A closer relationship with God
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19
His life
Call to China
Never shall I forget, he wrote, the feeling that came over me then. Words can never describe it. I felt I was in the presence of God, entering into covenant with the Almighty. I felt as though I wished to withdraw my promise, but could not. Something seemed to say ‘Your prayer is answered, your conditions are accepted’. And from that time the conviction never left me that I was called to China. For distinctly, as if a voice had spoken it, the command was given: ‘Then go for Me to China’.
Preparation for China
Depend upon it, God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply
My God will meet all your needs according to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Is it all worthwhile? Why should you go to China? Why toil and suffer all your life for an ideal of duty? Give it up now, while you can yet win her. Earn a proper living like everybody else, and serve the Lord at home. For you can win her yet.
a trip across an ocean does not make a person more a soul winner. If you cannot be a missionary at home, you will not be one overseas.
Off to china
After the storm was over, the question was settled for me through the prayerful study of the Scriptures. God gave me then to see my mistake, probably to deliver me from a great deal of trouble on similar questions now so constantly raised. When in medical or surgical charge of any case, I have never thought of neglecting to ask God’s guidance and blessing in the use of appropriate means, nor yet of omitting to give thanks for answered prayer and restored health. But to me it would appear as presumptuous and wrong to neglect the use of those measures which He Himself has put within our reach, as to neglect to take daily food, and suppose that life and health might be maintained by prayer alone
In China
I attended two services at the London Mission and in the afternoon went into the city with Mr. Wylie. You have never seen a city in a state of siege…. God grant you never may! We walked some distance round the wall, and sad it was to see the wreck of rows upon rows of houses. Burnt down, blown down, battered to pieces — in all stages of ruin they were! And the misery of those who once occupied them and now, at this inclement season, are driven from home and shelter is terrible to think of…
Unchartered mission
Marriage
Mr. Taylor! that young, poor, unconnected Nobody. How dare he presume to think of such a thing? Of course, the proposal must be refused at once, and that finally.
Ongoing work
Back to England
Yet what was I to do? The sense of blood guiltiness became more and more intense. Simply because I refused to ask for them, the laborers did not come forward, did not go out to China: and every day tens of thousands in that land were passing into Christless graves! Perishing China so filled my heart and mind that there was no rest by day and little sleep by night, till health gave way
In great spiritual agony, I wandered out on the sands (of Brighton beach) alone. And there the Lord conquered my unbelief, and I surrendered myself to God for this service. I told Him that all the responsibility as to the issues and consequences must rest with Him; that as His servant it was mine to obey and to follow Him, His to direct, care for and guide me and those who might labour with me. Need I say that at once peace flowed into my burdened heart?
Back to China
What kept him going?
1) He was saturated with God’s word and obedient to it
2) He saw suffering as God’s way of deepening and sweetening his experience of God
All these difficulties, are only platforms for the manifestation of His grace, power and love.
3) He embraced the absolute goodness and sovereignty of God over both his suffering and his experience of God
Oftentimes shall we be helped and blessed if we bear this in mind — that Satan is servant, and not master, and that he, and wicked men incited by him, are only permitted to do that which GOD by His determinate counsel and foreknowledge has before determined shall be done.