(1) The
overwhelming presence of God in the life of Amy Carmichael!
“In thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand thee are pleasures for ever more” (Ps.16:11).
Amy
Carmichael spent over fifty years in
She enjoyed the presence of the Lord even in her helpless condition (Mt.28:20) and was a source of joy to others as she had “the joy of the Lord as her strength” (Neh.8:10, Phil:4:4). Every one who visited her in the sick room came out encouraged land praising God.
Billy Graham, the great evangelist visited Dhonavur Fellowship in 1957 during his South Indian Evangelistic campaign and spent a little time in the room where Amy Carmichael had been, in bed, for nearly twenty years. He was requested to lead in prayer before leaving the room. Billy Graham later confessed in one of his books that he broke down, overwhelmed by a sense of God’s presence. His bedridden companion had to finish the prayer.
“The priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for he glory of the Lord filed the house of the Lord” (I Kg.8:11).
Amy’s Dream
“I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I; send me” (Is.6:8)
Amy Carmichael once had a dream which had a great effect on her wonderful ministry for the Lord. In the dream she saw a mountain side at the edge of which was a precipice. A large number of people, especially women and children were walking one behind the other, toward the edge. In a few moments they would fall over the steep cliff. Amy, watching this scene, was alarmed and shouted, “Is there no one to stop them?”
The
dream challenged her to take up the cause of the destitute, orphans, widows,
and the needy, compelled by her love for Jesus.
In November 1895, she came to
Have you any concern for the perishing? How will you answer the Lord’s call to you?
(2) ‘Jehovah Jireh’ supplied the need of George Mueller’s orphanage!
It was in March 1839 that George Mueller, a servant of the Lord, who had tremendous faith, received a gift for the orphanages he was running, which made a great impression on him. A copy of the Annual Report had been given to a believing brother who was stirred to prayer by reading it. This man had a sister, who was also a believer, and who possessed costly ornaments and jewels – a heavy gold chain, a superb pair of gold bracelets and a priceless diamond ring set. The man prayed fervently that the Lord would show his sister the uselessness of these trinkets and that she should be led to lay them all upon His altar as an offering for the orphan home.
His prayer was soon answered, and she sent her valuables to the orphanages. Mueller rejoiced in the Lord as he received this gift just when he had to pay the salaries of helpers and met their expenses for a whole week. But before disposing of the diamond ring, he wrote upon the window pane with the diamond the precious title of our Lord – ‘JEHOVAH JIREH’ and whenever he was in great need, he cast his eyes upon it and thankfully remembered that “the Lord will provide”. Every ray of sunlight that shone into his room lit up the Lord’s promise, through those words on the glass pane.
The Lord never failed George Mueller’s faith and prayer. “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19).
(3) “No, sir,
I was only a cobbler”
“For thus saith the
high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whose
name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a
contrite and humble spirit” (Is.57:15).
William
Carey, the great missionary of
(4) "A
wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Thy kind arms I fall!"
“Have mercy upon me, O God."
(Psalm 51:1)
When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous
illness, the enquiry was made, "If this sickness should prove fatal, what
passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?" He replied,
"Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything
said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the
words, 'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness;
according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions.'" In the same spirit of
humility he directed
in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on
his gravestone:-
WILLIAM CAREY, BORN
DIED - -
"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm
On Thy kind arms I fall."
Only on
the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honoured
of the saints approach their God. The best of men are
conscious above all others that they are men at the best. Empty boats float
high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can
boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness.
We have need that the Lord should have mercy upon our good works, our prayers,
our preachings, our alms-givings, and our holiest
things. The blood was not only sprinkled upon the doorposts of
The desire of William Carrey on his
death bed
When
William Carey was on his death-bed, his good friend, the great missionary
statesman Alexander Duff, visited him. Dr.Duff appreciatively spoke to Carey of his
life of active and ardent service for the Lord.
Finally Carey simply said, “Pray.”
His friend prayed, bid farewell to that valiant soldier of the cross and
left the room. Wanting one last word
with him, Carey called him back into his room and said, “Duff, you have been speaking
about William Carey. When I am gone, say
nothing about me – speak only about my Savior.
Give my Lord the glory, not me.”
“So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life oor by death.”
(Phil.1:20)
“All things work together for good to them
that love God” (Rom.8:28).
On the mantel of Commissioner Samuel L.Brengle’s home stands a common brick with a scripture verse painted on it which reads, “Ye thought evil against me: but God meant lit unto good” (Gen.50:20). These were the words of Joseph to his brothers who were responsible for his imprisonment and slavery.
While Sam Brengle was walking on a street, a drunken man threw a brick at him which injured him seriously. For 18 months he was invalid and could neither work nor preach. But during that time he wrote the book, ‘Helps to Holiness’. This book became a best-seller among Christians and was translated into many languages. Mrs.Brengle used to say, “If there had been no brick, there would have been no book”.
God’s ways often turn distressing events – like having a brick thrown at you – into objects of blessing.
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor.4:16).
John Milton (1608-1674), the renowned English pet, lost his sight in 1652 when he was 44. Prior to this, he had written some famous poems including “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”. He was a Puritan and was devoted to public affairs and was engaged in the struggle of the Puritans against the Church of England. He was the Secretary of Foreign Languages under the Puritan government of Cromwell.
The loss of his sight had a tremendous effect of his poetry. In a sonnet on his blindness, he writes touchingly about his blindness and his firm faith in God. His later work ‘Samson Agonistes’ (1671) is filled with references to blindness and darkness, based on the biblical Samson who was captured by the Philistines, blinded and kept as a slave in Gaza.
His masterpiece ‘Paradise Lost’ took nine years to complete in 1667. ‘Paradise Regained’ (1671) is another of his great works, a short epic modeled on the book of Job, dealing with Satan’s temptation of Christ.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory” (2 Cor.4:17)
(7) Physically
broken and physically well!
In the
One may
wonder about this great man of God, D.E.Stanley
Jones. In his autobiography Dr.Stanley Jones writes about his life in detail. On his return from his furlough and many
trips to the mountains, he tried to regain his battered health. He felt he was over-whelmed with
depression. In that dark hour, he
attended an evangelistic service conducted by Rev.Tamil
David in the
Dr.Stanley Jones continues, “This tablet says ‘Physically broken and physically well,’ but this was more than just a physically touch. It involved the total person. I was made well and whole in body mind and spirit.”
Sing Sing, known as the world’s most notorious prison, has a great story of love behind it – the love of Christ which has transformed the lives of even the worst hardened criminals.
Catherine Lawes as the young wife of Warden Lawes came to Sing Sing in 1921. They had three little children. They lived just outside the prison. Catherine would come with her children for any special activity and games among the prisoners. She began to take a personal interest in the prisoners. She learnt that one of the convicts who was imprisoned for murder was totally blind, and taught him how to read Braille. He laws encouraged to learn because of her loving approach. Soon he was able to read Braille and discovered a whole new world as he spent the rest of his life in prison. She taught another prisoner, who was a deaf mute, the ability to communicate intelligibly. He found Christ in the last years of his life. She thus ministered to the special needs of many prisoners and radiated the love of Christ among them.
On a tragic night in 1937, Catherine was killed in a car accident. When the news spread throughout the prison, the next morning, even the hardest of the thugs wept saying, “Our lady was killed last night”. The Acting Warden as he went on his round found all the prisoners gathered together in the courtyard mourning. He could not believe his eyes when he saw the hardened criminals carrying. They wanted to have a last look at their lady and assured him that all would return back to their cells and not one would dishonor the trust because of her.
Knowing their feelings, he said, “Okay men, I will let you out.” They formed a single line, solemnly walked out of the prison gate to the warden’s house and paid a silent tribute to Catherine walking in a single file with bowed heads and tears in their eyes. And all the 100 criminals checked into the prison again. It was often said that “Jesus Christ lived in Sing Sing prison through Catherine Lawes.”
“For the love of Christ constraineth us.” (2 Cor.5:14)
A young man of thirty, who had spent his life on the fast lane relishing the pleasures of the world, was very sick unto death. A servant of the Lord talked to him about the Redeemer who had come for all the sinners and offered the gift of salvation and forgiveness of sin. The young man, convicted of his sins, with a contrite heart, confessed the same to the Lord and asked for His forgiveness. The joy and peace of the Lord flooded his soul and he was assured of his salvation.
A few days later, the Christian who had left the young man to the Lord, visited him and found him depressed and confused. Wondering whether he had lost the joy and assurance of salvation, he asked him, “Have you any fear that you are not redeemed by His blood? Are you afraid to meet the Lord?” The young man who was nearing his death, said with great sincerity and emotion, “No, sir, I am not afraid of anything. But I deeply regret wasting all the days of my life. How will I meet my dear Savior empty-handed? I have not served Him even for a day and that clouds my mind.”
C.C.Luther who heard of this young man from the Christian who led him to the Lord, composed the famous hymn:
“Must I go, and empty handed
Thus my Redeemer meet?
Not one day or service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
It is a challenge to every Christian to meet and win souls for the Lord. Have you trophies to lay before the Lord.
(10) “I am
only the little servant of the illustrious Master”
“Even as the Son of Man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many”
(Mt.20:28)
James
Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China and founder of the China Inland
Mission, which later became the Overseas Missionary Fellowship, was to address
a crowded meeting Melbourne, Australia.
The chairman introducing him, referred to him as ‘our illustrious
guest’.
There was a young missionary who worked with Hudson Taylor. As they went to their respective rooms to rest after the day’s work, the young missionary left his soiled shoes outside his bedroom door. In the morning he was astonished to find his shoes clean and shining. Hudson Taylor had polished his shoes while he slept.
Sadly, in our day we have too many leaders and celebrities and not enough servants.
(11) “If this
is death, it is sweet”
‘O death, where is thy sting? Oh grace, where
is thy victory?’ (I Cor.15:55).
Before he accepted Jesus as his personal Savior, the future seemed very dark to D.L.Moody. He would get frightened at the very mention of the word ‘death’. It was the custom in his village that when a church member died, the church bell would toll the number of years the person had lived. It would toll 70 times if the person died at 70, 20 times if the person died at 20, and sometimes the number of times it rang would be
Moody’s own age. This used to terrify him. But soon after he accepted Christ as his
Savior, this fear left him completely.
He would say with confidence, “Since Jesus is mine and I am His, when I
pass away from this world, I can say like Paul, ‘O death, where is thy sting?
Oh grave, where is thy victory?”
When the time came for Moody to leave this earthly tabernacle, he exclaimed. “This is my triumph; this is my coronation day; I have been looking forward to it for years.”
Then
his face brightened and he said in a clear voice, “Dwight! I see the children’s faces” referring to his
young grand children whom God had taken home earlier. Then he spoke in a low voice, “The world
recedes; Heaven
opens before me.” His son William, who
though that his father was dreaming tried to rouse him but Moody said, “No, this is no dream, Will. It is beautiful. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here; God is calling me
and I must go.”
(12) There is
no grudging in God’s benevolence!
“And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” (Gen.15:5)
We are profoundly impressed with the unlimited resources of the God of the bible. He never does anything small. When He makes an ocean He makes it so deep that no man can fathom it. When He makes a mountain he makes it so large that no one can measure or weight it. When He makes flowers, He scatters multiplied millions of them where there is no one to admire them but Himself. When he makes grace, He makes it without sides or bottom and leaves the top off. Instead of giving salvation with a medicine dropper, he pours it forth like a river.
When God sets out to do a thing for us, he does it with a prodigality of love-prompted abundance that fairly staggers one who reckons things by the coldly calculating standards of earth.
Whatever blessing is in our cup, it is sure to run over. With Him the calf is always the fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is unspeakable; the peace passeth understanding; the grace is so abundant that the recipient has all-sufficiency for all things, and abounds to every good work.
There is no grudging in God’s benevolence; he does not measure out His goodness as the apothecary counts his drops and measures his drams, slowly and exactly, drop by drop. God’s way is always characterized by multitudinous and overflowing bounty, like that in nature which is so profuse in beauty and life that every drop of the ocean, every square inch of the forest glade, every molecule of water, teems with marvels and defies the research and investigation of man. Well may we cry with the Apostle, “I have all and abound.”
(13) The
people of God are sent empty away!
“He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.” (Luke 1:53).
A great many people attend church and Sabbath school, where the blessings of grace abound, and yet are “sent empty away.” They are not fed. They do not carry anything with them from all the fullness before them. They are no better, no stronger, no happier for the privileges they have enjoyed. Is it the minister’s fault or the teacher’s fault? No; the fault must be their own. They were not really hungry, or they would have been filled.
A lady
was ill with consumption. She was
advised to go to
So it is with many souls. They live amidst abundance of spiritual provision. God spreads full tables before them continually. They sit down beside them, and then are sent away empty; not because there is nothing there for them, but because they have no hunger for such things. Others sit close by them, at the same tables, with the same provisions before them, and are richly fed, and go away rejoicing in strength and hope, and refreshed in all their nature; but these came with spiritual appetite. Our constant prayer should be that God would make us hungry for Himself. The beatitude is, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”