Steinbach Bible Institute - Star Yearbook (Steinbach, Manitoba Canada)

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-An imperative ior dliriitian He Service If a Bible institute is to do justice to its divinely appointed task of preparing men and women for service at home and abroad, teacher and student must have an experient¬ ial knowledge of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Among many other things this know¬ ledge involves experiencing the Holy Spirit as the law of life in Christ Jesus, so that the law of sin and death within the believer can be overcome. This overcoming enables the believer to live victoriously. Such victory is an imperative for successful work for Christ. The apostle Paul experienced this bles¬ sed ministry of the Spirit. Paul could write concerning his own work, “For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance”. (I Thes. 1:5). May the SBI and all its supporters ex¬ perience this ministry of the Spirit. BEN HOEPPNER B.Th., B. A., M. A. Bible Department JWtan OfDaitk Scripture exhorts us to walk by faith and not by sight (II Cor. 5:7). For most of us this is easier said than done. Especially is this the case in an affluent society such as ours. What are the characteristics of a man of faith? First, a man of faith is one with whom the Lord can talk. Because of the close com¬ munion betv een God and Abraham, God could not but reveal His plans concerning Sodom and Gemorrah. Secondly, a man of faith can talk to God. When Abraham heard the awful punishment to be meted out to the sinful cities he spoke up for the cities. Only a man who is walking by faith would dare to speak up in the face of such revelation and hope to get a hearing. Thirdly, a man of faith is a man of in¬ tercession. Abraham’s initial reaction to the revelation of destruction was that of inter¬ cession on their behalf. Love made a most persistent and persuasive intercession. God is searching for men and women who will walk by faith. The world is waiting to see a man live his faith. Friend, are you a man of faith? harvey plett B. A., M. A., B.D. Bible Department

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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE S)ome ddentipyiny Ifificu op (podA IddeAAenqer Malachi 2:5-6. Every vocation and pursuit of life has certain marks that invariably identify and connect persons with their particular vocation. This is also markedly so in Christan circles. Would you be an effective minister of God? Would you be a usable person in the hands of the Almighty? You can! As a Christian you have received “all things that per¬ tain unto life and godliness”; yes, “exceeding great and precious promises”, 2 Pet. 1:3-4. It is in your hands whether you let these operate in your life. Shall we look at these marks. Malachi opens his prophecy with the revealing cry: “The burden of the Word of the Lord.” Surely he felt the afflictions of his people. They had forgotten God. They had sinned. They must be warned. They must be rebuked, for God will punish sin. This is the burden that marks the messenger of God. “Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain ... of my people”, cried Jeremiah. “I must finish the work” (of redemption), Jesus said. “The love of Christ constrains me”, Paul says, “woe is me if I preach not the gospel”. If we are sharers of this type of compas¬ sion, people will listen. Fear of God controls the messenger. “Knowing there¬ fore the terror of the Lord we persuade men”, and again “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”, comes from Paul by precept and example. The messenger of the Lord is God’s anointed. He pleads with men on God’s behalf. We have His message to deliver. There is nothing uncertain or shallow about this. Those who fear God have His indelible stamp on their spirit. No irreverence or levity has room here. Another identifying mark is that of the eye. When Isaiah “saw the Lord” he was broken. Paul was not dis¬ obedient to the heavenly vision. When Jesus saw the multi¬ tude, He was moved with compassion. Open eyes toward heaven will give open eyes toward the dire need of souls. We could also speak of the mark of the hand, a grip on “the sword . . . the Word of God”; that of the mouth, having “the law of truth”; that of the feet, “walking with the Lord”. Surely, if these marks will identify you, you will have the further mark of the messenger of God, who “turned many away from iniquity”. B. D. Reimer

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Many heeded the call of Gideon, but only a relative few were chosen. Many heard the message of Good News from the lips of Jesus but only a relative few became fol¬ lowers of the message. There are three bil¬ lion people in the world today and yet only a few follow the way of the Saviour, Jesus Christ. In our day many young people are sway¬ ed by the standards of the masses. These standards are easily transmitted through modern means of communication. Since the individual wants to be accepted by the group, many individuals go against their better judgement and go with the crowd. Soon the group values are their own and they are integrated with the many. You and I need Christian courage to withstand the worldly many. Let us be deter¬ mined as the Apostle Paul when he states “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”, so that we as God’s dedicated few may live to the spiritual benefit of the many. WILBERT C. LOEWEN B. A., B. Th., M. Ed. Bible Department “Whatever is kind and winsome and gracious . . . think on these things.” “But the fruit of the Spirit is . . gentle¬ ness, goodness . . .” A gracious person is pleasing, courteous and friendly; gentleness denotes refinement of manners and disposition; goodness signi¬ fies the unselfish, benevolent character of one who is motivated by love. Opportunities for exercising friendliness and courtesy are perhaps never more plenti¬ ful than in a crowded place. Ordinary cloth¬ es, well-peopled hallways and a rush of dut¬ ies, need not deter us from acts and words of gentleness. The common task, the familiar classroom, the usual associates — these form the tests of true refinement. Through education and discipline we may acquire the traits which some call the marks of a cultured person. In the Christian, graciousness, gentleness and goodness are evident when the personality is molded by the Holy Spirit. DOREEN REIMER, B. A. High School Department