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BRETHREN DID! There was no other way we could account for it. All
during the following year, 1949, the income remained fairly steady
at a 30% increase over 1948.
Twelve to fifteen years ago, a number of times when the
income was down, and the situation became SERIOUS, our students
and brethren in Pasadena FASTED AND PRAYED -- and every time there
was a jump in the income -- back up to the annual 30% increase!
In August, 1947, the city building inspectors condemned our
first college building, demanding we make all walls one-hour fire
resistant, and install complete new electric conduits and plumbing
pipes throughout the three floors and basement. The cost was over
$30,000. That year the income for the Work was averaging about
$360 a day. I did send letters to the Brethren stating this
crisis. But they were accompanied by FASTING AND PRAYER. The
money came. One man -- not a member, but a radio listener on The
PLAIN TRUTH mailing list, whom I did not know, borrowed $5,000 on
his own home up in central California and sent it to me. We had
been threatened with never being able to open the college. But God
answered our prayers, and the college opened October 8, with FOUR
pioneer students. During autumn 1947, and nearly all of 1948, I
had to hear some faculty members and others (NOT praying Brethren)
constantly speaking discouragingly about "...when this thing FOLDS
UP."
But it was a needed part of THE WORK OF GOD! God was on
His throne. Our SAME God is still on His Throne TODAY. I am
praying. I am going to FAST and pray, and I'm going TO BELIEVE!
And God is going to ANSWER and SAVE HIS WORK now, as He has in the
past!
Brethren, I KNOW the CAUSE of our present situation. WE
AS A CHURCH HAVE BEEN LETTING DOWN -- letting down in PRAYER!
Letting down in Bible study. Letting down in ZEAL for GOD'S WORK
and HIS KINGDOM! God has ALLOWED this situation to come on us to
WAKE US UP -- to REJUVENATE US -- to GET US BACK CLOSE TO HIM!
Our minds, our thoughts, our interests have been gradually
gravitating, MORE THAN WE REALIZED, back into material and worldly
concerns and interests.
That means that NOT ONLY God's WORK is in danger -- MANY
of YOU BRETHREN are in MORTAL DANGER! I say to you candidly, I
know that some, if not MANY of you are in REAL DANGER of the LAKE
OF FIRE!
We must now INTENSIFY this recent UPTURN in attitude and
spirits.
Have we forgotten what the KINGDOM OF GOD is like?
What is GOD like? What will YOU be to be LIKE HIM?
God is PERFECT. Everything He does causes GOOD. NOTHING
He does causes evil, or pain or suffering, or fear or worry or
frustration. When we are ALL like HIM there will be NO pain, NO
sorrow, NO discomfort, no evils, no fears or frustrations -- but