Give God an Opportunity to Say Yes by W. v. Grant, Sr

8/2/2019 Give God an Opportunity to Say Yes by W. v. Grant, Sr

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Order f,om GRANT'S FAITH CLINICSo. 353. DallaTg.a.

Chapter IGIVE TO THEM THAT ASKE.TH

Books b y Rev. W . V . Grant50c each or all twelve books for $5.00

Iwas with three ministers as we walked out of ahotel in Los Angeles, California. A stranger ap-proached us and asked for a quarter to buy some-thing to eat. He said that he was hungry.

These ministers turned to me, waiting for me to saysomething."I'll give you some money if you are broke," I toldthe man."I am broke," he said, "I don't have any money atall.""I'll have to search you first to see if you have any

money," I told the stranger.At that, he began to run backward and refuse to let

me search him. He probably had more money than Ihad.You can call that a word of wisdom, or just usingyour common sense. I have met many people like that

for years. As a teenager, I ran with a group of boysand men. They asked for money many times when theyhad money in their pockets; then they went off andwould brag to each other about how much they hadbeen able to take people for that day. They delightedin getting with others of their own kind and seeingwho could tell the biggest story - how they had ob-tained something for nothing.

For instance, one of them told how he went up to ahouse, asking for some food. The lady told him shewould cook him dinner if he would clean out her henhouse. She made the mistake of feeding the boy first.He made her think he was too hungry and too weak towork before he ate dinner.

After dinner, he went to her hen house. He saw ahen sitting on about fifteen eggs, which were aboutready to hatch. He took the hen, wrung her neck, brokeall the eggs, and caught the next freight train; he left

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Satan will accuse some good mother and say, "Youknow if you shut up your bowels of compassion againstthis man, the love of God does not dwell in you'.' Ifyou agree with him, you are under condemnation justas a sinner. There is another hobo on the next corner,and another one on the next corner; you can't feed allof them. God can lead you who you car. help if youhave the Holy Ghost, because His sheep know hisvoice.

When I called the police to the .man, they said, "Yes,we know it, but when we lock him up, we have to feedhim. When we let him out, he goes back collectingmore money." They couldn't lock all of them up.

town without working. He had another story to tell tomake the boys laugh.Satan came up to me and said, "You must give theman a quarter. The Bible says to give to them thatasketh you". (Matthews 5:42). He told me that I wassinning if I didn't give the man some money. Had Iagreed with him, I would have believed the doctrinethat we have to sin every day, for we can't feed all ofthe hoboes of America.Satan also quoted Scripture to Jesus when he triedto get Jesus to jump off the temple. Jesus fought himwith another Scripture which said, "Thou shalt nottempt the Lord thy God.As Satan told me we must give to everyone thatasketh, I quoted a verse to him which says: They thatdon't work shouldn't eat.

The Bible says for us to give to them that askethus. It also says we are given the word of wisdom. Itsays the Holy Spirit will guide us. It says that he thatis spiritual judges all things.

TheLord says that everyone that asketh Him re-ceiveth (Luke 11:9-13). If you read further, you willfind that there is a condition to meet before He givesyou what you ask for. The Bible lays down a plan forus to follow, instead of giving to every Tom, Dick andHarry that reaches out to us for a handout.

PORT LAVACA, TEXAS

MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPIAs I was walking by a courthouse lawn in Meridian,

a man walked up to me and asked for some money. ~"Let me search you and be sure that you don't have

any money," I said. But he refused to let me searchhim.

I went and called the police. Why did I do that? Ihad rather a man pull a gun on me and take my moneythan to use vain lies to play on the sympathy of in-nocent women and children, trying to get the lastmoney that they have.

One day on a crowded sidewalk in Port Lavaca,Texas, during the Christmas holidays, a man askedme for some money to buy some food.

I reached and hit his pocket. The money rattled. Hispocket was nearly full of change. I told him that hehad more money than I did. Then I noticed that hewas about two-thirds drunk.

This man knew people had a giving spirit at Christ-mas time. In one day's time he could make moremoney than anyone on that sidewalk by holding outhis hand for a "little money to buy some food".

No, I don't refuse all of them. I carried one man ina cafe, and bought him some food. While he ate, Ipreached to him. He promised me that he would goback to his wife and children which he left somewherein the East. He said that he would live right, and re-unite his home. Had I given him money, I, no doubt,would have been buying him beer, for he would havespent the money for drink. God does not want us tospend our money for that which is not necessary. (Isa.55:1).

I handed one man a quarter in a park. He cried,prayed, and repented. He was a backslider. That

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wanted to tell you that you were not a Christian if youdid not give them all something to eat. Itwas impos-sible to feed them all. You couldn't even support yourown children. So you will understand. Many people areunder condemnation continually. The devil condemnsthem and they condemn themselves. Then the deviltold them that it was also written in the Bible that ifyou didn't provide for your own household, you haddenied the faith and was worse than an infidel. Nowhow could you do both? How could you support dozensof hoboes and also support your own children? Manypeople were working for fifty cents per day or less. Thedevil tries to make it impossible for you to live forGod. The "accuser of the brethren" had beaten peopledown.

Sister Burnett was a saint in our city. She prayedfor God to give her the word of wisdom what to do.She said to the next man who came by, "Here, youread this New Testament until I get your dinnerready." The man flew into a rage and yelled, "I don'tbelieve in it. If that is what you want me to do, I amon my way." So he went down the road in an angry fit.

I have seen an independent spirit and a stubbornspirit at work among the hoboes more so than in anywell-to-do business man. That is why they are on theroad begging, and going from place to place. Most ofthem are too independent and too stubborn. They can'thold down a job and they can't get along with anyone.They don't know how to get along with people. So theychoose that independent spirit. They love that morethan they do making a living for their family. Theycan't get along with anyone - not even their ownfolks. They leave their wife and children on the wel-fare and they hit the road. They are the ones that Godis talking to when he says if one does not provide forhis own house, he is worse than an infidel.

touched his heart. We must be led by the Spirit whoto help and who not to help.

WORTHY CASESAll people are not bad people. Some have been

trapped by the devil.1 went to pray for a man who had a dying child. I

believed it was cancer. When I arrived, I saw the mostpitiful sight that night.

In the first place, who could have lived in the house?It was heated up like an oven by the summer sun,without any windows. As I started to pray, the motherleft the room. The dad was so discouraged my prayerswouldn't go to the ceiling of that filthy shack. Thewhole place smelled like a cancer. What was wrong?

They were all backsliders, I learned. They had beendiscouraged. I tried to talk to them about God, but Italked to deaf ears and to a very hard spirit. SuddenlyGod showed me what to do. Before I started home, Iwent into a little side room which they called thekitchen, where the mother was. I told her that wewere sending her down an order of groceries.

At that she broke down and began to cry. She andher husband both melted. Both of them were savedand filledwith the Holy Ghost. The entire family werein church during the last few days of the revival shout-ing the victory, encouraged to go on with God. Theirfaces were shining with God's love. If God is in ourgiving it will surely work. He will guide us when,where, and how to give.

THE MIND OF CHRISTWe have the mind of Christ. Christ gives to every-

one that asketh Him, but it is always on conditions.We remember well during the depression in America

when eight million people were unemployed. When yougave to one, about ten more hoboes would come to yourhome the next day. They were organized. The devil

LOAN EXPECTING NOTHINGMr. F. D. came to my grocery store asking me for a

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few groceries. He said his wife and his children werehungry. He said he had a job and would pay me forthe groceries the following Saturday.

I was living for God. Satan reminded me of theScripture as he reminded Jesus of the Scripture. Hesaid that I was a Christian and if I was living for God,I would not turn anyone away who wanted to borrowfrom me.Saturday came and Mr. F. D. was in a worse condi-tion than ever. He wanted a few more groceries. Iwanted to be a good Christian. I thought a Christianwouldn't turn anyone away, so I fed the hungry.

Within a few days he couldn't stand to face me. Hesent his dear wife and children. They came to me cry-ing, saying that they were on starvation. So I let themhave some groceries. I wanted to be big-hearted.

I tried to help all the men like that. I thought Icouldn't be saved and turn anyone down.

Satan cited the verse to me that said if we knew todo good and did not do it we were sinning. So I didgood.

I was really doing bad, for Mr. F. D. became worse.He got drunk and gambled his money away. Hewouldn't work. Dozens of others like him learned thatI was a Christian and came to me for a hand-out.

Soon my creditors came to collect. lowed for thegroceries. I couldn't pay for them when I had prom-ised to. Then Satan told me that I was not saved be-cause I had broken my promise and couldn't pay mybills. He reminded me of the Scripture which says,"Owe noman anything."

He knew the Bible. He is the accuser of the breth-ren. He works night and day to bring us under con-demnation. When we are under condemnation, we don'thave faith.

needed. If I didn't have what they wanted, I wouldget it for them somewhere and put it on their bill.They were to pay me each week.

They all went on a strike which lasted for severalmonths. They said if I didn't carry them through thestrike that they would boycott me. They said thatother people would quit trading with me also.

I wanted to be a true friend and a Christian. I hadread the verse that said not to turn anyone away whowanted to borrow from me. They made me some prom-ises that sounded better than money. They said thatthey would work their fingernails off or pay me. Idon't know how much they have worked, or how manyfingernails they have left, but after twenty years, theystill owe me. I was the one that the strike hurt. Iworked day and night for years to pay for merchandiseI let those men have. lowed for that merchandise.

Yes, we are supposed to say, "Yes," but they are tomake it possible for us to say, yes. We give, we loan,but there are conditions for us to meet. We are to beled by the Spirit in making these conditions.

You help these men and there will be dozens ofothers apply for help. In India there are one millionpeople sleeping on the sidewalk in Calcutta alone.Mothers and babies are there on the sidewalks withtheir clothes barely hanging on. They are there be-cause of religious persecution. They have been run outof Pakistan because they happen to believe in theHindu religion.

Could we feed one million women and children? Igave some money to some of them. In a little while, amob had formed. About fifty people were in front ofme. About fifty people were behind me, and about thesame number was on each side of me. I was told by aman who lived there to never try that again. He saidI would cause a mob to form, and how could I feed onemillion people?

When we first arrived, one of our party gave a man6 7

BRICKYARD STRIKESome brickyard workers were trading with me, buy-

ing groceries and gasoline - most everything that they


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It is not God's will for one person in the world tobe a beggar. I know of one beggar whowent to heaven,but that does not mean it was God's will for him tobeg. One Christian died with tuberculosis and went toheaven, but that does not mean that it was God's will?or him to have tuberculosis.

David said in his lifetime he had never seen therighteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.It is God's will for us to prosper and be in health.

(III John 2) The Lord said we must loan but not bor-row. He said whatever we do will prosper. (Psalms1:3).Job, Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac were not poor peo-ple. God provided for them. He prospered them. Godoffers us power to get wealth. (Deut. 8: 1). It is theLord that teaches us to profit.

Every beggar is out of God's will. When man fell,the curse fell upon man. Jesus was made a curse forus. We can be redeemed from the curse of poverty.Everyone doesn't know that, just like everyone doesn'tknow we are supposed to be redeemed from sin andsickness.

in those days during the depression unless they eitherlied, sold their farm, or gave it to somebody.

Our neighbors who gambled, lied, and spent theirmoney for whiskey, came home with sacks full ofgroceries. These groceries were paid for by the govern-ment. They laid in the shade and never tried to work.That is like socialism.

I was told by a gentleman in Los Angeles today thatthe federal government gives aid to "dependent chil-dren" in their state. They are crying for more taxmoney because they don't have enough to take care ofall these "dependent children".

"Dependent children" are illegitimate children. Ifthe father is in the house, they get no help. If themother claims she doesn't know who the child's fatheris, and she does not know where he is, she draws aregular check.If she knows who the daddy is and he offers her

some support, she refuses the support because that willstop her check. As a result some of the mothers areliving in expensive apartments, wearing the best ofclothes, eating the best food, drawing a monthly checkfor eight or ten "dependent children". They are attend-ing the night clubs, wanting more children so theirchecks will be larger the following year. You and I arepaying for their support with our tax money.

I am saying that God does not want us to encouragesin to continue by unconditionally giving them money.There should be conditions to meet. His glory he willnot give to another; then how can we bless who Godhas cursed?

a coin. The men were soon in a fist fight, and it lookeddangerous for us for awhile.

Satan tells us we aren't living right if we don't giveto everyone who asketh us, but God teaches us thatthere are conditions to be met.

OWE NO MAN

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CHURCH HOBOESBeware of those people in the church who are always

looking for a handout. A young man recently waitedjust on the outside of the church; he wanted to borrowsome money tobuy something to eat. Of course, Chris-tians are supposed to never turn anyone away whowants to borrow, you know.

FEDERAL AIDUncle Sam will lay down conditions for people to re-

ceive federal aid, but the conditions are not on Scrip-tural basis. You only need to be broke without anymoney in many cases.

Federal welfare makes crooks and liars out of somehonest people. My dad and mother worked hard all oftheir life. Finally in their later years, they owned thelittle farm. They couldn't get on the government relief

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This was not good for the young man. He learnedto live without working. He soon took things from thestore nearby. His parents didn't believe that he woulddo things like that, so they quit church when theylearned that someone suspicioned him of doing such athing. They believed the boy instead of what theyheard about him. He is now serving a term in the peni-tentiary because the Christians were too easy on himand didn't want to correct the boy. They loaned tohim, but he never did pay the loans back. They be-lieved that they should unconditionally give to anyone,because they wanted to be a good Christian, and noonehad the backbone to :;ellhim what he should do andwhat he shouldn't do. There is another verse in theBible that says to have no fellowship with the unfruit-ful works of darkness. Then the rest of that verse is"but rather reprove them."

A good brother came to us not long ago. He wantedto borrow twenty-five dollars. I checked into it andturned him down, because he wanted to use it for avery foolish matter. Later he came back for ten dollars.A brother in the church let him have this ten dollars.This man paid it back; then he came for more. Thenext time he didn't even come back to church. He vio-lated the Scriptures by spending his money for cigar-ettes (Isaiah 55: 1). His dear wife took some thingsfrom the church that did not belong to her. He hashad that kind of reputation for many years past. Hisrecord speaks for itself.

One dear lady who lives on the welfare, relief, Sal-vation Army, and any other way she can, feels thateveryone owes her a living because they happen to beChristians. She joins a church; she begins to tell ofher needs. She sits in the back of the church, criticiz-ing people in her heart. She won't take part in theservice and she never pays a cent tithes.

She passes notes from one member to another tell-ing her needs. There is some weak person who feelscondemned if he does not "chip in". She also goes

around and gets others to help. This lady has dirtyclothes and dirty children. A check on her finds thatshe has become angry, raised a fuss, and left aboutthree other churches because the people there couldnot supply all of her wants and give her regular"handouts" .

She may be poor, but there is plenty of water inthe world. We would be willing to give them soap forthem to wash their clothes and take a bath, if theywould be willing to doso.

Because of this kind of people, the Apostle Paulsaid, "He that won't work neither shall he eat."

He laid down a strict rule. He commands us to re-fuse them if they do not measure up to certain stand-ards. One good test is to check and see if this kind ofpeople constantly pay tithes. No one in the world is toopoor to pay tithes. That is to give God a tenth of theirincome. He has promised to make the nine-tenths gofarther than the ten-tenths. I would rather have thenine-tenths with God's blessings on it than to havethe ten-tenths with a curse on it.

The curse is pronounced on all that refuse to tithe(Mal.3:8-10). How can webless whom Godhas cursed?

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WIDOWS INDEEDIf we say we love God and refuse to keep His com-

mandments we are a liar. We are commanded to re-fuse to help those widows who do not measure up tothe following standards:1.If they have children or nephews, they must takecare of these widows. 2. The widow must be 60 yearsold. 3. She must be a woman who hasn't been marriedover once.4. She must be well reported of for her goodworks. 5. She must have brought up children. 6. Shemust lodge strangers. 7. She must have washed thesaint's feet. 8. She must have relieved the afflicted.9. She must be a woman that diligently follows everygood work. 10. She must absolutely be desolate. 11. Shemust be a woman who trusts in God. 12.She must be

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a woman who continues in supplications and prayersnight and day. 13. She must be blameless (ITim.5:1-10).The same Word of God that says for us to give to

them that ask us also sets down the standards that wemust go by in our giving. If we violate these rules, weare to blame for making church tramps out of people.A widow phoned me the other day for help. She couldnot measure up to these standards; still I did not feellike turning her down. I prayed. I sought God. We didnot put her on a regular list to be supported. I did notwant to fail God.

In our conversation I learned that she had a privatetelephone. She used it to phone many churches andplaces of business for help, day by day. She wantedsomeone to give her some money so she could purchasea new radio. She had just installed a new air condi,tioner in her home. Then I found that she was draw-ing a regular check from the welfare for her expenses.When we offered her food, she didn't want that food,because she said the welfare had given her all of hercommodities. She wanted the money for luxuries.

The thought came to me that she was only about 27years old. She could live with her husband, but shewouldn't do it. She was no better than I to sell books.I sold millions of books which made it possible for meto give away millions to foreign countries and topeople who needed God. I gave her a hundred booksand asked her to sell them.

The next day this lady phoned me. She was over-joyed. People were glad to buy her books. She readthem herself. Finally she came to church. She wassaved and filled with the Holy Ghost. She quit herhabits and went back to her husband.

Some people phoned Pastor Edgar the other day forhelp. They were in need and they were hungry, ac-cording to their own statement. His heart was touchedand they wanted some money for food. He would notgive them money, but he gave them groceries. The

same day they were seen spending their money for astack of sex magazines. Itis displeasing to God for usto build up the devil's kingdom by paying for sexmagazines, to inspire some dirty mind to commit sexcrimes. I think Brother Edgar did exactly right bygiving them food instead of money.

Why do this kind of people come to the church forhelp? It is because they cannot measure up to thestandards that the welfare sets; the church has nostandards. We want to be goody, goody Christians andplay Santa Claus to these people that would take thelast nickel that would buy your children food, and thenspit it out in cigarette smoke, and curse the churchand bite the fingers that feed them. God says they arecursed with a curse. They expect us to bless them whennot even God will bless them. God has conditions forthem to meet. They refuse to meet these conditions.He expects us to have conditions too, but we are toospineless.

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THE MARSHALL PLANThe United States plays Santa Claus to far too

many nations, on the left field. We break our backsworking and pay billions of dollars into the tax treas-ury to buy the friendship of these pagan nations. Thatis wonderful. But don't dare stop giving them their"handouts" or they will switch over, be on Russia'sside, and curse us. Down in Africa, we can feed themonkeys, but don't dare stop feeding them or theywill jump on you. .We support the pioneer preachers in those countriesfor about $15 or $20 per month. That is wonderful.But when they fail to get a check" they sit down andquit working for the Lord.We can build churches over there for less than ahundred dollars in some places. But when we quit send-ing money, they quit trying to build churches. Thereis a plan we are using. They are no better to sell booksthan other people. So these pioneer preachers are sell-

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inz the books for 1 shilling each, which is 14c. Theysell 100 books each month. We let them have the pro-ceeds for their living expenses. They are learning tosupport themselves. They also keep the shilling thatthey receive from 600 books to build a new churchhouse. Then when the white man is driven out of thecountry, they will know how to be self-supporting, be-cause they will know how to work for what they re-ceive.If they work for their living they appreciate it. If

they pay for a church house, they appreciate it. If theygive something for a book, they will treasure it foryears to come. He that does not work, does not eat.

Some folks never give the church an opportunity tosay yes. They make it impossible. They hold out theirhands for help from every welfare organization theycan contact. They may look at the church as if it wereput here to act as an agency to feed them. They wouldnot dare come to the service, nor be seen at church,even after the church helps them.

The husband drinks, gambles and runs with otherwomen all night on Saturday night. Then he lays uplike a grizzly bear all day on Sunday. He eats, sleepsand growls at his wife and children. He refuses to letthem attend church. He refuses to let her go to Sun-day School.

Shall we not help the poor children? We would beglad to do so, if we could. And we do help them some.But it does no good. You cannot regularly support amillion families like that. How can we bless whom Godhas cursed. There are some people who deliberatelywalk out under a curse and carry their families withthem. Some desperately bring their cursed childreninto the world. The iniquities of the parents are visitedupon the children, even to the fourth generation.

How can they blame God for what the devil does.The devil is to blame for children being raised wherethey have to eat out of garbage cans all of their lives.

Millions of our hard-earned dollars go to charitable

institutions in tax money. About one-half of the moneywe spend on gasoline and about half of the money wespend for a new car goes for taxes. Taxes are beingraised higher and higher each year. Welfare institu-tions and other charitable organizations make it theirregular business to employ thousands of people to sup-port the people that are unfortunate. If they can'tmeasure up to the standards that the welfare has tobe able to even partly support themselves if thesepeople don't care for themselves, then how can theyask God to supply their needs 7 God says, "Why ca1Iyou me Lord, Lord, and do not these things that Isay 7" The Lord says your iniquities have separatedyou from your God, and He will not hear you. He says,"My glory Iwill not give to another." He says, "Noman can serve two masters."

The money is given to harlots and drunkards, bymany institutions. NoBiblical standards are considered.These people take this money. They spend it for drinkand prostitution, then they reach for more money; theygrow worse every night instead of better.

Pastor Raiford received a phone call from a certainfamily. They wanted some money. They used theirbaby to reach a soft spot in his heart; they said thebaby was real hungry.

Of course, he was more than glad to help them. Hewas delighted to do so. He sent a few dollars over tothem by his brother. The brother was curious to knowmore about this family. He followed them. They filledup their gas tank at the first service station and startedon a pleasure. trip instead of attending church. Theybought a new carton of cigarettes (cancer sticks), theybought nofood at all for the starving children.

Buying the cigarettes was not so bad, but lying tothe Holy Ghost about money is a thousand times worse.Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying toGod about money.

The church needs more men as Peter, who has the

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BOWELS OF COMPASSION

Yes, they had food for the people You understand,there were many thousands of people put out of theirhomes because they became Christians. The Jews disin-herited them. They were out of the streets. That is whythe Christians had to sell their property in order to pro-vide for them. That does not mean that we are to jointhe Communist party today and give everyone equalamounts whether they work or not. That would be veryunscriptural, You wouldn't give all your school chil-dren the same grade, whether they studied or playedhooky.

gift of discerning of spirits and the gift of miracles.Then people would be careful about joining the churchjust to get a "handout." (Acts 5 :13 We cannot buymembers with our money The truth will set men free.

We have not shut up our bowels of compassion. Thereis a vast difference in a brother in need and a churchtramp, or one who hates the church. If any man lackwisdom let him ask God for it and it shall be givenhim.

Ask them if they qualify. Ask them if they will at-tend church and pay their tithes.

Jacob promised God that if He would bless him andprotect him, he would pay tithes of all that came intohis hands. (Gen. 28:21-22) God met that challenge forJacob; He will meet that challenge for other people.That is the only solution to their problem. Any otherway is like destroying the web without killing thespider. You will work on them all their lives. They willalways be in trouble. They will never get out of hotwater until they are taught to treat God right.Ifwe refuse one of the least of these His brethren,

we refuse Christ. But who are His brethren? Some-one that will eat His good food, breathe His pure airand then spit it back in His face in smoke and takingHis name in vain? God said if they don't work, theycan't eat and how can we improve on what God says?

STUMBLING BLOCKS

CHURCH TROUBLEThe first trouble they had in the early church after

Pentecost was when a few people began to murmurabout a "handout" from the church. Revival was over,(Acts 6:1).

The Apostle says that they were not supposed toleave the Word of God and serve tables. Our job is toadminister the word to the hungry soul.

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Who wants to attend church where people pass notesand go up and down the aisle asking for a "handou t"?You would be glad to help them if you knew that theywere worthy, but you make them worse if you give toa chronic. They may have more than you. A committeeshould be appointed to help in case of emergency. Agroup of women in the church should have some gro-ceries on hand in the storehouse in case there is afuneral or someone has their house burned to theground suddenly. They can take the dinner over thereand serve it. Those people will appreciate it. It maywin their hearts to God. It is good to take them someflowers or take them some kind words.

What about the church tramps who never get be-yond asking for help? A lady this week asked peopleall over the church for money to pav the beauty parlorfor fixing her hair. She spends her time watching tele-vision and using her phone asking the church peopleand the businessmen for money. She was offered a job,but wouldn't work. She can make more begging. Mywife gave her five dollars. That made her angry. Shekept giving, but the lady kept going from one to an-other demanding money.

Another lady kept demanding money. My wife car-ried them over some groceries. She found four grown,able-bodied, men and women lying around in a filthy

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house. They were willing to watch television, but theywere not willing to sweep their house. They would notmove a hand to take a bath or to wash their clothes, tosweep their floors, to clean up their kitchen, to Sun thebeds. They all had cigarettes in t~eir mo.u~h, laugh-ing at two dogs in an obscene act In the living room.There are many people in the church that are expectedto support that kind of people. They are not able toown and support dogs, and they don't live in a hou~ewith dogs, especially them stinking when they haven ttaken a bath for a year.

wrong to work and to have anything. They don't try,but they criticize others for trying.God says, "Occupy till I come." He wants us to getbusy. He wants us to use the printing presses, the tele-vision, the radio, the automobile, the airplane andevery means available, to reach the world with thegospel; the Bible says the gospel must first be pub-

lished to all the world, and then the end will come(Matt. 24: 14). We can't do these things if we are apauper. It pleases the devil for us to be bankrupt.The devil knows that if he can stop the financialchannel he can stop us from evangelizing the world.God wants you to have a home, a car and a good living.But what would you do with it if you had $5,000 permonth? Some of you would backslide. Some of youwould Jjve On a tenth of it and give the rest to reachthe unreached for God. God will give you all He cantrust you with.You should labor working with your hands that youmay have to give to him that needeth.A pastor preached to his members one time; he toldthem if they saw a brother in need and shut up theirbowels of compassion, that they did not have the loveof God in them. God said that He would supply all ofour need. (Phil. 4:19). But He decides what we need.

If you give your children what they think they need,you may ruin them.A father can give his Son $25,000 to begin in busi-ness. Many times his son will go bankrupt and ask formore. Then he may give another son $5,000 to begin inbusiness. He will make a good business and make itpayoff.Every dad should teach his boy to work for what hegets; then when he is grown, he will not be on themercies of the people.

CONSIDER THE ANTMany people quote the Scripture that says for us toconsider the sparrows .They say God provides for thesparrows, so He will surely provide for us. .That particular Scripture is speaking of us worrymz

or fretting. God feeds the birds, but they must. go getthis food and not depend on other birds to bring thefood in to them. .They should read that Scripture that says "Considerthe ant, you sluggard. In summer he provides food forthe winter (Prov, 6:4-10; Provo 30:25).You should have as r-iuch sense as an ant.God told Joseph to save enough food in the fat .yearsto supply them food during the lean years. That IS thewisdom of God (Gen. 41 :3). .Too many people sell out all their property, theirhome and everything; they never try to have anyprope~ty. They criticize other peopl: who work and ~ryto have a home. They spend their mone~ for m!l~-shakes ice creams, and Coca-Colas; they SIt aroun~, Inthe shade laughing and talking "till the Lord comes .God says if you sleep during the harvest, you are asluggard. Some people want a little more sleep and alittle more folding of the hands; so their poverty comesupon them. This God detests.Some people are under the impression that it is PRIV ATE GIVING

18 When this pastor told his members to not shut up19


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their bowels of compassion, he was not talking abouttaking- up a public offering. That kind of giving ist"alled alms. Jesus said for you to do this in secret; wemust not do it for show (Matt. 6:2).If you take up a public offering, for someone in need,you will have about fifty applications next week. Thenyou will have a problem that you cannot solve; youwill make more people angry than you help.I II Old Testament times the people were required toh"ing- each tenth cow, sheep, and such like, to the Lord.Thev broug-ht a tenth of their farm products to thes torchouse, so it was necessary for them to have astorehouse ill the farming communities. That is neededill a g-reater way today in rural communities. It isneeded in some cities. When God says bring all thetithes into the storehouse that there may be meat inmy house, that was equivalent to Him saying to somerhu rrhes be sure and pay your tithes so all the billsan be paid, so there will not be any hot checks written.I have already said all churches should have theg-roceries Oil hand in case of emergency. The Christiansshould do that so that their minister will not need toleave the Wore! of God and serve tables (Acts 6:2).

YOUR ALMS~rother John taught his members not to shut uptheir bowels of compassion against the ones who are inneed.Suppose you start down the highway and see a mandying; he has been beaten, robbed and left half dead.Would you depend on the charity to help him? Would

you depend on the government to come to his rescue?Would you just lay hands on him, ask God to bless him,and walk On down the road like the priest and theLevite did? Would you leave him there to starve orthirst? Would you tell him to go see the church?Would you leave him there to starve or bleed to death '!The priest and the Levite walked on by. They walkedaround him. The pastor and the deacon may do that.They may leave the man there who has been beatenand robbed, who is suffering. The Good Samaritancame to him, bound up his wounds, and carried him toan inn.You see, people need help at that particular time.That is where your Christianity comes in. When some-one is in an emergency and you know he needs you,don't pass him by. You' can have pure and undefiled re-ligion before God. You can visit the widows and theorphans in their affliction and keep yourself unspotted''-rom the world.We are told a man was praying. He said, "Oh Lord,please supply the Jones family's needs. They are out

of groceries." His oldest boy touched him on the backof the head and said, "Daddy, give me the key to thesmokehouse and Iwill answer your prayer for you."That man had an opportunity to say "Yes."

LEMON ADE SOCIETIESThere is a dang-er of the ladies of the church spend-illg- a ll their time in attending lemonade societies andother organizations to help the needy and never havetime to worsh ip God. You can backslide and becomecritical while you are working for the church. It ispossible to be more faithful to your church than youare to God. Don't lose God while you are working forGod. Speno some of your lime worshipping God. Bothwork and worship are necessary for us to be healthyChristians.All the relig ion some people have is "work religion",or "do relig-ion". Some only have "worship religion",but we need both. Be ready to work. It will do good ifyou are led by the Spirit of God.

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Chapter IIEVERYONE THAT ASKETH

It looked like the Lord of the vineyard was partial.But he wasn't. This did not prove that there are notdegrees of reward, for other parables prove that weall don't receive the same reward for our work.

The reason the ones who worked all day did not re-ceive any more was because they murmured and com-plained. That just brought out the spirit that was al-ready there (Matt. 20:11).

God knows the spirit we have as we work for Him.He rewards us according to our attitude and our spiritthat we have while we are working for Him.

He knows when we pray the Spirit and the motivethat we have. It is not how much we do; the spiritthat we have plays the main part.

Sister F - - - accused the Lord of being partial. Shemade it impossible for Him to deal with her as He doeswith some people.

Judas murmured and complained about offerings.John leaned on Jesus' breast. Some no doubt thoughtJesus was partial because He let John lean on Hisbreast. Both of them did not have the same spirit. GiveGod an opportunity to say yes.

The man in Los Angeles wouldn't let me search him.He had something to hide. Some people are afraid tolet the Lord search them when they are asking Himto answer their prayers.

A sister said that she had all sorts of faith but shecould not receive her healing. She did not realize thatshe was making a serious accusation against the Lord.She should ask the Holy Spirit to search her heart soshe can realize what manner of spirit she had.

Maybe that was the reason that she did not receiveanything from God. She had all sorts of faith. Every-one that has the real faith is healed every time. If youhave faith as a grain of mustard seed, nothing shall beimpossible unto you.

There is a condition to meet when you come to theLord. Still He says that everyone that asketh receiv.eth (Luke 11:9-13). Yet some people will not be will-ing to meet those conditions. They are not willing to besearched.One lady said, "God said if I raised my childrenright, they would be saved. And I raised my childrenright, but they are not saved."

She did not realize that she was making God out aliar. How can He work when you deliberately insultHim'? You must make it possible for Him to say yes.Sister F - - - - told me that God was partial. She saidGod promised to give us what we asked Him for. Shesaid that God gives things to other people but wouldnot give things to her.I knew this was a serious charge so I talked to theLord about her spirit; He showed me a certain parable.

Some of the workers came out at the eleventh hour;they received the same wages as the people thatworked all day. Still the Lord of the vineyard had toldthem to go out into the harvest and work and what-ever was right, He would pay them.

GODS PARTNER

Suppose you and I become partners in a basket fac-tory. You do all the work and I furnish all the moneyand the know-how. I know all about it. We are to dividethe net profits equally.

At the end of the year, I find that you have collectedall the money and escaped. I don't get one cent. Thatwould be the end of our partnership. How could twowalk together unless they be agreed?

Mr. X - - - - agrees to make God his partner. Heagrees to pay tithes and give offerings. In God's book,He sees where Mr. X - - - - has collected all the moneyand spent it. He has left God out of the partnership.He has made it impossible for God to say yes. He haswalked out under a curse without his partner (Mal.3:8-10).

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We make some cases impossible. A little lady by thename of Jane holds a man by the hand. She agrees tostand by him until death parts them. She faces lifewith hope. Children are born into this family. She isstanding on the promises that the young man madeher.The man falls for another woman. He goes on withthe secret triangle affairs for two years. Suddenly allof this comes out into the open.The whole world falls on Jane. She has been true,but now she is bordering on a nervous breakdown anda mental crackup. She condemns herself.Jane, don't condemn yourself, you are not to blame.You can't keep your side of the agreement unless hedoes. I Ie has made it impossible for you to keep youragreement and live with him till death parts you. Heis living with the flapper now. lIe did not give you anopportunity to say yes.Keep your agreement with the Lord. Be His partner.Make it possible for Him to give to him that askethHim. There is a condition to meet.There are people today who say that no man canpluck us out of His hand, but we must be willing to bekept. Some say that He will in no wise cast out. Butwe can walk out.No man could legally take the prodigal son awayfrom his father, but he deliberately walked away fromhome.He that eateth of this bread shall never hunger,that is, if he continues to eat. Not if we just eat onetime and never eat any more. We must continue in Hislove, and in His presence.

his promises; his word is not worth a dime with God.Now he is put on a cash basis. He must begin to dosomething for the Lord. lIe must make good some ofhis promises to the Lord before God will do things forhim. Up until now he has been given things in advance,or blessed on the credit.If you will lie to God, you will lie to anyone. If youare dishonest with God, you will be dishonest withman. If you would steal from God, you would steal ahog, if you thought no one would know it. If God can'ttrust you, no man can trust you. If YOLl won't be trueto the Lord, you will not be true to anyone.You can let an honest man keep his own record andfill out his own pay check. You won't need to be thereto watch him.The Lord trusts you with your own timebook. Hetrusts you to figure your own bills and pay Him Hispart. He said if you obey Him, all the blessings wouldovertake you. If you do not obey Him, you make it im-possible to live under His blessings.

RECORD BOOK

YOUR WORDThis man who bought things on the credit from mesoon came to the place where his word was not wortha dime. I put him on a cash basis. He forced me to doit. He would not give me an opportunity to say yes.Mr. X - - - - promises God so many things and breaks

I walked into one of the main stores of Sears andRoebuck Company. A man was almost fighting mad.He did not want his picture taken.They have a camera installed that will take yourpicture if you want to cash a check.I did not object to my picture being taken. What wasthe difference '? This man did not want to be checkedor investigated. Sears, Roebuck Company would cashchecks, but this man made it impossible for them tosay yes. This company can look at their books and seeyour record. If you ever beat anyone, you will beatsomeone else, if you get under pressure. If you neverbeat a bill, then it is very likely you will follow thatsame pattern.Sears, Roebuck Company knows that they extendcredit to all, but they have a condition you must meet24 25


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before you can obtain that credit. All they need to dois look at the book. People have learned they can't foolthat company so easily.You can't fool God any of the time. He has a condi-tion for you to meet. All He needs to do is to look atyour record. He looks at your heart, mind, nature, in-tentions, attitude and approach.He savs that everyone that asketh receiveth, butsome people won't give Him an opportunity to say yes.There is a record kept on you.A bank put up a large sign which can be read abouta block away, "Give us an opportunity to say yes".That has two meanings. It means they want to say yes,but you are the one to make it possible, or impossible.Too many people make it impossible for the bank toloan them money. Sometimes you force them to say no.You do not meet the conditions. Should they handmoney out to people regardless of the conditions, theywouldn't be there long. It would also be unfair to you.lt would not be fair to the man who does meet theconditions. It would show respect to persons.You are responsible to measure up to the standards

laid down by our Lord.In order to get credit a man told me that his motherwas dead. In order to get a "hand-out" a man told ushis grandmother was dead. He told that same storyfour different times. You may tell the church a lie andno one will detect it, but the Lord knows when you aremeeting the conditions. Why do you say, Lord, Lord,and do not the things that He tells you to do?A neighbor man was saved and tilled with the spirit.One day he was tempted to take up the old habit of to-bacco, which he had promised God that he would neverdo.To justify himself one day he tolel me it was notwrong to consume the tobacco, but he did acknowledgethat he would have to have this tobacco even if hischildren were starving to death. He said if he had notobacco for one week and his children had no food for

one week, and he had only fifteen cents he would firstreach for the tobacco. Would God supply the fifteencents to this man after he lied to the Lord?Two men with long cigars came to our revival, and

asked for their healing. I asked them to stay for theservice, which would be about thirty minutes. They didnot want to be seen at the services. They flew away ina rage. They called a taxi and left. One thing aboutNaaman, he did turn around. He came back and re-ceived his healing. These two men made it impossiblefor the Lord to help them.Many people want us to deliver healing to their home

through the back door. They don't want to be seenworshipping God. They do not give God an opportunityto help them.

HEALING CONDITIONSEveryone who had the blood over the doorpost, when

the death angel passed through the land at midnight,was spared. If the blood was not over the doorpost, theoldest child died, (Ex. 12 :7).

Everyone who looked at the brazen serpent washealed. Those who refused to look, died.The Lord laid down the conditions by which they

could be healed. It wasn't Moses. The Lord lays downconditions for us to be healed.

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to thevoice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which isright in his sight, and wilt give ear to his command-ments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none ofthese diseases upon thee, which 1 have brought uponthe Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee."(Exodus 15 :26)"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you,

ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done untoyou." (John 15 :7)

"And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, be-cause we keep his commandments, and do thosethings that are pleasing in his sight." (IJohn 3:22)

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It turned cold last week. We told a man to go to thechurch on Saturday evening and turn on the stoves. Wefound that we had not put in a gas meter. We shiveredin t he church over the weekend without any heat. Wehad not met the conditions. We violated a certain law.\\'c failed to prepare. We couldn't curse the gas com-pany; we did not give them an opportunity to say yes.There was plenty of gas but we had no meter. We didnot make it possible for the company to say yes. Wehad waited too long.If ou I heart does not condemn us, we have faith to-ward Cod. If we disobey the Lord, we are under con-

dernnat ion. Our faith does not work.I tell rnv boy I will let him go swimming if he willmow the yard. I come home and find he has beenplaying-. The yarn is not mowed. He has no confidence(hat he can go swimming. He has made it impossible.I lend .V(JlI my car one Sunday. It needs new tires.

YIlU do not feel like buying new tires for it. I give youmy ca r. it is yours to keep. You overhaul it and buy arornplel c set of tires for it.You go to church on Sunday. You live anyway youwant (0 through the week. You have no faith to be-lieve Cod will overhaul your body, and fix it up whenyou onlv lend it to Him once a week.Give vourself to God for keeps. Present your bodiesa living sacrifice, (Romans 12: 1). Cleanse yourselvesfrom all filt h iness of the flesh, (II Cor. 7: 1). You expect

Cod to take care of His own property. His glory He willnot give to another.Cod said, "Let mv people go that they may serveme." lie did not want them to go in order that theymight serve Satan or serve themselves. His kingdomwould be divided against itself and it could not stand.He sets before LIS a blessing and a curse - a blessingif we obey and a curse if we do not. The curse includesall the disease and the blessing includes healing of thedisease, (Deut. ~X), \Ye can't blame Cod if we don't

give Him an opportunity to say yes. It is you andwho walk out under the curse or under the blessing.

FAITH FOR SALVATIONThe Bible says that whosoever calls upon the nameof the Lord shall be saved. One man asked a boy,"Did you call on the name of the Lord?" The boys saidhe did. "Then you are saved," said the man. lie provedit to him by that verse. He gained another member forhis church. He furnished the boy mechanical proofthat he W!IS born again.There is a condition to meet. You must believe withyour heart. You must repent, which means to stop yoursinning. Unless you repent you shall likewise perish,(Luke 13:1-3).One man said to a young lady, "Did you confess your

sins ?" The lady said that she did. "Good" said the man."You are saved then. The Bible says that if we confessour sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."He gained another member. He proved to her bymechanical proof that her sin was gone, but still shehad not repented.There is a condition to meet. The Lord says we mustconfess and forsake our sins.People sing that song, "Only Believe", but Jesussaid repent and believe the gospel.Uncle Sam may dish out federal aid to even harlotsand gamblers. He may freely give out money to Com-munists nations. The Lord does not try to bribe peopleinto being on His side. There are conditions to meet.We must give Him an opportunity to say yes. Don'tmake it impossible.

A BLESSING OR A CURSEPeople read that Jesus said, "Everyone that askethreceiveth." They write and tell me to pray that they

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CLEAN VESSELS

God had promised to heal the woman anyway, if sheprayed the prayer of faith. It looks like the preacherwas forcing God to lie if he was not supposed to go toanother state. He was not giving God an opportunity.A white lady came to me and my wife. She wantedme to pray that her three children would all be white.They were half colored."Suppose the father was praying for them to be allcolored?" I asked. That shows how some of us make itpossible for the Lord to say yes.Sister 0 - - - - prayed, "Lord if you will give me theHoly Ghost, I will never dip snuff again.After she received the Holy Ghost she yielded totemptation and took up the habit again.One day she said, "The Lord gave me the Holy Ghostand 1 dip snuff."One man was given a big juicy sandwich. He threwit down in the dirt and stomped it with his feet. Somany people have lied to God that they have made itimpossible for Him to keep on giving and giving andgiving again.It is their next move. They must settle the old ac-count before they open new ones.What do you want with your healing? What do youwant with the Holy Ghost ? What do you want withthe gifts of the spirit. Do you want them for the gloryof God? Or for your self glory?The answer to this determines whether or not Godanswers your prayer.

will make much money. They don't make it. It is im-possible for the Lord to answer.The Lord laid down conditions for us to go by. Hesaid if we will bring all of our tithes and offerings toHim that He will open up the windows of heaven andpour us out a blessing that we won't have room to re-ceive. He said He would rebuke the devourer. Our fruitwill not fall off before it is ripe.He has set before us a blessing or a curse. How canwe ask God to bless a man who He has cursed? You arethe one to make it possible for God to do somethingfor you.

Many people are praying for God to call them into theministry and use them, but they don't make it possi-ble. He wants the one who carries His message to beclean. How can He use the man whose blood is full ofalcohol and nicotine and his mouth is full of cursing?A young man went to the altar. He cried out andprayed until he was hoarse. He wanted God to use him,yet he was not willing to carry his brother's wife backto him. How could he defile himself daily and be usedin God's service. He was the one who made it impossiblefor God to use him. It is not lawful for him to have hisbrother's wife. Your iniquities have separated you fromyour God and He will not hear you.If a fuse is blown which hinders your light from

burning, you don't curse the light company. Give thecompany a chance to say yes.Don't blame the Lord, the pastor, or the deacon ifyour children will not go to Sunday School. Maybe it isbecause they have heard all the faults of the pastor ofthe church around the breakfast table at home. Youhaven't given the church an opportunity to help yourchild.Brother H - - - - put out a fleece. He told the Lord ifit was His will for him to go to another state to holdrevivals to be sure and heal a certain woman.

"And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be mysons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (IICor. 6:18)"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved,let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the fleshand spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."(II Cor. 7:1)"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the merciesof God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

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holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonableservices." (Romans 12 :1).Then tell the Lord that you will present your body toHIm as a living sacrifice, holy 'and acceptable to Him.Tell Him you are not your own and you will let all youdo in word or in deed be done all to the glory of God.

STRIKE IIt RICH!VI H{'II'toR E E E I V EWi/HOl i f

32

A ID T O W O R S H IPP O E M S T H A T IN S P IR EM A G N IF Y H IS N A M E

T h e P O W E R in H IS N A M EH E S H A L L G L O R IF Y M E

I am loin, to s.nd you 60 of my a..st faith books, on casting out devils,h.aling the sick, faith, Holy Ghost, ,.ro,.h.cy, and almost every subject of thelibl . You will b. on my ,.ray.r list .very day until Jesus comes. I'll pray that 0-you will have a doubl. portion ministry. I want you to b. my partner and pray _for m. Wh.n you finish r.... in' th.s. Itooks an" filling out the test papers wewill s.nd you a ..illioma which you can frame .nd have on your wall. It willr.mind you that I am prayin, for you every day, that you are my partner inpr.y.r. If you are a minist.r you may rec.iv. a lic.nse to preach. There is nocharge for the lIacking, boxinl, storag., shillping, lIostage, exam papers,trading, s.cr.tary .xpense, dililomas, or ordination papers. Your dues will bepaid U I I for lif. (Oth.rs char,. $12.00 ,.r year and u,1. You can pay for them$.50 per we.k or s.nd in the n.m. of one n.w stu"ent per month, either one youou choose. If you s.nd one nome ,., month all the textbooks are free. 0 t--

ear TVDStaff: - C l : :: ., 0 'lease send the 60 W. V. Grant f.ith Itooks. If I like them I will send 50 cen;r:

p.r week, or on. name ,..r month, of som.one who wants this course. V)Q..b~

I.V)C l : : : .uJZ

o Put me on your prayer list. !"ray for me at a c.rt.in time each day. I'llyour ,artn.r.o I want a lic.nse to preach when Ifinish the books. I understand the licensQcosts no money anti my tlu.s will It. lIaid for life. --1

--1NAM~E~------------------------------------------~LlJADDRESS ~L1-

Give God an Opportunity to Say Yes by W. v. Grant, Sr

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