbath hours.
The following appeared on t h e f r o n t page
of t h e Los Angeles Times of January 28, 1966:
llhTrr Rn:n
l\u L L a A l A
"FORECASTINGG ~ O FBLAMED ON COMPUTER
'"That p r e d i c t e d heavy r a i n t h a t never
a r r i v e d Thursday i n Los Angeles was based i n
good measure on f o r e c a s t s from a computer,
near Washington, - D. C .--and t h e computer
goofed.
" ~ u tWeather Bureau f o r e c a s t e r s h e r e
won't l e t t h e mechanical b r a i n t a k e a l l t h e
blame.
'"we goofed, t o o , ' John Frazee admitted.
'But we t a l k e d i t over and decided i f we had
t o do i t a l l over a g a i n , we would have f o r e -
c a s t t h e v e r y same heavy r a i n s . '
If
ra ours on C a t a l i n ai t was pour-
A f t e r a l l , he p o i n t e d o u t ,
i n g on C a t a l i n a I s l a n d , where almost an i n c h
of r a i n f e l l Wednesday n i g h t and e a r l y Thurs-
day b11 e f o r e t h e storm swerved south.
Frazee s a i d i t would be a s h e e r guess a t
t h i s p o i n t a s t o what caused t h e weather sys-
tem t o change, b u t he n o t e d t h a t t h e s t a f f
 'wasn' t a l l w e t f s i n c e s o u t h e r n and w e s t e r n
Los Angeles had showers. So d i d c o a s t a l
a r e a s from Long Beach t o San Diego ...
"The storm t h a t was m i s r e a d l a t e Wednes-
day was l e s s t h a n 100 m i l e s a t s e a . 11
That e v e n i n g o t h e r t y p e s o f p r a y e r s a s -
cended t o t h e God of heaven, p r a y e r s of
p r a i s e and t h a n k s i v i n g . They p r a i s e d t h e
One who l o v e s t o 'coo e r a t e w i t h a l l who
s t r i v e t o do H i s w i l l Pr ( P r o ~ h e and t ~ Kings,
page 587). I I He a l s o w i l l h e a r t h e i r c r y , and
w i l l save t h e m " ( P s a l m s 145:19).
Enough money came i n f o r Nina t o p a y a l l
t h e back t i t h e , S i n c e she now had no r e a s o n
t o p r a y a n o t h e r p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n , s h e
l e f t t h e w e a t h e r i n t h e L o r d ' s hands. On
Sunday Ken and Nina c o u l d a g a i n s i n
s h a l l b e showers of b l e s s i n g s .. .',as
"There
the
s t o r m p a s s e d o v e r La S i e r r a i n d r e n c h i n g t o r -
rents.
When my w i f e and I were h o l d i n g m e e t i n g s
i n t h e Los Angeles, C a l i f o r n i a a r e a , t h e
w e a t h e r f o r e c a s t i n d i c a t e d one day i t would
be one of t h e c o l d e s t n i g h t s of t h e y e a r .
A s s i s t a n t P r o f e s s o r Lee Davis, i n c h a r g e
of t h e c r o p d i v i s i o n of a g r i c u l t u r e a t La
S i e r r a C o l l e g e , was w o r r i e d . H i s a l f a l f a
c r o p , on which s e v e r a l thousand d o l l a r s had
b e e n s p e n t , was a t a s t a g e of growth wnere
a f r o s t would k i l l i t o f f . If t h i s happened,
i t would have t o be r e p l a n t e d a t g r e a t c o s t
and l o s s of time.
Lee had been l e a r n i n g a b o u t t h e p r a y e r
of r e c e p t i o n from Hugh James. As t h e y met
t o g e t h e r f o r p r a y e r t h a t n i g h t , Hugh s u g g e s t -
ed t h a t t h e y c l a i m t h e p r o m i s e found i n Mal-
a c h i 3:10,11. Then, s i n c e a l l c o n d i t i o n s had
been f u l f i l l e d , t h e y c o u l d s e e t h e Lord wmk
miraculously t o save t h e a l f a l f a f i e l d .
The two of them k n e l t down and c l a i m e d
storehouse, ...
t h e promise: l f ~ r i n gye a l l t h e t i t h e i n t o t h e
s a i t h t h e Lord of h o s t s ...
and p r o v e me now herewith,
And I b . i l l r e -
buke t h e d e v o u r e r f o r your s a k e s . " Malachi
3:10,11.
The n e x t morning Lee a g a i n claimed t h e
promise. On h i s way t o c h u r c h he stcpp e d and
looked a t t h e a l f a l f a . The f i e l d was s o l i d
ield
w h i t e w i t h f r o s t , from one end of the f e c i a l -
t a t h e o t h e r . Being an a g r i c u l t u r a l s p
the
is
- - t .. he knew, o r t h o u g h t he knew, t h ~ t
crop was l o s t - d e s t r o y e d .
But h i s f a i t h i n God d i d n o t waver. God
would s u r e l y f u l f i l l H i s p r o n i s e i n some way,
so Lee b e n t over and t o u c h e d t h e l e a v e s .
The i c e m e l t e d away under h i s f i n g e r s . What
he saw made him t a k e a second l o o k . The
l e a v e s showed no damage! They were p e r f e c t !
With a t h a n k f u l h e a r t he went on t o
Sabbath S c h o o l and church. That a f t e r n o o n
t h e sun came o u t from behind t h e c l o ~ d sand
Lee examined t h e l e a v e s a g a i n . By nsw t h e
f r o s t was a l l m e l t e d and h e c o u l d see v e r y
c l e a r l y t h a t God h a d answered h i s p r a y e r of
faith. There was no damage t o t h e cop--none
whatsoever!
The n e x t n i g h t was c o l d e r t h a n the one
b e f o r e . However, n o t a s i n g l e p l a n t i n t h e
e n t i r e a l f a l f a f i e l d was damaged by f r o s t .
L a t e r t h a t day, Lee l e a r n e d from t h e s e e d
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e about a n e i g h b o r i n g farmer who
had p l a n t e d h i s a l f a l f a s e e d t h e same day Lee
had. Both c r o p s had r e a c h e d t h e same s t a g e
of growth and development. Yet, w h i l e t h e
farmer l o s t a l m o s t t h r e e - f o u r t h s of h i s a l f a l -
f a c r o p , and Leef s coworker l o s t a hardy
lemon t r e e b e c a u s e of t h e f r o s t , t h e Lord
P r o t e c t e d t h e a l f a l f a f i e l d Lee Davis p r a y e d
f o r . II
He t h a t cometh t o God must b e l i e v e t h a t
he i s , and t h a t he i s a r e w a r d e r of them t h a t
d i l i g e n t l y s e e k him. I f Hebrews 11:6 .
 ÿ bout t h e same time I r e c e i v e d t h e follow..
i n g e x p e r i e n c e from two o t h e r f r i e n d s , John
and Joan.
j o h n - a n d Joan have f o u r l i t t l e c h i l d r e n .
I n t h i s modern age of h i g h - c o s t - o f - l i v i n g ,
and t h e many demands t h a t a r e c o n s t a n t l y and
e v e r p r e s e n t we sometimes can n o t a f f o r d
some of t h e I'wants" t h a t our f a m i l i e s would
like.
John works f o r a v e r y f i n e man who s e l l s
house-trailers. When a s a l e i s made i t i s
up t o John t o hook t h e t r a i l e r t o h i s t r u c k
- and h a u l i t t o wherever t h e customer wants
i t . He may be on t h e r o a d f o r s e v e r a l h o u r s ,
o r he may be away from hone f o r s e v e r a l days.
But he a c c e p t s h i s work c h e e r f u l l y , g r a t e f u l
t o a l o v i n g God f o r H i s p r o t e c t i o n and con-
s t a n t c a r e of h i s f a m i l y .
Not t o o many weeks ago b u s i n e s s seemed t o
s l a c k e n somewhat, and t h e s e two C h r i s t i a n
p a r e n t s , who had always p a i d a f a i t h f u l t i t h e ,
seemed t o f o r g e t a c e r t a i n r u l e t h a t God made
...
f o r a l l H i s children. This r u l e says, r rove
me now If
(Malachi 3 :lo). I t a l s o s a y s ,
r ring ye a l l t h e t i t h e s i n t o t h e s t o r e h o u s e . I f
- reward t h e i r o b e d i e n c e w i t h r i c h b l e s s i n g s .
But i n s t e a d of p r o v i n g God, t h e y d e c i d e d
t o work t h i n g s o u t i n t h e i r own way, and t h e y
would "borrow" some of t h e t i t h e money. Just
f o r a w h i l e t h e y would n o t pay a f u l l t i t h e .
Things d i d n o t g e t anx b e t t e r . - The
l i t t l e t h a t was "borrowed d i d n o t seem t o
h e l p a b i t , and t h e n e x t pay check j u s t
would n o t s t r e t c h over a l l t h e i r needs. And
so i t went on.
About t h i s time t h e young p e o p l e were be-
g i n n i n g a n o t h e r s e r i e s of c l a s s e s on t h e
p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n . Although John was n o t
a b l e t o a t t e n d because of t h e u n c e r t a i n t y of
h i s working h o u r s , Joan made up h e r mind t h a t
she would be t h e r e whenever p o s s i b l e , and she
r e c e i v e d much encouragement.
By t h i s t i m e b u s i n e s s and o t h e r problems
had come t o t h e p l a c e where something j u s t
had t o be done a b o u t i t . One e v e n i n g John
and Joan made a v e r y i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n .
-
~ r o mt h e n e x t pay check a l l t h e t i t h e would
be p a i d , p r e s e n t and p a s t , and t h e y would
prove God and l e t Him t a k e c a r e of t h e f u t u r e
"The Lord h a s compassion upon u s i n our
f a l l e n c o n d i t i o n , and a c c o n p a n i e s H i s son-
mands w i t h17 p r o m i s e s , " w r o t e t h e L o r d ' s mes-
senger. He c a l l s upon H i s p e o p l e t o prove
H i m , d e c l a r i n g t h a t He w i l l reward obedience
w i t h t h e r i c h e s t b l e s s i n g s f l ( ~ o u t h e r nWatch-
-man."~eb. I&, 1 9 0 5 ) .
True t o t h e i r word, John a ~ Joan d paid
back e v e r y penny t h e y had so f o o l i s h l y "bor-
rowed" from God. Then t h e y k n e l t t o g e t h e r
t o c l a i m H i s promise i n Malachi 3 :lo, " ~ r i n ~
...
ye a l l t h e t i t h e s i n t o t h e s t o r e h o u s e ,
and prove me now h e r e w i t h , s a i t h t h e Lord of
h o s t s , if I w i l l n o t open you t h e windows of
heaven, and pour you o u t a b l e s s i n g , t h a t
t h e r e s h a l l n o t be room enough t o r e c e i v e i t
And t r u e t o H i s promise, God began t o
When John was handed h i s n e x t pay check he
Was i t
had t o l o o k a t i t a second time. I t cer-
enough t o c o v e r a l l t h e i r n e e d s ?
t a i n l y was, f o r i t c o n t a i n e d , n o t t w i c e t h e
u s u a l amount, b u t t h r e e t i m e s what he had
been r e c e i v i n g ! The Lord had t r i p l e d h i s
income !
God had a l s o s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e i r f a i t h i n
c l a i m i n g o t h e r B i b l e p r o m i s e s , and h e l p e d
them t o g e t b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h H11 i m who
i s t h e " ~ i v e rof a l l our b l e s s i n g s .

Chapter 10
Y O U T H LEADS T H E W A Y
OHN ASH and h i s d a u g h t e r , Helen,
were h a v i n g problems. At first
t h e y were s m a l l d i f f e r e n c e s ; t h e n
t h e y grew l a r g e r . Communication
I d e t e r i o r a t e d u n t i l t h e r e was open
hostility. F i n a l l y , Helen c o u l d n o t s t a n d
i t any l o n g e r and moved t o a n a p a r t m e n t a few
b l o c k s away.
Helen and h e r p a r e n t s a t t e n d e d t h e same
church and c o n s e q u e n t l y met a t S a b b a t h School
and t h e worship s e r v i c e , M. V. s e r v i c e s and
the like. But t h e e s t r a n g e m e n t c o n t i n u e d .
John A s h was a p a i n t i n g c o n t r a c t o r . His
b u s i n e s s was g o i n g from bad t o worse and h i s
w i f e was becoming i n c r e a s i n g l y w o r r i e d o v e r
t h e i r f i n a n c i a l embarrassment. B i l l s were
n o t b e i n g p a i d , and s h e knew t h i s c o u l d n o t
go on f o r l o n g ,
About t h i s time John h e a r d a b o u t t h e
p r a y e r c l a s s e s b e i n g conducted i n a n e a r b y
town. On s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s he h e a r d a b o u t
p e o p l e who had had u n u s u a l answers t o p r a y e r
a s t h e r e s u l t of t h e c l a s s . H i s c u r i o s i t y
was a r o u s e d t o t h e p l a c e t h a t he made t h e
one hundred-mile round t r i p t o i n v e s t i g a t e
f o r h i m s e l f , i n t h e hope t h a t i t might be t h e
answer t o h i s problem.
A s John s a t and l i s t e n e d t o t h r i l l i n g
t e s t i m o n i e s of answered p r a y e r , he became
aware of one f a c t : pflTo e v e r y promise t h e r e
a r e c o n d i t i o n s f 1 ( E d u c a t i o n , page 258 1. But
i t was v e r y c l e a r l y ernphasized t h a t , "The
c o n d i t i o n s met, t h e promise i s u n e q u i v o c a l ! "
(Ibid, )
John Ash was n o t u n l i k e many o t h e r s who
a t t e n d e d t h e c l a s s e s on p r a y e r . That i s , he
was unhappy w i t h h i m s e l f , b e c a u s e , a l t h o u g h
he was happy t h a t h e was l e a r n i n g how t o
p r a y , i t meant t h a t h e was g o i n g t o have t o
meet t h e c o n d i t i o n s i f he e x p e c t e d t o g e t a n
answer. One of t h e c o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t e d was
found i n Matthew 5:23-25 t h a t s a y s i f t h e r e
i s t r o u b l e o r a m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h some-
one, i t i s our d u t y t o go and make i t r i g h t
and t h e n come and make o u r r e q u e s t .
John k e p t coming t o t h e c l a s s e a c h week.
He was always t h r i l l e d t o h e a r t h e y o u t h and
o l d e r p e o p l e t e l l of answered p r a y e r s . As
y e t he had n o t f e l t he could conscientiously
make t h e r e q u e s t of God he knew he had t o
because t h e c o n d i t i o n s had n o t been met. It
was a f r u s t r a t i n g s i t u a t i o n .
During t h i s t i m e , h i s b u s i n e s s c o n t i n u e d
t o deteriorate. I t l o o k e d a s i f he was go-
i n g t o have t o d e c l a r e b a n k r u p t c y . I f he d i d ,
i t would mean l o s i n g much of h i s f u r n i t u r e
he had r e c e n t l y p u r c h a s e d on t h e time-pay-
ment-plan. I n h i s d e s p e r a t i o n he was r e a d y
t o blame t h e c l a s s f o r some of h i s p l i g h t .
He f e l t t h a t p e r h a p s t h e i n s t r u c t i o n was
misleading. John was g r a s p i n g f o r some
excuse, something t o blame f o r h i s s i t u a t i o n .
He r e a l i z e d t h a t none of h i s p r a y e r s were
b e i n g answered. Every day he c o u l d s e e him-
s e l f s i n k i n g d e e p e r and d e e p e r i n t o d e b t .
As John t h o u g h t a b o u t h i s groblems, t h e
Holy S p i r i t i m p r e s s e d h i m w i t h t h e s t a r k t r u t h
t h a t he had n o t obeyed t h e simple command t o
make wrongs r i g h t b e f o r e e x p e c t i n g God t o
answer h i s p r a y e r s .
I t was time f o r some a c t i o n . John de-
c i d e d t o w r i t e t o s e v e r a l p e o p l e w i t h whom
he had had problems and q u a r r e l s which had
l e f t b i t t e r f s e l i n g s . He d e c i d e d he would
a p o l o g i z e f o r h i s p a r t of t h e problem and
ask f o r forgiveness.
A f t e r s t a r t i n g t o w r i t e , John r e a l i z e d
t h a t i t would t a k e d a y s f o r t h e l e t t e r s t o
r e a c h t h e i r d e s t i n a t i o n and f o r a r e p l y t o
return. I n a moment John knew what he would
d3--he would 'phone them.
B e f o r e he made t h e f i r s t c a l l , John f e l l
on h i s knees snd s u r r e n d e r e d h i s h e a r t t o t h e
Lord a s b e s t he knew now. Then he c a l l e d t h e
t h r e e people involved i n t h e problex. To
e a c h he a p o l o g i z e d and r e c e i v e d t h e i r f o r g i v e -
ness. John began f e e l i n g t h e t h r i l l of f o r -
g i v e n e s s . I t was g r e a t ! But j u s t a s he was
en j o y i n g t h e e x h i l a r a t i o n of f o r g i v e n e s s , he
remembered t h e r e was one more c a l l he must
mske,-he and Helen were s t i l l n o t s p e a k i n g
t o each other.
He d e c i d e d he would t a k e c a r e of t h a t
problem a l i t t l e l a t e r i n t h e week. There
were o t h e r problems t h a t dgmanded h i s immed-
i a t e attention.
John had been t r o u b l e d f o r some time
about b e i n g a c a r d - c a r r y i n g Uniox member.
S i n c e h e was making t h i n g s r i g h t , h e t h o u g h t
he ought t o c l e a r t h e s l a t e . With t h a t , he
p i c k e d up t h e t e l e p h o n e and n o t i f i e d t h e
Union t h a t he was p u l l i n g o u t of t h e o r g a n i -
zation. S e v e r a l o t h e r minor m a t t e r s were
a d j u s t e d , and John r e a l i z e d t h a t v e r y l i t t l e
remained l e f t t o do b e f o r e he had met t h e
c o n d i t i o n s t o answered p r a y e r .
Now t h a t he was no l o n g e r a Union mem-
b e r , he c o u l d n o t r e l y on them f o r work l e a d s .
So h e went t o t h e p r i n t e r and had a " f l y e r "
p r i n t e d up t h a t a d v e r t i z e d t h e f a c t t h a t he
was a n e x p e r i e n c e d p a i n t e r and was a n x i o u s t o
do good work a t a f a i r p r i c e . The p r i n t i n g
was promised f o r F r i d a y a f t e r n o o n , which
m2ant t h a t he c o u l d d i s t r i b u t e t h e l e a f l e t s
e a r l y Sunday morning. Things were b e g i n n i n g
t o l o o k good a g a i n . J o h n ' s f a i t h was growing,
i n s p i t e of t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e was no work i n
sight.
That F r i d a y n i g h t h e found h i m s e l f s i t -
t i n g n e x t t o h i s d a u g h t e r , Helen. He t h o u g h t
s e v e r a l t i m e s t h a t he would make t h i n g s r i g h t
and a s k h e r f o r g i v e n e s s f o r t h e way he had
t r e a t e d h e r . But e a c h time he a t t e m p t e d t o
speak, he c o u l d n o t f i n d t h e words. The
program was a b o u t o v e r and he s t i l l had n o t
found t h e courage t o s e t t l e t h e m a t t e r w i t h
his daughter.
A f t e r t h e program Helen was engaged i n
c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h some of h e r f r i e n d s . And
b e f o r e he knew i t , she was gone.
John r e t u r n e d home w i t h a heavy h e a r t .
He c o u l d n o t u n d e r s t a n d why i t was he had n o t
j u s t t a k e n t h e s i t u a t i o n i n hand and spoken
t o h i s daughter. I t was going t o be s u c h a
simple t h i n g . Now i t loomed b e f o r e h i m a s
t h e one t h i n g t h a t p r e v e n t e d h i m from c l a i m -
i n g t h e p r o m i s e s of t h e B i b l e . A s he l a y i n
bed, t o s s i n g and t u r n i n g , n o t b e i n g a b l e t o
go t o s l e e p , i t became an e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g
problem. I t was growing b i g g e r by t h e min-
ute.
Suddenly, i n t h e s t i l l n e s s of t h e n i g h t ,
he h e a r d a r a p on t h e f r o n t door. He wonder-
ed who c o u l d be c a l l i n g a t t h a t h o u r of t h e
night. He stumbled t o t h e door and unlocked
i t . There, b e f o r e h i s e y e s s t o o d h i s daugh-
ter.
"oh, Helen, ? I he s a i d , 11 come on i n . I
?I
was j u s t t h i m i n g a b o u t you.
Helen had b a r e l y c r o s s e d the thresh-
 old when she b u r s t i n t o t e a r s and s a i d ,
" ~ a d d y , I c o u l d n f t s t a n d i t any longer. I've
come t o apologize t o you f o r my b i t t e r f e e l -
i n g s I ' v e h e l d toward you f o r so long."
What a s i g h t t h a t was! S i t t i n g t h e r e on
t h e s o f a , Helen and Daddy embraced, each f o r -
g i v i n g t h e o t h e r and b o t h s o t h a n k f u l f o r t h e
effecting reconciliation. I t was a wonderful
experience t h a t brought peace t o b o t h h e a r t s .
Sabbath was a joyous day! How good i t
f e l t t o be a t peace w i t h t h e world, thought
John. The sun shone b r i g h t e r , t h e b i r d s sang
sweeter, and everyone was s o much f r i e n d l i e r
i t seemed a s t h e y enjoyed t h e day t o g e t h e r .
E a r l y Sunday morning John and h i s son
d i s t r i b u t e d t h e l e a f l e t s t h a t t o l d of h i s
d e s i r e f o r work. A l l day t h e y worked p a s s i n g
out t h e news.
That n i g h t John prayed t h e p r a y e r of r e -
c e p t i o n and f e l t t h e a s s u r a n c e t h a t God had
heard h i s p r a y e r . He went t o s l e e p i n com-
p l e t e confidence t h a t t h e morrow would b r i n g
an answer-and work.
He d i d n o t have long t o w a i t . The t e l e -
phone rang e a r l y t h a t morning, i n v i t i n g him
t o come t o work. By noon he was h a r d a t
work.
J u s t a f t e r he l e f t f o r work, one of t h e
f i n a n c e companies c a l l e d t o say t h a t t h e y
must have t h e i r money by t h a t evening o r t h e y
would have t o come and p i c k up t h e r e f r i g e r a -
t o r . Mrs. Ash d i d n o t want t o , b u t f i n a l l y
decided she must t a k e t h e word t o h e r hus-
band.
John had done s u f f i c i e n t work by t h a t
time t o make i t p o s s i b l e f o r him t o ask t h e
man f o r whom he was p a i n t i n g f o r an advance
on t h e job. This r e q u e s t t h e employer g l a d -
l y granted. Mrs. Ash went t o t h e f i n a n c e
company and was a b l e t o make t h e payment j u s t
minutes b e f o r e t h e o f f i c e c l o s e d . I t was
s p l i t - s e c o n d timing, b u t God had answered
t h e i r p r a y e r i n time.
By Wednesday of t h a t week, John had r e -
c e i v e d c o n t r a c t s t o t h e tune of f i v e thou-
sand d o l l a r s , and was a v e r y happy man!
A few days l a t e r , a f t e r p r a y e r meeting,
he r e l a t e d h i s experience t o Hugh James; and
t h e n asked t h e q u e s t i o n : "Why do you suppose
God l e t me g e t so low b e f o r e He answered me?"
Hugh James answered t h e q u e s t i o n , a f t e r
a momentt s s i l e n c e , with: "Do you suppose i t
i s because we a r e stubborn, sometimes?"
John d i d n o t r e p l y t o t h i s q u e s t i o n , f o r
he knew a l l t o o w e l l how long i t had taken
h i m t o make t h i n g s r i g h t . He knew he had
been very stubborn about h i s s i t u a t i o n .
I wonder how much l o n g e r i t would have
been had n o t Helen responded t o c o n v i c t i o n
and taken t h e f i r s t s t e p toward r e c o n c i l i a -
tion.
Once a g a i n , Youth Leads t h e Way! Thank
God f o r d e d i c a t e d youth!
The p r a y e r c l a s s was a b l e s s i n g t o Ivan
Rash too. He had become v e r y discouraged.
I n f a c t h i s f a i t h was a t i t s lowest ebb-so
low t h a t he had been contemplating g i v i n g up
h i s f a i t h i n God and l e a v i n g t h e church,
About t h i s time, t h e Lord d i r e c t e d h i s
s t e p s t o t h e p r a y e r c l a s s . Word had g o t t e n
around about the marvelous answers t o p r a y e r
t h a t people were r e a l i z i n g and r e l a t i n g a t
t h e meetings. Ivan and h i s wife decided t o
a t t e n d a c l a s s meeting.
I v a n was t h e r e w i t h h i s burden and probe
lems; and h i s wife s a t t h e r e l i s t e n i n g t o
t h e answeys t o p r a y e r , w i t h a burden on h e r
h e a r t , too. She was concerned about h e r hus-
band and h i s s p i r i t u a l c o n d i t i o n . She knew
how Ivan would o f t e n become annoyed over some
of t h e a t t i t u d e s and a c t i o n s of h i s employer,
who was a l s o a memer of the church. She had
been p r a y i n g f o r h e r husband f o r a l o n g time
b e f o r e t h e y had e v e r h e a r d of t h e c l a s s e s be-
i n g t a u g h t on t h e P r a y e r of Reception.
I n Psalms 119:165 God promises: "Great
peace have t h e y which l o v e t h e y law; and
n o t h i n g s h a l l o f f e n d them."
I v a n ' s w i f e p r a y e d most e a r n e s t l y t h a t
h e r husband might f i n d t h i s p e a c e , and t h a t ,
no m a t t e r what happened a t work, he would n o t
become offended.
A t t h e t h i r d c l a s s m e e t i n g I v a n s t o o d up
t o speak. H i s words were measured and f u l l
of meaning a s he spoke of h i s discouragement,
He f e l t ashamed t o admit how f a r away from
God discouragement had l e d him. Then he s a i d ,
" ~ o d a ymy t r o u b l e s a r e s e t t l e d . When I ap-
proached t h e Lord t h i s morning, I claimed t h e
promises of H i s Word, and t h e Lord h e l p e d me
t o go t o my b o s s today, and I ' v e made t h i n g s
r i g h t with him." Then he t o l d of h i s new r e -
l a t i o n s h i p w i t h C h r i s t and h i s s e t t l e d d e t e r -
m i n a t i o n t o s t a y c l o s e t o t h e Lord i n every-
thing. " w i t h God' s h e l p , I want t o be f a i t h -
f u l u n t i l J e s u s comes," he concluded.
This was more t h a n h i s w i f e expected.
She c o u l d s t a y i n h e r s e a t no l o n g e r , and s o
r o s e , and w i t h t e a r s i n h e r e y e s s a i d : 11 I fve
been p r a y i n g f o r my husband f o r a l o n g t i m e .
God h a s h e a r d my p r a y e r s and I f m d e e p l y g r a t e -
.
I U I .
11
There were problems t h a t a r o s e from time
t o t i m e , b u t I v a n h e l d f a s t (Hebrews 1 0 : 2 3 ) ,
and God used h i m t o be a b l e s s i n g t o o t h e r s .
His working p a r t n e r s r e c o g n i z e d a change i n
him. H i s f r i e n d s n o t i c e d t h e change i n h i s
attitude-toward l i f e i n general. I t was s o
c o n t a g i o u s t h a t many of h i s f r i e n d s came t o
him w i t h t h e i r problems and sought h i s coun-
sel,
A t t h e n e x t c l a s s meeting I v a n had a
d i f f e r e n t k i n d of a problem. "what do I do
when my p r a y e r l i s t g e t s t o o l o n g ? Do I r e a d
e a c h name s e p a r a t e l y and p r a y a b o u t e a c h name
i n d i v i d u a l l y ? o r do I a s k God t o do f o r t h e s e
p e o p l e what needs d o i n g , a s a whole? These
p e o p l e have come t o me f o r h e l p f I a s t h e r e s u l t
of h e a r i n g a b o u t my e x p e r i e n c e .
He t o l d a b o u t some of t h e p e o p l e who had
come t o him f o r h e l p . One was a h i g h s c h o o l
s e n i o r who had been i n t r o u b l e w i t h t h e law
s e v e r a l times. T h i s boy' s d r i v e r ' s l i c e n s e
was a b o u t t o be revoked, and h i s f i n e s would
amount t o more t h a n a w e e k ' s wages. He had
been a v e r y b e l l i g e r e n t young man, and had
found himself i n s e r i o u s t r o u b l e on r e p e a t e d
o c c a s i o n s . Now, a f t e r h a v i n g had a l o n g t a l k
t o g e t h e r , t h i s f i n e young man was d e d i c a t i n g
h i s l i f e t o t h e Lord and was s e r i o u s l y t h i n k -
i n g of p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e m i n i s t r y .
Some of t h e c l a s s members responded t o
t h i s by s a y i n g , "Wonderful ! " " P r a i s e t h e
Lord!" 11 I v a n f i n i s h e d h i s s t o r y w i t h t h e
words, I was r e a l l y impressed. 11 I t was a l l
t h e L o r d ' s d o i n g s and n o t mine.
There a r e some e x p e r i e n c e s r e l a t e d h e r e
which have t a k e n p l a c e s o r e c e n t l y t h a t we
can now r e p o r t o n l y a p a r t of t h e answers.
The f o l l o w i n g e x p e r i e n c e i s one of t h i s
type. I t a l s o h a s t o do w i t h our w i t n e s s t o
Jesus C h r i s t b e f o r e o t h e r s .
Every t r u e c h i l d of God who obeys t h e
u n c t i o n of t h e Holy S p i r i t and f i n d s sweet
Communion w i t h J e s u s i s f i l l e d w i t h t h e com-
p e l l i n g d e s i r e t o have h i s l o v e d ones s h a r e
i n h i s wonderful d i s c o v e r y .
Wayne was one of t h e s e . He had been
a t t e n d i n g t h e c l a s s e s on p r a y e r and had come
t o know something of i t s power. He immedi-
a t e l y began p r a y i n g and working f o r h i s
mother who had a v e r y bad smoking problem.
 I n speaking t o h e r about h e r problem,
Wayne s a i d , "Mom, a r e you w i l l i n g t o g i v e i t
up- ? " 11No, Son, I I she s a i d , " I f v e t r i e d t o o
many times. Three packs a day i s an awful
l o t , b u t I g u e s s t h e r e ' s n o t h i n g I can do
about i t now."
Wayne had l e a r n e d some i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s
from t h e c l a s s e s he had a t t e n d e d , and he knew
that there - was something t h a t could be done.
One of t h e t h i n g s he had l e a r n e d was t h a t
"God s t a n d s back of e v e r v ~ r o m i s gHe h a s
made1' ( " C h r i s t f s Object Lessons, p , l.47).
He q u i c k l y s e n t up a s i l e n t p r a y e r f o r wis-
dom (James 1:5), c o n f i d e n t t h a t i t would be
given.
I?
Mom, would you be w i l l i n g t o c l a i m a
promise about smoking?" Wayne asked.
11
Claim a what?" h i s mother responded, a
l i t t l e puzzled.
11 Claim a B i b l e promise, Mother". And
t h e n Wayne s a t down and f o r n e a r l y two hours
p a t i e n t l y e x p l a i n e d t h e wonderful method of
ASKING, BELIEITING, and C L A I M I N G t h e promises
of God1s Word.
To his g r e a t d e l i g h t , h i s mother a g r e e d
t o t r y t h e program, i n c l u d i n g a t e n - p o i n t
program of t h a n k s g i v i n g which he t o l d h e r
about which i n v o l v e s f i n d i n g and l i s t i n g t e n
t h i n g s e a c h day f o r which we a r e t h a n k f u l ,
which i s a wonderful way t o calm j i t t e r y
nerves.
Wayne c a r e f u l l y wrote o u t what she must
do on a s l i p of p a p e r which she could have
handy.
A. Ask-Matthew 21:22.
B. Believe--Matthew 21:22.
C. Claim--and r e t u r n t h a n k s t o God
t h a t you HAVE r e c e i v e d t h e g i f t .
I John 5:14,15; I COP. 15:57.
He gave h e r a l s o t h r e e promises t o
claim:
I C o r i n t h i a n s 10:13--for smoking.
I1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 0 :S--f o r h e r nerves.
1 John S:16--.f0~ l i f e .
Two weeks l a t e r Waynefs mother t o l d h i m ,
II
Son, 1'11 have t o admit t h i s program r e a l l y
does work. I ' m a l r e a d y down t o o n l y one pack
a day, and I f m f e e l i n g so much b e t t e r .
II
This was happy news! But t h e r e was more
wonderful news t o come. When he i n v i t e d h e r
t o h e a r a t a p e t h a t he had r e c o r d e d of one
of my sermons, she s a i d : " ~ l d e rCoon? Why,
y e s . 1 want t o h e a r i t . I h e a r d h i m speak a t
t h e Inglewood Seventh-day .. A d v e n t i s t church
j u s t yesterday."
Wayne had n o t known of h e r i n t e r e s t i n
t- h-- e church n o r of h e r a t t e n d a n c e . His t e s t i -
mong a t t h e n e x t c l a s s was a complete con-
f i d e n c e i n t h e God of heaven t h a t h i s mother
would n o t o n l y g a i n c o m l e t e v i c t o r y over t n e
tobacco h a b i t , b u t t h a t she would soon be i n
r e g u l a r a t t e n d a n c e a t t h e house of God. His
h e a r t was f u l l of p r a i s e and thanksgiving.
God s t i l l l i v e s ! He i s s t i l l answering
t h e p r a y e r s of t h o s e who w i l l f u l f i l l t h e
c o n d i t i o n s . He i s w a i t i n g t o h e a r from you!
Why n o t t a k e your problem t o H i m r i g h t
now i n p r a y e r ? He has answered o t h e r s - H e ' l l
do t h e same f o r you.

i What about t h e younger ones? T h e y ' r e grow-
C h a p t e r 11
A F T E R THIS, WHO COULD DOUBT?
It
ELL, THIS i s i t , f o r me, thought
Helen when s h e h e a r d t h e f a t e f u l
The k i n d l y d o c t o r r e ached ov
and p a t t e d h e r hand a s sh.e t r i e d
c o n t r o l t h e grbwing f e a r t h a t t h r e a t e n e d t o
engulf her.
11 II
I ' m s o r r y , " he s a i d . I t seems y o u ' v e
had your s h a r e of t r o u b l e . But t h e X-rays
a r e p r o o f of what I ' v e been s u s p e c t i n g f o r
some time. You've had s e v e r a l s u r g e r i e s , s o
y o u ' r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e m e d i c a l term,
sarcoma of t h e s m a l l bowel.
I1
I know what y o u ' r e t h i n k i n g , Helen. But
let me encourage you t o g o t o t h e G r e a t
Physician. J e s u s c a n g i v e you p e a c e of mind
and h e l p you t h r o u g h t h i s t r y i n g o flr d e a l . And
remember, 1'11 be p r a y i n g f o r you.
During t h e l o n g n i g h t s t h a t f o l l o w e d ,
Helen l a y awake f o r h o u r s a t a time. The
t r a n q u i l i z e r s , t o which s h e h a d had t o r e s o r t
f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , f a i l e d t o g i v e h e r t h e ex-
pected r e l i e f .
"What w i l l happen t o my c h i l d r e n ? W i l l
o t h e r s be p a t i e n t w i t h m y t e e n a g e s o n s wha
need t h e i r m o t h e r ' s l o v e and u n d e r s t a n d i n g ?
i n g o u t of babyhood, b u t t o m s t h e y ' r e s t i l l
b a b i e s . Why, God why?' So r a n h e r w o r r i e d
t h o u g h t s a s t h i s young mother f a c e d a d a r k
and d i s m a l f u t u r e .
I n h e r h e a r t Helen was n o t blaming God.
She j u s t c o u l d n o t u n d e r s t a n d why t h i s doom
was pronounced on h e r when h e r c h i l d r e n need-
ed h e r s o much. Yet i t d i d seem u n j u s t and
u n f a i r . But s i n c e God h o l d s t h e m a s t e r p l a n s
and a l l o w s c a l a m i t i e s and t r i a l s t o g u i d e
e a c h l i f e i n t h e r i g h t d i r e c t i o n , Helen de-
cided t o accept His w i l l .
H e l e n ' s home was n o t a happy one. The
u n c o n t r o l l e d temper of a n o n - C h r i s t i a n hus-
band k e p t t h i n g s u p s e t and t e n s e most of t h e
time. But i n s p i t e of h e r weakened c o n d i t i o n ,
and c o n s t a n t p a i n , Helen a t t e n d e d c h u r c h a s
o f t e n a s she could.
The f i r s t S a b b a t h a f t e r h e r d o c t o r ' s re-
port, I had been i n v i t e d t o b e t h e g u e s t
s p e a k e r a t t h e c h u r c h which she a t t e n d e d .
Both Helen and I f e e l i t was p r o v i d e n t i a l
t h a t she was t h e r e t h a t S a b b a t h morning when
I p r e s e n t e d t h e A , B y C ' s of r e c e p t i v e p r a y e r .
As she l i s t e n e d t o one e x p e r i e n c e a f t e r
a n o t h e r of how God was answering p r a y e r f o r
YOmg p e o p l e and o l d e r ones a l i k e , Helen
f e l t a s i f a whole new w o r l d was opening up
b e f o r e h e r . She f e l t t h a t i n t h e power of t h e
p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n l a y t h e answer t o h e r i m -
m e d i a t e problem. She had f a i t h t h a t God
c o u l d , and would, answer h e r p r a y e r i f she
s u r r e n d e r e d h e r s e l f c o m p l e t e l y and claimed
H i s promise w i t h unswerving f a i t h .
Helen t h o u g h t much a b o u t what she had
h e a r d , and t h e n decid-ed t o s t e p f o r w a r d i n
f a i t h . I t was a v e r y i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n s h e
made. She phoned h e r p a s t o r and a few f r i e n d s
whom she f e l t were s i n c e r e , c o n s e c r a t e d C h r i s -
 tians, and a s k e d them a l l t o p r a y a t
home. The m i n i s t e r s o f f e r e d p r a y e r s of com-
mitment a s we do f o r t h e s i c k , s i n c e we can-
n o t know whether t h e s i c k have f u l f i l l e d t h e
conditions t o healing.
Because " t h e Lord i s v e r y p i t i f u l , and
of t e n d e r mercy" (James 5:11), and b e c a u s e He
h a s promised i n Ysalms SO:lS, 11 C a l l upon me
i n t h e day of t r o u b l e : I w i l l d e l i v e r t h e e ,
and t h o u s h a l t g l o r i f y me", God h e a r d and
answered t h e p r a y e r s p r e s e n t e d t o H i m i n
f a i t h and s u b m i s s i o n , i n Helen1 s b e h a l f .
When I t a l k e d w i t h h e r l a t e r , s h e s a i d ,
"I p r a y e d a t home, c l a i m i n g I John 1:9. I h o u s e t o p s , a s i t were, and t e l l what God i n
wanted my h e a r t t o b e r i g h t w i t h God. I
wanted n o t h i n g t o s t a n d between me and God t o
p r e v e n t H i s answering my p r a y e r . A s t h e Holy
S p i r i t came i n t o my h e a r t , and H i s p r e s e n c e
f i l l e d my body, I p r a y e d , w i t h t e a r s stream-
i n g down my f a c e , c l a i m i n g Psalms 103:3-5:
e t h a l l thy diseases; ..
"Who f o r g i v e t h a l l t h i n e i n i q u i t i e s ; w h o h e a l -
, who c r o w n e t h t h e e
w i t h l o v i n g k i n d n e s s and t e n d e r m e r c i e s ; who
s a t i s f i e t h t h y mouth w i t h good t h i n g s ; s o
t h a t t h y y o u t h is renewed l i k e t h e e a g l e f s , "
Helen c o n t i n u e d , "Oh, what w o n d e r f u l
b l e s s i n g s God i s w a i t i n g t o bestow upon u s i f
we b u t a s k ! I had f e l t c o m p l e t e l y a t l o o s e
ends, n o t knowing which way t o t u r n . But
a f t e r t h a t p r a y e r , a n e n t i r e l y new f e e l i n g
e n t e r e d my body. The t e r r i b l e f e e l i n g of
h e a v i n e s s and discouragement l i f t e d , and a
peace l i k e I 1 d n e v e r known b e f o r e f i l l e d my
s o u l . I f u l l y t r u s t e d i n God, b e l i e v i n g a l l
would b e w e l l . 11
On H e l e n ' s n e x t v i s i t t o t h e d o c t o r , a
second s e t of X-rays was t a k e n t o v e r i f y t h e
f i r s t . S e v e r a l days of w a i t i n g f o l l o w e d ,
d u r i n g which Helen p r a y e d c o n s t a n t l y f o r
guidance.
Once more a d i a g n o s i s was made. Finally
t h e day came f o r Helen t o go back f o r t h e
d o c t o r ' s r e p o r t . A s she e n t e r e d h i s o f f i c e ,
a s m i l e s p r e a d o v e r h i s f a c e . Even b e f o r e he
spoke, Helen knew what t h e v e r d i c t was; h e r
f a i t h i n answered p r a y e r had n e v e r wavered
s i n c e t h e day of s p e c i a l p r a y e r .
"We s e e a b s o l u t e l y no f u r t h e r i n d i c a t i o n
of t h e sarcoma we saw i n t h e f i r s t X-rays,"
the doctor said.
Again,
11 i n h e r own words, I q u o t e :
The d r e a d e d sarcoma was gone! God had
performed a m i r a c l e f o r me! What a w o n d e r f u l
t h i n g t o have e x p e r i e n c e d ! My h e a r t i s f u l l
of t h a n k s g i v i n g . I want t o s h o u t i t from t h e
H i s l o v i n g - k i n d n e s s , h a s done f o r me. I try
t o s h a r e t h i s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h o t h e r s when-
e v e r I c a n , t h a t H i s name may b e g l o r i f i e d . "
Helen s h a r e d h e r h e a l i n g e x p e r i e n c e w i t h
h e r n e i g h b o r l a d y n e x t door.11 " T h i s i s t h e
k i n d of p r a y e r l i f e I want. s h e s a i d , "would
t h e y a l l o w me, t o o , t o e n r o l l i n t h e i r p r a y e r
class?"
Helen h a s s h a r e d h e r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a l l
who a r e i n t e r e s t e d , and God i s u s i n g h e r t o
b r i n g courage and h e l p t o many d i s c o u r a g e d
ones.
" ~ a i t hi s t h e key, 11If s a y s Helen, " b u t we
must s i n c e r e l y b e l i e v e .
There i s no l i m i t t o our u s e f u l n e s s i n
t h e hands of God, o r t o H i s b l e s s i n g s upon
u s i f we l i v e humbly b e f o r e Him.
One of t h e s t u d e n t s i n t h e p r a y e r c l a s s
was a 11f f l i c t e d d u r i n g t h e l e s s o n s t u d y . I1
O h , i f my b a c k would o n l y s t o p a c h i n g ,
t h o u g h t Alma a s s h e s a t l i s t e n i n g t o o t h e r
prayer students r e l a t e t h e i r experiences.
The t i r e d m u s c l e s i n h e r back were r e a l l y be-
ginning t o give her trouble. Realizing t h a t
she was s i t t i n g i n a s t r a i g h t - b a c k c h a i r , and
knowing from p a s t e x p e r i e n c e t h a t , a f t e r a
h a r d day a t work something more s e r i o u s might
develop, Alma began t o p r a y .
Immediately t h e promise found i n Psalms
3 7 : s came i n t o h e r mind, "Commit t h y way u n t o
t h e Lord; t r u s t a l s o i n H i m ; and He s h a l l
b r i n g i t t o p a s s . 11
The ache i n h e r back became more i n t e n s e .
"Oh, " she thought, " t h i s p a i n i s n e a r l y k i l l -
i n g me! How can I c o n c e n t r a t e on t h i s prom-
ise?"
But t h e Lord came t o h e r r e s c u e , and a s
s h e r e p e a t e d t h e B i b l e promise o v e r and o v e r
a g a i n i n h e r mind, t h e troublesome p a i n be-
gan t o l e s s e n , T h i s was something t h a t h a d
n e v e r happened b e f o r e , and h e r h e a r t was
thrilled!
By t h e time t h e m e e t i n g was o v e r , t h e
p a i n was c o m p l e t e l y gone. T r u l y , "God does
s t a n d b a c k of e v e r y promise t h a t He h a s made. 11
(See " ~ h r i s tsf O b j e c t Lessons, " page l 4 7 . )
Whether i t i s f o r t h e c o n v e r s i o n of a
s o u l , o r a broken h e a r t , a b a r b i t u a t e a d d i c t ,
o r a n a c h i n g back, God i s n e a r and r e a d y t o
hear.
Another example of answered p r a y e r was
t h a t of S o n r i . Although S o n r i t r i e d t o con-
c e a l h e r emotions, s h e must have been t h e
most ~ n h a p p yp e r s o n i n t h e p r a y e r c l a s s .
Somehow, and f o r r e a s o n s unknown t o h e r a t
th3 time, hsr t h y r o i d g l a n d had become i n -
f e c t e d . Not w i s h i n g t o m i s s t h e p r a y e r c l a s s ,
she d e c i d e d t o make t h e l o n g d r i v e w i t h t h e
o t h e r s who a l s o a t t e n d e d . She d i d n o t r e -
g r e t doing so.
No one can f e e l d e p r e s s e d i n t h e m i d s t
of a happy group of C h r i s t i a n s who a r e r e -
j o i c i n g and p r a i s i n g t h e Lord f o r answered
prayer. S o n r i was much encouraged, and when
s h e j o i n e d h e r p r a y e r band g r o u p , she t o l d
them of h e r problem. They immediately de-
c i d e d t o p e t i t i o n t h e Lord and a s k f o r h e a l -
f o r S o n r i , c l a i m i n g t h e B i b l e promise:
i11nWgho f o r g i v e t h a l l t h i n e i n i q u i t i e s ; who
h e a l e t h a l l t h y d i s e a s e s . " Psalms 103:3.
Wednesday evening was S o n r i f s a p p o i n t -
ment w i t h h e r p h y s i c i a n . A s she t a l k e d w i t h
h i m , h e e x p l a i n e d how t h e d i s e a s e a f f e c t e d
t h e g l a n d , sometimes d e s t r o y i n g i t . There
was n o t r e a l l y t o o much t h a t he c o u l d do f o r
her.
A t t h e f i r s t opportunity given f o r re-
l a t i n g her experience t o the prayer c l a s s ,
S o n r i had t h i s t o s a y :
"On Thursday I was f e e l i n g b e t t e r , and
by t h e f o l l o w i n g Monday t h e i n f e c t i o n was
c o m p l e t e l y gone. I f e11 e l God h a s d e f i n i t e l y
answered our p r a y e r s .
Everywhere we go we f i n d f r e s h e v i d e n c e s
of Godl s w o n d e r f u l powers and w i l l i n g n e s s t o
answer p r a y e r t h r o u g h J e s u s o u r Lord. One
v e r y f i n e l a d y w r o t e a f t e r we had conducted
a pra e r series i n her city:
'After f o u r t e e n y e a r s of p r a y i n g , you
have shown me how t o c l a i m v i c t o r y t h r o u g h
f a i t h i n God's p r o m i s e s . One n i g h t my
husband t o o k t h e c a r and went f o r a s h o r t
d r i v e f o r h i s smoke b e f o r e g o i n g t o bed, I
k n e l t by t h e l i v i n g room s o f a and p r a y e d ,
!Dear God, You have promised t h a t i f we
b r i n g our t i t h e s and o f f e r i n g s t o You, t h a t
You would rebuke t h e d e v o u r e r f o r o u r s a k e s .
Lord, I c l a i m t h a t promise. I b e l i e v e You
w i l l do i t . I b e l i e v e You w i l l h e l p my hus-
band t o s t o p smoking. Thank You, Lord.
"With t h a t I went t o bed. In a little
w h i l e my husband came home. I e x p e c t e d him
t o announce a s soon a s he e n t e r e d t h e d o o r ,
t h a t h e had q u i t smoking and t h a t he would
n e v e r a g a i n t o u c h a c i g a r e t t e , B u t he d i d n ' t
s a y a word when he came i n .
 ff
A s I l a y i n bed, I t h o u g h t , ' L o r d , i s
i t too soon?'
11
Two days l a t e r my husband came home
from work, I t was on a F r i d a y . When he walk-
ed i n . he s m i l e d r e a l b i g and s a i d , '1 h a v e n f t
smoked a l l day. I ' m t h r o u g h w i t h them from
h e r e on o u t .
"Immediately I b r e a t h e d a 'Thank You9
p r a y e r t o t h e Lord f o r what He had If done f o r
my husband--victory t h r o u g h f a i t h .
Then s h e went on t o r e l a t e a second
experience:
ff
One morning, a f t e r my husband had l e f t
f o r work, I was s u d d e n l y t a k e n ill. I was
a l l a l o n e and I d i d n f t know what t o do. So I
ppayed, f Dear God, p l e a s e s e n d me some
A s I f i n i s h e d my p r a y e r , I h e a r d a knock a t
h e lp.'
t h e door. I i n v i t e d whoever was t h e r e t o
come i n .
"when t h e l a d y e n t e r e d , I r e a l i z e d I had
n e v e r met h e r , b u t knew t h a t s h e l i v e d j u s t
a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t from me. 'Thank God you
came, I s a i d , ' I am i n n e e d of h e l p . I ve
j u s t become v e r y s i c k . '
r~ I n r e p l y s h e s a i d , f I must t e l l you t h e
e x p e r i e n c e I j u s t had. I was g e t t i n g r e a d y
t o go t o s c h o o l ( s h e was a h i g h s c h o o l t e a c h -
e r ) , and r e a l i z e d t h a t I was a l r e a d y l a t e , s o
I was j u s t g e t t i n g something h o t t o d r i n k .
A s I r a i s e d my cup t o d r i n k , i t seemed t h a t
a v o i c e t o l d me t o come o v e r h e r e . This is
t h e s t r a n g e s t e x p e r i e n c e I ' v e e v e r had. I About t h i s t i m e , E l d e r Coon c o n d u c t e d
d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d i t . What c a n I do f o r you?"
If
I t o l d h e r t h a t I understood i t per-
fectly. I t o l d h e r how I had j u s t p r a y e d
t h a t God would s e n d someone t o h e l p me. I c l a s s b e i n g t a u g h t on The P r a y e r of R e c e p t i o n
t o l d h e r t h a t I knew i t was a d i r e c t answer
t o t h e p r a y e r of f a i t h .
ff
Of c o u r s e my n e i g h b o r l a d y gave me t h e
h e l p I needed, and I soon was f e e l i n g b e t t e r .
T h i s i s o n l y one of many b l e s s i n g s t h a t God
h a s bestowed upon !I me i n answer t o t h e p r a y e r
of r e c e p t i o n .
IS God i n t e r e s t e d , even i n o u r a d o p t i n g
Listen t o this.
"My husband and I were w o r r i e d . I t had
been two y e a r s s i n c e we had a d o p t e d l i t t l e
Kimber and s t i l l s h e w a s n ' t Our own, If s a i d
Minnie P o r t e r , a member of t h e p r a y e r c l a s s .
"Kimber was f o u r months o l d when we f i r s t
got her. Our a t t o r n e y was h a v i n g d i f f i c u l t y
l o c a t i n g t h e r e a l mother, i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n
h e r s i g n a t u r e on t h e a d o p t i o n p a p e r s . A
whole y e a r went by b e f o r e i t was s e c u r e d .
I h hen i t seems, no m a t t e r what we d i d ,
o r how many t i m e s we c o n t a c t e d him, t h e a t -
t o r n e y k e p t p u t t i n g o f f t h e s i g n i n g of t h e
f i n a l adoption papers. We had t r i e d e v e r y -
t h i n g humanly p o s s i b l e t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e
s i g n a t u r e , b u t f o r a n o t h e r whole y e a r we were
being p u t o f f . T h i s p r o c e d u r e s h o u l d have
t a k e n a maximum of s i x weeks a f t e r t h e s i g n -
i n g of t h e a d o p t i o n p a p e r s . We were s t i l l
w a i t i n g a f t e r two y e a r s !
ff
I was g e t t i n g d e s p e r a t e , f f Minnie con-
ff
tinued. Suppose K i m b e r f s f a t h e r s h o u l d come
and t r y t o c l a i m t h e baby. I couldn't give
Kimber up now. She was t h e l i g h t of my l i f e .
If o n l y t h e r e was something I c o u l d do t o
force the attorney t o a c t .
ff
a s e r i e s of m e e t i n g s on p r a y e r i n our c h u r c h .
I was t h r i l l e d when I h e a r d t h e f i r s t s t u d y .
I wanted t o l e a r n more, b u t found t h a t t h e
was r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e young p e o p l e . My hus-
band s u g g e s t e d t h a t we b e g i n c l a i m i n g prom-
i s e s by o u r s e l v e s , b u t I s i m p l y t o l d him
t h a t I d i d n f t know enough a b o u t i t t o do i t
intelligently.
I I Then we h e a r d of a n o t h e r c l a s s t h a t was
b e i n g opened i n La S i e r r a . This one was open
t o a l l age g r o u p s , s o my husband and I b o t h
signed up immediately. There we l e a r n e d HOW
t o c l a i m promises and p r a y t h e p r a y e r of r e -
ception,
'1 Chapter 12
I n t h e morning we had our morning de-
n o t i o ~and I was c l a i m i n g t h e promise f o r
' l i f e 1 f o r t h e p a r t y chosen by our p r a y e r MARGARET PERSEVERED
band. While i n p r a y e r , t h e thought came t o
me, 'Why n o t c l a i m a promise f o r our l i t t l e
Kimber? God knows how much we l o v e h e r and
want t o keep h e r . ' So I s t a r t e d s e a r c h i n g
my B i b l e f o r a promise t h a t I could claim.
I'
My eyes f e l l on t h e t e x t i n Psalms 37:
5, 'Commit t h y way unto t h e Lord; t r u s t a l s o
i n him; and he s h a l l b r i n g i t t o p a s s . ' I
p l a c e d my f i n g e r upon t h i s t e x t and prayed,
'Dear Lord, Thou knowest t h a t I have f u l f i l l -
ed t h e c o n d i t i o n s l a i d down i n t h i s promise. NE OF OUR very p r e c i o u s f r i e n d s i s
I have committed my way unto Thee, and I do Margaret Edge. Margaret Edge and
t r u s t i n Thee. Now I a s k Thee t o b r i n g i t t o 1 Dorothy Robison a r e due a debt of
p a s s a s Thou h a s t promised. Provide a way so g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e i r f a i t h f u l and
t h a t t h e f i n a l adoption p a p e r s may be s i g n e d loving - a s s i s t a n c e i n doing "Youth
and our l i t t l e Kimber w i l l be t r u l y ours. I Prays. I' Let us s h a r e f i r s t a s c r i p t u r e and
b e l i e v e t h a t You a r e p r o v i d i n g a way, and I then an e x p e r i e n c e Margaret t h r i l l i n g l y r e -
thank Thee f o r i t , i n J e s u s ' name, Amen.'
II
I w a s n ' t o f f my knees f o r f i v e minutes
when t h e phone rang. I t was t h e a t t o r n e y say-
lates.
ro or
Hebrews 1 0 :23.
he i s f a i t h f u l t h a t promised ... II

i n g , 'Come i n and s i g n t h e f i n a l p a p e r s , and Margaret was bubbling over w i t h enthus-

I w i l l a r r a n g e f o r your h e a r i n g befo-e t h e iasm and joy a s she t o l d me of how t h e Lord
judge. ' had answered h e r p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n and
"1t was hard t o b e l i e v e . I had w a i t e d commitment. I d i d n o t even t r y t o g e t a word
so long. But God was ready t o f u l f i l l my i n edge-wise. I j u s t l i s t e n e d and t h r i l l e d
p r a y e r i n a m a t t e r of minutes. Kimber i s with h e r a s she t o l d me of God's goodness.
o u r s now, and I could n o t be h a p p i e r . " I ' l l j u s t l e t h e r t e l l you t h a t same
Our God i s a b l e ! He i s ready and w i l l - Story:
i n g t o t a k e c a r e of s m a l l problems a s w e l l a s II I t was F r i d a y a f t e r n o o n . While my day-
t h e l a r g e ones. I t i s we who p r e v e n t H i s do- care c h i l d r e n were napping, I was h u r r i e d l y
i n g a l l He i s w i l l i n g t o do. t r y i n g t o c a t c h up w i t h t h e many and sundry
Let us r e a c h o u t by f a i t h f o r a l l He i s d u t i e s t h a t a r e so n e c e s s a r y i n a busy house-
o f f e r i n g us. hold*
I I Then t h e telephone r a n g , and a l l p l a n s
 and a m b i t i o n s t o have t h e house and h e a r t s i n
r e a d i n e s s f o r t h e S a b b a t h were suddenly t a k e n
away. The l o n g - d i s t a n c e c a l l , r e l a y e d t o us
t h r o u g h a r e l a t i v e , was t o p r e p a r e u s f o r t h e
inevitable.
11 Our n i e c e ' s p r e c i o u s baby was s e r i o u s l y
ill w i t h a p u z z l i n g a i l m e n t . He had g r a d u a l l y
been l o s i n g w e i g h t , was now down t o f i f t e e n
pounds, and t h e d o c t o r s on t h e c a s e had de-
cided t o operate. I t was v e r y d i s c o u r a g i n g ,
e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e young mother, f o r Kevin was
a n o n l y c h i l d and n o t q u i t e one y e a r o l d .
11 I t was v e r y u p s e t t i n g . My f i r s t i m -
p u l s e was t o s e n d a p r a y e r heaven-ward; t h e
second, t o c a l l a s p e c i a l f r i e n d , one whom I
knew was i n c l o s e t o u c h w i t h God a t a l l times.
She and h e r m i n i s t e r husband promised t o have
s p e c i a l p r a y e r f o r l i t t l e Kevin, and my s a d
h e a r t was somewhat comforted. We had a l s o
been p r a y i n g f o r t h e b a b y ' s mother who had
l e f t t h e c h u r c h and had m a r r i e d o u t of t h e
faith.
" f ~ h i must
s b e one of t h e means t h a t
w i l l b r i n g h e r b a c k , ' I t h o u g h t a s I con-
t i n u e d my p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e Sabbath. The
Lord h a s promised t h a t , ' A l l t h i n g s work t o -
g e t h e r f o r goodf (Romans 8:28). I k e p t t h i n k -
i n g ; and He i s ' n o t w i l l i n g t h a t any s h o u l d
p e r i s h , b u t t h a t a l l should come t o r e p e n t -
a n c e ' (I1 P e t e r 3:9).
either of t h e s e B i b l e v e r s e s c o n t a i n -
ed a d e f i n i t e promise f o r h e a l i n g , s o I saw I
c o u l d o n l y p r a y t h e p r a y e r of commitment,
'Thy w i l l be done1 (Matthew 26:42), and 'Not
a s I w i l l , b u t as Thou w i l t ' (Matthew 26:39).
" ~ h u sI r e a s o n e d and p r a y e d d u r i n g t h e
remaining h o u r s of t h e day: and t h u s I k e p t
c l o s e t o Jesus.
11 I n due time, t h e p a r e n t s came f o r t h e
day-care c h i l d r e n . The h o l y S a b b a t h h o u r s
were drawing n e a r a s I s a t down on t h e b i g ,
s c r e e n e d p o r c h t o w a t c h t h e glowing c o l o r s
i n t h e w e s t e r n sky. I p i c k e d up some c o p i e s
of t h e "Youth1s I n s t r u c t o r " and g l a n c e d
through t h e pages. My e y e s f e l l upon t h e
, t o r y of a young mother whose c h i l d was a l s o
. She c l a i m e d t h e promise i n Psalms 46:
1: 'God i s my r e f u g e and s t r e n g t h . . .'
as
she h u r r i e d t o t h e s i d e of h e r c h i l d . T h i s
t e x t ~ r e a t l yc h e e r e d my h e a r t .
A s t h e c o m f o r t i n g d a r k n e s s of S a b b a t h
evening enveloped t h e house, I made my way
t o t h e bedroom and gave i n t o t h e f l o o d of
t e a r s t h a t j u s t c o u l d n o t be h e l d back any
This brought r e l i e f t o t i r e d nerves,
longer. small
and I c o u l d l i s t e n b e t t e r t o t h e s t i l l ,
v o i c e of God.
" f ~ o di s r e f u g e and s t r e n g t h , I r e -
peated, ' a very p r e s e n t help i n trouble.'
Then I asked t h a t my n i e c e , K e v i n ' s mother,
whom - I have always c a l l e d 'my l i t t l e g i r l , '
would a c c e p t ~ o da-s her s t r e n g t h i n t h i s
great trouble.
" ~ n ds o I p r a y e d and wept f o r b o t h of
them. Then t h e Lord gave me a m e n t a l p i c -
t u r e of two of my l i t t l e day c h a r g e s , l e a p -
i n g f o r joy (Luke 6:23), and s a y i n g i n t h e i r
c h i l d i s h v o i c e s , ' p w a i s e da Ward! Pwaise da
Ward!' This came a s a d i r e c t message t o my
h e a r t ' I t ' s time t o p r a i s e t h e Lord.'
'1 s a t up, snapped on t h e l i g h t , and
reached o u t t o p i c k up my B i b l e . I wondered
what promise I m i g h t c l a i m f o r myself. But
' b e f o r e t h e y c a l l , I w i l l answer' ( I s a i a h 6.5:
2 4 ) t h e Lord h a s promised, and H i s answer was
r i g h t 11t h e r e b e s i d e me.
The B i b l e was open t o J e r e m i a h 31. In
amazement I c a r e f u l l y p i c k e d i t up. What a
f e e l i n g of joy swept o v e r me a s my e y e s were
drawn t o t h e words i n t h e 1 6 t h v e r s e , t h e
o n l y one on t h e two p a g e s t h a t was u n d e r l i n e d
and marked:11
'Thus s a i t h t h e Lord; R e f r a i n t h y v o i c e
from weeping, and t h i n e e y e s from t e a r s ; f o r
 thy s h a l l be rewarded, s a i t h t h e LORD;
and t h e y s h a l l come a g a i n from t h e l a n d 0 2
t h e enemy.'
lfNow my h e a r t c o u l d s i n g , and my lips
p r a i s e t h e Lord. I n s t i n c t i v e l y I be-
gan s i n g i n g a l o u d a s i m p l e l i t t l e melody
which I ' v e always b e l i e v e d God h e l p e d me
compose :
11
I p r a i s e t h e Lord i n t h e morning,
When t h e b i r d s t h e i r c a r o l s s i n g ;
MY h e a r t i s g l a d , I c a n ' t be s a d ,
The a i r w i t h joy does r i n g .
II
I p r a i s e t h e Lord i n t h e morning,
And a n g e l s j o i n t h e song!
We p r a i s e t h e name of Jesus,
We a l l t o H i m b e l o n g .
"During t h e f o l l o w i n g week an exchange
of phone c a l l s v e r i f i e d t h e f a c t t h a t f ~ ~
s t a n d s back of e v e r y promise He h a s made.1"
--Christ1 s Object Lessons, p. 147.
"Our ' p r a y e r b a b y f was l i t e r a l l y b r o u g h t
back from t h e l a n d of t h e enemy. The doctors
had p o s t p o n e d t h e e x p l o r a t o r y s u r g e r y , and
since t h e baby had g a i n e d back a pound, t h e y
a l l o w e d him t o go home.
"Although I c o n t i n u e d t o p r a y f o r l i t t l e
Kevin and h i s mother, t h e c a r e s of t h i s l i f e
g r a d u a l l y crowded i n and I f a i l e d t o p e r s e -
vere i n P r a y e r . Some days were more p r e s s i n g
t h a n o t h e r s , b u t I managed t o s e n d a s o f t ,
t o y t o Kevin f o r h i s f i r s t b i r t h d a y ,
s o t h a11n k f u l t h a t he was s t i l l w i t h us.
Before h e r e c e i v e d i t , t h e fenemyf
struck a g a i n , and God a l l o w e d my f a i t h t o b e
tried s e v e r e l y . I f o r g o t f o r t h e moment t h a t
t h e Lord p r o m i s e s i n James 1 : 3 , 1 The trying
of your f a i t h w o r k e t h p a t i e n c e . 1
"When t h e t e l e p h o n e r a n g a t m i d n i g h t , 1
was n o t p r e p a r e d f o r t h e s t u n n i n g message
t h a t I received. K e v i n ' s mother a n x i o u s l y
t o l d me t h a t t h e baby was i n t h e h o s p i t a l
a g a i n , t h i s time w i t h what t h e d o c t o r s thought
was pneumonia. She s a i d t h e y would n o t let
even h e r s e e h i m . I t r i e d t o comfort her by
t e l l i n g h e r t h a t I would be p r a y i n g f o r him,
and t h a t I l o v e d h e r d e a r l y .
"when I p u t down t h e r e c e i v e r and slow-
lymade my way back t o bed, 1 was s i c k a t
heart. Was t h i s God' s way of s a v i n g lrny
and b r i n g i n g them back from t h e
little
f l a n d of t h e enemy?' What about t h e p r o m i s e
t h a t j u s t a few days ago had seemed so de-
f i n i t e : f ~ h u s a i t h t h e Lord; R e f r a i n t h y
voice from weeping, and t h i n e e y e s from
tears : f o r t h y work s h a l l b e rewarded, s a i t h
the ~ ~ and~ t h edy s h; a l l come a g a i n from t h e
land of t h e enemy1 ( J s r e m i a h 31 ~ 1 6 ) . I b e g a n
to ask myself where my f a i t h and c o n f i d e n c e
I t had been S O S t r o n g j u s t a f e w
d had gone.
days b e f o r e e NOW I was back down i n t h e d o l -
drums o r d e s p a i r a g a i n .
"The answer came a f t e r I went t o t h e
~ ~ ~ d i n p r a y e r : 'Come now, and l e t u s r e a s o n
t o g e t h e r , = a i t h t h e Lord1 ( I s a i a h 1:18) The
~ o p di s n o t s l a c k c o n c e r n i n g h i s promise
(11 P e t e r 3 : 9 ) . f C a s t n o t away t h e r e f o r e Youp
reward, ...
c o n f i d e n c e , which h a t h g r e a t PecOmPence of
t h a t , a f t e r ye have done t h e
w i l l of ~ o d , ye might r e c e i v e t h e promise
(Hebrews 1 0 : 2 3 ) . Hold f a s t t h e ~ r o f e s s i o nof
f y o w f f a i t h w i t h o u t wavering; ( f o r he i s
f a i t k f u l t h a t promised) (Hebrews 10:23)*
11 Then a g a i n I t u r n e d t o Jeremiah 31:16,
and w i t h c o n f i d e n c e and a s s u r a n c e i n my h e a r t
thanked ~ o fdo r H i s p r o m i s e s , and f o r b r i n g -
i n g Kevin back from t h e ' l a n d of t h e enemy'
once more.
11 I c o n t i n u e d t o p r a y t h i s way--'without
c e a s i n g ' ( I T h e s s a l o n i a n s 5 :17)=
I I Because no more t e l e p h o n e messages were
r e c e i v e d , I t o o k t h e s i l e n c e t o mean t h a t a l l
was w e l l . I c o n t i n u e d t o t h a n k t h e Lord
making Kevin w e l l a g a i n , and f o r a l l that hi,
 of commitment; and some day, if s h e persists,
h e a l t h would mean i n t h e s a l v a t i o n of b o t h
mother and baby. One day a s I was h a v i n g my ,, doubt n o t b u t what t h e P r a y e r f o r her
loved ones w i l l r e s u l t i n t h e i r b e i n g among
p r i v a t e d e v o t i o n s , I r e a d something t h a t I
t h o u g h t was s o qood. I t was i n t h e book, t h e saved.
" E a r l W r i t i n g s , page 73:
',We s h o u l d be much i n s e c r e t p r a y e r .
I a s k e d the a n g e l why t h e r e was no more
..
f a i t h and power i n I s r a e l . He s a i d , "ye l e t
go of t h e arm of t h e Lord t o o soon. Press
your p e t i t i o n s t o t h e t h r o n e , and h o l d on by
strong f a i t h . The promises are s u r e . B e l i e v e
ye r e c e i v e t h e t h i n g s ye a s k f o r , and ye
s h a l l have them.
II
I was rewarded f o r my f a i t h , f o r i n
j u s t a few weeks I r e c e i v e d a n o t h e r phone
call. T h i s t i m e my n i e c e was calm and happy. I
The d o c t o r s had found t h e c a u s e of t h e ill-
n e s s and had been a b l e t o s u c c e s s f u l l y t r e a t
t h e baby. The baby i s l e a r n i n g t o walk and
looks l i k e a b u t t e r - b a l l , according t o t h e
l a s t r e p o r t I received.
"HOW good God i s . He may t e s t u s and
t r y our f a i t h , b u t i f we w i l l b u t p e r s e v e r e ,
t h e reward f o r our f a i t h f u l n e s s w i l l be s u r e .
"I t h a n k God f o r a l l He h a s done, and

.
f o r a l l He i s g o i n g t o do i n t h e days t o
c ome If
I n a l l o u r p r a y e r c l a s s e s we make c l e a r
t h a t t h e p r a y e r f o r t h e s i c k i s t o be one of
commitment. We a l s o have made i t a p r a c t i c e
t o hand e a c h s t u d e n t s e v e r a l t y p e - w r i t t e n
p a g e s e x p l a i n i n g why p r a y e r f o r t h e s i c k must
be one of commitment. T h i s i s why Margaret,
i n r e l a t i n g h e r experience i n praying
f o r Kevin, s t a t e d t h a t i t was one of com-
mitment a s w e l l a s reception-commitment for
t h e p h y s i c a l h e a l i n g , and r e c e p t i o n f o r t h e
s p i r i t u a l l i f e of b o t h h e r n i e c e and Kevin.
And how w o n d e r f u l i s o u r F a t h e r i n heaven!
He gave h e r a wonderful answer t o t h e p r a y e r
 ,hallI do t h i s ? I know, " s h e mused, " I 111
writedown e v e r y t h i n g We u s u a l l y do e a c h day
see how many p r o m i s e s 1 haveI1 need o f .
~ h you, ~ ~~o r dk ,f o r t h i s i d e a .
Chapter 1 3
Margaret was soon i n a w r i t i n g mood, and
ideas came t h i c k and f a s t . Realizing t h a t
w i t h an i n c r e a s i n g number of c h i l d r e n coming,
ALL SUFFICIENT

, she would need a n i n c r e a s i n g number of prom-

ises,she r e c a l l e d a t y p i c a l busy day*
1rSO
111 u s u a l l y waken q u i t e e a r l y ,
I have time t o s t u d y my S a b b a t h School
I1
she wrote,

l e s s o n , r e a d and p r a y f o r my f a m i l y and
I
friends. Then I b e g i n t o t h i n k about t h e l i t -
t l e ones who w i l l be w i t h me a l l day, and P r a y
f o r e a c h of them.
f l ~ what
~ ~ ,promise c a n I c l a i m t h a t w i l l

help me t o d a y ? What do I need most? Pa-

t i e n c e ! T h a t ' s it-and p l e n t y of i t , what
ARGARET p i c k e d UP t h e l e s s o n a s s i g n - w i t h f i v e boys and two g i r l s i n c o n s t a n t no-
merit and r e a d t h e f i r s t p a r t : I1 B r i n g tion!
in f i v e B i b l e promises t h a t d e a l "What does ' p a t i e n c e 1 mean? I t means
with everyday l i f e . 11 Then she c l o s - being calm, q u i e t , uncomplaining. Uncom-
led h e r e y e s and claimed t h e promise p l a i n i n g ? Calm? When seven c h i l d r e n seem t o
f o r wisdom found i n James 1:s. be t a l k i n g a t once, t r y i n g t o show me a new
Since a t t e n d i n g a few of t h e c l a s s e s on
prayer, M a r g a r e t was g e t t i n g b e t t e r a c q u a i n t -
ed with h e r S a v i o u r , end i t gave h e r q u i t e
note
phone,
. .
d o l l y , a book, o r handing me a b o t t l e o r a
*
o r h
n o t t o mention t h e r i n g i n g t e l e -
a v i n g t o r e s c u e t h e PUPPY and s e t -
a thrillwhenever H e s e n t a d e f i n i t e answer tie an argument about whose t u r n i t i s t o
a simple l i t t l e p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n .
II hold him. Yes, I need p a t i e n c e ! The Lord
lI I i f e ? " She t h o u g h t about i t says s11o , too. No. 1: I n Hebrews 10~36,God
f o r a moment. promise
I wonder how 11
a
T h a t ' s q u i t e an a s s i nment.
much time i t w i l l t a k e , she says: 'Ye have need of p a t i e n c e , t h a t , a f t e r
When my day b e g i n s , i t r e a l l y ye have done t h e w i l l of God, Ye might r e -
s t a r t s O f f w i t h a bang, and I c e r t a i n l y need c e i v e t h e promise.' 1'11 need t h a t p a t i e n c e
g o i n g t o s t a y ahead of a h o u s e f u l of i n j u s t a few minutes. The s c h o o l bus w i l l
l i v e l y y o u n g s t e r s . 11 be h e r e any minute, Then 1'11 P a s s o u t CraY-
Margaret o p e r a t e d a day-nursery and her ons o r magazines and books. 1'11 have t o s e e
were f i l l e d w i t h a v a r i e t y of problems. t o i t t h a t t h e y a r e a l l e n t e r t a i n e d and busy
She n e v e r knew from one day t o t h e n e x t how b e f o r e I h u r r y Walter a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t *
many c h i l d r e n would be p r e s e n t , Yes, I 1 11 c e r t a i n l y need p a t i e n c e !
She looked a t t h e c l o c k . "Two hours be- 11 Then i t ' s p r a y e r time w i t h t h e c h i l d -
f o r e they s t a r t a r r i v i n g . L e t me see, how pen. Some i n s i s t t h a t t h e y have j u s t had
 p r a y e r a t home. I can i n s i s t t h a t we pray
again,. o r I can f i n d a n o t h e r wav-
. .. .. .
"Now what promise do I neeLi I John 1:
9, of c o u r s e , f he i s f a i t h f u l and just
t o forgive us even when we've been a
l i t t l e h a s t y w i t h our tongues. I r a i s e d my
v o i c e b e f o r e I l e f t t h e house. I wanted t o
make s u r e t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n knew I meant what
I said. I run outside, f e e l the c r i s p a i r ,
wave t o t h e f r i e n d l y bus d r i v e r , k i s s my boy
good-by, and thank t h e Lord f o r H i s many
blessings t o t h i s point.
"I g e t back i n t o t h e house, having claim-
ed t h e promise of I John 1 : 9 and am r e a d y f o r
the next hurdle. (I l i k e t o c a l l i t 'hurdlef
because t h e Lord s a y s , ' l e a p f o r joyf when
y o u ' r e i n t r o u b l e . And l e a p i n g i s a good way
..
t o g e t - over a h u r d l e , i s n ' t i t ? )
"Promise No. 2 : This i s found i n I s a i a h
30:15, ' I n r e t u r n i n g and r e s t s h a l l ye b e
saved; i n q u i e t n e s s and i n c o n f i d e n c e s h a l l
be your s t r e n g t h . From I s a i a h 40:31, I
l e a r n how t o be q u i e t and have c o n f i d e n c e :
'They t h a t w a i t upon t h e Lord s h a l l renew
t h e i r s t r e n g t h ; t h e y s h a l l mount up w i t h
wings a s e a g l e s ; t h e y s h a l l r u n , and n o t be
weary; and t h e y s h a l l walk, and n o t f a i n t . '
"Promise No. 3: James 1:5-8, "1f any
of you l a c k wisdom, l e t him a s k of God; ...
and i t s h a l l be g i v e n h i m . l This one I use
most of a l l .
"Now t h e sun i s up a l i t t l e h i g h e r and
i t looks a l i t t l e warmer o u t s i d e . I f one
c h i l d d e c i d e s t o go o u t s i d e , i t ' s amazing how
a l l of t h e o t h e r l i t t l e c h e r u b s d e c i d e t h e y
want t o go o u t too. Everyone i s s h o u t i n g a
r e q u e s t , 'Can I go t o o ? Can I go t o o ? '
" ~ lr ilg h t , what do I do now? Where i s
t h e wisdom I ' v e j u s t thanked God f o r ? I t e l l
myself n o t t o waver because I know t h a t I
won't r e c e i v e a n y t h i n g of t h e Lord i f I waver.
I must keep calm now and u s e t h e wisdom God
has g i v e n me. God h a s promised t o show me a
'mope ; x c e l l e n t way' ( f C o r i n t h i a n s 12:3 ) -
The e a s i e s t way would be f o r me t o say,
' F i n e , a l l of you g a t your j a c k e t s on and go
out and p l a y . I ' v e g o t work t o do.'
" ~ u It d o n ' t do t h a t because i t i s n o t
t h e 'more e x c e l l e n t way1. I n t h i s c a s e , and
a t t h e p r e s e n t moment t h e 'more e x c e l l e n t way'
i s found i n Deuteronomy 6:6,7, 'Thou s h a l t
t e a c h them d i l i g e n t l y u n t o t h y c h i l d r e n . '
Psalms 127:3 t e l l s u s t h a t ' C h i l d r e n a r e a n
h e r i t a g e of t h e Lord.' S i n c e t h e younger
members of t h e Lordf s f a m i l y need t o b e
t a u g h t , t h e Lordf s wisdom f b r me i s t o teach.
Teach what? How? Right now? Right now, be-
f o r e t h e l e a d e r of t h i s l i t t l e f l o c k t u r n s
i n t o t h e Lone Ranger o r Bat Man-or something
worse
.. - !
11
Promise No. 4: T h i s one comes t o mind
e a s i l y and q u i c k l y . I t i s found i n I s a i a h
4 1 : l O : ' F e a r thou n o t ; f o r I am w i t h t h e e : be
n o t dismayed; f o r I am t h y God: I w i l l
strengthen thee; yea, I w i l l h e l p thee. And
I say f Thank You, Lord. Thank You.
'lnz!ediately I r a i s e my hand f o r a t t e n -
t i o n . When t h e y a r e a l l w a i t i n g f o r an an-
swer, I drop my voice and say v e r y q u i e t l y ,
'Whose t u r n i s i t t o h e l p me t o d a y ? ' Of
c o u r s e I d o n f t expect them a l l t o change i n -
t o p e r f e c t l i t t l e h e l p e r s i n s t a n t l y , b u t one
o r two of them s h o u t , '1 w i l l ! ' I will! l
(My t u r n ! The mob h a s been d i s p e r s e d , new
p a r t n e r s h i p s have been formed, and a g a i n I
say, Thank. You, Lord. Thank You, '
" ~ n ds o i t goes throughout t h e day. Each
c h i l d i s d i f f e r e n t , r e a c t s d i f f e r e n t l y , and
so God g i v e s the wisdom t o f i t t h e need.
Sometimes we s t o p i n t h e middle of a v e r y im-
p o r t a n t job t o r e a d a s t o r y , have p r a y e r w i t h
a naughty l i t t l e lamb, o r g e t o u t t h e mem-
ory v e r s e b o o k l e t s and r e p e a t some B i b l e
verses.
 t h e book t h a t i s r e q u i r e d i n t h e p r a y e r c l a s s .
I d o n ' t b e l i e v e I a n a s k i n g ' a m i s s f (James 4:
3 ) , o r t h a t i t i s a s e l f i s h a s k i n g ; so p l e a s e ,
Lord p r o v i d e t h e t i m e s o I c a n r e a d . Thank
You, Lord. Amen. I I
Then s h e went a b o u t h e r u s u a l h o u s s h o l d
tasks.
When i t was time f o r t h e babyf s morning
nap, an u n u s u a l t h i n g happened. Nine-month-
o l d Susan just c o u l d n o t go t o s l e e p . I f she
c o u l d t a l k , s h e might have i n s i s t e d on p l a y -
i n g w i t h B e t t y . But s i n c e t h a t was n o t pos-
s i b l e , she l e t mother know i n o t h e r ways t h a t
a nap was n o t t o h e r l i k i n g .
I I Well, i f you won' t , you won' t " s a i d mo-
t h e r , who had many t h i n g s t o do and was h u r -
r y i n g t h r o u g h h e r work t h i n k i n g t h e Lord
would work something o u t s o she c o u l d s t u d y
f o r t h e c l a s s . Her mind was a l s o on t h e
book f o r r e q u i r e d r e a d i n g t h a t s h e had g o t -
t e n a t t h e :lass.
A f t e r l u n c h , Baby Susan d e c i d e d t h a t a
good l o n g s l e e p would b e j u s t f i n e . Mother
wliole-heartedly a g r e e d , and soon t u c k e d h e r
sleep): d a u g h t e r i n t o bed.
You d a r l i n g , If w h i s p e r e d mother. "Why
c a n ' t your b i g s i s t e r go t o s l e e p a s q u i c k l y
and a s e a s i l y a s YOU?" And t h e n t h e t h v ~ g h t
s t r u c k h e r , p e r h a p s t h i s was t h e way t h e Lord
had decided t o answer h e r p r a y e r .
Q u i e t l y c l o s i n g t h e bedroom door, she
went i n s e a r c h of B e t t y . She s t i l l d i d n o t
want t o t a k e a nap and t r i e d t o p a r s u s d s
Mothe- t n a t i t w33 n o t r e a l l y n e c e s s a r y .
But Mother was d e t e r m i n e d t o h e l p t h s
Lord answer h e r p r a y e r . The promise found i n
s h a l l be g i v e n ...
Matthew 7:7 came t o h e r mind, "Ask, and i t
II
"Dear Lord, 1I Mother p r a y e d , "I b e l i e v e
You a r e answering my p r a y e r f o r a q u i e t time
t o r e a d t h e book. Please help Betty t o l i e
down and r e l a x now w h i l e t h e baby i s a s l e e p .
you w i l l g i v e i t t o me ..
you have promised t h a t i f I a s k f o r a n y t h i n g ,
So I a m a s k i n g You
I b e l i e v e t h a t she
t o l e t h e r go t o s l e e p
i s going t o go t o s l eI1 e p now; and I t h a n k You
f o r doing i t . Amen.
While Mother was s i l e n t l y t a l k i n g t o t h e
one Who s a y s , " s u f f e r l i t t l e c h i l d r e n t o come
,to me" (Mark 1 0 : 1 4 ) , she was g e n t l y r u b b i n g
~ ~ t t y back ' s and showi.ng h e r l o v e and a t t e n -
tion. Then s h e began humming s o f t l y a f a m i l -
i a r tune.
Under t h e subduing i n f l u e n c e , t h e p r e -
sence of J e s u s wag f e l t i n t h e room, and i m -
m e d i a t e l y two-year-old B e t t y , who, up t o t h i s
time had n e v e r gone t o s l e e p w i t h i n t h e hour,
c l o s e d h e r eyes and was f a s t a s l e e p .
With a h e a r t f u l l of t h a n k f u l n e s s , Mother
whispered, "Thank You, d e a r Lord," and hur-
r i e d toward h e r book and a c o m f o r t a b l e c h a i r .
P e a r l James was f r a n t i c , and time was
s l i p p i n g away. Where i n t h e world had she
p u t t h o s e stamps? I n t h e desk drawer? She
looked a g a i n , w i t h o u t s u c c e s s . I n the k i t -
chen by t h e t e l e p h o n e ? No, n o t there.
"Where, oh, where a r e t h e y ? " she w h i s -
pered a l o u d . "They s h o u l d be h e r e somewhere.
Maybe . . ."
Things j u s t don' t d i s a p p e a r i n t o t h i n a i r !
she glanced a t t h e clock.
I ' d n e v e r make i t t o t h e p o s t - o f f i c e now.
"No,
I t ' s a l r e a d y c l o s i n g time. But t h i s l e t t e r
-
must be i n h e m a i l - t o n i g h t ! I j u s t have t o
f i n d t h o s e stamps!"
I s t h i s t h e way i t i s a t your house oc-
c a s i o n a l l y ? You may n o t be l o o k i n g f o r p o s t -
age stamps; i t c o u l d be your S a b b a t h s c h o o l
l e s s o n q u a r t e r l y , o r any one of a number of
items.
The Lord s a y s , " C a l l upon me i n t h e day
..
Of t r o u b l e : I w i l l d e l i v e r t h e e
50:15 ).
. I f (psalms
 A f t e r l o o k i n g i n e v e r y l i k e l y p l a c e again
P e a r l d e c i d e d t o c l a i m a B i b l e promise. "If
i t c a n work f o r o t h e r s , t h e Lord c a n make i t
work f o r me," s h e s a i d a l o u d a s she walked
o v e r t o t h e s o f a where s h e p l a n n e d t o speak
t o t h e Lord.
A t t h e n e x t m e e t i n g of t h e p r a y e r c l a s s ,
t h e members r e j o i c e d w i t h P e a r l a s s h e r e p o r t , WORRIED ABOUT CONDITIONS ?
ed:
II I c l a i m e d t h e p r o m i s e , 'Ask, and i t
s h a l l b e g i v e n you; s e e k a n d ye s h a l l f i n d , '
(Matthew 7:7). Then I opened one of t h e draw-
e r s and l i f t e d some p a p e r s , and o u t dropped
t h e stamps!"
He Who w a t c h e s t h e t i n y sparrow i s i n -
t e r e s t e d i n e v e r y d e t a i l of o u r l i v e s .
According t o If The G r e a t C o n t r o v e r s y " ,
page 622: If We s h o u l d now a c q u a i n t o u r s e l v e s
w i t h God by p r o v i n g H i s p r o m i s e s . 11 I R I A M BROWN was a young, v i v a c i o u s
Are you? c o l l e g e sophomore who h a d r e c e n t l y
l e a r n e d of t h e Seventh-day ~ d v e n t -
i s t f a i t h and w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y ac-
c e p t e d i t . She was e n r o l l e d i n
t h e c l a s s on t h e P r a y e r of R e c e p t i o n , and i t
was my p r i v i l e g e t o i n t e r v i e w h e r one day.
We d i s c u s s e d t h e c o n d i t i o n s t o answered
prayer. I wanted t o know h e r a t t i t u d e toward
t h i s m a t t e r of c o n d i t i o n s t o answered p r a y e r .
Some of them a r e :
1. To f e e l our need. I s a i a h 44:3.
2. F a i t h . Hebrews 11:6.
3 . Harbor no c h e r i s h e d s i n . Psalms
66:18.
4. Obedience. Prov. 28:9,
5. U n s e l f i s h purpose. Luke 11:l-13.
6. Persistence. Luke 18:7.
7. D i l i g e n c e . Luke 15:8.
8. Through C h r i s t . John 1 6 :23.
9. A forgiving s p i r i t . Mark 11:25,
26; Luke 6:37.
10. An uncondemning s p i r i t . Isaiah
58:9-12; Luke 6:37.
 11. Family harmony. I Peter 3:6-11.
12. Humility. Psalms 2 5 : 9 .
In reply to my question, Miriam said,
"In the church of which I was a member before
I learned of the Seventh-day Adventist faith,
nothing was said about conditions, In fact,
very little was said about prayer."
Then smiled as she said,"Ifm so happy to
learn about the conditions to answered prayer;
for I feel now that I have a real assurance
in prayer. I know now that as surely as I
fulfill the conditions, God will fulfill His
promise. It is most encouraging to me as I
pray "
Then she went on to say that there are
times when there is a struggle to surrender,
to be willing to meet the conditions to an-
swered prayer. 11But,11 she said, "I know it
is useless for me to pray unless I am also
willing to fulfill the simple conditions."
Another student to whom I spoke about
this same matter shared with me his reaction.
"To me, meeting the conditions to answered
prayer is a way of life," he said. 11 The con-
ditions to answered prayer merely outline
what a normal, healthy Christian life is like.
If we are living the right kind of life in
Christ, then we are also fulfilling the con-
ditions to answered prayer." To him it was
just that simple.
To illustrate further: One of the con-
ditions to answered prayer is to have a for-
giving spirit. This forgiving spirit should
not be turned on only when we want an answer
to a prayer. It can be, and should be, a way
of life. In the same way the Bible tells us,
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me" (Psalms 66:18) If Jesus
lives in our hearts, we will, as a normal
and constant way of life, be devoid of har-
boring iniquity.
What is true of these two conditions is
true of all the conditions to answered prayer.
God does not ask the impossible, nor does He
make it difficult for us to approach Him in
prayer.
We have discovered in our ministry that
even the most dedicated men have problems
with which they must battle. Someone has
done them a grave injustice, and they feel it
keenly-sometimes to the point of retaliation.
Bitterness seems to have taken a hold of their
feelings and they begin to turn sour in their
entire attitude. This condition can creen un
A A
on us almost imperceptibly, even as we carry
heavy burdens for God.
When someone maligns our purest motives,
misjudges our most sincere efforts, and mis-
represents our unselfish actions, human na-
ture is going to feel it. To say we are not
hurt is to ignore that we are human.
The James Whites had such an experience,
and of this Ellen White wrote:
11
Our property may go, and we will still
rejoice in God, if it be used for the advance-
ment of his cause. We have cheerfully spent
the best of our days, the best of our strength,
and have nearly worn out in the same cause,
and feel the infirmities of premature age,
and yet we will rejoice. But when our pro-
fessed brethren attack our character and in-
fluence, by representing us as wealthy, world-
ly, and grasping for more, it is then that we
feel keenly. Let us enjoy the character and
influence we have dearly earned during the
past twenty years, with even poverty and a
slight hold on health and this mortal life,
and we will rejoice, and cheerfully give to
the cause the little there is left of us."
--Testimonies, Vol. 1, pp. 607,608.
This illustrates the effect injustices
can have on the best of saints. These injus-
tices are felt keenly by most everyone wrong-
ed this way. But there is a difference be-
tween being hurt and being bitter; between be-
ing wronged and being retaliatory. The Whites
felt the hurt keenly, but they did not permit
themselves to dwell in bitterness, brooding
over these injustices. They recognized the
hurt for what it was, but when they had aired
their feelings, they went on in courage and
faith, determined to be servants of the God
of heaven.
Paul suggests that we "examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith" (I1 Corinthians
13:5),from time to time. This can be a pain-
ful process, but when we have gone through
the experience, we realize that unless we have
a companionship with Jesus, of ourselves we
are most incapable of living a successful
Christian life.
When we realize our need for the power
of heaven to transform these hearts of ours,
we live in the attitude of surrender and gra-
titude for what He has done for us. We begin
to step out in faith and ask for still great-
er things from a God Who is willing to give
us good things.
Some years ago I was thrilled to learn
that every Bible promise is for me, person-
ally. I learned it from studying the book
"Ministry of Healing". On page 122 I read
these words: 11 So with all the promises of
God's word. In them He is speaking to us in-
dividually, speaking as directly as if we
could listen to His voice. 11
Then on page 59 of the book, "Christ's
Object Lessons", I noted these words: "only
he who receives the Scriptures as the voice
of God speaking to himself, is a true learn-
er. 11
Since I, a minister of God and His Holy
Word, considered myself a true learner, I
also accepted the fact that I must receive
the Scriptures as God's voice speaking to me
per sonally.
"What a thrill to know this," I thought.
11And what a feeling of joyous anticipation it
is to study and read my Lord's messages to
- personally!
me "
Then I read, 11 To every promise of God
there are conditions."-m~ducation, p. 253.
"There are certain conditions upon which
we may expeot that God will hear and answer
our prayers. 11 --Steps to Christ, p. 95 (Army-
Navy edition).
After studying these conditions, I made
another discovery. My own efforts to fulfill
the conditions were not enough. Without God's
help, it was impossible. So I began to pray
earnestly, as I studied, to know just how to
comply with these divine requirements.
Then I received an understanding of the
whole problem, that brought peace and joy to
my soul. I realized that long before I was
born, God had already prepared all the help
I needed to do this.
As I share this knowledge with the young
people in the prayer classes, it proves to be
a blessing to them as it was to me, and as it
continues to thrill my heart. I share it
something like this:
First-God gave me a Saviour in His Son,
Jesus, John 3 :16.
Second-God gave me the Bible. I1 Peter
1:4. (It contains 3,573 promises. )
Third--God gave me faith to accept Jesus
as my personal Saviour. Romans 12:
3(last part).
Fourth--God gives me repentance and for-
giveness. Acts 5:31; I John l:9.
Fifth-God gives me a new heart and a
new spirit. Ezekiel 36:26,27.
Sixth-God gives me love for others.
Romans 5:s; Galatians 5:22.

Chapter 15
THAT GUARDIAN A N G E L
HE TELEPHONE rang. It was Margaret
-
calling.
"borothy? Would you like to
go with us to Norwalk to hear Elder
Coon tonight. Mrs. Heintz plans to
go and she says t h t there is room in the car
for two or three more. How about it?
--.
Without a moment's hesitation, Dorothy
answered, "Oh, yes, I ld love to go! Where
shall I meet you, and what time? At 6:30?
Don't you think we should leave earlier?
That freeway traffic can get awfully congest-
ed, you know, and we donft want to miss any
of Elder Coon's message. All right I f l l b e
ready. Thank you! Thank you for calling and
inviting me. 'Bye now. I'll see you tonight. II
And so began a chain of circumstances
that changed the concept of prayer in the
lives of several of oar friends. The author
was teaching the A, B, C's of Bible prayer.
"In the prayer of faith there is a di-
vine science; it is a science that everyone
who would make his lifework a success must
understand" ( Education, p. 257).
The speaker pointed out that just prior
to the coming of Jesus, "we shall need an ex-
~eriencewhich we do not now possess" (=
Great Controversy, p. 622L
These special studies that were being
conducted i n the Norwalk, California church
were an attempt to share with the people the
ffhow"of getting this experience. The atten-
tive listeners were reminded, "we should now
acquaint ourselves with God by p'r6ving- His
promises" (Ibid).
"In the word of God there are gracious
...
promises, from which those who are suffering
may receive comfort and hope and en-
couragement " ( Counsels on Health, p. 213).
Margaret and Dorothy were thrilled to
learn the basic fundamentals--the "know-how"
-of proving God' s promises.
Just as they had to know the A, B, C 1 s
of learning before the knowledge of reading
came to them, so the A, B y C fs of prayer had
to be mastered before they actually became
acquainted with God. This amazing subject
came from a Book they thought they knew pret-
ty well.
ASK, Jesus bids us in Matthew 21:22.
BELIEVE, that you receive, Matthew 21:22.
CLAIM, by RETURNING thanks that we have
received, John 11:41.
The speaker recommended that all who
could obtain the book ducatio ion", by E. G.
White, should read and study the chapter en-
titled, "Faith and ~rayer". 11He called it
"the mlllion dollar chapter.
Margaret and Dorothy wholeheartedly
agreed when they read on page 258: "He
(Christ) makes it plain that our asking must
be according to God's will; we must ask for
the things that He has promised, and what-
ever we receive must be used in doing His
equivocal.. ..
will. The conditions met, the promise is un-
For any gift He has promised,
we may ask; then we are to believe that we
receive, and return thanks to God that we
have received. I I
As the group of ladies continued to trav-
el the eighty-odd miles from their homes to
the series of meetings and back, many differ-
ent opinions and experiences were recounted.
They were thrilled with the knowledge and un-
derstanding they were receiving from these
meetings. Their faith and confidence in
Jesus seemed to be growing by leaps and bounds.
Then one Sunday Dorothy' s telephone rang
again. "~orothy, 11
Margaret said, "Pat and
her husband want to go to the meeting tonight,
and since Mrs. Heintz already has a carload,
I f m planning to take my car. Would you like
to ride with us?"
"yes, surely, 11 Dorothy answered, "I 11
be glad to. Arrangements were made as to the
time and place of meeting.
That evening, with Pat and Harvey aboard,
Margaret started in the direction of Dorothy's
home. As the car's engine began to warm up,
a faint odor of gasoline could be smelled.
For several minutes nothing was said.
Finally Margaret became worried. "I don't
like this gasoline smell at all, 11 she com-
mented. Silently, a special petition was
sent up to the One Who promises to give wis-
dom and protection.
When they came to a service station,
Margaret decided to have the motor checked
for possible gasoline line leaks. She knew
from past experience that it is not a wise
thing to lean on your "own understandingf1
(Proverbs 3:s). If help is available, the
smart thing to do is to get it!
While the tank was being filled, a young
man checked under the hood.
11
He's almost too young to know what he's
doing, 11 Margaret was thinking. She turned to
Harvey. 1' Would you mind checking to see what's
wrong? And please tell the man to hurry.
We'll be late unless we can get back on the
road shortly. "
When Harvey returned to the car, he said,
"The gas line has a leak, but the man tight-11
ened it. I'm sure it will be all right now.
Again a silent prayer went heavenward-
this time full of thankfulness. A few min-
utes later, with Dorothy in the car, they
headed toward N O I ' W R ~and
~ the evening meeting.
Just before they drove onto the freeway,
they pulled off to the side of the road and
~laimedthe promise found in Psalms 34:7, h he
angel of the Lord encampeth round about them
that fear him, and delivereth them." They
offered a word of prayer and headed out on the
freeway.
The Sunday traffic was unusually heavy.
It was stop-and-go for much of the way. As
they drove along, the gasoline smell seemed
to be getting stronger. Even with the win-
dows down, the smell was almost unbearable.
Margaret was becoming very uneasy. Try-
ing to strengthen her own courage, she said,
"The smell of gasoline must be coming from
the little bit that leaked from the loose con-
nection. I f m sure it will go away eventual-
11
ly *
Dorothy agreed somewhat reluctantly.
The others made no comment. For a while no
one spoke. All were busy with their own
thoughts. Was the gas line really fixed?
Then how was it the smell was getting strong-
er?"
Margaret was earnestly pleading with
God, "Please donft let anything happen. Wef -
re not seeking foolish pleasure. We're seek-
ing more knowledge of Thee. Please take the
car to Norwalk and back home a5 ain without
any trouble. Thank You, Lord.
Grgaret felt no definite assurance that
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 i g n o r a n t of mechanical devices. A "typical broken t h e l i n e when he t i g h t e n e d t h e connec-
woman d r i v e r " she could o n l y ASK, BELIEVE, t i o n . For over e i g h t y m i l e s , g a s o l i n e had been
and CLAIM t h e promises God had made. s p r a y i n g out a l l over t h e h o t engine.
Margaret searched h e r own h e a r t t o be When t h e r e p a i r s were done, Margaret r e -
s u r e t h a t e v e r y t h i n g was a l l r i g h t and t h a t c e i v e d a c e r t a i n t h r i l l when she h e a r d t h e
God could answer t h e p e t i t i o n s of h e r h e a r t . mechanic say,
If
She remembered t h a t i n " s t e p s t o ~ h r i s t " , Your g u a r d i a n a n g e l must c e r t a i n l y have
been w i t h you l a s t n i g h t . You c o u l d a l l have
page 95 i t s a y s : "When a l l known wrongs a r e
righted, b e l i e v e t h a t God w i l l answer been blown t o kingdom come!"
our p e t i t ~ ~ n ~ Yes, 8 k she was s u r e t h a t every- S u r e l y we do have a p r a y e r - h e a r i n g God
t h i n g was a l l r i g h t i n t h i s department. Whose " c h i l d r e n a r e never a b s e n t from His
"He t h a t cometh t o God must b e l i e v e t h a t mind" (The Desire of Ages, p. 313).
11
he i s , and t h a t he i s a rewarder of them t h a t We may p r e s e n t our p e t i t i o n t o t h e
d i l i g e n t l y seek him I f (Hebrews 11:6t. F a t h e r , c l a i m i n g a l l t h a t He h a s promised.
I I There i s n e c e s s i t y f o r d i l i g e n c e i n The honor of His t h r o n e i s s t a k e d f o r t h e
p r a y e r H ; f ~ t e p st o C h r i s t , p. 98). f u l f i l l m e n t of H i s wordff ( P r o p h e t s and Kings
I I Continue i n p r a y e r , and watch i n t h e p. G 8 ) .
same w i t h t h a n k s g i v i n g " ( C o l o s s i n s 4:2).
11
When our p r a y e r s seem n o t t o be answer-
ed, we a r e t o c l i n g t o t h e promise; f o r t h e
time of answering w i l l s u r e l y come, and we
-
Note: Margaret was so t h r i l l e d w i t h t h i s m i r -
a c l e t h a t she gave me t h e above account, and
s h a l l r e c e i v e t h e b l e s s i n g we need most" we a r e happy t o s h a r e i t w i t h you i n h e r own
( S t e p s t o C h r i s t , p. 95). words.
Because Margaret and Dorothy had l e a r n e d
a l l t h i s from t h e meeting and were obeying
these injunctions, they could a l s o say with
confidence, "we (have done a s Thou h a s t said!
We ' p r e s e n t Thy promise, "Ask, and i t s h a l l
be g i v e n y ~ u l l ~ ~( C l h r i s t ' s Object Lessons, p.
147).
As t h e y committed t h e i r way unto t h e
Lord, and t r u s t e d a l s o i n H i m , He f u l f i l l e d
His promise and d i d b r i n g i t t o p a s a f f ( P s a l m s
37:5). The t r i p back home was uneventful.
The a n g e l of t h e Lord d i d encamp around them
and d e l i v e r e d them from a most dangerous s i t -
u a t i o n , and from what could have become a
burning, f i e r y f u r n a c e .
The next day a r e l i a b l e mechanic checked
t h e motor. I n s t e a d of a l o o s e c o n n e c t i o n
t h e r e was a d e f i n i t e break i n t h e g a s l i n e .
E v i d e n t l y t h e s e r v i c e s t a t i o n a t t e n d a n t had

Chapter 16
"I F O U N D W H A T I W A N T E D ! "
OU MAY NOT remember me, b u t I was
a t t e n d i n g Milo Academy a t t h e time
you were t h e r e f o r a Week of Pray-
e r . That one week meant more t o
me t h a n any o t h e r week of my l i f e .
Although I e n j o y e d t h e s e r v i c e s a t t h e t i m e ,
I d i d n o t r e a l i z e u n t i l much l a t e r j u s t how
much I would u s e what I l e a r n e d d u r i n g t h a t
one week. " So w r o t e Verna Highglow more
t h a n two y e a r s a f t e r t h e week she r e f e r r e d
to . Her l e t t e r of a p p r e c i a t i o n was b r i e f -
o n l y one page-but t h a t one page was packed
w i t h a joy t h a t comes from a c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f
answered p r a y e r .
Verna c i t e d two examples of answered
prayer a s evidence. One c o n c e r n e d h e r mar-
r i a g e t o a Godly young man; t h e o t h e r was
t h a t s h e had found t h e Lord J e s u s i n a v e r y
p e r s o n a l way. "I c l a i m H i m a s my v e r y ger-
sonal Saviour, " she t e s t i f i e d .
That same day we r e c e i v e d i n t h e m a i l
a n o t h e r l e t t e r of a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e good
a l a d y had r e c e i v e d from o u r book, h he A , B,
c 1 s of B i b l e ~ r a y e r " . T h i s l a d y s a i d , " I 1 v e
been a c o n s c i e n t i o u s Seventh-day A d v e n t i s t
a l l my l i f e , b u t I had n e v e r l e a r n e d t o ac-
c e p t God a t H i s word i n a r e a l , p r a c t i c a l way
u n t i l just recently. I have now r e c e i v e d a n
i n s i g h t i n t o t h e s c i e n c e of p r a y e r and my
f a i t h h a s grown. I am s o t h a n k f u l t h a t God
h a s r e v e a l e d t h i s t o me. I want t o be u s e d
of H i m t o h e l p many o t h e r s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h71 e
t h i n g s t h a t have so t h r i l l e d my own h e a r t .
These two l e t t e r s came i n t h e m a i l j u s t
i n t i m e f o r me t o u s e them i n my S a b b a t h
morning sermon t h e n e x t day. I e n t i t l e d my
sermon, "I Found What I Wanted." I present-
ed p r i n c i p l e s , on t h e b a s i s of which, t h e
a u t h o r s of t h e above l e t t e r s c o u l d w r i t e i n
such glowing terms.
I s h a r e d w i t h t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n what I
f e e l a r e some of t h e most t h r i l l i n g p a s s a g e s
of S c r i p t u r e . The f i r s t p a s s a g e I i n v i t e d
t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n t o r e a d w i t h me i s found i n
Numbers 23 :19 :
11
God i s n o t a man, t h a t he s h o u l d l i e ;
n e i t h e r t h e son of man, t h a t he s h o u l d r e -
p e n t : h a t h he s a i d , and s h a l l he n o t do i t ?
o r h a t h he spoken, and s h a l l h e n o t make i t
good? 'I
T h i s t e x t p r e c l u d e s f o r e v e r any doubLe
t a l k on t h e p a r t of o u r h e a v e n l y F a t h e r . I t
a g r e e s w i t h t h e s t a t e m e n t of o u r Lord J e s u s
Himself t h a t " t h e s c r i p t u r e c a n n o t b e b r o k e n , "
John 10:35. I t i s a l s o i n harmony w i t h t h e
i n s p i r e d s t a t e m e n t of t h e a p o s t l e P a u l , "For
a l l t h e p r o m i s e s of God i n him a r e yea, aria
i n h i m Amen, u n t o t h e g l o r y of God by u s .
11
11 C o r i n t h i a n s 1:20.
Joshua, t h e l e a d e r of I s r a e l , made a
s i m i l a r s t a t e m e n t t o t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of
a l l t h e t r i b e s j u s t b e11 f o r e h e l a i d h i s bur-
dens down. He s a i d , And ye know i n a l l your
h e a r t s and i n a l l your s o u l s , t h a t n o t one
t h i n g h a t h f a i l e d of a l l t h e good t h i n g s
which t h e Lord your God spake concerning YOU;
a l l a r e come t o p a s s unto and n o t one
t h i n g h a t h f a i l e d t h e r e o f .Y;oyishua 2) :14.
I l i k e t o c a l l t h e s e wonderful s c r i p t u r e s
I?
s u p p o r t i n g promises", because they s u p p o r t ,
o r s t r e n g t h e n our f a i t h . They agree w i t h
t h e i n s p i r e d P s a l m i s t who q u o t e s t h e Lord a s
saying, "My covenant w i l l I n o t break, n o r
a l t e r t h e t h i n g t h a t i s gone o u t of my l i p s . "
Psalms 89:34.
These ? sup o r t i n g promises" a r e n o t l i k e
t h e p r o v e r b i a l R s t r a w s " t h a t t h e drowning man
I John 2:25, which s a y s , "And t h i s i s t h e
promise t f f a t he h a t h promised u s , even e t e r -
nal life. Now when I came t o t h e word "us"
I s u b s t i t u t e d my own name. Now i t r e a d ,
" ~ n dt h i s i s t h e promise t h a t he h a t h prom-
i s e d Glenn Coon, even e t e r n a l l i f e . "
Next I t u r n e d i n my B i b l e t o John 3:16
and a g a i n i n s e r t e d my name, Now i t r e a d , "For
God s o loved Glenn Coon, t h a t he gave h i s
only b e g o t t e n Son, t h a t Glenn Coon b e l i e v i n g
i n him should n o t p e r i s h , b u t have e v e r l a s t -
ing l i f e .
11

grasps for. They a r e "anchors" t o t h e s o u l . Then I went back and r e a d a g a i n t h e prom-

As we d r i f t along over l i f e ' s sea-if we r e a l - i s e of I John 1:9, t h i s time i n s e r t i n g my
l y a r e drifting-an anchor w i l l change t h e own name: "If Glenn Coon c o n f e s s e s h i s s i n s ,
picture. I t i s n e c e s s a r y t o keep u s s t e a d y he i s f a i t h f u l and J u s t t o f o r g i v e Glenn Coon
i n t h e b a t t l e and storm, i n t h e f u r y and anger h i s s i n s , and t o cleanse I?
him, Glenn Coon, from
of t h e sea. a l l unrighteousness.
I w e l l remember, e a r l y i n my m i n i s t r y , I cannot d e s c r i b e t h e assurance t h a t i n -
h e a r i n g an e l d e r l y p r e a c h e r i n v i t i n g our a t - s e r t i n g my own name i n t h e s e promises gave t o
t e n t i o n t o a very important v e r s e of s c r i p - me. I t d i d something f o r t h i s h e a r t of mine!
t u r e . He s a i d t h a t when God and Abraham were I would recommend t h a t you t r y t h i s , t o o , and
t a l k i n g t o g e t h e r , God f i r s t made Abraham a see what i t w i l l do f o r you. I now u s e t h e
promise. Then God backed up t h a t promise by A, B, C f s of r e c e p t i v e p r a y e r a s I do t h i s .
an o a t h : "For when God made promise t o Abra- You remember them, d o n ' t you:
ham, because he could swear by no g r e a t e r ,
he sware by h i m s e l f , " Hebrews 6:13. (Verse
-
A i s Ask, Matthew 7:7.
He has promised we may ask.
I?
For a n r g i f t
-
1 7 , margin, I ? i n t e r p o s e d himself by an o a t h . " ) ducati ion, p. 258.
Then t h e p r e a c h e r went on t o r e a d t h e e i g h t -
e e n t h v e r s e , hat by two immutable t h i n g s ,
-
B i s B e l i e v e , Mark 11:24. h hen we-.
a r e t o b e l i e v e t h a t we r e c e i v e . "
i n which i t was i m p o s s i b l e f o r God t o l i e , we -1b.id.
might have a s t r o n g c o n s o l a t i o n , who have
f l e d f o r r e f u g e t o l a y h o l d upon t h e hope s e t
-
c i s Claim. o r r e c e i v e . John
I ~ o r i b t h i a n s15:57.
I?
11:41;
And r e t u r n
b e f o r e us. I ? thanks t o God t h a t we have r e -
I can r e c a l l a s though i t were y e s t e r - eived. 11 -1bid.
day, t h e t h r i l l I r e c e i v e d when I f i r s t took Taking t h e promise of I John 1:9, f o r
God a t H i s word. The f i r s t promise I claimed example, my p r a y e r would now be something
was I John 1:9 f o r f o r g i v e n e s s and c l e a n s i n g . l i k e tI? h i s :
I r e p e a t e d t h i s v e r s e over and over. I t was Dear Lord, Thou h a s t promised t h a t i f
not u n t i l I had been preaching f o r many y e a r s , Glenn Coon c o n f e s s e s h i s s i n s , Thou a r t
however, t h a t I l e t my f a i t h r e a c h out and ' f a i t h f u l and J u s t t o f o r g i v e t Glenn Coon h i s
do something I had never done b e f o r e . I r e a d ' s i n s , and t o c l e a n s e t me--Glenn Coonnffrom
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 p r o f e s s t o be a C h r i s t i a n . Now w h a t would
you do i n t h i s c a s e ? Would you t a l k about
tobacco? o r would you show him a b e t t e r way
of l i f e and l e a d him t o J e s u s ?
We would a l l agree t h a t Jack needed an
encounter w i t h Jesus. So we p r e s e n t e d t o Jack
God's p l a n of saving u s a l l through Jesus
be l i f t e d up
(John 12:32)*
...
C h r i s t , Did n o t our Lord say: "And I , i f I
w i l l draw a l l men unto meu
I e x p l a i n e d t o Jack t h a t we " a l l have
sinned" (Romans 3:23); and t h a t I t t h e wages of
s i n i s d e a t h " (Romans 6:23, f i r s t p a r t ) . But
t h e f a c t i s t h a t J e s u s d i e d i n our s t e a d and
p a i d t h e p e n a l t y of our s i n s ; and now o f f e r s
us t h e " g i f t " of I1 e t e r n a l l i f e 1 . ' (Romans 6:23
l a s t p a r t ) . Now He i n v i t e s us t o come t o H i m ,
c o n f e s s i n g our s i n s , and r e c e i v i n g H i m a s our
Saviour. We opened our B i b l e s t o I John 1:9:
"1f we c o n f e s s our s i n s , he i s f a i t h f u l and
j u s t t o f o r g i v e u s our s i n s , and t o c l e a n s e
us from a l l u n r i g h t e o u s n e s s . " Also t o John
1:12: "But a s many a s r e c e i v e d him, t o them
gave he power t o become t h e sons of God, even
t o them t h a t b e l i e v e on h i s name." We t h e n
explained t h e A , B y C f s of t h e Prayer of Re-
c e p t i o n . As Jack comprehended t h e s i m p l i c i t y
of t h i s t r u t h , we k n e l t i n p r a y e r .
A f t e r t h e p a s t o r prayed, I l e d Jack i n
a p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n by saying a sentence
ahead of him, and l e t t i n g him r e p e a t i t a f t e r
me, a s he a d m i t t e d he d i d not know how t o
pray. We Asked; we Believed; and we Claimed
and r e c e i v e d f o r g i v e n e s s , c l e a n s i n g and f e l -
lowship. He was now a c h i l d of God.
The p a s t o r and Jack made a g e s t u r e a s
though t h e y were going t o r i s e from t h e i r
knees. I d e t e r r e d them.
11
"NOW Jack, I began, "you have j u s t been
f o r g i v e n , c l e a n s e d , and have become a c h i l d
of God, h a v e n ' t you?"
Jack nodded h i s head i n a s s e n t .
"You a r e now a C h r i s t i a n , " I added. " N ~ ~
t h e n , we can a s k God t o completely d e l i v e r
you from t h e tobacco h a b i t b e f o r e we r i s e
from our knees. W II e s h a l l claim t h e promise
of John 1:12 f o r power" t h a t God, through
C h r i s t , w i l l g i v e you complete and i n s t a n -
taneous v i c t o r y over t h e tobacco h a b i t , "
A f t e r we had prayed, Asking, B e l i e v i n g ,
and Claiming by Receiving, we r o s e t o our
feet. Jack was r a d i a n t w i t h v i c t o r y . He
-
knew t h a t God had g i v e n him t h e v i c t o r y .
We v i s i t e d Jack t h r e e times a day f o r an
e n t i r e week. II We d i d t h i s t o encourage him t o
continue t h e simple a c t of b e l i e v i n g . " Jack
was completely d e l i v e r e d and i n j u s t two weeks1
time he was b a p t i z e d !
Oh, t h e power i n t h e simple a c t of be-
l i e v i n g and r e c e i v i n g ! I t i s s o o f t e n neg-
l e c t e d and we s t a n d powerless a g a i n s t t h e
o n s l a u g h t s of t h e enemy. "Faith i s trusting
God."--Educatinn, p. 253. I t ' s just that
simple. But oh, t h e rewards f o r p l a c i n g our
t r u s t and f a i t h i n t h e God of heaven!
I t i s n o t enough f o r u s t o b e l i e v e doc- - -
t r i n e s . I t i s not s u f f i c i e n t t o accept the
Sabbath t r u t h , a s important a s i t i s . What
we want i s n o t merely t o be a b l e t o t r a c e t h e
e v e n t s a t t h e beginning and c l o s e of t h e m i l -
lenium, a s s a t i s f y i n g a s t h a t i s . Even t o be
a b l e t o g i v e a profound study on t h e twenty-
three-hundred-day-prophecy, a s commendable a s
t h i s i s , i s n o t , i n t h e f u l l e s t sense, b r i n g -
i n g t h e human s o u l what i t wants and needs.
I11 found what I wanted o n l y when I found Jesus.
And ye s h a l l seek me, and f i n d me, when
s h a l l s e a r c h f o r me w i t h a l l your heart,'eJer-
emiah 29:13.
"Here i s where thousands f a i l : t h e y do
n o t b e l i e v e t h a t Jesus pardons them p e r s o n a l -
l y , individually. They do n o t t a k e God a t
His word. I t i s t h e p r i v i l e g e of a l l who com-
p l y w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s t o know f o r themselves
t h a t pardon i s f r e e l y extended f o r e v e r y s i n a t t
--Steps t o C h r i s t , p. 52.
What a joy i t i s t o h e a r t h e t e s t i m o n i e s
of t h o s e who have taken t h e Lord a t H i s word
and gone on t o v i c t o r y ! I suppose i t i s t h e
g r e a t e s t joy t h a t can come t o a p a s t o r . TO
s e e an i n d i v i d u a l g r a s p t h e promises t h r o u g h
the power of Jesus; then observe him l i v i n g
a triumphant l i f e by t h e g r a c e of C h r i s t and
becoming a dynamic w i t n e s s , c o n s t i t u t e a
11
crown of r e j o i c i n g " t o any m i n i s t e r o r youth
worker.
"Likewise joy s h a l l be i n heaven o v e r one
s i n n e r t h a t r e p e n t e t h , more t h a n over n i n e t y
and n i n e j u s t p e r s o n s , which need no r e p e n t -
ance." Luke 15:7.
What a wonderful day i t w i l l be, when i n
heaven we can r e c o u n t t h e e x p e r i e n c e s of l i f e
and r e a l i z e how God h a s l e d us. Perhaps our
g u a r d i a n a n g e l w i l l r e v e a l t o u s how c i r c u -
s t a n c e s were shaped s o we could u n d e r s t a n d
t h e m i r a c l e of f a i t h . I hope t h i s c h a p t e r
h a s been a l i n k i n t h e c h a i n .
May God b l e s s you a s you-"let go, and
l e t God!"
GOD A L W A Y S A N S W E R S
I
OD DID NOT answer my p r a y e r ! " ex-
claimed an e a r n e s t C h r i s t i a n a f t e r
we had f i n i s h e d one of our c l a s s e s
on t h et t Prayer of Reception.
I have t a u h t a s an e d u c a t o r
f o r more t h a n f o r t y y e a r s , q began a m i n i s t e r
of wide e x p e r i e n c e , " and I know God does n o t
answer e v e r y one of my p r a y e r s f 1 . This s t a t e -
ment was made a f t e r he heard s e v e r a l of our
s t u d i e s on t h e t o p i c of "The Prayer of Re-
ception. ''
e s says, ' N O ' , " declared
' ' ~ ~ m ~ t i r nGod
another s i n c e r e c h i l d of God. And he con-
-
tinued, "I know He s a y s , ' N o ' - ' "
These s t a t e m e n t s a r e n o t merely p a r t l y
Wrong, b u t t h e atmosphere surrounding them
!s too n e g a t i v e ;
.
God s a y s , ' N O '
I never l i k e t o t e l l people,
I feel that this i s like-
l y t o g i v e t h e wrong impression of our k i n d
and l o v i n g heavenly F a t h e r .
Rather, I l i k e t o e x p l a i n i t t h i s
God answers e v e r y s i n c e r e p r a y e r of f a i t h 9
always* always keeps His promises, always.
1'
me c o n d i t i o n s met, t h e promise i s uneqivocal."
 --Education, p. 258. "We know t h a t we have
t h e p e t i t i o n s t h a t we d e s i r e d of Him", I John
5:15. ".When we have l e a r n e d t o do t h i s
( t a k e God a t His word and f u l f i l l i n g t h e s i m -
p l e c o n d i t i o n s ) , we s h a l l know t h a t our pray-
p
e r s a r e answered. he he D e s i r e of Ages.
200. 11
Every s a i n t who comes t o God w i t h p. a obedient, b e l i e v i n g c h i l d of His.
t r u e h e a r t , and sends h i s h o n e s t p e t i t i o n s t o
him i n f a i t h , w i l l have h i s p r a y e r s answered. 11
--Testimonies, Vol. l., p. 120. "your f a i t h
must n o t l e t go of t h e promises of God ...
i f we c o u l d look i n t o h i s p l a n , we would
c l e a r l y se
- -
e t h a t he knows what i s b e s t f o r
us, and t h a t our p r a y e r s a r e answered,"-Id.
pp. 120,121. 11
I saw t h a t e v e r y p r a y e r which
- ---
be h e a r d of God and answered, ...
i s s e n t up i n f a i t h from an honest h e a r t , w i l l
and i t
w i l l o f t e n exceed h i s e x p e c t a t i o n s . Not a
p r a y e r of a t r u e s a i n t i s l o s t i f s e n t up i n
f a i t h , from an h o n e s t heart."-Id., p. 121.
With t h e above s t a t e m e n t s i n mind, we
may r e s t a s s u r e d t h a t t h e way t o approach our
heavenly F a t h e r i s t h e way of f a i t h , expect-
ant y, and hope.
There i s , however, an important law of
God t o which we need g i v e s t u d y . And t h i s i s
t h e law of choice. Every c h i l d of God w i l l
r e c e i v e an answer t o h i s s i n c e r e p r a y e r of
f a i t h i n e x a c t l y t h e way he himself would
choose, c o u l d he, l i k e God, s e e t h e end from
t h e beginning. To know t h a t my heavenly Fa-
t h e r f o l l o w s c a r e f u l l y t h i s r u l e i n answering
our p r a y e r s i s , t o me, a wonderful s o l a c e .
I am f r a n k t o s t a t e t h a t my v i s i o n i s l i m i t -
ed, b l u r r e d . I cannot see, a s God does, t h e
end from t h e beginning. Therefore, I make i t
a p r a c t i c e t o p r a y w i t h t h i s thought i n mind,
ear -
F a t h e r , I know You a r e g i v i n g me e x a c t -
l y what I am asking of Y m , 2 something b e t -
-- -
t e r , much b e t t e r r 1 . T h i s t a k e s , f o r me a t
l e a s t , t h e n e g a t i v e atmosphere from my com-
munication w i t h my Lord.
This e l i m i n a t e s t h e n e g a t i v e , t h e doubt-
i n g , t h e s k e p t i c i s i m which Satan would throw
around our p r a y i n g h e a r t s . God i s i n p r o c e s s
of answering every one of my p r a y e r s , Yours
t o o , dear h o n e s t , f a i t h f u l c h i l d of God. He
i s n o t l o o k i n g down H i s nose t o any t r u s t i n g ,
e he pray-
e r of t h e u p r i g h t i s h i s d e l i g h t . " Prov. 15:8.
Many times through t h e y e a r s I have
heard a s i c k s a i n t of God whisper weakly, "1
know God can h e a l me." Sometimes I r e p l y
w i t h a k i n d l y e x p r e s s i o n on my f a c e , some-
t h i n g a s f o l l o w s : "DO you a l s o know God wants
t o h e a l you?" Then I develop t h e thought i n
mind. It i s t h i s : I f God merely can heal
me, b u t does n o t want t o , then
than a s i f God could n o t h e a l me b u t wanted
t h i s i s worse
t o . I would p r e f e r any day f o r a p e r s o n t o
want t o a i d me, h i n d e r e d o n l y by h i s i n a b i l b
i t y , t h a n f o r a p e r s o n t o be a b l e t o do so and
d e l i b e r a t e l y t u r n me down. I b e l i e v e t h a t
s11 t a t e m e n t s l i k e t h e ones o f f e r e d by t h e s i c k ,
I know God could h e a l me," a r e o f t e n t h e
cy-pe which c r e a t e around us an atmosphere
f a v o r a b l e t o doubt. I do n o t b e l i e v e we
should make such remarks.
I t would, a s I understand i t , be much
b e t t e r , were we t o say, when d e s p e r a t e l y ill,
-
something l i k e t h e f o l l o w i n g : "1 know God
I know He h a s t h e phys-
wants t o h e a l me.
i c a l power t o do so. But I do n o t know
whether God can h e a l me and s t i l l do f o r me
t11h a t which i s b e s t f o r me p e r s o n a l l y . " Or,
I know God l o v e s me. I am c e r t a i n of t h i s
because of Calvary. So I am c o n f i d e n t t h a t
God i s o n l y i n t e r e s t e d i n my v e r y b e s t good,
and t h e good of my loved ones. I a l s o know
t h a t God i s doing f o r me e x a c t l y what I my-
s e l f would choose t o have H i m do could I ,
w i t h heavenly v i s i o n , see t h e end of time
from i t s beginning. Therefore, I do n o t f e e l
-
i t i s a q u e s t i o n of what God can do or what
n e s s , and f o r h i s wonderful works t o t h e
c h i l d r e n of men!" Psalms 107:8.
When Mary, t h e mother of Jesus, prayed
t h a t h e r son would n o t d i e , God answered her
p r a y e r . He answered i t e x a c t l y a s Mary h e r -
s e l f would have r e q u e s t e d , c o u l d she have
r e a d t h e whole p l a n of s a l v a t i o n c l e a r l y .
When I s t o o d a t t h e b e d s i d e of a fellow-
m i n i s t e r , p r a y i n g t h a t he might be brought
back t o l i f e , God d i d n o t s e e f i t t o r e s t o r e
h i s l i f e t h a t day. However, when I g e t home
t o g l o r y I s h a l l understand c l e a r l y t h e de-
t a i l s of why God answered my p r a y e r i n t h e
way t h a t He did. God c o u l d n o t have done any-
t h i n g e l s e and be a God of love. He could
n o t have brought t h a t f e l l o w - m i n i s t e r back t o
l i f e . He wanted t o . Really. But God saw
c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t my l i m i t e d s i g h t
could n o t understand. So I was comforted.
I n e v e r b u t once remarked t o a f r i e n d , "God
d i d n o t answer my prayer." And I was l a t e r
s o r r y I made t h a t remark. Why? Because God
-
d i d answer i t . But He answered i t t h e way I
would have d e s i r e d H i m t o answer i t , c o u l d I
have seen and understood what He saw and
knew.
Chapter 18
A YOUNG HERO
OUNG PEOPLE a r e n o t merely d e l i g h t -
ed w i t h t h e t h r i l l s of answered
p r a y e r ; t h e r e a r e t h o s e who a r e
w i l l i n g t o s u f f e r and even d i e f o r
t h e i r Lord. E l d e r E. L. Cardey,
f o r many y e a r s a c l o s e f r i e n d of our f a m i l y ,
shares t h e f o l l o w i n g experience.
I he pages of h i s t o r y a r e f i l l e d w i t h
accounts of men and women, boys and g i r l s who
gladly gave t h e i r l i v e s r a t h e r t h a n deny God
and H i s t r u t h . Sometimes, however, God u s e s
great a c c i d e n t s and t r o u b l e s , even where
death i s involved, t o b r i n g t h e l i g h t of t r u t h
to others, One day we r e c e i v e d i n t h e B i b l e
8chool i n A f r i c a a r e q u e s t f o r our B i b l e
Lessons from a s i x t e e n - y e a r - o l d h i g h school
boy. He and h i s e n t i r e f a m i l y belonged t o
th Dutch Reform Church. He soon became an
e x c e p t i o n a l l y good s t u d e n t and a c c e p t e d ad-
vanced B i b l e t r u t h a s i t came t o him. When
he l e a r n e d t h e Sabbath was t h e s e v e n t h day- of
the week and n o t Sunday t h e f i r s t day; he
t h a t by Godf s g r a c e , he would keep t h e
true Sabbath. His p a r e n t s and r e l a t i v e s were
g r e a t l y opposed t o h i s doing so and t r i e d t o ,tudy t h e s e l e s s o n s and do what God wants me
s t o p h i m from s t u d y i n g t h e B i b l e l e s s o n s , to do". I t i s remarkable t o r e l a t e t h a t w i t h -
Then came a l e s s o n on t h e t r u e form of bap- i n a n o t h e r y e a r t h a t boyf s p a r e n t s , h i s own
tism. He a t once wanted t o be b a p t i z e d . His b r o t h e r s , s i s t e r s , and in-laws had a l l a c c e p t -
p a r e n t s s t r i c t l y f o r b a d i t . He wrote u s say- 1 ed Godfs message of Sabbath reform and organ-
ing t h a t he would have t o w a i t f o r b a p t i s m I
i z e d a Sabbath School of over f i f t e e n members
u n t i l he was of age, b u t i n t h e meantime he I ,ith t h e brother-in-law a s t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t .
would keep Godfs Sabbath r e g a r d l e s s . m e mother wrote u s t h a t i t was s t r a n g e t o
J u s t a few weeks a f t e r t h i s l e t t e r came them t h a t t h i s young boy should underscore
from h i m , h i s mother wrote us through h e r
t e a r s and sorrow t h e f o l l o w i n g s t o r y . The those v e r s e s , I t appeared t o them t o be a
b o y ' s home was o n l y a couple of b l o c k s from message d i r e c t from God. I f n o t , why was
t h e B i b l e l y i n g open a t t h e s e v e r y v e r s e s ? "
t h e h i g h school, s o he rode h i s b i c y c l e t o Thank you, Elder Cardy. And thanks be
s c h o o l and back, and came home f o r l u n c h each t o God t h a t His power and l o v e a r e making
day. The mother was watching f o r h i m one day heroes o u t of young men and young women a l l
when she saw h i m coming, a n o t h e r bay r i d i n g over t h e world,
w i t h h i m on t h e back of h i s b i c y c l e . She
t h e n saw an automobile come down t h e road
toward them. The boys rode t h e i r b i c y c l e o f f
t h e r o a d t o avoid t h e c a r , b u t i t followed
them and h i t them while going a t h i g h speed.
She, w i t h neighbors, rushed t o t h e scene of
t h e a c c i d e n t , b u t i t was t o o l a t e t o do any-
t h i n g . Both boys had been i n s t a n t l y k i l l e d .
The mother d i d n o t know h e r son had been tak-
i n g his Bible and B i b l e school l e s s o n s t o
s c h o o l w i t h him. When she saw h i s B i b l e l y -
i n g on t h e g r a s s , she went t o p i c k i t up and
found i t l y i n g open a t I1 Timothy 4, The
f o l l o w i n g words were u n d e r l i n e d i n i n k : "I
am now ready t o be o f f e r e d , and t h e time of
my d e p a r t u r e i s a t hand. I have f g u g h t a
good f i g h t , I have f i n i s h e d my c o u r s e , I have
k e p t t h e f a i t h : h e n c e f o r t h t h e r e i s l a i d up
f o r me a crown of r i g h t e o u s n e s s , which t h e
Lord, t h e r i g h t e o u s judge, s h a l l g i v e me a t
t h a t day: and n o t t o me only, b u t unto a l l
them a l s o t h a t love h i s appearing. Do t h y
d i l i g e n c e t o come s h o r t l y u n t o me." Verses
6-9. T h i s l a s t s e n t e n c e was underscored
twice. On her knees t h e r e i n t h e g r a s s t h a t
mother s a i d : "Yes, Son, I w i l l come. I w i l l

Chapter 19
THIS IS THE LIFE!
LDER COON, would you mind g o i n g w i t h
me Thursday evening t o v i s i t a young
couple, Sam and S a d i e West, who a r e
studying t h e Bible-in-Hand c o u r s e ? "
asked J i m Hogan.
1- be g l a d t o , " I answered, g l a d t o
II That
f s
be of s e r v i c e .
g r e a t ! J i m responded. "They
a r e on t h e verge of making a d e c i s i o n t o keep
t h e Sabbath b u t want a l i t t l e more informa-
tion. T h e r e f s something e l s e I ought t o t e l l
you, though, b e f o r e you a g r e e f o r s u r e . 11
"Whatf s t h a t ? " I asked, now a b i t c u r -
ious.
" w e l l , two m i n i s t e r s of a n o t h e r church
a r e coming over t h e same evening. These min-
i s t e r s want t o show Sam and Sadie West how
dangerous t h e t e a c h i n g of Seventh-day Advent-
ism i s . I I
I smiled a s I s a i d , h hat d o e s n ' t change
my d e c i s i o n one b i t . 1'11 be happy t o go. I I
On t h e a p p o i n t e d n i g h t , J i m and I made
our way t o t h e modest c o t t a g e where Sam and
Sadie West l i v e d . We were i n v i t e d i n and
w i t h r e a l warmth made t o f e e l r i g h t a t home.
I t was n o t l o n g b e f o r e a n o t h e r knock was
heard a t t h e door, and i n walked t h e two pas-
t o r s , whom I w i l l c a l l Jones and Smith. Pas-
t o r Jones was t h e spokesman almost from t h e
first.
S c a r c e l y were t h e p a s t o r s s e a t e d when
Sam s t a r t e d t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h a v e r y d i -
r e c t q u e s t i o n : " P a s t o r Jones, i s t h e s e v e n t h
day t h e B i b l e Sabbath o r i s n f t i t ? p
I t was e v i d e n t t h a t P a s t o r Jones had n o t
planned on such a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d q u e s t i o n a t
t h e v e r y beginning of t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n . Un-
doubtedly he had had h i s own p l a n f o r t h e
format of c o n v e r s a t i o n t h a t evening. But
s i n c e Sam had asked a q u e s t i o n , some k i n d of
answer was necessary.
The p a s t o r shrugged h i s s h o u l d e r and
gave Sam a knowing look a s he s a i d , am, the
Sabbath i s r e a l l y one of t h e minor e r r o r s
t a u g h t by t h e Seventh-day A d v e n t i s t church.
This evening we want11 t o expose some of t h e i r
more d e a d l y e r r o r s .
ll
Then t u r n i n g t o me, P a s t o r Jones s a i d ,
Do you mind i f I a s k you a p e r s o n a l ques-
tion?
''Not a t a l l , " I s a i d a s I smiled. "GO
r i g h t ahead." I d i d n o t know what he might
ask, b u t I remembered t h e t e x t t h a t s a y s ,
" S a n c t i f y t h e Lord God i n your h e a r t s : and
be r e a d y always t o g i v e an answer t o e v e r y
man t h a t a s k e t h you a r e a s o n of t h e hope t h a t
i s i n you w i t h meekness and f e a r . " I P e t e r
3:15.
I awaited t h e q u e s t i o n . P a s t o r Jones
f a s t e n e d h i s eyes on me, c l o s e d them s l i g h t l y ,
and w i t h an i n t e n s e e x p r e s s i o n asked, "Are
you saved?"
How happy I was t h a t he had asked t h a t
q u e s t i o n , f o r t h a t v e r y morning I had been
r e a d i n g my B i b l e and had gone over some t e x t s
 t h a t gave me an unquestioned r e a s s u r a n c e of
t h e F a t h e r ' s w i l l f o r me w i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s
v e r y q u e s t i o n . Now a l l I had t o do was t o
s h a r e t h e e x p e r i e n c e of t h e morning. With a
f a c e t h a t was r a d i a n t , I r e p l i e d w i t h a r e -
sounding, 1f Yes, s i r . "
The look on t h e p a s t o r f s f a c e i n d i c a t e d
t h a t I had n o t g i v e n t h e answer he had expect-
ed. Undoubtedly he had expected me t o b e a t
around t h e bush and t r y t o q u a l i f y a n answer,
He e v i d e n t l y f e l t t h a t h e r e was f e r t i l e ground
t o expose some of our "more d e a d l y e r r o r s . I I
P a s t o r Jones was v i s i b l y shaken and mum-
b l e d a few words and ended by saying, "You
a r e t h e f i r s t Seventh-day A d v e n t i s t I have
e v e r met who has s a i d he was saved."
While P a s t o r Jones was searchinp: f o r
words t o c a r r y on t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , I f e l t
impreesed by t h e Holy S p i r i t t o f u r t h e r de-
velop my a f f i r m a t i v e answer.
i s e of John 1:12 which s a y s : 'But a s many a s
r e c e i v e d h i m , t o them gave he power t o be-
come t h e sons of God, even t o them t h a t be-
l i e v e on h i s name.'
"I asked God t o make me His son a g a i n
f o r today. I b e l i e v e d He was doing i t . I
claimed i t and r e t u r n e d thanks t h a t I had r e -
c e i v e d c o n t i n u e d sonship.
so hen I took a n o t h e r promise, t h i s v e r y
morning. I t was t h e promise of John 3:16
which promises e v e r l a s t i n g l i f e . Again I ask-
ed, b e l i e v e d and claimed and r e t u r n e d t h a n k s
t h a t I had r e c e i v e d e v e r l a s t i n g l i f e . This
i s why I can answer w i t h o u t any doubt t h a t I
am saved-right now!"
P a s t o r Jones d i d n o t say a word, He
j u s t s a t t h e r e a s I continued.
"Now we Seventh-day A d v e n t i s t s do n o t go
around b r a g g i n g , '1 a m s a v e d ' . But we do l i k e
t o d e c l a r e t h e f a c t t h a t ' C h r i s t i s my Sav-

f I am savedf .
"I would l i k e t o e x p l a i n why I can say
This morning when I awakened,
I t u r n e d t o a promise of t h e B i b l e which s a y s ,
' I f we c o n f e s s our s i n s , he i s f a i t h f u l and
j u s t t o f o r g i v e u s our s i n s , and t o c l e a n s e
us from a l l u n r i g h t e ~ u s n e s s . ~ I John l : 9 .
asked God t o f o r g i v e my s i n s t h i s morning.
I t h e n b e l i e v e d He had f o r g i v e n me j u s t a s He
promised. Then I r e t u r n e d thanks t h a t He had
f o r g i v e n me. Then I took t h e promise j x
a c r o s s t h e page, r e c o r d e d i n I John 2:25 which
r e a d s l i k e t h i s : fAnd t h i s i s the promise
t h a t he h a t h promised us, even e t e r n a l l i f e . '
II I asked God t h i s very morning t o g i v e
me e t e r n a l l i f e , j u s t a s He h e r e promises.
I t o l d H i m I b e l i e v e d He was g i v i n g e t e r n a l
l i f e t o me; and t h e n I claimed e t e r n a l l i f e
by r e t u r n i n g thanks t h a t I had r e c e i v e d e t e r -
n a l l i f e , j u s t a s He promised. II
P a s t o r Jones was l i s t e n i n g ; s o were Sam
and Sadie and t h e o t h e r p a s t o r . I continued.
If
This morning I a l s o claimed t h e B i b l e prom-
iour! f You s e e , t h e f i r s t e x p r e s s i o n p u t s
self i n the center. The l a t t e r 1I p o i n t s t o our
Lord, and makes H i m t h e c e n t e r .
I devoloped t h e thought a l i t t l e more
f u l l y , a l l t h e w h i l e r e j o i c i n g that "There
I i s none o t h e r name under heaven g i v e n among
men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
I was a l s o conscious of t h e t e x t t h a t s a y s ,
" ~ e him t t h a t t h i n k e t h he s t a n d e t h t a k e heed
l e s t he f a l l " ( I C o r i n t h i a n s 10:12).
Perhaps f i f t e e n minutes p a s s e d b e f o r e
P a s t o r Jones v e n t u r e d a n o t h e r q u e s t i o n . This
time he spoke more k i n d l y .
11
He asked, As you s i t h e r e i n t h i s home
t o n i g h t , and t h i n k of a p e r i o d of t i m e , l e t ' s
s a y t e n y e a r s from now, can you- t o n i g h t a s
you s i t h e r e , t e l l me t h a t t e n y e a r s from now
you w i l l be saved?"
It
No, of c o u r s e n o t , 11 I r e p l i e d , "but I
can s a y t h i s : I f t e n y e a r s from now I c l a i m
t h e same promises of my Lord which I claimed
 t h i s morning, t h e n I can have t h e same a s s u r -
ance t e n y e a r s from now t h a t I have today,
11
You s e e , I1 I c o n t i n u e d , "our Lord does
n o t compel t h e s i n n e r t o become a s a i n t . 11
P a s t o r s Jones and Smith nodded a s s e n t . "Neith-
e r does my Lord compel a s a i n t t o remain a
s a i n t , But i f t h e s a i n t chooses t o remain a
s a i n t and c l a i m s t h e promises of our Lord, he
can have t h e same a s s u r a n c e of s a l v a t i o n e v e r y
day of h i s l i f e , 11
L a t e r t h a t evening, a s I pondered our
v i s i t , I wondered i f t h e s e p a s t o r s had heard
some of t h e same answers t o t h e q u e s t i o n of
our b e i n g saved t h a t I have h e a r d through t h e
y e a r s of my m i n i s t r y . I have heard one an-
swer g i v e n more o f t e n , p e r h a p s , than any o t h e r .
I t i s t h i s : When some one i s asked i f he i s
saved, he w i l l answer w i t h a shrug of t h e
s h o u l d e r and an obvious l a c k of c o n v i c t i o n ,
11
I hope 30. 11 That answer r e a l l y g i v e s me con-
cern. I n f a c t , i t makes me shudder.
Let me e x p l a i n . Let u s suppose my son,
Glenn Coon, J r . , i s i n t r o d u c e d t o a s t r a n g e r
one day. Upon l e a r n i n g t h a t h i s name i s Glenn
Coon, t h e man1s eyes b r i g h t e n a s he a s k s , "say
I h e a r d an E l d e r Glenn Coon p r e a c h a t t h e
camp-meeting. Would he be your f a t h e r by any
chance?"
Then my son g e t s a r a t h e r s h e e p i s h look
on h i s f a c e , s'nrugs h i s s h o u l d e r s i n d i s b e -
l i e f , and s a y s , "1 hope so. 11
You know, my f r i e n d , i f word of an i n -
c i d e n t l i k e t h a t would ever r e a c h u s , b o t h
h i s mother and I would be embarrassed and
ashamed of our son. I t would h u r t u s , and I
t h i n k you can u n d e r s t a n d why.
Now, d o n ' t you t h i n k our heavenly F a t h e r
f e e l s a sense of h u r t when we f i n d o u r s e l v e s
unable t o speak w i t h any measure of convic-
t i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o our r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h Him?
There a r e t h o s e who t h i n k i t a mark of
h u m i l i t y t o be i n doubt a s t o t h e i r s t a t e of
s a l v a t i o n . I submit t o you t h a t doubt w i t h
r e g a r d t o s a l v a t i o n h a s n o t h i n g t o do w i t h
humility. I t i s my opinion t h a t t h o s e who
wander around i n t h e maze of doubt and ques-
t i o n w i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s important q u e s t i o n
have allowed S a t a n t o s t e a l something v i t a l
from them. I base my s t a t e m e n t on t h e follow-
ing quotation:
11
Satan i s ready t o s t e a l away t h e b l e s s -
ed a s s u r a n c e s of God. " " I t i s t h e p r i v i l e g e
of a l l who comply w i t h t h e c o n d i t i o n s t o know
f o r themselves t h a t pardon i s f r e e l y extended
f o r every sin. Put away t h e s u s p i c i o n t h a t
God's promises a r e n o t meant f o r you. They
a r e f o r every r e p e n t a n t transgressor."-Steps
t o C h r i s t , pp. 53,52,53.
The p r a y e r of r e c e p t i o n t e a c h e s u s t h a t
we have a- r i g h t , through Christ, t o r e c e i v e
f o r g i v e n e s s , c l e a n s i n g , a s s u r a n c e , and fellow-
ship. We a r e given t h i s a s s u r a n c e by t h e pen
of i n s11p i r a t i o n . Notice t h e s e words:
Every promise i n t h e Word of God furn-
i s h e s u s w i t h subject-matter f o r prayer, pre-
s e n t i n g t h e pledged word of Jehovah a s our
assurance. Whatever s p i r i t u a l b l e s s i n g we
need, i t i s our p r i v i l e g e t o c l a i m through
J e s u s . "--Thoughts from t h e Mount of Blessinp;,
P. 76.
I t i s n o t my i n t e n t i o n t o go f u r t h e r i n -
t o our v i s i t w i t h t h e two p r e a c h e r s t h a t even-
i n g . I met them o n l y on t h i s one occasion,
b u t i t s e r v e d t o b r i n g some of t h e s e v i t a l
t h i n g s t o my mind.
I do b e l i e v e , beyond any q u e s t i o n , t h a t
God wants us t o be a b l e t o d e c l a r e , l1 I know
whom I have b e l i e v e d , and am p e r s u a.ded t h a t
he i s a b l e t o keep t h a t which I $ m v,e commit-
t e d u n t o him a g a i n s t t h a t day." 11. Timothy
1:12.
- - ..
God does n o t want u s t o mere11y "hope
SO". He wants u s t o "know so".
The Apostle John had a g r e a t d e a l t o say
about t h i s m a t t e r . Notice w i t h me some of
 h i s s t a t e m e n t s t a k e n from h i s f i r s t e p i s t l e
t h a t show t h e a s s u r a n c e we may have i n C h r i s t :
I I I w r i t e u n t o you, l i t t l e c h i l d r e n , be-
cause ye have known t h e ath her." I John 2:13.
I I I w r i t e unto,you, f a t h e r s . because ve
have known h i m t h a t - i s -from the-beginning:
~ e r s e T i T
" I f you a r e tempted t o q u e s t i o n God's
-
"ye know t h a t e v e r y one t h a t d o e t h r i g h t -
eousness i s born of him." Verse 29.
" ~ u we t know t h a t , when he s h a l l appear,
we s h a l l be l i k e h i m . " I John 3:2.
" ~ n dye know t h a t he was m a n i f e s t e d t o
t a k e away our s i n s . " Verse 5.
He a l s o s a y s , 11Ye know t h a t no murderer
h a t h e t e r n a l l i f e a b i d i n g i n him." Verse 15.
This h e l p s u s t o s e e t h a t i t i s impos-
s i b l e f o r any man, while s t e a l i n g , k i l l i n g ,
committing a d u l t e r o r any o t h e r s i n , t o say,
w i t h any meaning, am saved".
There a r e many more v e r s e s i n t h e w r i t -
i n g s of John which make c l e a r t h a t we have a
right-a s a c r e d r i g h t - - t o KNOW o u r s t a n d i n g
b e f o r e God. L e t me c i t e j u s t one more:
-
"Hereby know we t h a t we dwell i n h i m ,
and he i n us, because he h a t h g i v e n u s of - h i s
spirit." I John 4:13. We make i t a h a b i t
t o c l a i m a promise of t h e Holy S p i r i t e v e r y
day and sometimes s e v e r a l times a day,
make i t a p r a c t i c e a l s o t o c l a i m H i m b e f o r e
I d e l i v e r e v e r y sermon from t h e p u l p i t , and
b e f o r e I make a m i s s i o n a r y v i s i t i n t h e home.
Yes, I b e l i e v e we have a r i g h t t o s a y
we KNOW,-right now we KNOW! I t i s because
r i g h t now we CHOOSE. I t i s because r i g h t now
we CLAIM His promises. God does n o t want u s
t o g i v e a q u e s t i o n i n g testimony of His g r a c e
o r His s a v i n g power. He wants i t t o be c l e a r
and u n c l u t t e r e d .
We should always be a b l e t o g i v e t h e
world a r i n g i n g testimony of our p e r s o n a l
Saviour. I t i s our p r i v i l e g e , w i t h a s s u r a n c e
t h a t i s b o r n of f a i t h i n God's promise, t o
,
exclaim, " ~ e h o l d ,what manner of l o v e t h e
. . ." . . .
F a t h e r h a t h bestowed upon u s , t h a t we should
be c a l l e d t h e sons of God: now a r e we
----
t h e sons of God I John 3:1,2.
w i l l i n g n e s s t o save you, o r i f you a r e tempt-
ed t o t h i n k t h a t s a l v a t i o n has too many pre-
r e q u i s i t e s , n o t i c e t h e s e words:
"The B i b l e does n o t t e a c h t h a t t h e s i n -
n e r must r e p e n t b e f o r e he can heed t h e i n -
v i t a t i o n of C h r i s t , 'Come u n t o Me, a l l ye
t h a t l a b o r and a r e heavy laden, and I w i l l
g i v e you r e s t . ' I t i s t h e v i r t u e t h a t goes
f o r t h from C h r i s t , t h a t l e a d s t o genuine r e -
pentance."--steps t o C h r i s t , p. 26.
'!Peter made t h e m a t t e r c l e a r i n h i s s t a t e -
ment t o t h e I s r a e l i t i e s , when he s a i d , " ~ i m
h a t h God e x a l t e d w i t h h i s r i g h t hand t o be a
P r i n c e and a Saviour, f o r t o g i v e r e p e n t a n c e
t o I s r a e l , and f o r g i v e n e s s of s i n s . " Acts 5:
31. We can no more r e p e n t w i t h o u t t h e S p i r i t
of C h r i s t t o awaken t h e conscience t h a n we
can be pardoned w i t h o u t C h r i s t .
11
C h r i s t i s t h e s o u r c e of e v e r y r i g h t i m -
p u l s e . He i s t h e o n l y one t h a t can implant
i n t h e h e a r t enmity a g a i n s t s i n . Every de-
s i r e f o r t r u t h and p u r i t y , e v e r y c o n v i c t i o n
I of our own s i n f u l n e s s , i s an evidence that
His S p i r i t i s moving upon our hearts."--steps
t o ~ h r i s t ,p. 26.
Yes. d e a r f r i e n d s , s a l v a t i o n can come
o n l y fro; God. He i s w a i t i n g , l o n g i n g t o
g i v e i t t o u s i f we w i l l b u t l e t H i m do it-
i f we w i l l b u t c e a s e r e s i s t i n g H i s working
on our h e a r t s . Allow me t o r e p e a t t h e s e few
l i n e s once again. I t h i n k t h e y form t h e
b a s i s f o r a most powerful c o n v i c t i o n of t r u t h :
h he s i n n e r may r e s i s t t h i s l o v e , may
r e f u s e t o be drawn t o C h r i s t ; b u t i f he does
n o t r e s i s t , he w i l l be drawn t o J e s u s ; a
knowledge of t h e p l a n of s a l v a t i o n w i l l l e a d
him t o t h e f o o t of t h e c r o s s i n r e p e n t a n c e
for his sins, which hava caused the suffer- if, when we like Elijah, fail miserably, let
ings of Godfs dear Son. --Id., p. 27. us not forget that this man of God was still
Isn't it wonderful to know that we can
-
-- translated to heaven without seeing death.
respond to the call of His Spirit by asking, So can we be: that is, if Jesus comes quickly.
believing and claiming His wonderful prom- So by ASKING, BELIEVING, and CLAIMING
ises? Then we can with sweetest assurance His promises, we may cry out, "This is life
declare : eternal, that they might know thee the only
"I know whom I have believed, and am true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
persuaded that he is able to keep that which sent. " John 17:3. And ''1 know whom I have
I have committed unto him against that day. II believed." I1 Timothy 1:12.
I1 Timothy 1:12. I challenge you to make your claim--ROW1
Now, I do not want to be misunderstood.
I do not want to give anyone the impression
that there is no battle to fight, no strug-
gle in which to engage. On the contrary,
we are engaged in a very real struggle. It
will continue daily so long as we are on the
Lord's side.
Says the Apostle Paul, o or we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, again-
st spiritual wickedness in high places. 11
Qhesians 6:12. We also fight an unending
battle with self. We fight against doubting
God's precious promises; against questioning
His love, His mercy and His forgiveness. It
is a fight of faith. It is a struggle, always
whether to yield to, or resist His Spirit's
pleadings. There will be no let-up so long
as we breathe the breath of life.
Neither would I give you the impression
that once one reaches the height of a Mount
Carmel experience, he may not soon be under
a juniper tree in complete discouragement if
he temporarily looses sight of God. Eli jah,
David, Solomon, Abraham, and other Bible
heroes all had fabulous experiences with God,
only to utterly fail later tests. Our fail-
ures only pinpoint our need to keep on with
the A, B, C f s of prayer when we have tempor-
arily neglected our communion with God. And

Chapter 20
THIS CAN CHANGE Y O U R L I F E
N INSPIRING p i c t u r e h a s been p a i n t -
ed on t h e canvass of my mind. As I
s h a r e i t w i t h you, t h e r e a d e r s of
t h i s book, I do s o w i t h mixed emo-
tions. There i s t h e element of
eager c e r t a i n t y , f o r I am convinced t h a t i f
I p r e s e n t t h i s p i c t u r e t o you a s t h e Lord has
p o r t r a y e d i t t o me, i t can change anv life.
There i s a l s o t h e element of f e a r a f e a r
l e s t my inadequacy i n u s i n g t h e pen may r e -
s u l t i n my g i v i n g some one t h e impression t h a t
t h e a u t h o r of t h i s book t h i n k s he h a s almost
a t t a i n e d u n t o 11t h e measure of t h e s t a t u r e of
t h e f u l l n e s s of C h r i s t . " Ephesians 4:13.
I t should be borne i n mind t h a t t h e r e i s
a v a s t d i f f e r e n c e between a f i r m acceptance
of a t r u t h and i t s f u l l and f i n a l r e a l i z a t i o n
i n ones l i f e .
As r e g a r d s t h e p i c t u r e t h e a u t h o r cher-
i s h e s and t h e t r u t h he s h a r e s , he i s f o r c e d
t o admit t h a t he i s aware t h a t b u t i t s f i r s t
glimrnerings have p i e r c e d h i s s p i r i t u a l senses.
Yet having seen t h e p i c t u r e , he f e e l s he
would be t r u a n t t o h i s t r u s t d i d he n o t s h a r e
i t s t h r i l l i n g p r o s p e c t w i t h you i n t h i s our
f i n a l chapter. This i s a p i c t u r e of what hap-
pened t o e l e v e n men-rough, ill-tempered,
s e l f - c e n t e r e d , s i n f u l men-within a m a t t e r of
t h r e e s h o r t y e a r s ! And t h e n what CAN happen
of time .
t o you and t o me i n an e q u a l l y s h o r t p e r i o d
These men. f i l l e d w i t h w o r l d l y ambition,
eager f o r p e r s o n a l honor, r e a d y t o - elbow a l l
o t k e r s t o one s i d e t h a t t h e y might become po-
l i t i c a l f a v o r i t e s , began a s p e c i a l c o u r s e of
study--a c o u r s e t h a t was d e s t i n e d t o change,
n o t merely t h e i r l i v e s , b u t t h e world p i c t u r e ,
within a s i n g l e generation.
T h e i r e x p e r i e n c e while e n r o l l e d i n t h i s
course of s t u d y appeared so c a s u a l t h a t we
doubt t h a t any of them a c t u a l l y r e a l i z e d he
I was a v e r y d e f i n i t e and i n t r i c a t e p a r t of a
I
study class-at l e a s t not u n t i l a f t e r the
t h r e e - y e a r course was n e a r l y completed.
The s u b j e c t m a t e r i a l , a l s o almost u n r e a l -
i z e d by them a t f i r s t , was n o t a mere t o p i c
b u t a Person-an u n l e t t e r e d , unmarried, pover-
t y - s t r i c k e n young man. But He was d i f f e r e n t
- - d i f f e r e n t from anyone t h e y had e v e r met:
I
d i f f e r e n t i n what He d i d ; d i f f e r e n t i n what
He said-and how He s a i d i t ; d i f f e r e n t i n t h e
manner i n which He handled problems-of which
t h e y themselves were e l e v e n !
His g r a c e i n t h e midst of d i s g r a c e ; His
k i n d n e s s under abuse; His f o r g i v i n g s p i r i t
under t h e most g r u e l i n g , t o r t u o u s , b l a s p h e -
mous i n s u l t - a l l attracted their attention
and sometimes t h e i r d i s a p p r o v a l , But s t i l l
t h e y observed e a g e r l y every word, weighed
e v e r y a c t i o n , and t h e n d i s c u s s e d t h e m e r i t s
I
o r , a s t h e y thought, d e m e r i t s of a l l .
A c t u a l l y , t h e y were non-conformists, so
f a r a s t h e i r quick, p o s i t i v e approach was
concerned. They p o s s i b l y disapproved, f a r
more t h a n t h e y accepted,most of His methods,
I t i s t r u e t h a t t h e y l o v e d t o w i t n e s s His
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II If you a r e i l l - t r e a t e d o r w r o n g f u l l y accused,
i n s t e a d of r e t u r n i n g an angry answer, r e p e a t
t o y o u r s e l f t h e p r e c i o u s promises.
" ' ~ en o t overcome of e v i l , b u t overcome
e v i l w i t h good.' Romans 12:21,
" f ~ o m m i t h y way unto t h e Lord; t r u s t
a l s o i n him; and he s h a l l b r i n g i t t o p a s s ,
And he s h a l l b r i n g f o r t h t h y r i g h t e o u s n e s s
a s t h e l i g h t , and t h y judgment a s t h e noon-
day.' Psalms 37:5,6,
" f ~ h e r ei s n o t h i n g covered, t h a t s h a l l
n o t be r e v e a l e d ; n e i t h e r h i d , t h a t s h a l l n o t
be known. '' Luke 1 2 :2,
"f~hou h a s t caused men t o r i d e over our
heads; we went t h r o u g h f i r e and t h r o u g h water;
b u t Thou b r o u g h t e s t u s o u t i n t o a wealthy
lace. Psalms 66 : 1 2 . " - - ~ i n i s t r ~ of Healinq,
p a 486.
A college teacher, a f t e r l i s t e n i n g t o
our s t u d y on "matching promises" t c o f f s e t
our weaknesses, was d e l i g h t e d . He exclaimed
t h a t never b e f o r e had t h i s occurred t o him i n
such a s t r i k i n g manner. " J u s t t o t h i n k , " he
s a i d , " t h a t God has so s i m p l i f i e d t h e s o l u -
t i o n s t o l i f e " s problems i s indeed most en-
couraging. I now have r e a l l y found something
t h e Holy S p i r i t can u s e t o change my l i f e . "
A p o r t i o n of our morning d e v o t i o n s may
be u-sed t o p r a c t i c e t h e s e "war maneuvers".
By t h i s we mean we can a n t i c i p a t e t h e ap-
proach of t e m p t a t i o n and review t h e matching
t e x t s a u d i b l y , o r i n a whisper, o r even o n l y
i n our minds. We can p r a c t i c e " d a r t i n g v t o
heaven s h o r t r o m i s e - f i l l e d p r a y e r s .
Often I T-: d a r t " a p r a y e r which, so f a r a s
words a r e concerned, i s l i m i t e d t o t h e quot-
ing of a B i b l e promise. But my s o u l i s ASK-
I N G , BELIEVING and CLAIMING. The promise o f -
t e n i s , "we s h a l l be l i k e him." I John 3:2.
I f i n d t h i s a powerful weapon of t h e Holy
S p i r i t i n any emergency.
A t o t h e r times I v e r b a l i z e on t h e "C"
of t h e A , B, C p r a y e r . I t , however, encom-
p a s s e s t h e whole i d e a of t h e A , B, C ' s i n
short,
To i l l u s t r a t e : When I was a boy a v i s i t -
or once came t o our home, and by i n v i t a t i o n
dined w i t h u s a t our t a b l e , He used a s o r t
of A , B, C r e u e s t when he smiled and g r a c -
i o u s l y s a i d , 1' thank you f o r t h e b u t t e r . "
That man had a c t u a l l y asked, b e l i e v e d , and
claimed a l l i n t h e one e x p r e s s i o n , "I thank
you f o r t h e b u t t e r , " The b u t t e r was t h e n
p a s s e d t o him i n r e s p o n s e t o h i s asking, be-
l i e v i n g , and c l a i m i n g i t .
J e s u s o f f e r e d 11 t h i s k i n d of p r a y e r a t t h e
grave of Lazarus: F a t h e r , I thank t h e e t h a t
thou h a s t h e a r d me." John 11:41. So we a l s o
may use our A , B, C 1 s i n a v a r i e t y of ways
a s we " d a r t " a p r o m i s e - f i l l e d p r a y e r t o
heaven. I n f a c t , t h e b i g g e s t p a r t i s f o r
f a i t h t o a c t u a l l y claim, o r r e c e i v e .
Every now and t h e n people e x p r e s s shock
t h a t some a p p a r e n t l y v e r y s i n c e r e c h i l d of
God has u t t e r l y f a i l e d . The manner i n which
t h e y e x p r e s s t h i s amazement r e v e a l s t h a t t h e y
do n o t r e a l i z e t h a t u n l e s s t h e human i n s t r u -
ment i s i n d a i l y communion w i t h God, he may
be l i k e E l i jah-one day on miraculous Mount
Carmel, b u t t h e n e x t n i g h t under a j u n i p e r
t r e e wishing he might d i e .
W r i t e s our f a v o r i t e a u t h o r : "TO t h e
s e c r e t p l a c e of t h e Most High, under t h e
shadow of t h e Almighty, men now and t h e n r e -
p a i r ; t h e y a b i d e f o r a season, and t h e r e s u l t
i s m a n i f e s t i n n o b l e deeds; t h e n t h e i r f a i t h
f a i l s , t h e communion i s i n t e r r u p t e d , and t h e
l i f e - w o r k marred, But t h e l i f e of J e s u s was
a l i f e of c o n s t a n t t r u s t , s u s t a i n e d by con-
t i n u a l communion; and His s e r v i c e f o r heaven
and e a r t h was w i t h o u t f a i l u r e o r f a l t e r i n g .
"AS a man He s u p p l i c a t e d t h e t h r o n e of
God, t i l l His humanity was charged w i t h a
heavenly c u r r e n t t h a t connected humanity w i t h

d i v i n. i t y , Receiving l i f e from God, He impart-
ed li f e t o men, "--Education, pp. 80,81,
Now back t o our opening p i c t u r e - a pic-
t u r e of e l e v e n s i n f u l men i n a s h o r t p e r i o d
of time becoming, through t h e power of t h e
Holy S p i r i t , i n mind and c h a r a c t e r l i k e t h e i r
Master.
I f i n d i n my s o u l a tremendous l o n g i n g
t o be l i k e my wonderful Lord. H i s p u r i t y ,
His peace, H i s u n s e l f i s h n e s s and His f o r -
g i v i n g l o v e speak t o my h e a r t and s o u l . We
know from our s t u d y of s a c r e d h i s t o r y t h a t
over a span of s i x thousand y e a r s men have -
been changed i n t o His l i k e n e s s . We a l s o know
t h i s t r u t h from p e r s o n a l o b s e r v a t i o n .
Even a s m a l l e i g h t - y e a r - o l d l a s s i e t a p -
ped me on t h e shoulder one n i g h t , As I t u r n -
ed, I looked i n t o an a n g e l - l i k e countenance.
She spoke s o f t l y and w i t h sweetness and p o i s e
i n a d e l i g h t f u l l y c o n f i d e n t , y e t humble, man-
n e r : 11Your meetings have changed my l i f e . II
By c o n t r a s t i n age t h e r e was t h e seventy-
three-year-old grandmother whose d a u g h t e r ' s
sarcasm n e a r l y drove h e r t o d i s t r a c t i o n . I
heard h e r p e r s o n a l testimony of a completely
changed response a s she claimed I s a i a h 26:3:
11
Thou w i l t keep him i n p e r f e c t peace, whose
mind i s s t a y e d on t h e e : because he t r u s t e t h
i n thee,"
Then t h e r e i s t h e s t u d e n t who d e c l a r e d :
11
This p r a y e r c l a s s h a s completely r e j u v i n a t e d
my p r a y e r l i f e . I t i s the best thing t h a t
has ever happened t o me! Never b e f o r e have
I prayed a s I have s i n c e I e n t e r e d t h i s
c l a s s , Never a g a i n w i l l I p r a y a 'wishy-
washy-maybe-~e-will-answervtype of p r a y e r .
I have l e a r n e d t h a t I-even I-can come bold-
l y t o t h e Throne of Grace, c l a i m i n g d e f i n i t e
promises from t h e Word of God. I n them I f i n d
mercy and g r a c e needed f o r any problem t h a t
may come. I now b e l i e v e t h a t my God w i l l
h e a r and answer. 11
C
But, most of a l l , I know from a v e r y
p e r s o n a l experience t h e change i n my own l i f e
when I have l i g h t e d my t a p e r a t t h e a l t a r of
heaven. Now w i t h t h e song w r i t e r I can s i n g :
1
" I fd r a t h e r have J e s u s t h a n any-
thing
This world a f f o r d s today. I '
Now s t a n d , i f you w i l l , upon s p i r i t u a l
tiptoe. See! See a g l o r i o u s g a t h e r i n g !
Hear t h e songs of r a p t u r e ! "What a r e t h e s e
came t h e y ? ...
which a r e a r r a y e d i n white r o b e s ? and whence
These a r e t h e y which came
out of g r e a t t r i b u l a t i o n , and have washed
t h e i r r o b e s , and made them white i n t h e blood
of t h e Lamb." Revelation 7 : 1 3 , 4 .
Once t h e y were t h i e v e s , murderers, adul-
t e r e r s , blasphemers, perhaps, w i t h l i v e s v i l e
and s o r d i d w i t h e v e r y imaginable d e f i l e m e n t
of s i n . O r p e r h a p s t h e i r l i v e s were f i l l e d
w i t h t h e s o - c a l l e d " r e s p e c t a b l e s i n s " of
pharisaism, p r i d e , and s e c r e t envy, e t c ,
But now a l l i s changed through t h e o p e r a t i o n
of t h e Holy S p i r i t . He has t e s t i f i e d of
Jesus, and t h e y have " f e a r e d t h e ~ o r d , and
" thought upon h i s name. " Of them heaven
d e c l a r e s : "They s h a l l be mine, s a i t h t h e
Lord of h o s t s , i n t h a t day when I make up
my jewels; and I w i l l s p a r e them, a s a man
s p a r e t h h i s own son t h a t s e r v e t h him." Mal-
a c h i 3:16,17.
Now h e r e t h e y a r e "before t h e throne of
God, and s e r v e him day and n i ~ h ti n h i s tem-
ple," Revelation 7:15. The 11 F a t h e r ' s name"
--character-is now stamped i n t h e i r f o r e -
headsT1--minds. " ~ n d i n t h e i r mouth was
I found no g u i l e : f o r t h e y a r e w i t h o u t f a u l t
b e f o r e t h e throne of God." Revelation 14:1,
5.
Soon from t h e throne w i l l come t h e f i a t :
11
he t h a t i s r i g h t e o u s , l e t him be r i g h t e o u s
s t i l l : and he t h a t i s h o l y , l e t him be holy
still. And, behold, I come q u i c k l y ; and my