Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Promises to be Claimed:
Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Goal: Be Deliberate & Intentional and Learn To “Take Charge”.
1st – You must know you are a Child of God. One must have Assurance of Salvation
John 1:12; John 6:47; 1 John 3:8,10.
2nd - You must have an Obedient Heart – Great Commission Centered
(Matthew 28:18-20);
3rd - You must have a heart like the Heart of the Lord Jesus Christ: Full of
Compassion & “Constrained by the Love of Christ”
Matthew 9:36-38; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15;
4th - You must have an Expectant Faith & believe that it is God’s will to
save souls Matthew 9:12-13; 2 Peter 3:9;
5th - You must have No Unconfessed Sin(s) Psalm 66:18; Proverbs 28:13;
6th - You must Be Filled with the Holy Spirit Eph.5:18; Acts 1:8;
7th - You must have an Adequate Knowledge of God’s Word 2 Tim. 2:15;
2 Tim. 3:16;
8th - You must be Prayerful to have Power with God. Then, you will have
power with men Eph. 6:18;
9th - You must have Holy Boldness borne of a deep personal conviction
Proverbs 28:1b; and lastly
10th - You must know that You are Accountable to God Ezekiel 3:17-21 & 33:1-9.
SOULWINNER’S DAILY CONFESSION:
“I am a soul winner; I am a fisher of men &
I am a worker in the harvest field for souls until God calls me home!”
The Way of the Cross Leads to Heaven
JOHN 14:6 JESUS CHRIST said: I AM THE WAY
Friday, November 30, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
"JONATHAN GOFORTH: THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MAN IN CHINA"
My eldest sister Eleanor sent me her usual forwards by email. One was about Jonathan Goforth, Missionary to China. As I read it, I was again reminded of the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ which is Evangelism & Soul Winning and the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. Not only was I reminded but was deeply stirred and challenged to ever be in the "greatest business" one can be involved in, the business of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. In Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
A passage of Scripture comes to mind Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
I pray that as you find time to read through this forward, God the Holy Spirit not only warm but fill your hearts with compassion and passion for the souls of men for Proverbs 11:30 declares: ¶The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Here now is the forwarded message sent in the Love of Jesus Christ our LORD & Saviour.
The following is an abbreviated edition of "Jonathan Goforth: The
Holy Spirit's Man in China," from Giants of the Missionary Trail by
Eugene Harrison, Scripture Press, 1954. [The book can be ordered from
Fairfax Baptist Temple, 6401 Missionary Lane, Fairfax Station, VA
22039. Phone: 703-323-8100. E-mail: fbt@fbtministries.org]
At a summer conference meeting near Chicago it was announced that a
"brilliant speaker" was to be present on a certain day for just one
address. At the appointed time the chairman introduced the speaker
with an extravagant eulogy, whereupon the speaker stepped forward,
stood a few moments in silent prayer, then said:
Friends, if you and I take glory to ourselves which belongs only to
God, we are as foolish as the woodpecker about which I shall tell
you. A certain woodpecker flew up to the top of a high pine tree and
gave three hard pecks on the side of the tree as woodpeckers are wont
to do. At that instant a bolt of lightning struck the tree, leaving
it on the ground, a heap of splinters. The woodpecker had flown to a
tree nearby where it clung in terror and amazement at what had taken
place. There it hung expecting more to follow, but as all remained
quiet it began to chuckle to itself saying, "Well, well, well. Who
would have imagined that just three pecks of my beak could have such
power as that!
That was one of Jonathan Goforth's favorite stories and with good
reason. Few Christians have been so tempted to carnal pride as was
he, for few have been the human instrument of such remarkable
revivals or the object of such praise. A Roman Catholic servant girl,
in a home where the Goforths often revisited, said, "I have often
watched Dr. Goforth's face and wondered if God looks like him."
Charles G. Trumbull said of him, "He was an electric, radiant
personality, flooding his immediate environment with sunlight that
was deep in his heart and shone on his face. And God used him in
mighty revivals." It was as true of Goforth as of Robert M. M'Cheyne
that all who knew him "felt the breathing of the hidden life of God."
He knew the folly of self-reliance. He knew whence power came and to
whom the praise belonged. So as a young man he chose Zechariah 4:6 as
his life's motto.
EARLY LIFE AND CONVERSION
Jonathan Goforth (1859-1936), the seventh of eleven children, was
born February 10, 1859 on his father's farm near London, Ontario,
Canada. His devout mother influenced him to pray and to love, read
and memorize the Scriptures. Something of the hardships endured by
the family is indicated by the fact that the father once went to
Hamilton for food and walked through the bush all the way back, a
distance of seventy miles, with a sack of flour on his back. By
diligent effort Jonathan managed to keep up with his class in school,
although he was under the handicap of being obliged to work on the
farm each year from April to October.
When he was fifteen years of age his father put him in charge of
their second farm, which was twenty miles from the home farm. "Work
hard," said his father. "At harvest I'll return and inspect." In
later years Goforth stirred many an audience as he told of his
arduous labors that summer, of his father's return in the fall and of
how his heart thrilled when his father, after inspecting the fields
of beautiful waving grain, turned to him and smiled. "That smile," he
would say, "was all the reward I wanted. I knew my father was
pleased. So will it be, dear Christians, if we are faithful to the
trust our Heavenly Father has given us. His smile of approval will be
our blessed reward."
At the age of eighteen, while Jonathan was finishing his high school
work, he came under the influence of Rev. Lachlan Cameron, a true
minister of Christ. He went one Sunday to Rev. Cameron's church and
heard a sermon from God's Word that cut deeply and exactly suited his
need. The Holy Spirit used the Word to bring him under conviction and
that day he yielded to the tender constraints of Christ.
"Henceforth," said he, "my life belongs to Him who gave His life for
me."
Under this impulse he became an active, growing Christian, He sent
for a supply of tracts and startled the staid Presbyterian elders by
standing, Sunday after Sunday, at the church door giving each person
a tract. Soon thereafter he began a Sunday evening service in an old
school house about a mile from his home. He instituted the practice
of family worship and besought the Lord for the salvation of his
father. Several months later his father took a public stand for
Christ.
About this time his faith was subjected to a severe testing. His
teacher was a blatant follower of the infidel Tom Paine, and his
classmates, influenced by the teacher, made his life miserable by
their jeers and mockery. The foundations seemed to be giving way and
in a mood of desperation Jonathan turned to God's Word. In
consequence of an earnest, day-and-night search of the Word, his
faith was firmly established and all his classmates, also his
teacher, were brought back from infidelity.
BOOKS AND THE BOOK
The next great influence in Jonathan's life came through a book and
then a collection of books. A saintly old Scotchman, Mr. Bennett, one
day handed him a well-worn copy of the Memoirs of Robert Murray
M'Cheyne, saying, "Read this, my boy; it will do you good." It did!
Stretched out on the dry leaves in the woods, he was soon so absorbed
in the book he did not notice the passing of the hours. When the
lengthening shadows of sunset aroused him, he arose a new man. The
story of M'Cheyne's spiritual struggles, sacrifices and victories
stirred him to the depths and was used of God's Spirit to turn his
life from selfish ambitions to the holy calling of being a seeker of
souls.
In view of his intention to enter Knox College to prepare for the
ministry, Rev. Cameron arranged to give him lessons in Latin and
Greek and loaned him a number of books by Bunyan, Baxter, Boston and
Spurgeon, which he "devoured" with rich blessing. But his main book
was the Bible. He arose two hours earlier each morning in order to
have unhurried time for the study of the Word before going to work or
to school.
THE MISSIONARY CALL
Young Goforth was now spiritually ready for God to deal with him
again. One epochal day he went to hear an address by the heroic
missionary pioneer, George L. Mackay of Formosa. Full of the Holy
Spirit, like Peter and Paul and Stephen of old, Dr. Mackay pressed
home the needs and claims of the heathen world, especially of
Formosa. He told how he had been going far and wide in Canada seeking
missionary reinforcements but so far he had not found even one young
man willing to respond. Simply but powerfully he continued, "I am
going back alone. It will not be long before my bones will be lying
on some Formosan hillside. To me the heartbreak is that no young man
has heard the call to come and carry on the work that I have begun."
As Goforth heard these words he was "overwhelmed with shame." He
describes his reactions as follows: "There was I, bought with the
precious blood of Jesus Christ, daring to dispose of my life as I
pleased. Then and there I capitulated to Christ. From that hour I
became a foreign missionary."
Note well the words, "From that hour I became a foreign missionary."
An ocean voyage does not transform a lukewarm Christian into a
glowing brand for God.
BIBLE COLLEGE IN TORONTO
On his first day in Toronto, Jonathan walked through the slum section
praying that God would open a way whereby he might take the Gospel to
the needy homes and hearts of that area; and the first Sunday morning
found him preaching in a jail -- a practice he continued throughout
his college course. As unreservedly as his studies would allow he
gave himself to evangelistic calling in the homes of the slums and to
the work of different rescue missions.
He exhibited a fervent zeal for souls. At the opening of a new fall
session at college the principal asked Jonathan how many homes he had
visited during the summer vacations. "Nine hundred sixty," was the
reply. "Well, Goforth, if you don't take any scholarships in Greek
and Hebrew, at least there is one book that you are going to be well
versed in and that is the book of Canadian human nature." Indeed, not
only were many souls saved but many valuable lessons learned, for, as
he discovered later, there is no essential difference between
Canadian and Chinese human nature. During his years in college and in
slum work he was often down to the last penny but God proved faithful
in every test. Like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor, he learned to
trust God utterly for all his needs.
He also learned to trust the Spirit's guidance in all circumstances.
On one occasion when scheduled to speak at a certain place on Sunday,
he found he had only sufficient money to buy a ticket one station
short of where he was to speak. After praying for divine guidance he
bought the ticket and rode to that station, then began to walk the
remaining ten miles. When he had covered approximately eight miles,
he came upon a group of men repairing the road. He engaged them in
friendly conversation, pointed them to the only "name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved" and invited them to the
service the following day. To his great joy several of them turned up
and at least one of them was saved. In referring to this later he
would say, "I would gladly walk ten miles any day to bring one lost
soul to Christ." He was indeed a missionary long before he reached
China. It was said of him, "When he found his own soul needed Jesus
Christ, it became a passion with him to take Jesus Christ to every
soul."
He did not hesitate to enter saloons and brothels and in these places
he won for Christ a number of broken, disreputable persons. One night
as he was coming out of a street that had a particularly evil
reputation, a policeman met him and said, "How have you the courage
to go into those places? We policeman never go there except in twos
or threes." "I never walk alone, either," replied Goforth. "There is
always Someone with me."
A BRIDE FOR GOFORTH
It was in connection with his mission work in Toronto that Goforth
met Rosalind Bell-Smith. She was an Episcopalian, a member of a
cultured and wealthy family, and an artist. She was also a born-again
Christian and longed to live a life of service to God. The day she
met Goforth she noted both the shabbiness of his dress and the
challenge of his eyes. A few days later at a mission meeting she
picked up Jonathan's Bible, which was lying on a chair, observed that
it was marked from cover to cover and noted that parts of it were
almost in shreds from frequent use. "That's the man I want to marry,"
she said to herself. A few months later she accepted his proposal of
marriage upon the condition he himself stipulated, namely, that in
all things he should put his Master's work before her. Little did she
dream what that promise would cost her through the long years ahead.
The first, though not the greatest, price it cost her was the
engagement ring of which she had dreamed, for Jonathan explained that
he needed every penny for his ministry of distributing Testaments and
tracts. "This," she said, "was my first lesson in real values."
October 25, 1887, Jonathan and Rosalind were married. After a
memorable farewell service in the historic Knox church of Toronto the
Goforth's sailed for China, February 4, 1888, under the auspices of
the Presbyterian Church of Canada.
NEW MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
The Goforths settled first at Chefoo for nine months of language
study. While living there some valuable lessons were learned. About
two weeks after settling in Chefoo their house burned to the ground
and practically everything they had was destroyed. Mrs. Goforth was
distraught but her husband simply said, "My dear, do not grieve so.
After all, they're just things." Thus Rosalind learned another lesson
in real values.
With elation of spirit the Goforths moved further and further into
the interior on the way to the remote province of Honan to set up a
home and a mission station. Their early years in China were marked by
sweet joys, piercing sorrows and significant manifestations of
character. Chief sorrows were connected with the untimely passing of
their first two children. Their severe heartache was swallowed up in
their travail over the woes of the Chinese masses.
SPEAKING CHINESE IN ANSWER TO PRAYER
By means of prayer and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, he witnessed
and experienced many miracles. One of these was in connection with
language study. In college in Toronto he was weak in languages and in
China he made little progress in the use of the language, although he
applied himself to the task with great diligence. Repeatedly when he
was trying to preach to a group of people, the Chinese would point to
another missionary, who had reached China a year after he did, and
say, "You speak. We don't understand him." This was mortifying but
Goforth refused to be discouraged. "The Lord called me to China, he
said, "and I expect His Spirit to perform a miracle and to enable me
to master the language." He picked up his Chinese Bible and went to
the chapel. As he began to preach the miracle happened; He spoke with
a fluency and power that amazed the people and thence forth his
mastery of the Chinese language was recognized everywhere. Two months
later he received a letter from Knox College telling of a prayer
meeting in which the students prayed "just for Goforth" and the
presence of God was manifestly among them. Looking into his diary he
found that the prayer meeting was at the very time his tongue gained
such sudden mastery over the Chinese language.
WILD MOBS AND FLOODS
His zeal for souls caused him to be away from home much of the time
in widespread evangelistic itineration. He often spent the night in
places that were disagreeable for lack of heat and for other reasons.
For instance: "One end of the small room I occupied was for the pigs
and the donkeys. Besides, we had to contend against other living
things not so big as donkeys but a thousand times more troublesome."
There were many escapes from wild mobs. One day he and a colleague
came suddenly in to a crowd of thousands attending a sort of fair.
Though both foreigners wore Chinese dress, their identity was soon
recognized and in a few moments the crowd rushed upon them, hooting,
yelling, throwing sticks, stones and clods of earth. Just when death
seemed imminent a sudden gust of wind blew a tent over and scattered
the articles offered for sale. As the Chinese scrambled for these the
missionaries escaped.
This intrepid missionary constantly lived up to his name, for he was
ever eager to "go forth" to new areas and new conquests for Christ.
In 1894 and 1895 he went to Change, in remote North Hogan, bought
land, erected buildings, established a mission station and moved the
family belongings. This was, for the Goforths, the seventh home in
their seven years in China. And even before settling in the seventh
home the mission compound was covered by flood waters to a depth of
more than six feet, and thus for the second time they experienced the
loss of practically all of their temporal possessions.
THE OPIUM ADDICT CONVERT
The air was filled with wild rumors about the foreign devils. One of
these was to the effect that the medicine used by the foreigners in
treating the people was made from the hearts and eyes of kidnapped
Chinese children. But the Spirit of God was at work and such crowds
waited upon the ministry of the Word that both Goforth and his wife
"kept up constantly preaching on an average of eight hours a day" and
were at the point of complete physical exhaustion. Early one morning
he said, "Rose, on the basis of Philippians 4:19 let us kneel down
and pray for an evangelist to help us in the work." This they did
though as yet they had not a single convert in this area. The next
day a man named Wang Fulin appeared at the Mission seeking
employment. He was a pitiable spectacle, his face having the ashy hue
of an opium fiend, his form bent from weakness and his emancipated
frame, clothed in a beggar's rags shaking every few moments from a
racking cough. This man became a mighty testimony to the transforming
power of Christ and a fervent preacher of the Gospel. In the first
five months at Change about twenty five thousand men and women
visited the compound and heard the precious tidings of redemption
proclaimed by the Goforths and the converted gambler and opium
smoker, Wang Fulin.
2,300 VISITORS IN ONE DAY
When their new semi-foreign bungalow was completed, the Chinese came
in swarms to see the board floors, glass windows, the furniture,
sewing machine and the organ. The kitchen stove, which sent its smoke
up the chimney instead of into people's eyes and all over the house,
was an object of constant wonder. The pump was the talk of the whole
countryside. What a contraption that could bring water up from the
bottom of a well with out a bucket! As many as 1,835 men and 500
women passed through the house on a single day and all heard the
Gospel message.
A GREAT DOOR AND MANY ADVERSARIES
By this time they had three living children to rejoice their hearts.
Then, in the summer of 1898, little Gracie was found to be in a
hopeless condition from an enlarged spleen caused by pernicious
malaria. For almost a year she lingered and suffered. One night Grace
sat up in bed and said, "I want my Papa." Rosalind hesitated to call
the worn out father but when Grace said again, "I want my Papa," she
roused him. As the father took the little one in his arms and began
to pace the floor, Rosalind went into another room and prayed that
God would heal the dear child or spare her from further suffering.
While the mother was on her knees, Grace sudden lifted her head from
father's shoulder, looked straight into his eyes, gave him a
wonderful smile, closed her eyes and in an instant was in the
Savior's arms.
Goforth was singularly adept at devising ways of meeting difficult
situations and appealing to various types of people. At a certain
time each year thousands of students came to Change to take
examinations for government positions. Large numbers of them came to
the mission but were full of conceit, disorderly, and impossible to
control. Planning to be ready for them the next year, he sent to
Shanghai for a large globe, several maps and astronomical charts.
When groups of students came they immediately asked, "What is that
big round thing?" He would explain that it was a representation of
the earth. "You don't mean to tell us that the earth is round, do
you?" they would reply in astonishment. And when he explained the
movements of the earth some were sure to exclaim, "If the earth turns
like that, why don't we all tumble off?" Then followed explanations
concerning the law of gravitation, the size of the sun, its distance
from the earth and other astronomical facts. Thus, pride was
dispelled and hundreds of students listened attentively to the story
of Christ and redeeming love.
The missionary had a passion for preaching, a longing to develop the
converts into New Testament Christians and a zeal to establish
spiritual, indigenous, New Testament churches after the Pauline
pattern. Taking a group of native Christians with him he would "go
from town to town and from street to street preaching and singing the
Gospel in true Salvation Army style." A map of the field was made and
each center where a Christian church or group had come into
existence, was indicated by a red dot. By May of 1900 there were over
fifty of these red dots. Both parents and children delighted to watch
the dots increase. Florence, the oldest daughter, age 7, exclaimed
one day, "Oh won't it be lovely, father when the map is all red!" The
work of God was progressing mightily. "Our hearts are aglow with the
victories of the present and the promises of the future, " wrote
Goforth. And for the hundredth or thousandth time he quoted his great
text, "We expect a great harvest of souls, for it is not by the
might, or power of man, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD."
During the early months of 1900 the hearts of the missionaries were
radiant with blessing and hope. Then came the storm. In June
golden-haired Florence was smitten with meningitis and "went to be
with Jesus."
FLEEING THE BOXER REBELLION
The funeral was scarcely over when a message came from the American
Consul in Chefoo saying, "Flee south. Northern route cut off by
Boxers." The terrors and horrors of the infamous Boxer Uprising were
descending. The missionaries were in favor of staying at their post
regardless of the consequences but the Chinese Christians made it
clear that their chances of escape would be greatly reduced if the
missionaries remained. On June 28 before daybreak the missionary
party, consisting of the Goforths and their four children, plus three
men, five women and one little boy, set out on the long and hazardous
journey fourteen days by carts to Fancheng and a longer period from
there by boat to Shanghai. There were days of panic and agony due to
the intense heat, the long hours of continual bumping over rough
roads in spring less carts, the illness of one of the children and
the oft repeated cries, "Kill these foreign devils" that came from
fierce, threatening mobs along the way.
At one point a mob of several hundred men attacked them with a
fusillade of stones. As Goforth rushed forward to try to reason with
the men, he was struck on the head and body by numerous savage blows
and one arm was slashed to the bone in several places. Dripping with
blood he staggered to the cart, picked up his baby and said, "Come!"
We must get away quickly." Rosalind and other missionaries received
very painful injuries but all managed to escape as the mob scrambled
for their possessions in the carts.
WORLDLINESS AND APOSTASY IN CANADIAN CHURCHES
After many terrifying experiences and narrow escapes they reached
Shanghai and soon sailed for Canada. The furlough was a time of
poignant sorrow as Goforth, in his deputation trips, found that
worldliness and apostasy had invaded the churches and most of the
people had little concern for the unsaved masses of heathen lands.
BACK IN CHINA
Back to China they went, to the people they loved, to the multitudes
they yearned to win to Christ, to the land where all their
possessions had been destroyed four times and where four of their
children were buried. Jonathan was soon enthused over a plan of
intensive evangelism which would entail their staying in successive
centers for a period of one month each. "I will go with my men, " he
said to Rosalind, "to villages or on the streets in the day time,
while you receive and preach to the women in the courtyard." The
evenings would be devoted to open air meetings.
ROSALIND WRESTLES WITH GOD'S WILL
At the end of a month an evangelist would be left to instruct the
converts and establish a congregation. "The plan sounds wonderful,"
replied Rosalind, "except for the children. Think of all the
infectious diseases and of our four little graves. I can't do it. I
cannot expose the children like that." He, however, was sure of God's
leading in the matter and said, "Rose, I fear for the children if you
refuse to obey God's call and stay here at Changte. The safest place
for you and the children is the path of duty." A few hours later
Wallace became seriously ill with Asiatic dysentery. After two weeks
he began to recover and Jonathan packed up and set out on tour alone.
The next day the baby, Constance, fell ill. The father was sent for.
Constance was dying when he arrived. Driven by sorrow, Rosalind
leaned her head upon the Heavenly Father's bosom and prayed, "O God,
it is too late for Constance but I will trust you hereafter for
everything, including my children."
Thenceforth, for years she and the children traveled almost
constantly with Goforth in his extensive evangelistic tours. This
meant that some things loved and prized by the family had to be given
up, such as flowers, bird, dog and cat. It also meant living simply,
in native Chinese style. Usually the furnishings of the rented native
house consisted one table, two chairs, a bench for the children and
the kang -- a long brick platform bed covered with loose straw and
straw mats, where the entire family slept; that is, if the vermin,
insects and pigs permitted them to do so!
DEPENDANCE UPON GOD'S WORD
Goforth's evangelistic methods were simple and spiritual. Whether
speaking to one person or a thousand he was never known to attempt to
deal with souls without his open Bible. His love for and dependence
upon the Word is indicated by the fact that he read through and
studied his Chinese New Testament fifty-five times in one period of
nineteen years. He also used large hymn scrolls as a means of
utilizing the people's love of singing and of teaching the great
truths of the Gospel, in addition to short Gospel messages and
testimonies. In every place where they lived as a family for one
month and carried on this type of intensive evangelistic effort, a
growing church was subsequently established.
SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
At the age of forty-four a strange restlessness came over Jonathan
Goforth. He had seen hundreds of precious souls saved and scores of
churches established. But his soul burned with an indescribably
longing to enter into the fulfillment of his Lord's promise, "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do." Tidings
of the mighty revival in Wales intensified this longing, as did also
a booklet containing selections from Finney's Lectures on Revival.
He began an intense study of every passage in the Bible dealing with
the Holy Spirit. He arose regularly at five o'clock or even earlier
for Bible study and to pray for the fullness of the Spirit. One
evening while speaking to an audience of unsaved people on "He bare
our sins in His own body on the tree," he saw deep conviction written
on every face and almost every one took an open stand for Christ.
Those were days of unprecedented spiritual awakening. As a result, he
was deluged with invitations from all parts of China and found
himself drawn into a new and far-reaching type of ministry. Rosalind
and the five children sailed for Canada and he, a lonely man,
separated from his family till his next furlough time, plunged into
the greatest work of his life.
One day at the close of his message he said to the people, "You may
pray." Immediately an elder of the church, with tears streaming down
his cheeks, stood before the congregation and confessed the sins of
theft, adultery and attempted murder. "I have disgraced the holy
office," he cried. "I herewith resign my eldership." Other elders,
then the deacons, arose one by one, confessed their sins and
resigned. Then the native pastor stood up, made his confession and
concluded, "I am not fit to be your pastor any longer. I, too, must
resign." As the Christians confessed their sins and got right with
God, large numbers of unbelievers came under deep conviction and were
saved. Some of the missionaries were entirely out of sympathy with
these revivals. One man said, "Don't expect any such praying and
confessing of sins here as took place in Mukden and Liaoyang. We're
hard-headed Presbyterians from the North of Ireland and the people
take after us. Anyhow, we have respectable people here, not terrible
sinners. Be prepared for a quiet Quakers' meeting at this place." But
several days later the Pastor and many others sobbed out their
confession, the whole congregation did the unheard of thing of
getting down on their knees in prayer and there was a mighty turning
to God in that place.
Many times there was so much praying and confessing, little or no
time was left for the message; even so, the meetings often lasted for
three or four or even six hours. At Kwangchow God's Spirit worked
mightily; the church was cleansed and edified, one hundred fifty-four
converts were baptized during the eight days' meeting and the number
of Christians in this city increased in four years from 2,000 to
8,000. At Shangtehfu there was an intense desire on the part of
missionaries and Chinese Christians alike for a blessing from Heaven.
Long before daylight the pleadings of earnest hearts arose to the
throne of grace. One missionary sobbed out his prayer, "Lord, I have
come to the place where I would rather pray than eat." In this place
five hundred people openly acknowledged Christ as Savior. In a
mission school where at first there was much antagonism, scores of
boys were brought under the conviction of the Spirit, confessed their
sins, accepted Christ and brought a huge pile of pipes, cigarettes
and tobacco to be destroyed, also stolen knives and other things to
be returned to their rightful owners.
FINAL MISSIONARY YEARS
His last years on the field were years of great harvest. Thousands
were born into the kingdom and other thousands experienced the peace
and power of the Spirit, as he traveled extensively in China and
Manchuria. On a single day he baptized 960 soldiers. A number of
thriving churches were established. All of this was accomplished in
spite of many hardships and much pain. During the 1930-1931 furlough
he lost the use of one eye and underwent many painful but fruitless
operations in an attempt to restore his sight. During this time of
illness he dictated the stirring stories found in Miracle Lives of
China. All his teeth had to be extracted and he contracted a severe
infection in his jaw. It was at this time, while pacing the floor and
holding his jaw with his hands, that he dictated the material for his
famous book, By My Spirit. In China he contracted a severe case of
pneumonia while preaching to a packed audience of sneezing, coughing
people in an unheated room in the dead of winter. In 1933 he lost the
sight of the other eye. Even during winter blizzards he continued
traveling and preaching. At Taonan he was led twice or three times
daily through the deep snow and the storm to his appointments.
A year later the Goforths returned to Canada because of a breakdown
in Rosalind's health. Despite his blindness he traveled widely in
Canada and the United States. Everywhere he went his soul was aglow
with one message "the fullness of the Christ-life through the Holy
Spirit's indwelling." Physical sight was gone but his life was as a
"shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
HOME WITH THE LORD
That blessed day dawned for him in the early morning of October 8,
1936, as he slept. Just a few weeks before at the Ben Lippen
conference in North Carolina the sightless veteran missionary said he
rejoiced in the thought that the next face he would see would be that
of his Savior. He had entered into the bliss he had long anticipated:
"I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psalm
17:15). That was, indeed, his "coronation day," as Dr. Armstrong said
at the funeral service in Knox Church, Toronto.
Jonathan Goforth's epitaph written by the fingers of angels in
letters of flaming lights stands as summons from heaven to all who
read:
"Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, saith the LORD."
Used with permission. Giants of the Missionary Trail was originally
published by Scripture Press, Book Division, [1954]. The book can be
ordered from Fairfax Baptist Temple, 6401 Missionary Lane, Fairfax
Station, VA 22039. Phone: 703-323-8100. E-mail: fbt@fbtministries.org
A passage of Scripture comes to mind Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
I pray that as you find time to read through this forward, God the Holy Spirit not only warm but fill your hearts with compassion and passion for the souls of men for Proverbs 11:30 declares: ¶The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Here now is the forwarded message sent in the Love of Jesus Christ our LORD & Saviour.
The following is an abbreviated edition of "Jonathan Goforth: The
Holy Spirit's Man in China," from Giants of the Missionary Trail by
Eugene Harrison, Scripture Press, 1954. [The book can be ordered from
Fairfax Baptist Temple, 6401 Missionary Lane, Fairfax Station, VA
22039. Phone: 703-323-8100. E-mail: fbt@fbtministries.org]
At a summer conference meeting near Chicago it was announced that a
"brilliant speaker" was to be present on a certain day for just one
address. At the appointed time the chairman introduced the speaker
with an extravagant eulogy, whereupon the speaker stepped forward,
stood a few moments in silent prayer, then said:
Friends, if you and I take glory to ourselves which belongs only to
God, we are as foolish as the woodpecker about which I shall tell
you. A certain woodpecker flew up to the top of a high pine tree and
gave three hard pecks on the side of the tree as woodpeckers are wont
to do. At that instant a bolt of lightning struck the tree, leaving
it on the ground, a heap of splinters. The woodpecker had flown to a
tree nearby where it clung in terror and amazement at what had taken
place. There it hung expecting more to follow, but as all remained
quiet it began to chuckle to itself saying, "Well, well, well. Who
would have imagined that just three pecks of my beak could have such
power as that!
That was one of Jonathan Goforth's favorite stories and with good
reason. Few Christians have been so tempted to carnal pride as was
he, for few have been the human instrument of such remarkable
revivals or the object of such praise. A Roman Catholic servant girl,
in a home where the Goforths often revisited, said, "I have often
watched Dr. Goforth's face and wondered if God looks like him."
Charles G. Trumbull said of him, "He was an electric, radiant
personality, flooding his immediate environment with sunlight that
was deep in his heart and shone on his face. And God used him in
mighty revivals." It was as true of Goforth as of Robert M. M'Cheyne
that all who knew him "felt the breathing of the hidden life of God."
He knew the folly of self-reliance. He knew whence power came and to
whom the praise belonged. So as a young man he chose Zechariah 4:6 as
his life's motto.
EARLY LIFE AND CONVERSION
Jonathan Goforth (1859-1936), the seventh of eleven children, was
born February 10, 1859 on his father's farm near London, Ontario,
Canada. His devout mother influenced him to pray and to love, read
and memorize the Scriptures. Something of the hardships endured by
the family is indicated by the fact that the father once went to
Hamilton for food and walked through the bush all the way back, a
distance of seventy miles, with a sack of flour on his back. By
diligent effort Jonathan managed to keep up with his class in school,
although he was under the handicap of being obliged to work on the
farm each year from April to October.
When he was fifteen years of age his father put him in charge of
their second farm, which was twenty miles from the home farm. "Work
hard," said his father. "At harvest I'll return and inspect." In
later years Goforth stirred many an audience as he told of his
arduous labors that summer, of his father's return in the fall and of
how his heart thrilled when his father, after inspecting the fields
of beautiful waving grain, turned to him and smiled. "That smile," he
would say, "was all the reward I wanted. I knew my father was
pleased. So will it be, dear Christians, if we are faithful to the
trust our Heavenly Father has given us. His smile of approval will be
our blessed reward."
At the age of eighteen, while Jonathan was finishing his high school
work, he came under the influence of Rev. Lachlan Cameron, a true
minister of Christ. He went one Sunday to Rev. Cameron's church and
heard a sermon from God's Word that cut deeply and exactly suited his
need. The Holy Spirit used the Word to bring him under conviction and
that day he yielded to the tender constraints of Christ.
"Henceforth," said he, "my life belongs to Him who gave His life for
me."
Under this impulse he became an active, growing Christian, He sent
for a supply of tracts and startled the staid Presbyterian elders by
standing, Sunday after Sunday, at the church door giving each person
a tract. Soon thereafter he began a Sunday evening service in an old
school house about a mile from his home. He instituted the practice
of family worship and besought the Lord for the salvation of his
father. Several months later his father took a public stand for
Christ.
About this time his faith was subjected to a severe testing. His
teacher was a blatant follower of the infidel Tom Paine, and his
classmates, influenced by the teacher, made his life miserable by
their jeers and mockery. The foundations seemed to be giving way and
in a mood of desperation Jonathan turned to God's Word. In
consequence of an earnest, day-and-night search of the Word, his
faith was firmly established and all his classmates, also his
teacher, were brought back from infidelity.
BOOKS AND THE BOOK
The next great influence in Jonathan's life came through a book and
then a collection of books. A saintly old Scotchman, Mr. Bennett, one
day handed him a well-worn copy of the Memoirs of Robert Murray
M'Cheyne, saying, "Read this, my boy; it will do you good." It did!
Stretched out on the dry leaves in the woods, he was soon so absorbed
in the book he did not notice the passing of the hours. When the
lengthening shadows of sunset aroused him, he arose a new man. The
story of M'Cheyne's spiritual struggles, sacrifices and victories
stirred him to the depths and was used of God's Spirit to turn his
life from selfish ambitions to the holy calling of being a seeker of
souls.
In view of his intention to enter Knox College to prepare for the
ministry, Rev. Cameron arranged to give him lessons in Latin and
Greek and loaned him a number of books by Bunyan, Baxter, Boston and
Spurgeon, which he "devoured" with rich blessing. But his main book
was the Bible. He arose two hours earlier each morning in order to
have unhurried time for the study of the Word before going to work or
to school.
THE MISSIONARY CALL
Young Goforth was now spiritually ready for God to deal with him
again. One epochal day he went to hear an address by the heroic
missionary pioneer, George L. Mackay of Formosa. Full of the Holy
Spirit, like Peter and Paul and Stephen of old, Dr. Mackay pressed
home the needs and claims of the heathen world, especially of
Formosa. He told how he had been going far and wide in Canada seeking
missionary reinforcements but so far he had not found even one young
man willing to respond. Simply but powerfully he continued, "I am
going back alone. It will not be long before my bones will be lying
on some Formosan hillside. To me the heartbreak is that no young man
has heard the call to come and carry on the work that I have begun."
As Goforth heard these words he was "overwhelmed with shame." He
describes his reactions as follows: "There was I, bought with the
precious blood of Jesus Christ, daring to dispose of my life as I
pleased. Then and there I capitulated to Christ. From that hour I
became a foreign missionary."
Note well the words, "From that hour I became a foreign missionary."
An ocean voyage does not transform a lukewarm Christian into a
glowing brand for God.
BIBLE COLLEGE IN TORONTO
On his first day in Toronto, Jonathan walked through the slum section
praying that God would open a way whereby he might take the Gospel to
the needy homes and hearts of that area; and the first Sunday morning
found him preaching in a jail -- a practice he continued throughout
his college course. As unreservedly as his studies would allow he
gave himself to evangelistic calling in the homes of the slums and to
the work of different rescue missions.
He exhibited a fervent zeal for souls. At the opening of a new fall
session at college the principal asked Jonathan how many homes he had
visited during the summer vacations. "Nine hundred sixty," was the
reply. "Well, Goforth, if you don't take any scholarships in Greek
and Hebrew, at least there is one book that you are going to be well
versed in and that is the book of Canadian human nature." Indeed, not
only were many souls saved but many valuable lessons learned, for, as
he discovered later, there is no essential difference between
Canadian and Chinese human nature. During his years in college and in
slum work he was often down to the last penny but God proved faithful
in every test. Like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor, he learned to
trust God utterly for all his needs.
He also learned to trust the Spirit's guidance in all circumstances.
On one occasion when scheduled to speak at a certain place on Sunday,
he found he had only sufficient money to buy a ticket one station
short of where he was to speak. After praying for divine guidance he
bought the ticket and rode to that station, then began to walk the
remaining ten miles. When he had covered approximately eight miles,
he came upon a group of men repairing the road. He engaged them in
friendly conversation, pointed them to the only "name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved" and invited them to the
service the following day. To his great joy several of them turned up
and at least one of them was saved. In referring to this later he
would say, "I would gladly walk ten miles any day to bring one lost
soul to Christ." He was indeed a missionary long before he reached
China. It was said of him, "When he found his own soul needed Jesus
Christ, it became a passion with him to take Jesus Christ to every
soul."
He did not hesitate to enter saloons and brothels and in these places
he won for Christ a number of broken, disreputable persons. One night
as he was coming out of a street that had a particularly evil
reputation, a policeman met him and said, "How have you the courage
to go into those places? We policeman never go there except in twos
or threes." "I never walk alone, either," replied Goforth. "There is
always Someone with me."
A BRIDE FOR GOFORTH
It was in connection with his mission work in Toronto that Goforth
met Rosalind Bell-Smith. She was an Episcopalian, a member of a
cultured and wealthy family, and an artist. She was also a born-again
Christian and longed to live a life of service to God. The day she
met Goforth she noted both the shabbiness of his dress and the
challenge of his eyes. A few days later at a mission meeting she
picked up Jonathan's Bible, which was lying on a chair, observed that
it was marked from cover to cover and noted that parts of it were
almost in shreds from frequent use. "That's the man I want to marry,"
she said to herself. A few months later she accepted his proposal of
marriage upon the condition he himself stipulated, namely, that in
all things he should put his Master's work before her. Little did she
dream what that promise would cost her through the long years ahead.
The first, though not the greatest, price it cost her was the
engagement ring of which she had dreamed, for Jonathan explained that
he needed every penny for his ministry of distributing Testaments and
tracts. "This," she said, "was my first lesson in real values."
October 25, 1887, Jonathan and Rosalind were married. After a
memorable farewell service in the historic Knox church of Toronto the
Goforth's sailed for China, February 4, 1888, under the auspices of
the Presbyterian Church of Canada.
NEW MISSIONARIES IN CHINA
The Goforths settled first at Chefoo for nine months of language
study. While living there some valuable lessons were learned. About
two weeks after settling in Chefoo their house burned to the ground
and practically everything they had was destroyed. Mrs. Goforth was
distraught but her husband simply said, "My dear, do not grieve so.
After all, they're just things." Thus Rosalind learned another lesson
in real values.
With elation of spirit the Goforths moved further and further into
the interior on the way to the remote province of Honan to set up a
home and a mission station. Their early years in China were marked by
sweet joys, piercing sorrows and significant manifestations of
character. Chief sorrows were connected with the untimely passing of
their first two children. Their severe heartache was swallowed up in
their travail over the woes of the Chinese masses.
SPEAKING CHINESE IN ANSWER TO PRAYER
By means of prayer and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, he witnessed
and experienced many miracles. One of these was in connection with
language study. In college in Toronto he was weak in languages and in
China he made little progress in the use of the language, although he
applied himself to the task with great diligence. Repeatedly when he
was trying to preach to a group of people, the Chinese would point to
another missionary, who had reached China a year after he did, and
say, "You speak. We don't understand him." This was mortifying but
Goforth refused to be discouraged. "The Lord called me to China, he
said, "and I expect His Spirit to perform a miracle and to enable me
to master the language." He picked up his Chinese Bible and went to
the chapel. As he began to preach the miracle happened; He spoke with
a fluency and power that amazed the people and thence forth his
mastery of the Chinese language was recognized everywhere. Two months
later he received a letter from Knox College telling of a prayer
meeting in which the students prayed "just for Goforth" and the
presence of God was manifestly among them. Looking into his diary he
found that the prayer meeting was at the very time his tongue gained
such sudden mastery over the Chinese language.
WILD MOBS AND FLOODS
His zeal for souls caused him to be away from home much of the time
in widespread evangelistic itineration. He often spent the night in
places that were disagreeable for lack of heat and for other reasons.
For instance: "One end of the small room I occupied was for the pigs
and the donkeys. Besides, we had to contend against other living
things not so big as donkeys but a thousand times more troublesome."
There were many escapes from wild mobs. One day he and a colleague
came suddenly in to a crowd of thousands attending a sort of fair.
Though both foreigners wore Chinese dress, their identity was soon
recognized and in a few moments the crowd rushed upon them, hooting,
yelling, throwing sticks, stones and clods of earth. Just when death
seemed imminent a sudden gust of wind blew a tent over and scattered
the articles offered for sale. As the Chinese scrambled for these the
missionaries escaped.
This intrepid missionary constantly lived up to his name, for he was
ever eager to "go forth" to new areas and new conquests for Christ.
In 1894 and 1895 he went to Change, in remote North Hogan, bought
land, erected buildings, established a mission station and moved the
family belongings. This was, for the Goforths, the seventh home in
their seven years in China. And even before settling in the seventh
home the mission compound was covered by flood waters to a depth of
more than six feet, and thus for the second time they experienced the
loss of practically all of their temporal possessions.
THE OPIUM ADDICT CONVERT
The air was filled with wild rumors about the foreign devils. One of
these was to the effect that the medicine used by the foreigners in
treating the people was made from the hearts and eyes of kidnapped
Chinese children. But the Spirit of God was at work and such crowds
waited upon the ministry of the Word that both Goforth and his wife
"kept up constantly preaching on an average of eight hours a day" and
were at the point of complete physical exhaustion. Early one morning
he said, "Rose, on the basis of Philippians 4:19 let us kneel down
and pray for an evangelist to help us in the work." This they did
though as yet they had not a single convert in this area. The next
day a man named Wang Fulin appeared at the Mission seeking
employment. He was a pitiable spectacle, his face having the ashy hue
of an opium fiend, his form bent from weakness and his emancipated
frame, clothed in a beggar's rags shaking every few moments from a
racking cough. This man became a mighty testimony to the transforming
power of Christ and a fervent preacher of the Gospel. In the first
five months at Change about twenty five thousand men and women
visited the compound and heard the precious tidings of redemption
proclaimed by the Goforths and the converted gambler and opium
smoker, Wang Fulin.
2,300 VISITORS IN ONE DAY
When their new semi-foreign bungalow was completed, the Chinese came
in swarms to see the board floors, glass windows, the furniture,
sewing machine and the organ. The kitchen stove, which sent its smoke
up the chimney instead of into people's eyes and all over the house,
was an object of constant wonder. The pump was the talk of the whole
countryside. What a contraption that could bring water up from the
bottom of a well with out a bucket! As many as 1,835 men and 500
women passed through the house on a single day and all heard the
Gospel message.
A GREAT DOOR AND MANY ADVERSARIES
By this time they had three living children to rejoice their hearts.
Then, in the summer of 1898, little Gracie was found to be in a
hopeless condition from an enlarged spleen caused by pernicious
malaria. For almost a year she lingered and suffered. One night Grace
sat up in bed and said, "I want my Papa." Rosalind hesitated to call
the worn out father but when Grace said again, "I want my Papa," she
roused him. As the father took the little one in his arms and began
to pace the floor, Rosalind went into another room and prayed that
God would heal the dear child or spare her from further suffering.
While the mother was on her knees, Grace sudden lifted her head from
father's shoulder, looked straight into his eyes, gave him a
wonderful smile, closed her eyes and in an instant was in the
Savior's arms.
Goforth was singularly adept at devising ways of meeting difficult
situations and appealing to various types of people. At a certain
time each year thousands of students came to Change to take
examinations for government positions. Large numbers of them came to
the mission but were full of conceit, disorderly, and impossible to
control. Planning to be ready for them the next year, he sent to
Shanghai for a large globe, several maps and astronomical charts.
When groups of students came they immediately asked, "What is that
big round thing?" He would explain that it was a representation of
the earth. "You don't mean to tell us that the earth is round, do
you?" they would reply in astonishment. And when he explained the
movements of the earth some were sure to exclaim, "If the earth turns
like that, why don't we all tumble off?" Then followed explanations
concerning the law of gravitation, the size of the sun, its distance
from the earth and other astronomical facts. Thus, pride was
dispelled and hundreds of students listened attentively to the story
of Christ and redeeming love.
The missionary had a passion for preaching, a longing to develop the
converts into New Testament Christians and a zeal to establish
spiritual, indigenous, New Testament churches after the Pauline
pattern. Taking a group of native Christians with him he would "go
from town to town and from street to street preaching and singing the
Gospel in true Salvation Army style." A map of the field was made and
each center where a Christian church or group had come into
existence, was indicated by a red dot. By May of 1900 there were over
fifty of these red dots. Both parents and children delighted to watch
the dots increase. Florence, the oldest daughter, age 7, exclaimed
one day, "Oh won't it be lovely, father when the map is all red!" The
work of God was progressing mightily. "Our hearts are aglow with the
victories of the present and the promises of the future, " wrote
Goforth. And for the hundredth or thousandth time he quoted his great
text, "We expect a great harvest of souls, for it is not by the
might, or power of man, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD."
During the early months of 1900 the hearts of the missionaries were
radiant with blessing and hope. Then came the storm. In June
golden-haired Florence was smitten with meningitis and "went to be
with Jesus."
FLEEING THE BOXER REBELLION
The funeral was scarcely over when a message came from the American
Consul in Chefoo saying, "Flee south. Northern route cut off by
Boxers." The terrors and horrors of the infamous Boxer Uprising were
descending. The missionaries were in favor of staying at their post
regardless of the consequences but the Chinese Christians made it
clear that their chances of escape would be greatly reduced if the
missionaries remained. On June 28 before daybreak the missionary
party, consisting of the Goforths and their four children, plus three
men, five women and one little boy, set out on the long and hazardous
journey fourteen days by carts to Fancheng and a longer period from
there by boat to Shanghai. There were days of panic and agony due to
the intense heat, the long hours of continual bumping over rough
roads in spring less carts, the illness of one of the children and
the oft repeated cries, "Kill these foreign devils" that came from
fierce, threatening mobs along the way.
At one point a mob of several hundred men attacked them with a
fusillade of stones. As Goforth rushed forward to try to reason with
the men, he was struck on the head and body by numerous savage blows
and one arm was slashed to the bone in several places. Dripping with
blood he staggered to the cart, picked up his baby and said, "Come!"
We must get away quickly." Rosalind and other missionaries received
very painful injuries but all managed to escape as the mob scrambled
for their possessions in the carts.
WORLDLINESS AND APOSTASY IN CANADIAN CHURCHES
After many terrifying experiences and narrow escapes they reached
Shanghai and soon sailed for Canada. The furlough was a time of
poignant sorrow as Goforth, in his deputation trips, found that
worldliness and apostasy had invaded the churches and most of the
people had little concern for the unsaved masses of heathen lands.
BACK IN CHINA
Back to China they went, to the people they loved, to the multitudes
they yearned to win to Christ, to the land where all their
possessions had been destroyed four times and where four of their
children were buried. Jonathan was soon enthused over a plan of
intensive evangelism which would entail their staying in successive
centers for a period of one month each. "I will go with my men, " he
said to Rosalind, "to villages or on the streets in the day time,
while you receive and preach to the women in the courtyard." The
evenings would be devoted to open air meetings.
ROSALIND WRESTLES WITH GOD'S WILL
At the end of a month an evangelist would be left to instruct the
converts and establish a congregation. "The plan sounds wonderful,"
replied Rosalind, "except for the children. Think of all the
infectious diseases and of our four little graves. I can't do it. I
cannot expose the children like that." He, however, was sure of God's
leading in the matter and said, "Rose, I fear for the children if you
refuse to obey God's call and stay here at Changte. The safest place
for you and the children is the path of duty." A few hours later
Wallace became seriously ill with Asiatic dysentery. After two weeks
he began to recover and Jonathan packed up and set out on tour alone.
The next day the baby, Constance, fell ill. The father was sent for.
Constance was dying when he arrived. Driven by sorrow, Rosalind
leaned her head upon the Heavenly Father's bosom and prayed, "O God,
it is too late for Constance but I will trust you hereafter for
everything, including my children."
Thenceforth, for years she and the children traveled almost
constantly with Goforth in his extensive evangelistic tours. This
meant that some things loved and prized by the family had to be given
up, such as flowers, bird, dog and cat. It also meant living simply,
in native Chinese style. Usually the furnishings of the rented native
house consisted one table, two chairs, a bench for the children and
the kang -- a long brick platform bed covered with loose straw and
straw mats, where the entire family slept; that is, if the vermin,
insects and pigs permitted them to do so!
DEPENDANCE UPON GOD'S WORD
Goforth's evangelistic methods were simple and spiritual. Whether
speaking to one person or a thousand he was never known to attempt to
deal with souls without his open Bible. His love for and dependence
upon the Word is indicated by the fact that he read through and
studied his Chinese New Testament fifty-five times in one period of
nineteen years. He also used large hymn scrolls as a means of
utilizing the people's love of singing and of teaching the great
truths of the Gospel, in addition to short Gospel messages and
testimonies. In every place where they lived as a family for one
month and carried on this type of intensive evangelistic effort, a
growing church was subsequently established.
SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
At the age of forty-four a strange restlessness came over Jonathan
Goforth. He had seen hundreds of precious souls saved and scores of
churches established. But his soul burned with an indescribably
longing to enter into the fulfillment of his Lord's promise, "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do." Tidings
of the mighty revival in Wales intensified this longing, as did also
a booklet containing selections from Finney's Lectures on Revival.
He began an intense study of every passage in the Bible dealing with
the Holy Spirit. He arose regularly at five o'clock or even earlier
for Bible study and to pray for the fullness of the Spirit. One
evening while speaking to an audience of unsaved people on "He bare
our sins in His own body on the tree," he saw deep conviction written
on every face and almost every one took an open stand for Christ.
Those were days of unprecedented spiritual awakening. As a result, he
was deluged with invitations from all parts of China and found
himself drawn into a new and far-reaching type of ministry. Rosalind
and the five children sailed for Canada and he, a lonely man,
separated from his family till his next furlough time, plunged into
the greatest work of his life.
One day at the close of his message he said to the people, "You may
pray." Immediately an elder of the church, with tears streaming down
his cheeks, stood before the congregation and confessed the sins of
theft, adultery and attempted murder. "I have disgraced the holy
office," he cried. "I herewith resign my eldership." Other elders,
then the deacons, arose one by one, confessed their sins and
resigned. Then the native pastor stood up, made his confession and
concluded, "I am not fit to be your pastor any longer. I, too, must
resign." As the Christians confessed their sins and got right with
God, large numbers of unbelievers came under deep conviction and were
saved. Some of the missionaries were entirely out of sympathy with
these revivals. One man said, "Don't expect any such praying and
confessing of sins here as took place in Mukden and Liaoyang. We're
hard-headed Presbyterians from the North of Ireland and the people
take after us. Anyhow, we have respectable people here, not terrible
sinners. Be prepared for a quiet Quakers' meeting at this place." But
several days later the Pastor and many others sobbed out their
confession, the whole congregation did the unheard of thing of
getting down on their knees in prayer and there was a mighty turning
to God in that place.
Many times there was so much praying and confessing, little or no
time was left for the message; even so, the meetings often lasted for
three or four or even six hours. At Kwangchow God's Spirit worked
mightily; the church was cleansed and edified, one hundred fifty-four
converts were baptized during the eight days' meeting and the number
of Christians in this city increased in four years from 2,000 to
8,000. At Shangtehfu there was an intense desire on the part of
missionaries and Chinese Christians alike for a blessing from Heaven.
Long before daylight the pleadings of earnest hearts arose to the
throne of grace. One missionary sobbed out his prayer, "Lord, I have
come to the place where I would rather pray than eat." In this place
five hundred people openly acknowledged Christ as Savior. In a
mission school where at first there was much antagonism, scores of
boys were brought under the conviction of the Spirit, confessed their
sins, accepted Christ and brought a huge pile of pipes, cigarettes
and tobacco to be destroyed, also stolen knives and other things to
be returned to their rightful owners.
FINAL MISSIONARY YEARS
His last years on the field were years of great harvest. Thousands
were born into the kingdom and other thousands experienced the peace
and power of the Spirit, as he traveled extensively in China and
Manchuria. On a single day he baptized 960 soldiers. A number of
thriving churches were established. All of this was accomplished in
spite of many hardships and much pain. During the 1930-1931 furlough
he lost the use of one eye and underwent many painful but fruitless
operations in an attempt to restore his sight. During this time of
illness he dictated the stirring stories found in Miracle Lives of
China. All his teeth had to be extracted and he contracted a severe
infection in his jaw. It was at this time, while pacing the floor and
holding his jaw with his hands, that he dictated the material for his
famous book, By My Spirit. In China he contracted a severe case of
pneumonia while preaching to a packed audience of sneezing, coughing
people in an unheated room in the dead of winter. In 1933 he lost the
sight of the other eye. Even during winter blizzards he continued
traveling and preaching. At Taonan he was led twice or three times
daily through the deep snow and the storm to his appointments.
A year later the Goforths returned to Canada because of a breakdown
in Rosalind's health. Despite his blindness he traveled widely in
Canada and the United States. Everywhere he went his soul was aglow
with one message "the fullness of the Christ-life through the Holy
Spirit's indwelling." Physical sight was gone but his life was as a
"shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
HOME WITH THE LORD
That blessed day dawned for him in the early morning of October 8,
1936, as he slept. Just a few weeks before at the Ben Lippen
conference in North Carolina the sightless veteran missionary said he
rejoiced in the thought that the next face he would see would be that
of his Savior. He had entered into the bliss he had long anticipated:
"I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness" (Psalm
17:15). That was, indeed, his "coronation day," as Dr. Armstrong said
at the funeral service in Knox Church, Toronto.
Jonathan Goforth's epitaph written by the fingers of angels in
letters of flaming lights stands as summons from heaven to all who
read:
"Not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, saith the LORD."
Used with permission. Giants of the Missionary Trail was originally
published by Scripture Press, Book Division, [1954]. The book can be
ordered from Fairfax Baptist Temple, 6401 Missionary Lane, Fairfax
Station, VA 22039. Phone: 703-323-8100. E-mail: fbt@fbtministries.org
Monday, November 19, 2007
Divine Healing
A Letter of Concern for the Physical Well-being of God’s People!
Dear Brethren in Christ,
Greetings! This message is sent with love and concern (Eph. 4:15) for the well-being of God’s children, especially ministers and workers & their families and love ones. God’s will is for us to live out His plan for our lives (John 10:10b).
We must desire to live out the full & entire days God has intended for us to live in this earth for as long as He tarries in His Second Coming. We want to fulfill His call & mandate upon our lives as believers, workers & ministers. Not one day less than God’s plan for us in Jesus Mighty Name (Genesis 6:3; Psalm 90:10).
On the other hand, conflicting & hostile is the desire/plan of Satan for those who are in Christ (2Cor. 5:17; Galatians 2:20) and are intent on living for God for His glory & honor. He wants to cut short our lives, thereby, hindering our testimony and reputation in the lives of those that are within our concentric circle of influence.
One of the things the Devil, the enemy of our souls does against us is try to destroy & kill us (John 10:10a) with sickness and disease. He is also known as the Devourer/Destroyer in Malachi 3:11. Sickness per se does destroy & kill people. There is nothing good in sickness as it is (Deut. 28:21-22).
We must be convinced in our hearts and minds that sickness and disease is NOT of God (Acts 10:38) rather it is an oppression of Satan, one of his major works against God’s people. It is the Curse of the Law (Deut. 28:15-45). He does this to hinder if not stop altogether the believer’s work of service & ministry. But Praise the Lord, Paul writes in Galatians that Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13-14).
Study the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels. You will find and learn that everywhere he was confronted with sickness & disease, he had compassion (Matt. 9:35) on the people & healed them (Matt. 4:23-24; Matt. 8:2-3,6-7,16-17,28; Matt. 9:6,18-34; Matt. 12:10-13,22; Matt. 15:30-31; Matt. 17:15-18; Matt. 20:30-34). He recognized that it is the work of Satan and Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work (1John 3:8b).
Believer, SICKNESS is NOT GOD’S WILL. Therefore, it must be resisted and rejected in Jesus most powerful name (James 4:7). We are not to put up with such works of Satan. Sickness is a very expensive proposition. It can and has wipe out the financial resources of so many overnight.
Unfortunately because of ignorance, wrong teaching or worse the lack of right teaching (Hosea 4:6) on the subject at hand, God’s people have been duped, that is deceived & even literally destroyed.
What an enormous, fearful & tremendous responsibility pastors and teachers carry on their shoulders. We must be knowledgeable for people depend on us. Too many have died prematurely and their lives and ministries cut short, unfinished.
It must not be! To be ignorant is not bliss nor is it a blessing. In fact, it is dangerous. You are actually giving place to Satan to work against you (Eph. 4:27). When you open the door & give him a foothold in your life, that is give him the opportunity to operate against you, he definitely will. It is also inexcusable, unjustifiable & unpardonable because it is very costly in terms of money spent, energies expended, lives lost & wasted. This does not count the sleepless nights, the pain, agony & feelings of hopelessness felt & experienced not only by the sick person but their immediate loved ones.
SO, WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
First, We need to fill our hearts and minds with Scriptures on Healing. This will protect and keep us from not knowing God’s will on the subject. We will no longer fall prey to the deception of Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) and thus overcome his works of lies in our hearts and minds.
Second, We must plant & sow these healing scriptures in our hearts and spirits (Prov. 4:20-23) and believe them (Rom. 10:8-10,17).
Third, We need to heed Joshua 1:8 by Confessing, Declaring, Proclaiming & Speaking (Prov. 18:20-21; Mark 11:22-24; Rom. 10:8-10; 2Cor. 4:13) with our mouths God’s Healing Words.
As we believe & speak out what we believe, we then receive the healing our LORD Jesus provided through the Atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1Peter 2:24) and the healing comes to pass and is made manifest in our bodies. Hallelujah!!!
Learn and experience for yourself God’s healing Words. Then, teach & impart these truths to your families and churches. You will help yourself and God’s people not to be deceived ever again for one of Satan’s names is Deceiver (Rev. 12:9).
Sent in Christ love!
Dear Brethren in Christ,
Greetings! This message is sent with love and concern (Eph. 4:15) for the well-being of God’s children, especially ministers and workers & their families and love ones. God’s will is for us to live out His plan for our lives (John 10:10b).
We must desire to live out the full & entire days God has intended for us to live in this earth for as long as He tarries in His Second Coming. We want to fulfill His call & mandate upon our lives as believers, workers & ministers. Not one day less than God’s plan for us in Jesus Mighty Name (Genesis 6:3; Psalm 90:10).
On the other hand, conflicting & hostile is the desire/plan of Satan for those who are in Christ (2Cor. 5:17; Galatians 2:20) and are intent on living for God for His glory & honor. He wants to cut short our lives, thereby, hindering our testimony and reputation in the lives of those that are within our concentric circle of influence.
One of the things the Devil, the enemy of our souls does against us is try to destroy & kill us (John 10:10a) with sickness and disease. He is also known as the Devourer/Destroyer in Malachi 3:11. Sickness per se does destroy & kill people. There is nothing good in sickness as it is (Deut. 28:21-22).
We must be convinced in our hearts and minds that sickness and disease is NOT of God (Acts 10:38) rather it is an oppression of Satan, one of his major works against God’s people. It is the Curse of the Law (Deut. 28:15-45). He does this to hinder if not stop altogether the believer’s work of service & ministry. But Praise the Lord, Paul writes in Galatians that Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the Law (Gal. 3:13-14).
Study the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels. You will find and learn that everywhere he was confronted with sickness & disease, he had compassion (Matt. 9:35) on the people & healed them (Matt. 4:23-24; Matt. 8:2-3,6-7,16-17,28; Matt. 9:6,18-34; Matt. 12:10-13,22; Matt. 15:30-31; Matt. 17:15-18; Matt. 20:30-34). He recognized that it is the work of Satan and Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work (1John 3:8b).
Believer, SICKNESS is NOT GOD’S WILL. Therefore, it must be resisted and rejected in Jesus most powerful name (James 4:7). We are not to put up with such works of Satan. Sickness is a very expensive proposition. It can and has wipe out the financial resources of so many overnight.
Unfortunately because of ignorance, wrong teaching or worse the lack of right teaching (Hosea 4:6) on the subject at hand, God’s people have been duped, that is deceived & even literally destroyed.
What an enormous, fearful & tremendous responsibility pastors and teachers carry on their shoulders. We must be knowledgeable for people depend on us. Too many have died prematurely and their lives and ministries cut short, unfinished.
It must not be! To be ignorant is not bliss nor is it a blessing. In fact, it is dangerous. You are actually giving place to Satan to work against you (Eph. 4:27). When you open the door & give him a foothold in your life, that is give him the opportunity to operate against you, he definitely will. It is also inexcusable, unjustifiable & unpardonable because it is very costly in terms of money spent, energies expended, lives lost & wasted. This does not count the sleepless nights, the pain, agony & feelings of hopelessness felt & experienced not only by the sick person but their immediate loved ones.
SO, WHAT ARE WE TO DO?
First, We need to fill our hearts and minds with Scriptures on Healing. This will protect and keep us from not knowing God’s will on the subject. We will no longer fall prey to the deception of Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44) and thus overcome his works of lies in our hearts and minds.
Second, We must plant & sow these healing scriptures in our hearts and spirits (Prov. 4:20-23) and believe them (Rom. 10:8-10,17).
Third, We need to heed Joshua 1:8 by Confessing, Declaring, Proclaiming & Speaking (Prov. 18:20-21; Mark 11:22-24; Rom. 10:8-10; 2Cor. 4:13) with our mouths God’s Healing Words.
As we believe & speak out what we believe, we then receive the healing our LORD Jesus provided through the Atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1Peter 2:24) and the healing comes to pass and is made manifest in our bodies. Hallelujah!!!
Learn and experience for yourself God’s healing Words. Then, teach & impart these truths to your families and churches. You will help yourself and God’s people not to be deceived ever again for one of Satan’s names is Deceiver (Rev. 12:9).
Sent in Christ love!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
WHAT IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY IN YOUR LIFE?
Many in life, even true born again christians, that is believers in Jesus Christ, have experience failures in their earthly sojourn. To be honest, all of us, including this writer, have had these experiences. To say that one has not failed is to be dishonest if not outright a lie. To keep on repeating the same mistake and never learning from such experience, is regrettable. We must learn from our failures & mistakes in life. Our past failures ought to be our teacher, so that we stop committing the same mistakes over and over again. We must learn from our experiences for it is one of the best teachers in life.
With this in mind, a number of questions must be asked. What is the canon, criterion or standard whereby a person is to live his/her life? Every person has a norm or rule that he/she follows in life and live by. Is there such a standard that will help people not experience again & again such failures? Is the world’s norm and standard effective? Is it efficient to guarantee anyone such failures would never occur again? Can it help people overcome and be victorious over such failures and mistakes.
One can search and find worldly standards, norms, criterions to live by. Yet such cannot and will not guarantee success in overcoming failures in ones life. Every man-made, human way of solution to this dilemma is bound to fail. Reason: man is just a finite human being with finite mind and ability, therefore limited & insufficient to say the least.
In fact, Scripture teaches that when people put their trust in man rather than the God of Holy Scriptures, man’s way is cursed. When man relies, trusts upon his ability alone, leaving God out of the picture, then, he is bound to repeat the same failures and mistakes. God’s Word in Jeremiah 17:5 declares: Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. The reverse is true for Jeremiah 17:7 declares: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. The writer of Proverbs declares the same thing: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
To put ones trust in mere man is foolish even dangerous. It brings the holy ire, God’s wrath upon such an individual. This was the experience of Israel, the Jewish people as narrated by the prophet in
Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
God speaking through the prophet Isaiah in effect declares: when man relies on the ability and strength of another person (like what the Israelites did and were guilty of when they relied upon Egypt), then, such a person has in effect rejected God & His Words. And such reliance upon Egypt, upon man is futile & vain.
For the true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s child (John 1:12; 1 John 3:10) the choice is and must be very clear. God’s Word, The Bible is and must be Absolute/Final Authority in their lives (2Timothy 3:16). To most people, man’s word is pre-eminent. This is tragic and will lead to disastrous & grievous consequence.
The Bible, God’s Word MUST be pre-eminent for the child of God (Psalm 19:7-11). Yes, Scriptures MUST be chief, supreme and unequalled. Otherwise, we miss out on God’s best, His Word in our lives.
This is why many struggle in life.
Everything,
ALL in the Christian life has been made available through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You want, desire them and you must because God gave them for His children to enjoy but you must appropriate and claim what is yours.
Take possession is God’s Word/Command to Israel during the time of Joshua and Caleb. It is the same for us believers today.
BELIEVE YOU RECEIVE (Mark 11:24) and YOU WILL for only those who believe will, ultimately. God is no respecter of persons. But He respect the one who believes. In fact, God Almighty is pleased for Hebrews 11:6 declares: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God reveals to man how to live while on earth in Romans 1:17 saying: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Man is to live daily his life relying & trusting upon God moment by moment, completely dependent upon Him alone. When you do, life becomes meaningful & significant; useful and productive; You will miss the mistakes and failures you use to commit and you will bring glory to God!
So Believer, Child of God, Disciple of Jesus Christ, do you want to please God? Believe Him & His Word notwithstanding what you are facing, what you feel, see, sense, or what people say. Our lives must be anchored on God’s Word. Stand on the Word regardless of circumstances. Agree with the Word. Don’t contradict God and His Word. If you do, you’ll not receive from God. God cannot and will not violate His Word. Align, agree with God & His Word, then you will and must receive from God because He can’t lie. Walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor.5:7). When you do, you will not fail to please & receive from God.
“Be Not Faithless But Believing! Don’t Doubt for Doubting Is Prohibited in God’s Word!”
Many in life, even true born again christians, that is believers in Jesus Christ, have experience failures in their earthly sojourn. To be honest, all of us, including this writer, have had these experiences. To say that one has not failed is to be dishonest if not outright a lie. To keep on repeating the same mistake and never learning from such experience, is regrettable. We must learn from our failures & mistakes in life. Our past failures ought to be our teacher, so that we stop committing the same mistakes over and over again. We must learn from our experiences for it is one of the best teachers in life.
With this in mind, a number of questions must be asked. What is the canon, criterion or standard whereby a person is to live his/her life? Every person has a norm or rule that he/she follows in life and live by. Is there such a standard that will help people not experience again & again such failures? Is the world’s norm and standard effective? Is it efficient to guarantee anyone such failures would never occur again? Can it help people overcome and be victorious over such failures and mistakes.
One can search and find worldly standards, norms, criterions to live by. Yet such cannot and will not guarantee success in overcoming failures in ones life. Every man-made, human way of solution to this dilemma is bound to fail. Reason: man is just a finite human being with finite mind and ability, therefore limited & insufficient to say the least.
In fact, Scripture teaches that when people put their trust in man rather than the God of Holy Scriptures, man’s way is cursed. When man relies, trusts upon his ability alone, leaving God out of the picture, then, he is bound to repeat the same failures and mistakes. God’s Word in Jeremiah 17:5 declares: Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. The reverse is true for Jeremiah 17:7 declares: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. The writer of Proverbs declares the same thing: Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
To put ones trust in mere man is foolish even dangerous. It brings the holy ire, God’s wrath upon such an individual. This was the experience of Israel, the Jewish people as narrated by the prophet in
Isaiah 30:1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
God speaking through the prophet Isaiah in effect declares: when man relies on the ability and strength of another person (like what the Israelites did and were guilty of when they relied upon Egypt), then, such a person has in effect rejected God & His Words. And such reliance upon Egypt, upon man is futile & vain.
For the true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s child (John 1:12; 1 John 3:10) the choice is and must be very clear. God’s Word, The Bible is and must be Absolute/Final Authority in their lives (2Timothy 3:16). To most people, man’s word is pre-eminent. This is tragic and will lead to disastrous & grievous consequence.
The Bible, God’s Word MUST be pre-eminent for the child of God (Psalm 19:7-11). Yes, Scriptures MUST be chief, supreme and unequalled. Otherwise, we miss out on God’s best, His Word in our lives.
This is why many struggle in life.
Everything,
ALL in the Christian life has been made available through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You want, desire them and you must because God gave them for His children to enjoy but you must appropriate and claim what is yours.
Take possession is God’s Word/Command to Israel during the time of Joshua and Caleb. It is the same for us believers today.
BELIEVE YOU RECEIVE (Mark 11:24) and YOU WILL for only those who believe will, ultimately. God is no respecter of persons. But He respect the one who believes. In fact, God Almighty is pleased for Hebrews 11:6 declares: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
God reveals to man how to live while on earth in Romans 1:17 saying: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. Man is to live daily his life relying & trusting upon God moment by moment, completely dependent upon Him alone. When you do, life becomes meaningful & significant; useful and productive; You will miss the mistakes and failures you use to commit and you will bring glory to God!
So Believer, Child of God, Disciple of Jesus Christ, do you want to please God? Believe Him & His Word notwithstanding what you are facing, what you feel, see, sense, or what people say. Our lives must be anchored on God’s Word. Stand on the Word regardless of circumstances. Agree with the Word. Don’t contradict God and His Word. If you do, you’ll not receive from God. God cannot and will not violate His Word. Align, agree with God & His Word, then you will and must receive from God because He can’t lie. Walk by faith not by sight (2 Cor.5:7). When you do, you will not fail to please & receive from God.
“Be Not Faithless But Believing! Don’t Doubt for Doubting Is Prohibited in God’s Word!”
Friday, November 9, 2007
Dear Fellow Pilgrims:
Consider God’s Words in the following Scriptures:
1Peter 2:11
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:36-40;
John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24; John 15:7-17;
1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 3:18, 21-23;
1 John 4:7-8, 15-19; 1 John 5:1-3.
I was invited to speak at a house church last October 28th by Brother Butch Eguico, the National Central District Cashier. He relayed this invitation to his father-in-law, Pastor Jun Cordovilla. The name of the church is Carissa Christian Fellowship located at Carissa Northwinds in San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan. The church meets at one of the townhouse unit owned by Lay Pastor Jun Cordovilla. Pastor Jun is a 68 year old man who recently resigned his job to take the full responsibility of pastoring this growing house church. When the worship started, led in worship by Sister Jocelyn, (wife of Brother Butch & daughter of Pastor Jun) and in the organ played by Jo’s sister, these people though they were meeting only in such a place, sung & worshipped our God & Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts, minds & soul. The morning I spoke, the very limited space was cramped with people. Before the message, a group of 28 kids came to the front to render a number of songs. One of the girls recited by memory a number of scriptures. What a blessing to see small children brought before the Master.
After ministering God’s Words to this house church, had a wonderful time of fellowship with God’s people over lunch. Talked & ministered to eight children after lunch. Gave them assignments to memorize scriptures with the promise of a cash incentive for every verse memorized. When it was time to leave at about 3:30 pm, I was handed a gift bag containing an envelope & two books. One of these was a book on the life of a chinese christian brother and the house churches in China.
The book “The Heavenly Man” is the remarkable true story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway.
I begun to read this book and seem not to want to put it down. It is a fast paced story chronicling the life experiences of this precious brother. I find myself mesmerized as I read the persecutions & tortures that this brother has experienced because of his faith in Christ. Truly what a remarkable story of how faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob triumphs over adversities beyond human comprehension. One cannot but be touched & his emotions triggered that produces tears in ones eyes.
Rev. Dr. Mark Stibbe, author of Thinking Clearly about Revival writes about this amazing story and I quote: “An inspirational and heroic story of a radical Christian in the house churches of China. This book is like reading a modern-day version of the Book of Acts. Prepare to be deeply encouraged as well as rudely awakened. An absolute must for the sleeping churches of the West.” Unquote.
One cannot read such an amazing, marvelous story of God’s grace and mercy at work in the life of a fully committed, consecrated & totally surrendered individual and not be stirred, touched in the deep recesses of one’s heart and soul.
To be untouched is to be apathetic, callous, hardened and insensible. It shows possibly a heart that has long been cold, lukewarm, indifferent and unperturb and therefore hardened to the cries of souls dying without hope because Jesus Christ is not Lord of their lives.
I pray that Brother Yun’s song on page 74 of his book entitled “I Will Only Love My Lord” will challenge, demand, stir & warm our hearts. The words of the poem/song follows:
“I WILL ONLY LOVE MY LORD”
As long as I live, I will only love my Lord
With all my heart, strength and mind, I will only love my Lord
Regardless of what happens, I will only love my Lord
In all my actions and words, I will only love my Lord.
In times of humility and learning, I will only love my Lord
In times of joy and gladness, I will only love my Lord
Whether I face hunger or if I’m full, I will only love my Lord
I am his in life or death, I will only love my Lord.
The Lord has sacrificed his life for me
My deep sin has been pardoned
I have dedicated all my life to him
I will only love my Lord!
Let us ask God’s Blessed Holy Spirit to do a mighty transforming work in our hearts and lives today. Let us resolve in our hearts to live a life Fully, Totally, Consecrated, & Surrendered to the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ!
SCRIPTURES USED:
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
At the start of each month, I feel compelled to post anew my article/message on a subject matter that is so important even in the eyes of the LORD Jesus Christ. This is the opt repeated statement "Born Again" found in John 3:1-7. I invite and urge the reader to find time to read, investigate, search & study the following message. It will mean either heaven or hell, for your eternal destiny is at stake!
THE IMPERATIVE OF THE NEW BIRTH
Text: John 3:1-7
By: Rev. Emmanuel P. Salvador – Chaplain/Evangelist
Adonai Seafarers Fellowship, Inc.
Pier 9 Red Hook Marine Terminal
P O Box 310025
Brooklyn, New York 11231 USA
Email: ministerjhn33@hotmail.com
Blog at http://manny-knowthetruth.blogspot.com/
Philippines Tel. # 011632-436-0397
Cell # 01163-921-509-7797
A PRAYER FOR THE PERSON WHO READS THIS!
Father God in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, grant that the mind and heart of the person reading this will be open to receive the truths presented in this article. I come against every evil spirit that would blind the minds of the one/s reading this now and I proclaim that in the most powerful name of JESUS CHRIST, salvation is being experienced by many who read this presentation. Thank you FATHER in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!
The New Birth is Not an Option but is Mandatory. A reality that needs to be experienced by every person as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. To be Born Again is the one thing needed for every person to know that he or she is going to heaven and be in the presence of God Almighty for all eternity in Glory! This is God’s Plan and Will for every person. Man must decide as to whether he wants to be Born Again or not. His choice has eternal consequences that will affect his eternal destiny – either Heaven or Hell. The Lord Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction (Hell), and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life (Heaven), and few there be that find it.” The Lord Jesus Christ also taught in Matthew 25:41 that hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Read also Revelations 20:10; Rev. 21:8; Mark 9:43 to 48). The Lord Jesus Christ taught more on hell than on heaven in the New Testament. It is safe to heed, listen to the warnings of Holy Scriptures about the reality of hell. It is wise to follow, do and obey what the Scriptures teach about the reality of hell. Not to hearken and heed the warnings is folly, foolishness and plain stupidity (Proverbs 1:7). Therefore, heed, listen to the Words of Jesus Christ in John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST BE BORN AGAIN.
There are Three Questions that Needs to be Asked and Answered by Man:
I. Why is there a need to be Born Again?
Three Answers: (1) John 3:3 - to be able TO SEE the kingdom of God;
(2) John 3:5 - to be able TO ENTER the kingdom of God;
(3) Romans 10:9 – to make Jesus Christ LORD of one’s life
If Jesus Christ is not Lord then the Devil/Satan will be lord of a person’s life whether he realizes it or not, believes it or not, knows it or not. The Fact: Is Jesus Christ my Lord, if not, the Devil/Satan is and will be my lord.
John 10:10 The thief (Satan/Devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it abundantly.
Revelations 12:9 ….. that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which DECEIVETH the whole world (of men & women). If a person is TO SEE & ENTER the Kingdom of God, that person MUST BE BORN AGAIN. And if that person is to live for God in this world, then that person MUST confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD (Romans 10:9).
II. What does it mean to be Born Again?
Answer: John 3:5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Man is a Tripartite being, that is, a Trichotomy (3 parts) according to Scriptures (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). First, a spirit being with a soul living in a physical body.
Born of water refers to Physical Birth. When a mother gets pregnant, God allows water to be formed in her womb for two reasons: water serves as protection for her baby while the baby is in her womb for 9 months. When the time comes for the baby to be brought into this world, the bag of water breaks and the water itself helps the mother to bring the baby into this world. This speaks of PHYSICAL BIRTH (verse 5).
Verse 6 is very plain and clear. It speaks of the need of a person to experience SPIRITUAL BIRTH.
Physical Birth happens only once in a person’s life. So it is with Spiritual Birth, once only.
We then have to answer the 3rd Question: HOW CAN A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN? But before we give the answer, we need to know and understand the SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF MAN AS GOD SEES MAN or A PERSON.
FIVE (5) ABSOLUTE TRUTHS THAT IS TRUE TO EVERY PERSON AS GOD LOOKS AT MAN ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURES. These truths are true regardless of one’s social, economic and educational status or standing in life (rich or poor, educated or uneducated, whatever color of skin a person has), every person falls under God’s All seeing/knowing Presence. Before Good News can be appreciated Bad News (to the wicked/ungodly/unrighteous) must be made known. The God of Holy Scriptures is Holy, Just, Righteous and His wrath is against all ungodliness of men but He is also a Loving, Merciful, Forgiving, Gracious (Romans 1:18-32; Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 55:6-7; John 3:16-18) God!
1st – Man is a SINNER – Romans 3:9,10,23; Romans 5:6,8,12;
2nd – Man’s Spiritual Heart is DECEITFUL – Jeremiah 17:9;
3rd – Man’s Spiritual Heart is ROTTEN – Mark 7:21-23;
The Gospel which means Good News is also in the Old Testament found in Ezekiel 36:26-27. God wants to give man/person who is a sinner with a deceitful & rotten heart a NEW HEART by performing a SPIRITUAL HEART TRANSPLANT.
4th – Man because he is a sinner with a deceitful & rotten heart is a CHILD OF THE DEVIL – John 8:44; 1 John 3:8 & 10; But the Gospel/Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ is that a child of the devil can become a child of God (John 1:12).
5th – Man therefore is “SPIRITUALLY DEAD”- Ephesians 2:1 though physically alive. Verse 12 without Christ … having no hope… and without God in the world.
Religion, Philosophy and Higher Education has taught that man is good and is capable of attaining by and for himself a utopic existence. Religion has taught men to do good and follow, obey God’s commands, yet because of their ignorance of what Holy Scriptures teaches about the spiritual condition of man before a Just, Holy and Righteous God, they have actually given men FALSE HOPE.
Thinking, saying and teaching that because God is a God of Love, God will never send any person to a place called Hell. Yet, they have failed to understand Scriptures that teaches that this God who is a Loving, Merciful & Forgiving God, is also a HOLY, JUST, & RIGHTEOUS God and therefore He cannot countenance sin and must therefore Judge sinners who refuse to come to Him (God’s Way) in True Repentance of their sins and Believe on Him (Jesus Christ) ALONE who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Acts 4:12 states: Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST BE SAVED.
It is Jesus Christ Alone or be condemned at your own risk of rejecting God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. ( John 3:16-18, 36; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 5:9-12 ).
III. HOW CAN A MAN/PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?
The LORD Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel of Mark 1:15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; Repent Ye, and Believe the Gospel.
John the Baptist also preached and taught about Repentance in Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Apostle Peter also taught about Repentance. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul in Acts 17:30 states: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 26:20b …that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His (Jesus Christ) name among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
1st – REPENT – a turning away from a lifestyle of sin. A change of mind and will with regard to sins in ones life. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives us a list of sins as follows: fornication, idolatry (worship of idols), adultery, homosexuality/lesbianism, theft, greediness, drunkenness, revilers and swindlers. Ten (10) sins that people can be guilty of. If these sin/s are part of a person’s life, then the Word of God demands repentance for the person to experience forgiveness of sin/s.
Revelations 21:8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Eight sin/s).
2nd – BELIEVE the Gospel. The Gospel is good news and is about the Person of the LORD Jesus Christ; His finished work of Atonement on the Cross of Calvary for all the sins of men (past, present and future); That His Precious Blood alone shed on the Cross 2,000 years ago can wash, cleanse, and blot out our sins. (John 3:16-18, 36; John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Hebrews 9:22 and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (foriveness). A person must believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) and there can be no admixture (Galatians 1:6-9) whatsoever of this Absolute Truth. There is Only One Gospel/Good News and it is all about the LORD Jesus Christ. All other ways will lead men to destruction and eternal punishment in a place called hell. (Rev. 20:10; 21:8).
3rd – RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Personal Savior & Lord. A person must realize that salvation is a Free Gift from God. It can never be merited or work for.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; (faith in Jesus Christ alone) and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God 9 Not of works, less any man should boast.
John 1:12 says: But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons/children of God, even to them that believe on His name.
A Prayer for the Person who wants/desires to be Born Again!
Almighty God, I come to your throne of grace, solely and on the merit alone of the Blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. I confess & acknowledge before you that I am a sinner in need of your mercy today. I repent of all of my sins. Have mercy upon me. Wash, cleanse and blot out all my sins with the precious BLOOD of the LORD JESUS. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my LORD because I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Today, now, once and for all, I make a decision for all eternity, I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and LORD of my life (John 1:12). Thank you LORD for saving my soul. Thank you LORD for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank you LORD for the gift of eternal life (John 6:47). And thank you LORD for making me your child. In JESUS name, amen!
If you prayed this prayer sincerely with all your heart, I say to you in the name of our LORD JESUS Christ, you are now God’s child, a brother or sister in Christ, a member of God’s family. The author of this article will appreciate it very much if you will make known to him the decision you have made today. (Call, write or email) God richly bless!
WHAT A NEW CHILD OF GOD, A BELIEVER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST DO AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN?
1) Declare, proclaim, say with his/her mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD of my life (say it many times) and tell the first person that he/she meets that Jesus is LORD of his/her life (Romans 10:9). Don’t be ashamed to confess/share with others your faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:32-33);
2) Get yourself a Bible and begin reading & studying God’s Word daily (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:15). Start with the Gospel of John. The Word of God is food for the soul (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:11); Fill your heart and mind with God’s Words. It will begin to change & transform your life even your circumstances. Every truth you encounter in the Bible, seek to apply it in your life by obeying and doing what it says, God Almighty will bless you;
3) Begin to talk to the LORD in Prayer. Learn to praise & thank Him for all things (Philippians 4:6-7; 1Thessalonians 5:18). Develop an attitude of gratitude & thanksgiving to God. Ask Him for all your needs (Matthew 7:7; John 16:23-24) and trust/believe Him to provide (Phil. 4:19; Mark 11:24);
4) Ask & trust the LORD to bring you to a Bible Preaching, Teaching and Christ-centered Church or Fellowship of True Born Again Christians (Hebrews 10:25). Introduce yourself to the Pastor of the church and let him know that you just received the LORD Jesus as your Saviour & LORD. Tell him you want to grow in faith and serve the LORD in a local church where you can belong. Fellowship with those of like faith, brothers and sisters in Christ; Tell the Pastor you want to obey the LORD in water baptism by immersion (Acts 2:38);
5) Pray and ask God the FATHER in the name of the LORD Jesus (John 16:23-24) to fill you with His Holy Spirit as commanded in Ephesians 5:18 day by day, to empower you to live the Christian life and be an effective witness to others.
THE IMPERATIVE OF THE NEW BIRTH
Text: John 3:1-7
By: Rev. Emmanuel P. Salvador – Chaplain/Evangelist
Adonai Seafarers Fellowship, Inc.
Pier 9 Red Hook Marine Terminal
P O Box 310025
Brooklyn, New York 11231 USA
Email: ministerjhn33@hotmail.com
Blog at http://manny-knowthetruth.blogspot.com/
Philippines Tel. # 011632-436-0397
Cell # 01163-921-509-7797
A PRAYER FOR THE PERSON WHO READS THIS!
Father God in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, grant that the mind and heart of the person reading this will be open to receive the truths presented in this article. I come against every evil spirit that would blind the minds of the one/s reading this now and I proclaim that in the most powerful name of JESUS CHRIST, salvation is being experienced by many who read this presentation. Thank you FATHER in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!
The New Birth is Not an Option but is Mandatory. A reality that needs to be experienced by every person as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. To be Born Again is the one thing needed for every person to know that he or she is going to heaven and be in the presence of God Almighty for all eternity in Glory! This is God’s Plan and Will for every person. Man must decide as to whether he wants to be Born Again or not. His choice has eternal consequences that will affect his eternal destiny – either Heaven or Hell. The Lord Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction (Hell), and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life (Heaven), and few there be that find it.” The Lord Jesus Christ also taught in Matthew 25:41 that hell has been prepared for the devil and his angels (Read also Revelations 20:10; Rev. 21:8; Mark 9:43 to 48). The Lord Jesus Christ taught more on hell than on heaven in the New Testament. It is safe to heed, listen to the warnings of Holy Scriptures about the reality of hell. It is wise to follow, do and obey what the Scriptures teach about the reality of hell. Not to hearken and heed the warnings is folly, foolishness and plain stupidity (Proverbs 1:7). Therefore, heed, listen to the Words of Jesus Christ in John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST BE BORN AGAIN.
There are Three Questions that Needs to be Asked and Answered by Man:
I. Why is there a need to be Born Again?
Three Answers: (1) John 3:3 - to be able TO SEE the kingdom of God;
(2) John 3:5 - to be able TO ENTER the kingdom of God;
(3) Romans 10:9 – to make Jesus Christ LORD of one’s life
If Jesus Christ is not Lord then the Devil/Satan will be lord of a person’s life whether he realizes it or not, believes it or not, knows it or not. The Fact: Is Jesus Christ my Lord, if not, the Devil/Satan is and will be my lord.
John 10:10 The thief (Satan/Devil) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it abundantly.
Revelations 12:9 ….. that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which DECEIVETH the whole world (of men & women). If a person is TO SEE & ENTER the Kingdom of God, that person MUST BE BORN AGAIN. And if that person is to live for God in this world, then that person MUST confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD (Romans 10:9).
II. What does it mean to be Born Again?
Answer: John 3:5 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Man is a Tripartite being, that is, a Trichotomy (3 parts) according to Scriptures (Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). First, a spirit being with a soul living in a physical body.
Born of water refers to Physical Birth. When a mother gets pregnant, God allows water to be formed in her womb for two reasons: water serves as protection for her baby while the baby is in her womb for 9 months. When the time comes for the baby to be brought into this world, the bag of water breaks and the water itself helps the mother to bring the baby into this world. This speaks of PHYSICAL BIRTH (verse 5).
Verse 6 is very plain and clear. It speaks of the need of a person to experience SPIRITUAL BIRTH.
Physical Birth happens only once in a person’s life. So it is with Spiritual Birth, once only.
We then have to answer the 3rd Question: HOW CAN A PERSON BE BORN AGAIN? But before we give the answer, we need to know and understand the SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF MAN AS GOD SEES MAN or A PERSON.
FIVE (5) ABSOLUTE TRUTHS THAT IS TRUE TO EVERY PERSON AS GOD LOOKS AT MAN ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURES. These truths are true regardless of one’s social, economic and educational status or standing in life (rich or poor, educated or uneducated, whatever color of skin a person has), every person falls under God’s All seeing/knowing Presence. Before Good News can be appreciated Bad News (to the wicked/ungodly/unrighteous) must be made known. The God of Holy Scriptures is Holy, Just, Righteous and His wrath is against all ungodliness of men but He is also a Loving, Merciful, Forgiving, Gracious (Romans 1:18-32; Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 55:6-7; John 3:16-18) God!
1st – Man is a SINNER – Romans 3:9,10,23; Romans 5:6,8,12;
2nd – Man’s Spiritual Heart is DECEITFUL – Jeremiah 17:9;
3rd – Man’s Spiritual Heart is ROTTEN – Mark 7:21-23;
The Gospel which means Good News is also in the Old Testament found in Ezekiel 36:26-27. God wants to give man/person who is a sinner with a deceitful & rotten heart a NEW HEART by performing a SPIRITUAL HEART TRANSPLANT.
4th – Man because he is a sinner with a deceitful & rotten heart is a CHILD OF THE DEVIL – John 8:44; 1 John 3:8 & 10; But the Gospel/Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ is that a child of the devil can become a child of God (John 1:12).
5th – Man therefore is “SPIRITUALLY DEAD”- Ephesians 2:1 though physically alive. Verse 12 without Christ … having no hope… and without God in the world.
Religion, Philosophy and Higher Education has taught that man is good and is capable of attaining by and for himself a utopic existence. Religion has taught men to do good and follow, obey God’s commands, yet because of their ignorance of what Holy Scriptures teaches about the spiritual condition of man before a Just, Holy and Righteous God, they have actually given men FALSE HOPE.
Thinking, saying and teaching that because God is a God of Love, God will never send any person to a place called Hell. Yet, they have failed to understand Scriptures that teaches that this God who is a Loving, Merciful & Forgiving God, is also a HOLY, JUST, & RIGHTEOUS God and therefore He cannot countenance sin and must therefore Judge sinners who refuse to come to Him (God’s Way) in True Repentance of their sins and Believe on Him (Jesus Christ) ALONE who is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Acts 4:12 states: Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST BE SAVED.
It is Jesus Christ Alone or be condemned at your own risk of rejecting God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. ( John 3:16-18, 36; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 5:9-12 ).
III. HOW CAN A MAN/PERSON BE BORN AGAIN?
The LORD Jesus Christ taught in the Gospel of Mark 1:15 and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; Repent Ye, and Believe the Gospel.
John the Baptist also preached and taught about Repentance in Matthew 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Apostle Peter also taught about Repentance. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent , and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul in Acts 17:30 states: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 26:20b …that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His (Jesus Christ) name among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
1st – REPENT – a turning away from a lifestyle of sin. A change of mind and will with regard to sins in ones life. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 gives us a list of sins as follows: fornication, idolatry (worship of idols), adultery, homosexuality/lesbianism, theft, greediness, drunkenness, revilers and swindlers. Ten (10) sins that people can be guilty of. If these sin/s are part of a person’s life, then the Word of God demands repentance for the person to experience forgiveness of sin/s.
Revelations 21:8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Eight sin/s).
2nd – BELIEVE the Gospel. The Gospel is good news and is about the Person of the LORD Jesus Christ; His finished work of Atonement on the Cross of Calvary for all the sins of men (past, present and future); That His Precious Blood alone shed on the Cross 2,000 years ago can wash, cleanse, and blot out our sins. (John 3:16-18, 36; John 5:24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Hebrews 9:22 and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (foriveness). A person must believe that Jesus Christ is the Only Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6) and there can be no admixture (Galatians 1:6-9) whatsoever of this Absolute Truth. There is Only One Gospel/Good News and it is all about the LORD Jesus Christ. All other ways will lead men to destruction and eternal punishment in a place called hell. (Rev. 20:10; 21:8).
3rd – RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Personal Savior & Lord. A person must realize that salvation is a Free Gift from God. It can never be merited or work for.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; (faith in Jesus Christ alone) and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God 9 Not of works, less any man should boast.
John 1:12 says: But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons/children of God, even to them that believe on His name.
A Prayer for the Person who wants/desires to be Born Again!
Almighty God, I come to your throne of grace, solely and on the merit alone of the Blood of the LORD Jesus Christ. I confess & acknowledge before you that I am a sinner in need of your mercy today. I repent of all of my sins. Have mercy upon me. Wash, cleanse and blot out all my sins with the precious BLOOD of the LORD JESUS. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my LORD because I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Today, now, once and for all, I make a decision for all eternity, I receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and LORD of my life (John 1:12). Thank you LORD for saving my soul. Thank you LORD for the forgiveness of my sins. Thank you LORD for the gift of eternal life (John 6:47). And thank you LORD for making me your child. In JESUS name, amen!
If you prayed this prayer sincerely with all your heart, I say to you in the name of our LORD JESUS Christ, you are now God’s child, a brother or sister in Christ, a member of God’s family. The author of this article will appreciate it very much if you will make known to him the decision you have made today. (Call, write or email) God richly bless!
WHAT A NEW CHILD OF GOD, A BELIEVER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST MUST DO AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN?
1) Declare, proclaim, say with his/her mouth that Jesus Christ is LORD of my life (say it many times) and tell the first person that he/she meets that Jesus is LORD of his/her life (Romans 10:9). Don’t be ashamed to confess/share with others your faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:32-33);
2) Get yourself a Bible and begin reading & studying God’s Word daily (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; 2 Timothy 2:15). Start with the Gospel of John. The Word of God is food for the soul (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:11); Fill your heart and mind with God’s Words. It will begin to change & transform your life even your circumstances. Every truth you encounter in the Bible, seek to apply it in your life by obeying and doing what it says, God Almighty will bless you;
3) Begin to talk to the LORD in Prayer. Learn to praise & thank Him for all things (Philippians 4:6-7; 1Thessalonians 5:18). Develop an attitude of gratitude & thanksgiving to God. Ask Him for all your needs (Matthew 7:7; John 16:23-24) and trust/believe Him to provide (Phil. 4:19; Mark 11:24);
4) Ask & trust the LORD to bring you to a Bible Preaching, Teaching and Christ-centered Church or Fellowship of True Born Again Christians (Hebrews 10:25). Introduce yourself to the Pastor of the church and let him know that you just received the LORD Jesus as your Saviour & LORD. Tell him you want to grow in faith and serve the LORD in a local church where you can belong. Fellowship with those of like faith, brothers and sisters in Christ; Tell the Pastor you want to obey the LORD in water baptism by immersion (Acts 2:38);
5) Pray and ask God the FATHER in the name of the LORD Jesus (John 16:23-24) to fill you with His Holy Spirit as commanded in Ephesians 5:18 day by day, to empower you to live the Christian life and be an effective witness to others.
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