path2prayer.com

Abstract: Many individuals claim to hear God’s voice. Some appear to legitimately do so, but not all! It seems Satan sometimes uses the claim to having “heard God’s voice” for mischief. In this article I summarize what I have learned about the place of “God’s voice” in determining His will. These thoughts first appeared in my weekly newsletter.

Perhaps the most common question that is directed my way is how to know God’s will. Lately there has been an added twist to the question: “What am I to do with the “voice” that sometimes speaks to me?” Voices are a challenge when it comes to prayer—sometimes confusion comes from too many voices speaking; sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any voice.

There are people who say “God told me…” and it seems to be legitimate. I am a bit envious of them to be honest. These people love the Lord and are thoroughly committed to whatever He wants. Others speak of God giving them dreams—I hear this particularly in primitive cultures or in the early stages of their Christian walk. I think that is wonderful too. Some talk of God “speaking” to them, but I am frightened because what God seems to be saying is at variance with what God has spoken through His word or other teaching. For example, one time in the past I was informed that I was going to die during a particular week, something that made me initially sad, but obviously did not happen.

The point is, any time you rely on God’s voice alone for direction, you are potentially placing yourself in a dangerous position since Satan will seek to take advantage of such a mode of seeking direction. For example George Muller only used “lots” twice before giving up of them, for both times the lots misdirected him—he comments later that Satan can apparently turn the coin as it is falling to the ground. God uses multiple voices when He leads us and we must seek to hear from all of them, and to hear them speak unitedly to correctly know what God is saying.

Generally speaking, God rarely communicates directly. In my life I can probably count on one hand the number of times God seemed to be speaking to me, and it appears that my experience is similar to many others. That doesn’t mean that God hasn’t given strong impressions, but God speaking directly as in saying specific words in unmistakable ways has been more the exception, and certainly not something that could be planned on ahead of time—in fact came when I was desperate for wisdom on at least one occasion. When God spoke, it was short, to the point, profound and life changing. God had already been directing through his word, was providentially opening and closing doors, and the direct communication was in complete harmony with—and confirmed—that prior communication.

I am certain that God prefers to speak to us through His word and He will rarely communicate directly if it is already in the Bible—though the devil would have us believe God speaks apart from His word. When God speaks He speaks in harmony with His Word. In reading countless books written on prayer by great Christians down through the ages, I find the same thing. Many speak of having received strong lingering impressions and eventually sensed direction in the basis of those impressions, but they also confirmed those impressions in other ways—remember Gideon!

I always come back to what George Muller said regarding knowing God’s will: 1. 90% of the challenge of knowing God’s will is choosing to have no will of our own—or, to put it another way, choosing to have WHATEVER God wants. (Luke 9:23) 2. Recognize that God’s leading will always be in harmony with His word (Isaiah 8:20). 3. Realize that God’s leading will often be accompanied by the opening and closing doors of His providence. 4. Hold out for God’s peace, for God’s leading will be accompanied by His peace (Col. 3:15). If you sense that something isn’t quite right, or just don’t feel at peace about it, it either means “no” or “wait.”

Muller said that any time he rushed beyond God’s leading he invariably made mistakes.

Muller did one other thing that was brilliant when it came to knowing God’s will. When he felt satisfied that God was leading in a particular direction, he would go to his friend Craik, share what God had put on his heart, and ask Craik to expose any unworthy motives and/or scriptural objections to his intentions. In this way Muller was further protected from making poor decisions. I think this would be a good plan to adopt, but make sure you are going to a friend with a mature Christian experience.

This is taken from my newsletter that is sent out almost weekly. Write me at path2prayer@gmail.com to subscribe.

There are many more resources on knowing God’s will at the Practical Christianity page at path2prayer.com.

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Friday, December 12, 2008

Greetings!

Introduction:
Among the precious blessings given me, are friendships with older, god-fearing saints. Though they may have physical and other limitations, their zeal continues unabated! Here are three thing you can count on with these people: 1. They are busy working for Jesus. 2. They experience more than their share of trials. 3. They know Jesus and He knows them. This time I mention one hero friend of the older generation. He always inspires me to be active for Jesus!

The Wise Soul-Winner (Prov. 11:30):
Psalms 71:18 “Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.”

I want to introduce you to my friend and hero Ben. Ben is 81, has serious health problems—diabetes, and pernicious anemia are only two of them, but is busy working for Jesus. Visiting Ben I have personally seen the motor home He modified into a witnessing vehicle. I have heard his stories of answered prayer and am so grateful to be on his prayer list. I have also heard about his long-term efforts to reach his former tilling clients. Ben invented a tiller—a tiller on steroids, it can grind a stump several inches thick while going through a wheat field—but that tiller was used for more than just tilling up fields, it was also Ben’s witnessing machine. You see, he gave all his customers books and invited them to yearly catered dinners at the Legion hall where he lovingly shares Jesus with them. Recently the tiller was retired, but Ben didn’t retire, for he is still planning to invite his clients to the catered dinners, and now visiting his neighbors and passing out books—he has 400 books to share, and has already given 150 of them away. He does more than most of us who are much younger. Why? Well he loves Jesus. He knows God has a supreme witnessing purpose for his life. He maintains a simple life. and He uses his time and his funds wisely. I recall hearing of a student missionary who was going overseas who Ben promised to help. He had a bit of money in a bank account and promised to help the student with that money. He figured he had $66 Canadian. Going to the bank he asked the teller for the money in cash. She checked his account and then whispered, “How do you want your money?” He was a bit perplexed. How many different bills could a person request for such a little bit of money. Turns out, there was more than $2,000 in that account. Ben is certain the Lord put the extra money in his account. Ben never has much money, but God keeps taking care of him and he uses what he has for God. I think he is what we would call a wise soul-winner! Why? He is doing what he can. He is touching the people he knows. He is investing his resources wisely. And since he can’t serve Godin other places, he is making it possible for others to go in his place.

Ben isn’t the only one doing this, by the way. Another one of my retired prayer partners sent 2,500 Christian books to her neighbors, and is busy praying that the books will be silent messengers kindling a new interest in Jesus.

On Overcoming:
Isaiah 43:1,2 “But now says the LORD that created you, O Jacob, and he that formed you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by thy name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; neither will the flame kindle upon you.”

The following may be a new thought: It is because God IS blessing us that we sometimes find ourselves enduring pruning experiences. And remember, surrender is not only about allowing God to put His hands on us, but also about taking our hands off. Note the following:

Christ says to (us), You are mine. I have bought you. You are now only a rough stone; but if you will place yourself in my hands, I will polish you, and the luster with which you shall shine will bring honor to my name. No man shall pluck you out of my hand. I will make you my peculiar treasure. On my coronation day, you will be a jewel in my crown of rejoicing. The Divine Worker spends little time on worthless material. Only the precious jewels does he polish … cutting away all rough edges. This process is severe and trying; it hurts human pride. Christ cuts deep into the experience that man in his self-sufficiency has regarded as complete, and takes away self-uplifting from the character. He cuts away the surplus surface, and putting the stone to the polishing-wheel, presses it close that all roughness may be worn away. Then, holding the jewel up to the light, the Master sees in it a reflection of himself, and he pronounces it worthy of a place in his casket. Blessed be the experience, however severe, that gives new value to the stone, causing it to shine with living brightness. RH, March 7, 1912

We all want to be witnesses for Jesus. Just remember that fruit-bearing and pruning go together. It goes without saying, that bear MUCH fruit means MUCH… (you know the word AND the experience I suspect)!

Prevailing In Prayer:
“And Enoch walked with God.” Gen. 5:24

What does it mean to “walk” with God. Someone recently wrote of taking walks and imagining that Jesus was with them; even mentioned thinking about what He might be wearing. Many of us take walks—a good thing—and meditate and do various things as we walk. My two favorite things are listening to sermons—easy these days with an mp3 player and a downloaded sermon from audioverse.org, or sermonindex.net/; or memorizing the Bible—I copy the chosen chapter from a small print Bible I have, cut out the verse from the copy, tape the verses of the chapter to a 3×5 card, cover the card with plastic mailing tape so it doesn’t get soggy if it rains, and bring the card with me. I’ve learned several chapters of the Bible this way.

But there is something to be said for spending quality undistracted time communing with Jesus—realizing He is next to me while I am walking and talking with Him. Sometimes we are so busy we don’t take the time—something that isn’t good for us and I am sure frustrates Him! It reminds me of a time when I was speaking in a city about an hour away from where I live. The pastor also lived in my town, but we independently drove to the church because our schedules were so different and because we had so little time to spare before departing—gas was also cheaper:) On one occasion we happened to leave at the same time and eventually found ourselves driving side by side. We followed each other the entire trip, waving and smiling to each other from time to time. We should have stopped to ride together but we were running late and I didn’t know if he was coming back immediately after the meeting. Sometimes my relationship with Jesus is the same way, so busy that I don’t take the time to surrender and invite Jesus to be a part of my day in the serious earnest say that is so necessary every day, which means I don’t have much time for Him during the day either. On those days I probably have a perfunctory prayer to get the day going and figuratively wave at Him from time to time, and I am sure He waves back, but I am also sure He has a sad smile on those days. I think He would rather be in the car with me, so to speak, or walking next to me, and helping me, and enjoying the day with me. So, whether we are walking in the quiet of the day, or we are commuting to work, or we are studying in some class, let’s make sure Jesus is a part of every minute of every day.

“Waiting upon God. Just think—that He may reveal Himself in us; that He may teach us all His will; that He may do to us what He has promised; that in all things He may be the Infinite God…. This is the attitude of soul with which each day should begin. On awaking in the morning, in the inner chamber, in quiet meditation, in the expression in prayer of our ardent longings and desires, in the course of our daily work, in all our striving after obedience and holiness, in all our struggles against sin and self-will-in everything there should be a waiting upon God to receive what He will bestow, to see what He will do, to allow Him to be the Almighty God.” Andrew Murray The Secret of Adoration Christian Literature Crusade, p 70

Goals:
A prayer partner is a wonderful gift. Do you have a prayer partner?

Coming Up:
I am in Nashville, TN the weekend of January 17, speaking on prayer.

Path2prayer.com:
You will find some links on god-honoring music in the new resources section. Sometime soon there will be more audio files having to do with August Francke, one of three “spiritual fathers” of George Muller, and the Welsh Revival.

Would you like to receive this newsletter directly? Please write!

A Final Prayer:
Father, I want to thank you for Ben and people like him, who are not letting anything—age, sickness, intimidation, the press of daily life, resources or finances—get in the way of serving you. Thank you that we can all follow Ben’s example in shining brightly for you wherever you have planted us. Help me be such a person, and help the one reading this to be that kind of person too. Make us the people that you can happily use. To that end we give you permission to prune us so that we can bear much fruit. And do the same kind of good work in our families and in the members of our churches. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

God bless you!

Dan

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Greetings

Introduction:
We have just held Thanksgiving here in the US. Considering the economic and other challenges being faced, I suspect this year’s thanksgiving celebrations were muted compared to past years for many families. But we are admonished to give thanks at ALL TIMES and for ALL THINGS no matter what is going on! I know doing so isn’t easy but it is still God’s plan, and we need to recognize His presence in our lives, and accept what is going on, as one person put it, “with both hands joyfully.” If we count our blessings, we will find plenty to praise God for; if we remember how God has worked in the past, we will also trust Him for the future!

The Wise Soul-Winner (Prov. 11:30):
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

I recently read of three kinds of “go” when it comes to missions: 1. Young people MUST go. 2. Parents must LET go. 3. Those who cannot go must HELP them go. I have modified the three a bit, but I think L.E. Maxwell is on target with this. I want to ask three questions:

1. If you are younger, have you already gone, or are you planning to go, as a volunteer missionary. You should. Your life will be changed as a result!
2. If you are a parent, are you encouraging the young adult in your family to spend time in missions? Remember, we are either “no limit” Christians, or “limit God Christians.” The same holds true for parents.
3. If you are in neither category and are unable to go, what are you doing to make it possible for someone to serve in your place? Supporting can include prayer, encouragement, finances, or whatever else God puts on your heart.

Do you need ideas for where to serve? In addition to serving in the orphanages in Cambodia and Thailand, there are also service opportunities teaching languages in Southeast Asia (this is a very interesting situation), working with schools in Central America, or working with a school or orphanage in Eastern Europe.

On Overcoming:
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezek. 36:26

One of my favorite songs is closely linked to Pastor E. L. Minchen, a much loved evangelist of former times. At his revivals they would always sing the song, “I want dear Lord…,” the words of which follow. I traded a few letters with Pastor Minchen shortly after I graduated from college. In addition to asking how he came to know Jesus, I asked what were his favorite books. He mentioned a few, confessing that he still cried in reading over some of them, particularly mentioning one on the cross of Christ. I hope to have some of his sermons on path2prayer.com before too long. I mention the song because it shares the way of victory in very simple terms: A heart-felt desire for a pure and clean heart, a desire to have a heart where there is no cloud or other barrier, a desire for a heart that comes from heaven, a heart that only God can bestow. Here are the words of the song:

I want, dear Lord, a heart that’s true and clean,
A sunlit heart, with not a cloud between;
A heart like thine, a heart divine,
A heart as white as snow;
On me, dear Lord, a heart like this bestow.

I want, dear Lord, a love that cares for all,
A deep, strong love that answers every call;
A love like thine, a love divine,
A love to come or go;
On me, dear Lord, a love like this bestow.

I want, dear Lord, a soul on fire for thee,
A soul baptized with heavenly energy;
A willing mind, a ready hand
To do whate’er I know,
To spread thy light wherever I may go.
George Galloway Jackson (1866-93)

Prevailing In Prayer:
“Giving thanks always, for all things….” (Eph. 5:20)

Jonathan Goforth, who served with Hudson Taylor in China, tells of a “Miss Gregg,” a single missionary, who at a point of discouragement determined that she was going to return to England. She had been promising the ladies at her mission station that when he came to hold meetings, the missionaries would all come into harmony. But instead of things changing as a result of the meetings, they had remained the same. Desponding, she stated: “The meetings are all over and the quarrels remain unsettled. I’m so disappointed. I simply cannot face those women again. They trusted me so implicitly. So the only thing I can do is to go back to England.” Goforth was eating with her at the time, and relates how she also shared how a motto that had been given her one year previously had become, in her words, “blurred.” The motto went as follows: “Whatever my Father sends me, be it joy or disappointment, no matter how hard it may be to bear, since I know it comes from my Father, I’m going to receive it with both hands joyfully.” Under the circumstances, however, the motto sounded hollow and though a friend had recently repainted it, she had in fact turned it around at this time of disappointment. Goforth reminded her that she had been insisting that God work in a particular way to bring about the solution. As he put it, “In other words, as far as you were concerned, God had no option. He must please you in your own way or else lose your service. Remember that God is sovereign. He can never lay aside His sovereign will and authority. I understand that Mr. Green is out there now in the tent holding a prayer‑meeting with the Christians. How do you know but that at this very moment every hindrance has been removed?” The words had hardly left his mouth when “Mr. Green” bounded in crying “Hallelujah! All quarrels have been made up, and every hindering thing has been laid away, and they’re all waiting out there in the tent for you people to come and rejoice with them over what God has done.” Needless to say, the hallelujahs began while people began getting up from the table. Miss Gregg didn’t leave the mission either. She remained and was mightily used by God all over China, receiving the things in her life as blessings, no matter what they were, joyfully with both hands.”

Presumption versus Faith:
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalm 19:13.

Someone wrote asking the difference between faith and presumption? Note the following points:
1. To insist that every one of our prayers is answered is presumptuous. (1 John 5:14)
“The assurance is broad and unlimited, and He is faithful who has promised.  When we do not receive the very things we asked for at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers.  We are so erring and short-sighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us, and our heavenly Father in love answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest good-that which we ourselves would desire if with vision divinely enlightened we could see all things as they really are.  When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise:  for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most.  But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption.  God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly.  Then do not fear to trust Him,  even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers.  Rely upon His sure promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you.’”  Steps to Christ 96

2. To minimize Satan’s success to tempt us to presumption is presumptuous. (1 Peter 5:8)
“Beloved, Satan being fallen from light to darkness, from felicity to misery, from heaven to hell, from an angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others miserable with himself… makes use of all his power and skill to bring all the sons of men into the same condition and condemnation with himself. Satan has cast such sinful seed into our souls, that now he can no sooner tempt, but we are ready to assent; he can no sooner have a plot upon us, but he makes a conquest of us. If he does but show men a little of the beauty and finery of the world, how ready are they to fall down and worship him! Whatever sin the heart of man is most prone to, that the devil will help forward. If David is proud of his people, Satan will provoke him to number them, that he may be yet prouder (2 Sam. 24). If Peter is slavishly fearful, Satan will put him upon rebuking and denying of Christ, to save his own skin (Matt. 16:22; 26:69-75). If Ahab’s prophets are given to flatter, the devil will immediately become a lying spirit in the mouths of four hundred of them, and they shall flatter Ahab to his ruin (2 Kings 22). If Judas will be a traitor, Satan will quickly enter into his heart, and make him sell his master for money, which some heathen would never have done (John 13:2). If Ananias will lie for advantage, Satan will fill his heart that he may lie, with a witness, to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3). Satan loves to sail with the wind, and to suit men’s temptations to their conditions and inclinations. If they be in prosperity, he will tempt them to deny God (Proverbs 30:9); if they be in adversity, he will tempt them to distrust God; if their knowledge be weak, he will tempt them to have low thoughts of God; if their conscience be tender, he will tempt to scrupulosity; if large, to carnal security; if bold-spirited, he will tempt to presumption; if timorous, to desperation; if flexible, to inconstancy; if stiff, to impenitency.” Thomas Brooks, Precious Remedies from Satan

Presumption is a common temptation, and as Satan assails men with this, he obtains the victory nine times out of ten. Those who profess to be followers of Christ, and claim by their faith to been listed in the warfare against all evil in their nature, frequently plunge without thought into temptations from which it would require a miracle to bring them forth unsullied. Meditation and prayer would have preserved them and led them to shun the critical, dangerous position in which they placed themselves when they gave Satan the advantage over them. The promises of God are not for us rashly to claim while we rush on recklessly into danger, violating the laws of nature and disregarding prudence and the judgment with which God has endowed us. This is the most flagrant presumption.” Lift Him Up, p. 80

3. To claim God’s promises even though we are disobeying is presumptuous. (1 Sam. 15:22)
But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures.” Desire of Ages p. 126

4. To seek after anything less than GOD’S COMPLETE WILL lends itself to presumption. (Prov. 3:5)
“I never remember, in all my Christian course, a period now (in March 1895) of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, through the instrumentality of the word of God, but I have been ALWAYS directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or if I did not patiently wait upon God for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the word of the living God, I made great mistakes.” George Muller Counsels to Christians

5. To limit oneself to only ONE voice lends itself to presumption. (Isa. 8:20)
When God reveals His will, he will speak first and foremost through His word, then through the impressions he places in our hearts, through the providential opening and closing of doors, the counsel of friends and spiritually mature individuals—sometimes, and His peace. Note all of these—or maybe I should say MOST of these will point in the same direction. Note that anything that is contrary to the teachings of God’s word CANNOT be according to His will. Fleeces only confirm God’s will; they do not reveal it. And by all means take enough time to clearly hear his voice. In the desire to be bold for God, some individuals are jumping off presumptuous cliffs—so to speak—and finding that the landing is a bit hard if not disastrous. If you are serious about knowing God’s will, and open to whatever He wants, you can be assured that He will carefully and clearly reveal what He has in mind. And if you are not sure, wait until it becomes clear.

6. God’s bidding are His enablings. (Php 3:12,13)
“As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent. Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All his biddings are enablings.” Christ Object Lessons, p. 333

7. God will lead us forward one step at a time. (Isa. 30:21; John 7:17)
It has been pointed out that God will generally lead us one step at a time. If God has called you to a particular service or task, He will clearly open doors and bring resources that make that next step possible. Faithfulness in that step will open the way to the next step. If you study the lives of great Christians—George Muller and Hudson Taylor, for example—you will find they went forward taking incremental steps, for which God had prepared them with prior, often small, preparatory testing experiences ahead of time.

8. Genuine faith will result in the impossible! (Php 4:13)
Heavenly intelligences are waiting to cooperate with human instrumentalities, that the world may see what human beings may become through a union with the divine. Those who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God’s service will constantly receive a new endowment of physical, mental, and spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their command. Christ gives them the life of His life. The Holy Spirit puts forth its highest energies to work in mind and heart. Through the grace given us we may achieve victories which, because of our defects of character and the smallness of our faith, may have seemed to us impossible. To every one who offers himself to the Lord for service, withholding nothing, is given power for the attainment of measureless results.” Heavenly Places 62

Goals:
Are you spending time with Jesus each day? What about a prayer partner? Are you still praying that God will allow you to lead at least one person to Jesus and last day truth this year? Did you write a letter or call that person you are trying to reach?

A Special Meeting:
A special gathering of young adults will take place in San Jose, California from December 17 to 21. Get more information on these meetings at http://www.gycweb.org.

Service Opportunities
Asapministries.org is seeking volunteers for a short-term—I believe a two week—mission trip to Cambodia in February.

Path2prayer.com:
I have added a document on evaluating a marriage partner and some audio sermons, including the Romanian translations of my More Abundant Life series.

Communicating with me and Requests
Please let me know how you are doing, and feel free to send prayer requests.

Do you know friends who would benefit from this newsletter? Please have them write me in that regard.

Father in heaven. Thank you for for my friend. Thank you for reminding us that you know what you are doing and that your providences can be joyfully received with both hands. Might we seek to hear your voice. Might we then carefully obey you. Help us learn to trust you with the easy things and the not so easy things. Please provide the resources, the direction, and anything else that is needed to assure that my friend will meet every demand of truth and duty. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

God bless you!

Dan

Dan Augsburger
path2prayer.com
God’s will; nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!

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Note the following from Eli Wigle in his book Prevailing Prayer:

“Without the quickening and convicting operations of the Holy Ghost, the sinner will not-nay, cannot come to God. These operations of the Holy Ghost, are conditioned on the faith of the Church! As the Church prevails with God for the convicting power of the Holy Ghost upon sinners, the responsibility for the salvation of sinners, is transferred from the Church to sinners themselves. Only when Christians have done their reasonable utmost, is the responsibility entirely transferred to sinners. Then how great-nay alarming the responsibility of Christians!” Eli Wigle, Prevailing Prayer or the Secret of Soul Winning, (Grand Rapids, MI: Continental Publishing Company, 1900), p. 16.

I think this is worth praying about! Learn more about the importance of prayer at path2prayer.com

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Charles Gordon’s letters to his sisters are considered by some to be the among the most devotional letters ever written. The BBC described him briefly as follows: “British general Charles Gordon became a national hero for his exploits in China and his ill-fated defence of Khartoum against Sudanese rebels.” He was also a great Christian, as evidenced in the letters he sent home to his sister.  Here are some of his life-changing thoughts on a variety of subjects:

On Envy and Backbiting:
“I can say for my part, that backbiting and envy were my delight, and even now often lead me astray, but, by dint of perseverance in prayer, God has given me the mastery to a great degree; I did not wish to give it up, so I besought Him to give me that wish; He did so, and then I had the promise of His fulfillment. I am sure this is our besetting sin; once overcome it, and there will be no cloud between God and ourselves. God is love—not full of love, but love itself. The law is love; possessed of love, we shall find our other temptations fall from us like scales. We are all dreadfully prone to evil-speaking, but God is all-powerful against it; it is opposed to His nature, so He hates it. I pray for those I most envy, and the feeling leaves me at once.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 3  (Gravesend, June 12, 1866)

On Seeking Wisdom:
“Let our endeavors at least make us trust God as much as we would trust man. If we had a powerful friend ever near us, we would often ask his help and trust him; is not God in that relation to us? Is anything too small or too great for Him Therefore in all things make known your wants to Him, and trust Him to relieve them; He never leaves or forsakes. Do not try planning and praying and then planning again; it is not honoring to God. Do not lean at all on your own  understanding. Your heart will call you a fool; but let it call you what it likes, it has often deceived you and is desperately wicked. If doubt should arise in your mind as to what to do in any matter, think which of the two courses will best show forth God’s glory, and follow it; generally this will the be course most contrary to your own wishes. Supposing you have been led to leave the issue of any event to God, and afterwards begin to doubt if you are not called upon to do something to aid it, resist the temptation. All things are possible with God. Do not express your doubts; pray to God to help your unbelief every time it arises; remember we have power over our words, if we have not over our thoughts, and to prevent the tongue sinning is the first step towards the checking of the thoughts, which will soon follow. Act up to your religion, and you will enjoy it.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 4 (Gravesend, June 12, 1866)

On Patience, and Seeking God’s Glory:
“We should always remember that His glory should be more in our minds than our selfish desire to feel happy or comfortable. It is selfish to wish that God should hurry for your benefit; if we only wished for the advancement of His glory we might perhaps be impatient, but it is seldom for that we groan.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 4 (Gravesend, June 14, 1866)

On Receiving More Light:
“What a thought! “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine” (John 7:17). What a delightful verse! It means this: that just as much as we give up to our Lord, so much the more shall we understand; just as much as we live up to the light He has given us, so much the more light shall we receive.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 7 (Gravesend, November 27, 1866)

Trusting God’s Leading:
“To write of the varied scenery one has passed through on a railway journey is unprofitable, and so would be any account of what has been my course of life since we left one another. The longest day comes to an end, and , thanks be to God, the bright morning will soon come. We have not time to look back as yet, He carries us on through all and will never leave us. A passenger is carried in a steamer. He may or may not believe the steamer is proceeding on its course to the appointed haven, but he progresses irrespective of his belief or unbelief of the fact; and thus it with God’s ways. He is carrying out His work, however little we may be aware of it, or however unlike the course pursued is to that which we, in our perverted understanding, would choose.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 7 (Gravesend, 1867)

On Rejecting What God Sends Us:
“I am sure of one thing, we lose the very sweetest times by rejecting willfully what God sends us; in avoiding people and disagreeable things. God says, ‘I will preserve thee from all evil.’ ‘I will preserve thy going out and coming in, from this time forth.’ ‘There shall no evil befall you.’ And yet we refuse to believe this for even a second, and go on plotting and praying for more communion with Him; and the moment He begins to work, we fly from Him. I want to realize this more than I do, it is evidently the reason of our deadness; there can be no confidence where there is distrust. If we think we are bound to look after ourselves, if we think these strong expressions are only figurative, or dependent on any particular frame of mind, they are useless to us. Unless we take them in their strength, we shall crawl along all our days.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 7 (Gravesend, May 3,1867)

On Reading the Bible:
“I have had, and continue to have, the most exquisite delight in the Bible beyond any past experience I ever felt. All that dead time when I read without interest, merely because I ought to do so, is now repaid me, and God brings the passages back to memory with the power of the Spirit. ‘The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance’ (John 14:26). Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 10 (Gravesend, May 16,1867)

On Appreciating Trials:
“I have felt a little of late of rejoicing in trials, and trust I may feel more. I mean really being glad at annoyances, inasmuch as they work experience and hope. This is a very great gift to obtain from God, but it is little to what He will give us if we persevere.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p.11 (Gravesend, May 28,1867)

On Mortifying the Flesh:
“We all have veils over our spiritual understandings; some of us have them thicker than others, we are quite blind till we get the veil removed. The veil is the flesh, it is never entirely removed while we live in the world; it is only made transparent by living in the Spirit, or mortifying the flesh, which are similar things. We all want to live in the Spirit and in the flesh also; this is impossible, thence the struggle. The more we apprehend that the death of the flesh is the life of the Spirit, the more we shall realize His presence. Death of the flesh is painful, but absolutely necessary, for, as we mortify the flesh, so shall we grow in the Spirit; we must feed on our flesh as it were. Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 12, (Gravesend, July 21,1867)

The Great Secret of Life:
“Keep in view 1 John 4:15 (“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”); it has in few words the great secret of the new life. I have known many who have lately come to the truth and peace by asking God to manifest the power of it. As we remember it, we live happily; every time we feel cold or apathetic it arises from not realizing the truth, and God alone can keep that realization before us.”
Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 13,14, (Gravesend, July 21,1867)

On God’s Indwelling:
“I have had very nice thoughts on 1 John 4:14—’Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.’ I think it is the key to much of the Scripture. I am more than ever convinced that the secret of happiness and holiness is in the indwelling of God. The same truth is shown in many other verses, but the above, to my mind, shows it more clearly. Let a man seek the teachings of the Holy Spirit on such verses, and he will grow much in grace. As we believe that text, so we shall realize the presence of God in our hearts, and, having Him there, we have as a sequence holiness and love. He alone can make us believe the truth and keep it in mind.” Charles Gordon, General Gordon’s Letters to his Sister, p. 13,14, (Gravesend, July 21,1867)

You can find more on these subjects at path2prayer.com.

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When studying the triumphs of God’s kingdom on earth–the revivals, the great missionary movements, etc.–one invariably finds at the center a man or a woman, sometimes groups of such individuals, who has been greatly used by God for a particular time and challenge.

Some of these individuals are household names in Christian circles. We all know about George Muller and Hudson Taylor. But there are many are less known.

Some of them worked in highly visible venues. Others worked in the obscurity of country parishes where the work was hard, the distances were great, and the daily fare was rough and simple.

In spite of these challenges, men and women were able to bring the Holy Spirit into the every day activities of their parishioners, and in some cases their communities.

Why were they so successful? Were the ruby-throated wordsmiths who could deliver polished phrases in ideal worship-filled settings? Were they attended by large pastoral staffs? Did they have lots of time to study and meditate? Were they loved and protected from outside distractions? Were they blessed to have extra time since they had so few people to look after?

Truth be told, though they were competent to stand before learned men, they spoke in simple terms that their hearers could understand. They preached wherever and whenever they could, sometimes twenty to thirty times each week. Often they spent hours on horseback traveling through their districts in spite of the inclement weather. More often than not their success made their peers jealous, and sometimes those peers led in persecuting efforts. In spite of all of this they were marvelously successful.

William Grimshaw was such a man. He worked in a rural parish, preached countless times per week, faced great opposition, but greatly impacted his community.

Oh, that God would raise up more people like William Grimshaw.

William Grimshaw

Here a few paragraphs of a document that you can find at the page on William Grimshaw: A Great Pastor:

“As a result of his intense interest in the people, a longing for spiritual things swept into his congregation. Speaking of this he said, “Souls were affected by the word, brought to see their lost estate by nature, and to experience peace through faith in the blood of Jesus. My church began to be crowded, insomuch that many were obliged to stand out of doors. Here, as in many places, it was amazing to see and hear what weeping, roaring, and agony, many people were seized with, at the apprehension of their sinful state and wrath of God.” He would meet with these people in smaller groups of ten to twelve people, where the blessings continued.

He was a “plain” preacher. His first aim was to preach the whole truth as it is in Jesus. His second aim was to preach so as to be understood. To accomplish this he was willing to make many sacrifices, including preaching with words that were below his education, but words, none-the-less, that communicated with his parishioners. John Newton, speaking of him, said: “The desire of usefulness to persons of the weakest capacity, or most destitute of the advantages of education, influenced his phraseology in preaching. Though his abilities as a speaker, and his fund of general knowledge, rendered him very competent to stand before great men, yet, as his stated hearers were chiefly of the poorer and more unlettered classes, he condescended to accommodate himself, in the most familiar manner, to their ideas, and to their modes of expression. Like the apostles, he disdained that elegance and excellence of speech which is admired by those who seek entertainment perhaps not less than instruction from the pulpit. He rather chose to deliver his sentiments in what he used to term ‘market language.’ … Frequently a sentence which a delicate hearer might judge quaint or vulgar, conveyed an important truth to the ear, and fixed it on the memory for years after the rest of the sermon and the general subject were forgotten…. But if his language was more especially suited to the taste of his unpolished rustic hearers, his subject matter was calculated to affect the hearts of all, whether high or low, rich or poor, learned or ignorant; and they who refused to believe were often compelled to tremble.” Read the rest of the summary on William Grimshaw at path2prayer.com

William Grimshaw was a great man.

Find more resources for pastors at path2prayer.com

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“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God….” Psalms 46:4

I found an old poem this morning which brought joy to my heart. Though I don’t know the author’s name, because it comes from a book of poetry of the German Pietists called, “The Hymns of Tersteegen, Suso and Others,” I am confident it comes from one of the people who so desired to have a heart experience with Jesus in the 1600-1700s.

The River of God

From the Rock that God has riven
Flows the sacred river,
Through the wastes of barren ages,
Ever and for ever.

Still on this side and on that side,
Grow the healing trees-
Bearing fruit for all the hunger
Leaves for all Disease.

From the everlasting fountains
Still it flows along,
Making glad the holy city
Of eternal song.

From the throne of Christ in glory,
Rock that God has riven,
Onward still the crystal river
Bears the life of Heaven.

Sheep lie yet in quiet pastures
By the waters still,
Lilies grow in God’s green meadows,
Cedars on His hill.

Still to drink the living waters
Come the souls athirst,
Eyes behold the Face of Jesus
Even as at first.

Clad in white there walk beside Him
Still the blessed throng-
Through the ages sound unsilenced
Psaltery and song.

Onwards weary generations
Pass through deserts dread.
Void and silent skies above them,
Under them the dead.

Whilst unseen the Lord’s fair garden
Round about them glows,
And the barren wilderness
Blossom as the rose.

Whilst beside them unimagined
Glide the waters fair-
Whilst around, the psalms ascending
Tell that Christ is there.

C.P.C., From Hymns of Tersteegen, Suso and Others.

Find many more beautiful writings on Christian devotion at path2prayer.com

This link will direct you to pages with information on how to have a stronger devotional life: Help me have a stronger devotional life

You can also find sermons from Gerhard Tersteegen at path2prayer.com

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I found the following wonderful thoughts of Daniel Rowlands recently. Apparently there is even more to rejoice about than we realized! Read and be blessed!

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“Observe what he says. Make thou no exception, when he makes none. All! Remember he excepts nothing. Be thou confirmed in thy faith; give glory to God, and resolve, with Job, ‘though he slay me, yet will I trust him.’ The Almighty may seem for a season to be your enemy, in order that he may become your eternal friend. Oh; believers, after all your tribulation and anguish, you must conclude with David, ‘It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.’ Under all your disquietudes you must exclaim, ‘O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!’ His glory is seen when he works by means; it is more seen when he works without means; it is seen, above all, when he works contrary to means. It was a great work to open the eyes of the blind; it was a greater still to do it by applying clay and spittle, things more likely, some think, to take away sight than to restore. He sent a horror of great darkness on Abraham, when he was preparing to give him the best light. He touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh and lamed him, when he was going to bless him. He smote Paul with blindness when he was intending to open the eyes of his mind. He refused the request of the woman of Canaan for a while, but afterwards she obtained her desire. See, therefore, that all the paths of the Lord are mercy; and that all things work together for good to them that love him.

You can read more from the same sermon at path2prayer.com in the practical Christianity section.

Here are more encouraging readings on the subjects of trial and difficulty.

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I was blessed recently in coming across this quotation of Henry Venn. I suspect many of us need to be reminded that a weak faith is still an effectual faith, for it is based on Jesus. Read, rejoice, and share!

“Weak faith seeks salvation only in Christ, and yields subjection to him, and brings the soul to His feet, though without assurance, of being as yet saved by him. There is not one duty a weak believer slights. Weak faith is attended with sorrow and humiliation; as in his case he said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.’ It produces new desires and affections, new principles and purposes, and a new practice, though not in such strength and vigor as is found in old established believers. Ask the weakest and most disconsolate believer, whether he would forsake and give up his hope in Christ; and he will eagerly reply, ‘Not for the whole world!’ There is, therefore, no reason why weak believers should conclude against themselves; for weak faith unites as really with Christ as strong faith, just as the least bud in the vine draws sap and life from the root no less than the strongest branch. Weak believers, therefore, have abundant cause to be thankful; and while they reach after growth in grace, ought not to overlook what they have already received.” Henry Venn, Letter, 1784.

To learn more about having a strong faith, search out the many resources on living more abundantly in Jesus at path2prayer.com. You will be encouraged reading about Christian assurance in Ryle’s chapter on the same subject from his book Holiness.

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How To Live on Christ is the title of the booklet by Harriet Beecher Stowe which Hudson Taylor sent in 1869 to the missionaries affiliated with the China Inland Mission.

Ever since reading the booklet in Broomhall’s book Hudson Taylor: The Man Who Believed God, I have wanted to locate and read it for myself.

As a result I began searching the internet, used bookstore stores, and other sources to find information on the book. I found nothing. I then contacted other ministry leaders. Once again no success! I even visited an archive of Hudson Taylor’s letters and effects in England to see if a copy might be there, particularly focusing on 1869. But the book remained a mystery.

This evening I began using bits and pieces of the famous lines to see if I could find then using Google Books. I succeeded. Harriet Beecher Stowe words in How To Live On Christ are taken from her introduction to Charles Dean’s book on Anne Peck.

Here is the introduction. Read and be blessed!

You can find more resources on this subject at path2prayer.com.

How To Live On Christ

THE following sketch of one, rendered interesting not only by natural amiableness, but by a singularly early devotion and a premature death, we hope will not be found without its uses, especially among those like her in the morning of life.

To some things in it we would especially direct our readers, as uncommon.

1st. It is the example of one who made it a serious and practical endeavor to do all the good she could.

Many Christians are satisfied if they are doing something –others wish to feel sure that they are doing much; but few admit the obligation, or make serious efforts, to do all they can. Very few seem to have made any practical estimates of what they have to give to Christ, or to be inquiring, with deep solicitude, how it may all be employed in his service.

2d. The motive in her case, seems not to have been conscience, nor a sense of obligation working with a powerful and wearying force, but love.

It is this that gives the impulsive, free, and beautiful character to all her efforts. Why, at the age of fourteen, did she go from dwelling to dwelling, urging with childlike simplicity the tender love of Christ; comforting the sick, and praying with the dying? Not because she felt it to be her duty and dared not to do otherwise, but because, full of love to our unseen Saviour, and of pity for those who neglected him, she, like his apostles, ‘could not but speak the things she had seen and heard;’ and so far from regarding it as a wearisome effort to perform these offices, it would have been a more difficult task for her to refrain from them. This explains the reason, why, though she was diffident and retiring, it seemed to her not an obligation, but a privilege, to pour forth her soul in prayer at the social altar. So full of gratitude, devotion, and love was she always, that prayer was to her sweet necessity, a rest, a relief. Hence the frequency of her seasons of prayer, and her artless declaration, that she ‘could not help praying oftener.’

These remarks may assist those, who, conscientiously attempting the duties of religion, find them so often a hard and painful endeavor, and who progress by a constant and desperate struggle. How is all to be made easy?–to flow forth spontaneously and delightfully? Christ certainly had some meaning when he said, ‘Learn of me and ye shall find rest;’–he meant just what he declared, when he said, ‘my yoke is easy and my burden is light;’ and they who do not find them easy and light, may be persuaded that they are not following the practice of religion in Christ’s way, but in some colder and more difficult mode of their own. They may be Christians, and their sad and disheartened endeavors may be very precious in the eyes of Him who will not break even a bruised reed; but while their whole life is a constant conflict of a sense of obligation and duty with an ever rebellious heart, they may be persuaded that they do not yet understand the terms on which their Saviour would have them live with him; nor the perfect ‘freedom of the sons of God.’ There is such a way of living with, or in Christ, that watchfulness, prayer, devotion, patience, gentleness, meekness, become so many sweet and spontaneous impulses, instead of labored acquisitions, alternately the subjects of hope and of despair; and this is true freedom .

The very figure which Christ uses illustrates this idea; ‘as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.’ Now how does a branch bear fruit? Not by incessant effort for sunshine and air; not by vain struggles for those vivifying influences which give beauty to the blossom, and verdure to the leaf;–it simply abides in the vine, in silent and undisturbed union; and the fruit and blossoms appear as of spontaneous growth.

How, then, shall a Christian bear fruit? By efforts and struggles to obtain that which is freely given; by meditations on watchfulness, on prayer, on action, on temptation, and on dangers? No, there must be a full concentration of the thoughts and affections on Christ; a complete surrender of the whole being to him; a constant looking to him for grace. Christians in whom these dispositions are once firmly fixed, go on calmly as the sleeping infant borne in the arms of its mother. Christ reminds them of every duty in its time and place–reproves them for every error–counsels them in every difficulty, excites them to every needful activity. In spiritual, as in temporal matters, they take no thought for the morrow–for they know that Christ will be as accessible tomorrow as to-day, and that time imposes no barrier on his love. Their hope and trust rest solely on what he is willing and able to do for them; on nothing that they suppose themselves able and willing to do for him. Their talisman for every temptation and sorrow, is their oft repeated, childlike surrender of their whole being to him; as the infant in every trouble, finds a safe asylum in the bosom of its mother. That such was the course of the subject of this narrative is shown by her great and uncommon activity in every good thing; for, we read, ‘He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing.’

Some may say, ‘Truly this is a very delightful state of feeling, but how shall we obtain it? How shall we begin?’

We answer, just in the same way that a sinner begins the Christian life, by coming to the Saviour, and making a full, free and hearty surrender of his body, soul and spirit; fully resolved in future to resign the whole to the Redeemer’s direction. And having made this general surrender, make it also in particular, in reference to every circumstance of every day.

Let us imagine a day spent on this principle. You awake in the morning and commend yourself to Christ’s care for the day. The first temptation that besets you may lead you to a waste of time. Say immediately, ‘Lord, assist me in this particular.’ The next may be a temptation to irritation. Cast yourself again on Christ for this. A few hours after you may be tempted to censorious remarks on some neighbor. Cast yourself upon Jesus. A while after, you may perhaps forget yourself and give utterance to some hasty or ill-judged expression. Turn instantly to Christ, confess your fault, and ask for further help. If you find yourself beset with uncommon difficulties and temptations, and in danger of forgetting what manner of spirit you are of,–steal from your avocations though but for a few moments, and ask help of Jesus. The example of the subject of this memoir, in having a full and stated season of prayer at noon, cannot be too highly commended. The middle is usually the most unspiritual part of the whole day. The cool of the morning is generally to every one a time of good purpose and resolution, and the quiet of the evening is often devoted to penitence and retrospection; but the noon is too often a season of hurry and bustle–there is therefore so much the greater need that we then consecrate a portion of the time as a stated season of prayer. But the Christian, who would live as Christ directs, must beware of making seasons of prayer the substitute for that constant recurrence to him which we have endeavored to inculcate. Morning and evening the little child is with its mother in a long and fond embrace; it listens with rapture to the expressions of her affection, and willingly renders the tribute of promised obedience. But in times of difficulty or danger, it instinctively runs to the same arms for protection, without reflecting whether the danger be great or small.

A direction of great importance to one who would live this life, is this:–In your sins, troubles, and temptations, make no distinction between great and little things. Remember that nothing that has the slightest bearing on your improvement and spiritual progress is insignificant in the estimation of Christ. Now it is a fact, that Christians are more impeded in their progress by little things, than by great ones;–because, for great things, they seek the strength of Christ, and for little ones, they act in their own. But if the little accidents of every day’s occurrence, the petty annoyances to which every one is subjected, be sufficient to ruffle the temper and excite an unchristian spirit, they are to you matters of very serious moment; and as such, you must regard them–nor can you fully abide in Christ by attaching to such things that just importance, which shall lead you to refer them to Him with the same freedom that you feel in reference to what you commonly call serious affairs. If you are conscious of peculiar and besetting faults, familiarize your mind to those incidents of the life of Jesus, which show a particular bearing on them.

If you are irritable, examine all those incidents which show his untiring patience; if you are proud, those which exhibit his humility; if you are worldly, those that show his spirituality; if you are negligent and careless in duty, those which show his incessant zeal and activity. Study them, understand them, keep them in memory, and pray to him to infuse into you the same spirit. The memory too may well be stored with those sacred songs descriptive of the character of the Saviour, or imploring his divine aid; for their sweet words will sometimes come to you in hours of temptation like gentle messages from your Lord.

The remarks now made are intended as general hints; but the only teacher of the true life of faith, is Christ. Go to him and ask him to direct you. Remember the remarkable dying words of the subject of this memoir, in relation to the Saviour, ‘He came and looked upon me and said, “I am willing to make you just as meek as I am, just as patient, just as lovely. Indeed it seemed as if he had been by me long before, only I had not perceived him.”‘ Christ in the Bible says this to every Christian, when he says, ‘I will put my law into their hearts and write it in their thoughts.’ Christ is willing to make you just as meek, just as patient, just as lovely as he is; and if you desire it earnestly, if you desire it more than everything else, if you are willing to give up all beside for it, he will explain to you practically what is meant by ‘abiding in him,’ and by his coming to make his abode with you. Then your Christian race will be full of love and joy; more like the free flight of a bird, than the struggles of a captive. You will naturally lay aside every weight, and the sin that easily besets you, and run with patience the race that is set before you, because your whole soul will be so filled with the view of Jesus at its termination; you will be so inspired with admiration, hope and joy, that you will run because you cannot hold back;–the spectators, the race-course, all about you, will be forgotten in the view of Jesus, at once your helper, your judge, and your eternal reward.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

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