Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

commandments."generation."You said You would build? Was it to be like that?Was that what You had in mind? I never knew itwas to be like that. Now I begin to see the masterplanof the Master-Builder Himself.Over the door of that upper room one couldhave written one of three things: "Upper RoomChurch"or "First Church in Jerusalem" or "PrayerMeeting."And it would have been all the same, atleast as far as the attention and attendance of themembers were concerned. Inside one could have hungup a banner reading, "Every Member a Prayer Meetexcept that they did not need it, foring Member"those were the days before buttons, gadgets andgimmicks !How utterly amazing: not one member missingin that prayer meeting! And the membership was"about an hundred and twenty." Not even one absent ! No headache, fever, sickness, broken bones ; nolodge or club or other gathering, not even the otherreligious gatherings (and those were the days whenpeople were gathering in Jerusalem from everywhere,just before Pentecost feast) ; no business affairs, nofamily cares, no games or sporting events nothingkept even one member away from that prayer meeting. And Jerusalem was a very important, large citywith manymiracle meeting.attractions and distractions. It was aWhy did they all go every single member tothat prayer meeting? Because they wanted to go! Iam finding that people generally go where they wantto go. That is why they go to games. Even Jesusdid not make them go to that meeting; He madethem want to go. That is the miracle. And even today, if our members are going to get to the prayermeeting it is still Jesus who will have to make themwilling. But He will, and He will use us as His agentsand representatives to do it.Why did they want to go? Because they lovedJesus. It was an expression, among other things,of their "first love." When I love Jesus, I love topray ; I love to spend time with Him. I cannot be withHim enough.What was the test of their love for Christ ? Wasit merely feeling? No, basically it was obedience. "IfHe chargedye love me, keep mythem not to "depart from Jerusalem, but wait forthe promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). And theyall went to the prayer meeting, in fullest obedience,because they loved Him. Granted we have light on it,and most of us do have, the prayer meeting is todaythe test of our love for Jesus and also of our love forone another as Christians. If I truly love Jesus, I loveto pray to Him; and if I love another Christian, Ilove to pray with him.As goes the prayer meeting, so goes the church.It is the barometer of the church. More, it is thelevel of the church. More, it is the life of the church.More, it is the very foundation of the church itself :every member a prayer meeting member. Let us rethink this whole matter, repent and prayerfully proceed according to the lines of this master plan untilthe prayer meeting becomes the great meeting ofthe churchThe prayer meeting.Used by permission of The Alliance Weekly,260 W. 44th St., New York 36, N. Y.What My Absence From Church DidIt made some question the reality of Christian-ity.It made some think that I was a pretender.It made many regard my spiritual welfare andthat of others as a matter of small concern.It weakened the effect of the church service.It made it more difficult for the preacher topreach.It discouraged the brethren, and therefore robbed them of a blessing.It caused others to stay away from church.It made it harder for me to meet the temptations of the devil.It gave the devil more power over lost souls.It encouraged the habit of non-church going.The United BrethrenThe man who has a boy to trainHas work to keep him night and day.There's much to him he must explain,And many a doubt to clear away;His task is one which calls for tactAnd friendship of the finest kind,Because, with every word and act,He molds the little fellow's mind.He must be careful of his speech,For careless words are quickly learned ;He must be wise enough to teachWhat corners may be safely turned."Today, nearly two thousand years after theGreat Commission was given, it is estimated thatone billion people now living have never heard theprecious name of Jesus. If you were to stand day andnight watching this vast number march by, youwould stand for a wholeThe Missionary BroadcasterLesson Helps for the Week of August 7, 1955C. Y. P. U. TOPICAugust 7, 1955"ARE YOU GOING TO CAMP?"Matthew 6:33-34.Comments by Rev. Thomas J. Wilsoi?,White Lake.Psalms:Psalm 148, page 357, verses 1; 4-5.Psalm 103, page 246, verses 1-4.July 20, 1955Psalm 121, page 314, verses 1-4.Psalm 72, page 175, verses 9-12.Scripture passages:Psalm 40:8; Matt. 12:50; John 4:34;Eph. 5:17; Phil. 2:13; John 6:38; James4:13-15. As these verses are read, asksome one to apply the truth which isfound in them to our subject for thisevening.Comments:Our subject you will notice, is pres-ented in the form of a direct questionto each one of us! "Are you going tocamp?"The camp to which we have reference is, of course, the camp-conference which your Presbytery is planningfor this summer. Your discussion of thissubject and your interest in it will bedetermined almost entirely byyour answer to this question. Right off hand Ican think of at least four ways thatyou might answer this question: You41