Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret - Chapter 18

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Chapter 17 Recap

Missionary Ministry really spread across China. Success was based on following God, having faith, staying in prayer

They would praise God in advance based on what he told them to do.

Many Missionaries and Chinese Christians died during the Boxer Rebellion, but the China Inland Ministry survived.

because of age, Hudson Taylor turned over the leadership to someone else, but lived to see evangelism restored in China

at age 73 returned to China, Taylor died in his sleep while visiting a mission station

Favorite Quotes from Chapter 18

Sharing Time

Satan will always find you something to do (239) Take time. Give God time to reveal himself to you. (239)

Last paragraph on 240 (save to the end)

Chapter 18

What was the spiritual secret? (pause for answers)

book says that the opening quote from page 237 (140) express the essence of his spiritual secret

He told me of a river bright . . . that flows from Him to me . . . that I might be, for His delight . . . a fair and fruitful tree

he told me of a river bright . . . there is a source that has everything we need: peace, provision, power, instruction

that flows from Him to me - God wants to share that source with me(flow to you)

purpose of the source - to do God’s will

result - beautiful and fruitful life (powerful, full of impact, life that blesses)

How?

Make up in your mind to do God’s will Start with daily prayer and Bible study - not as a chore but as a time of fellowship with God

Example in Taylor’s life (2 hours per day from 2am-4am) Read the Bible 40 times over the course of 40 years (we can do this today easy)

Last paragraph on 240

An easy, non-self-denying life will never be one of power. Fruit-bearing comes from cross-bearing. There are not two Christ - an easy-going one for easy-going Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?

strolling into church on occasion, lifting up a few praises, throwing in a few dollar bills in the offering, and paying attention to most of the sermon will not result in power in your life.

Fruit, power, impact comes from bearing the cross God gives you . . . suffering

Exceptional believers should be the norm!

Only question: Are you willing?

Philippians 3:10 NASB95

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

they go together, power and suffering . . .

school work and graduation

working out and muscles

firery furnace and walking through the fire

lions and sleeping in the lions den

cross and resurrection

Appendix (written in 1932)

1 to 12 to 70 . . . . . 1,285 missionaries 20 million dollars raised 3000-4000 Christian workers for the ministry who are Chinese Hundreds thousands baptized The trials continued, the martyrs continued, the miracles continued

Epilogue

1965 - marked hundred years Ministry still continues to this day

Communism closed down China to Christianity, although underground churches still exist today

So CIM expanded to other lands in Asia and became Overseas Missionary Fellowship.

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