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"There Hath Not Failed One Word of All His Good Promise"
"There hath not failed one word of all His good promise." 1 Kings
8:56. We read the marvelous promises of God over and over but as a
people we seldom drink in the fullness of these, or stop to apply
them to our individual lives as children of God.
We reached a place in our work (in the city of Havana, Cuba) where
we definitely had to hear God. Some bills were due and must be paid
on a certain day. Also there was not a penny in hand for
transportation in the mission work in the city. Several of the Bible
Training School students lived with me in the mission home-and
supplies of food were out. We had been diligent in prayer but some
way we had not yet reached the throne of God in faith--for does not
His Holy Word say, "If we know He heareth us, then we know we have
the petition we have desired of Him." Praise God. During the long
night hours I was unable to sleep and kept pressing the need before
the Lord in fervent prayer. In the early morning hours the blessed
Spirit of God spoke definitely in my soul in the words of the text
used at the beginning of this testimony. Never did I hear a voice
more clearly. God said to my burdened soul "There hath not failed
one word of all His promise." "Bless the Lord oh my soul and all
that is within me, bless His Holy Name." I knew the Spirit had
spoken through the Holy Scriptures, so I sprang from my bed and
searched for this quotation. As I read it, every word was
illuminated as with a light from Heaven. When the students arose in
the morning and learned of the message I had from Heaven, all hearts
were melted and together we worshipped at His feet as we waited for
the fulfillment of promise which we knew was on its way. That day an
"air mail-special delivery" letter was brought to the door and on
opening it we found a gift of one hundred dollars to be used as
needed. How our hearts did overflow as we again were strengthened by
this wonderful manifestation of His care. The prophet Jeremiah said,
speaking of the mercies of the Lord, "They are new every morning."
How wonderful! New every morning! Oh troubled soul, no matter what
your needs may be, or what your burden--look away to Jesus. He
surrounds us daily with a fresh and bountiful supply of mercies, and
He will not fail us, if we confidently trust in Him.
God Is Everywhere
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is
perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from
henceforth thou shalt have wars." 2nd Chronicles 16:9.
What a wonderful thing it is to be a child of God! There are so many
marvelous promises given in the Word of God for those who are truly
His. If we open our hearts so the Holy Spirit can illuminate our
minds and souls, and in this attitude really study these promises,
we shall soon find that they actually cover every phase of our
lives. Not only the spiritual side, but also the physical and
temporal needs. If we are "sold out" to God and definitely "seeking
first the things of His Kingdom" His every promise becomes ours; and
we have a right to lay hold by faith in prayer, and expect from Him
a definite answer in the supply of whatever our need may be.
God's power is so great that when moved by the cry of faith from His
children, He reaches forth His mighty hand and does for them, things
that are so far beyond the power of any man that we marvel, and are
made to cry out from the depths of our soul, "behold the wonderful
works of our God." Then we turn our eyes in another direction and we
behold His great arms moving to help in the little things of life.
There is nothing too great and nothing too small for our Father's
notice.
It was the week before Christmas in 1948. We were working hard to
prepare everything in the Children's Homes in Los Pinos, Havana, for
the reception of a number of brethren from the States. But so many
things were lacking that it was difficult to arrange. One day the
housemother in the girls' home called me to look over several
mattresses that just could not serve any longer. As we stood looking
at them my heart grew very burdened, as I knew we did not have money
with which to buy new ones and I also knew there were other things
badly needed. In speaking with Sister Claudina, I said, "Sister, we
need $100.00 for these things and funds are so low we just cannot
buy unless God moves mightily on some heart to supply." We agreed to
hold it definitely before the dear Lord in earnest prayer. The
following day, one group of our visitors arrived and conditions
remained the same. Just as we were serving supper, someone called me
to the door and as I stepped out on the verandah, I was greeted by
one of our fine young converts who lives some miles out in the
country. He, Juan Torre, is the oldest son of a very poor widow. I
had not seen him for about one year and was happy indeed to welcome
him. He made a very short stay, saying he must return to his work,
but that he had come to bring a gift to the Lord. This gift he said,
was what he had been able to save in sacrifice during the year and
that he felt an urge to bring it and that he wished it to be used
for whatever was most needed in the Homes. I could not withhold the
praises that were due my Lord Jesus. Right there, I had to honor God
and encourage that young saint by telling him how very definitely
God had used him to answer prayer. Several inexpensive mattresses
and other needed articles were purchased the following day and our
hearts not only rejoiced but were strengthened in the faith as once
more we beheld the goodness of our Heavenly Father in answering the
prayer of faith. Oh that men everywhere could know His love and His
power. David in his life had so many experiences of the Divine care
that he cried out, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is
within me bless His Holy Name." Psalm 103:1. At another time, he
cried out, "Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord." Psalm
150:6.
Yes, His love is very great towards His children. "The eyes of the
Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself
strong in behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him."
Clothing Supplied for Workers in Answer to Prayer
In 1933 we passed some testing times in the mission work in Cuba.
Because of economic and political conditions the sufferings among
the labouring people were great and these conditions brought many
and varied problems in the missionary work. We reached a time when
some of our brethren who were either in the active service of the
ministry, or who were in the Bible training School definitely
preparing for the work, were almost destitute for clothes. Together
we prayed and trusted, but the answer was delayed some days. At last
a group of workers met and definitely laid this need before the
Heavenly Father and just committed it all away to Him.
It was necessary for some of us to make a trip to Santiago de Cuba,
a city of some 800 miles from Havana. Four of us started out in the
car expecting to drive to a certain place that we would have reached
late in the night before stopping; but God planned otherwise. About
5 p. m. we discovered that something was wrong with the car, and we
were afraid to continue traveling after night, so we pulled into a
garage about 6 p.m. to see what the trouble was. To our
disappointment, we learned that the mechanic was not there and would
not be until the next morning so there was nothing for us to do but
to go to a hotel and pass the night. The following morning the car
was rapidly repaired and we were soon on our way again. Some of the
younger ones in our group were inclined to question as to why we
had been thus delayed, and had been obliged to pay a hotel bill for
the night; but I reminded them of how we had at the beginning of our
trip, committed every detail of the journey to the Lord, and that we
should be contented with what He permitted to come to pass.
We had not been out on the highway more than a half hour that
morning when we saw, right ahead of us, lying in the middle of the
highway, a large package. We stopped the car and got out to look at
it. For some moments we were afraid to touch it as at that time many
bombs were being placed in the highway, as this happened in the days
of Revolution in Cuba. However, after spending a few moments in
looking at the package, we came to the conclusion that it had
dropped off some truck that had passed that way with a load of
materials from some factory. The package was placed in the car and
care was used to inquire all along the highway at each bus station,
if notice had been turned in of a lost package. We advertised in
different ways but never had any response. After doing all we could
to find the owner and having failed, we opened the box and to our
great joy we found we had six new white drill suits (of the best
material) right from some factory or store, but we found no mark
anywhere that could serve to guide us to the original owner. The
suits were of different sizes and fitted the group of minister and
workers who had been in such dire need as if they had been made to
order. Praise our God forever. The God of the Israelites who made
their garments that they waxed not old while they were in the
wilderness where they could not get any more, can supply for His
trusting children today, "Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee . . .
these forty years" Deut. 8:4. Thank God, "He is just the same today"
Heb. 13:8.
Had we not had the little trouble with the car we would have passed
by that place before the package was dropped. God had planned the
whole thing for us. Oh, that we might learn better how to commit our
ways unto Him, trust also in Him and let Him bring to pass what
should come in each day of our lives. Psalm 37:5.
"Present Help in Every Time of Need." Psalm 46:1
In June of 1946 the oldest girl in the Children's Home was very ill,
so ill that we had to comply with the laws of the land, in calling a
doctor, as she was a minor. At this very time, we were without a
cent in hand to get even what would be needed for that night for the
sick girl. We had been praying and trusting, but it seemed
impossible to expect anything, as the mail in the morning had
brought nothing, and we do not have a delivery of mail out here in
the afternoon. But I stood on the promises of God, and as often as
possible I would slip out of the sick room, and into my office
alone, pleading with God to move in some miraculous way and supply
in this time of great need. Every time I prayed I felt consoled but
could see no way for the prayer to be answered, as I thought on it
in the natural. The hours wore away, and the child grew worse. Our
hearts were sad, but still the assurance kept coming that God, in
some way was going to take care of us. Late in the afternoon, one of
the workers came to the sick room and called me, saying two
gentlemen were in the hall waiting to see me personally. I went in
and they came forward introducing themselves, saying that they lived
here in the city; but in former years lived in Chicago and had
boarded with a certain lady whom I knew. They had recently gone to
Chicago on business and naturally had rushed out to see this family
where they had formerly boarded. They told how this lady began
asking if they knew me, and the work I was doing here in the city
for the poor children and when they answered in the negative, she
said they must know me, and that to make sure they would really
come, she was going to write a letter and send it with them. So here
they were to make my acquaintance and to deliver her letter to me.
They made a short visit, and as they left, I went into my office to
open the letter-and there was God's answer to our cries. FIFTY
DOLLARS not sent in a cheque, but in cash, just for ready use. Oh
how wonderful are God's ways! His mercies are new every morning. The
Prophet Jeremiah said in Lamentations 3:22 "His compassions fail
not. They are new every morning." God not only supplied the temporal
needs but the sick child was soon restored to health. If He feeds
the sparrows--cannot He feed His little children?
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye
not much better than they?" Matthew 6:26. Yes, God does care for the
fowls of the air, and we should know in our hearts that He will not
let us suffer unnecessarily if we trust in Him. At the time of which
I am now speaking, I was living in the suburb of Buena Vista,
Havana, in the little mission house. I had four Bible students. They
were all girls. Several young men, who were also studying in the
Training School, lived in an apartment close to me. We all lived and
worked by faith, trusting alone in God to supply every need for the
work and for us individually. Thank God, He just never failed us. On
a Saturday night after supper, we were faced with the problem of
shortage of food for the following day. We had what would make
breakfast, but NOTHING for the rest of the day, and our Sundays were
our heaviest days of work. We had prayed and we committed it all
away to the Father whose we were. After having breakfast the
following morning, the girls went out to gather children for Sunday
School, as was their custom, and then went to Sunday School. I met
them there, and as I entered the building, one of the boy students
came to me saying there was a large package out in the other room
with my name on it. I asked who brought it, and he said a man came
and said a Methodist minister who lived some blocks from there had
sent it by a servant. When Sunday School was over, I asked this same
young brother to kindly carry the package out to the house for me,
which he did. On arriving we opened it, and found everything we
needed for good substantial meals for two days. Yes, everything for
the group of workers and the students. What rejoicing! We knew God
Himself had done this thing, for the gentleman scarcely knew us. I
met him only twice, and he knew nothing of how we lived by faith. At
the time of his sending this, he had no way of knowing anything of
our needs but God did know and that was sufficient. Many times when
I think of how God has planned to take care of us, and of all the
wonderful examples He has given us in the Word, besides all the
wonderful promises, I wonder how He must feel when He sees how
little faith the most of the professed Christian people really have
in Him. If a good kind earthly father would tell son, "son, I want
you to go to this place and do a certain work for me, and as you
know, I am well able and I will supply everything you need, so go on
without thinking anything about how you will be looked after, for
that is absolutely my responsibility," would a son or daughter have
trouble believing the father? Certainly not. But how few are willing
and able to take the heavenly Father at His word. Paul has said in
Phil. 4:19, "But my God shall supply all my needs, according to His
riches in glory." Thank God, Brethren, then let us launch out and
prove our trust in Him.
Answer by Cablegram
In the year of 1942, just following our Annual Convention in Havana,
Cuba, we had a remarkable experience of answered prayer. Because of
the poverty of most of our Christian Brethren, meals were furnished
free, but near the end of the convention food supplies were running
short and there was no money in hand to meet this need. A very poor
sister had her own house rent money in hand and she kindly loaned
this to supply the need--naturally expecting that in a few days we
would be able to return it to her. But God permitted us to be tested
to the utmost that we might have our faith strengthened and that His
name, which is worthy, might be exalted among His people. Day after
day passed and nothing came with which I could pay this bill. Two
other rent bills for the mission had become due and for the first
time in the history of this work we could not meet our obligation.
With these three rent bills staring us in the face the spiritual
workers cried Out of the deep of their souls for God to intervene
that we might be able to meet our obligations as people of honor.
The final test came when we reached the place where if we were not
able to meet these bills on that day, one mission would have to be
closed down, and also the poor widow sister who had kindly loaned
the money for the food for the last day of the Convention would be
forced to vacate the house where she was living-with no place to
go. The night before had been spent in prayer and on this morning a
group of us were on our faces before God--unwaveringly holding the
Divine Promises before Our Father who had made them.
About 8:30 a.m., while we were still in prayer, a telegram was
brought to the door. The telegram contained a notice that I was
wanted that morning at a certain bank in the city. Our night was
turned to day! Our tears to praises! I hurried down in the city to
this bank and there received money that had been sent by cablegram
from the States that very morning. I asked for the name an address
of the sender and to my great surprise learned that a stranger had
sent it. And blessed be the name of Our Lord, the amount was just
enough to meet the three rent bills and to furnish the means of
transportation that would be needed, with food for the mission
workers for the day. Sufficient unto the day…" Matthew 6:34.
From the banker I learned the sender of this precious gift was a
perfect stranger to me. I wrote at once to thank them for the gift,
and in doing so I told them something of how God had used them to
answer prayer in a marvelous way. In replying to my letter they said
they had heard of our work for God in Cuba, and had long felt a
desire to send a gift, but had been neglectful. They then told how
God had laid the burden on their heart more and more until the night
before it was sent, they had been unable to sleep as the burden
hourly grew heavier, until they promised the Lord they would send it
by cablegram as soon as the office opened the next morning. I had
never heard of these people and they were in no way connected with
the Church of god work, but God knew them and knew where they lived.
Thank God. "Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver
thee."
God's Care In Little Things
"Therefore take no thought for your life, saying, What shall we eat?
Or, What shall we drink? Or, Where withal shall we be clothed? (For
after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye
first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:31-33. In this part of
Christ's sermon on the mount, we have presented a marvelous picture
of His care over His children in the little things of life. We know
that our Father has planned that man should earn his daily bread by
the sweat of his brow, but He is all wise and He knows that in
life's journey many circumstances will arise that we will not in
ourselves be able to overcome; and since He is not only all wise but
is also all powerful, and all loving, He has kindly taken over on
himself the responsibility of meeting all the needs of our daily
life, or in other words, our Heavenly Father has planned to help us
through all these circumstances that arise in life. In thus planning
for our care in every little thing, He has made only one requirement
and we must meet that requirement fully, if we expect Him to do His
part.
The thing God definitely requires of us is that we "seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness" and He has promised that if we
do, then all these temporal things shall be added. Christ has spoken
here in such a sympathetic way—saying, "Your Heavenly Father knoweth
that ye have need of all these things-even before ye ask Him"
Matthew 6:32. Oh that the dear Lord would help us as His children to
grasp the greatness of His love and the beauty and simplicity of His
plan for those who truly love and serve Him with sincere hearts. He
knoweth just what the human needs are, and He knows just when
circumstances develop that throw us into utter dependence on Him,
and He has told us to cease worrying and to give ourselves to
definitely seeking after the spiritual things with the clear
assurance that if we do seek first spiritual benefits He will not
fail to supply or to work out a way in which our temporal needs will
be cared for. Praise God forever for His wonderful plan and for the
"exceeding great and precious promises." 2 Peter 1:4.
Beginning with the month of April 1948, a condition developed which
held our mails up, and for several weeks almost no letters reached
us. Since our entire work in Cuba is a "work of faith" and most of
our offerings come to us through the mails, we were soon in a very
difficult position. Day after day, conditions grew more serious.
Something had happened, or was happening somewhere that was greatly
affecting our income for the work. We took the matter before the
Lord in earnest prayer, trusting Him fully, but conditions grew
worse. I knew the work all over the island was dependent on us
getting prayer through. Other workers and myself were living in the
Children's Homes in Los Pinos, Havana, where we had at that time, a
family of around ninety including the workers and the children. Our
hearts were exceedingly burdened as on investigation, we learned
that the mails were tied up in the Post Office because of the
political unrest and confusion. It was near time for the
Presidential election and we were told that we could not expect a
change for the better until after that was over. This increased the
burden on our hearts, and as conditions continued to grow more
serious the church became united in their burden in prayer. One
night while this burden was pressing sore on many hearts; I arose
from my bed unable to sleep and sought strength and counsel of the
Lord. After refreshing my soul by reading several of the blessed
promises, I turned my face to the wall and cried out of the depths
of my soul, "Oh Lord speak--I must hear Thy voice. This is Thy work.
Help us in some way." Getting up, I again turned to the Word.
Without paying any attention to where I was opening the Bible, it
fell open to the 20th chapter of Exodus and my eyes became riveted
on the 22nd verse, "you have seen that I have spoken with you out of
Heaven." Praise God, my burden was gone. He had heard me! Does He
not say that if we know that He heareth us, we also know that we do
have the petition that we have desired of Him? John 5:15. As I lay
there praising God, He reminded me of the parting of the Red Sea and
pointed out very clearly that He had done a complete work of
deliverance for the people of God at that time. He had not only
parted the waters but He had caused the Israelites to pass over on
dry ground, and then had sent the waters back to destroy the power
of their enemies. Praise the lord, oh my soul, and all that is
within me, bless His Holy name. |
