This article is from Issue 7, Called to be Filled With The Holy Spirit
C. T. Studd
“Remember that soul-saving is comparatively easy work,
and not nearly so important as that of making
the saved ones into saints and soldiers.”
These words were written to a rather young C. T. Studd during his years in China, and much later in Africa he was to see the challenge of them.
The tribal people of the Congo had responded to C. T. and the gospel message, and hundreds who were once murderers and cannibals were baptised as believers in Jesus Christ. Numbers grew and churches were planted, but as time went on C. T. saw that many of these souls were not going on from “glory to glory.”
They had received the knowledge of the truth, and accepted it, but a season came when love grew cold, idleness abounded, and there was no fear of The Lord. Even amongst the missionaries there were complaints and selfishness instead of praise and willing sacrifice. Divisions abounded and as such the Holy Spirit was hindered.
C. T. wrote home, “It is all very well to sing hymns and go to worship, but what we must see are the fruits of the Spirit, a really changed life and heart, a hatred of sin and a passion for righteousness. God can do it and we must be content with nothing less, we need and must have a Holy Ghost storm.
Christ did not die to whitewash us, but to re-create us. Where do these people stand? I have no doubt for we are told to judge by the fruits, and that ‘if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.’
Now think of what must be the power necessary to save a man in such surroundings. A man must have a new life, the Divine life, a new heart, a pure heart, he must be a new creation, he must have a Divine love. Anything short of this is as ridiculous as trying to cross a hundred yards above the Niagara Falls in a rowing boat.”
An out pouring of the Holy Spirit became the focus of C. T.’s prayers, knowing that a supernatural move of God was needed to unify and refocus the missionaries, and to cause fruit to grow in the native converts. One night, after reading and expounding on Hebrews 11 at an evening prayer meeting, eight missionaries together with C. T. prayed in earnest as they gave themselves afresh to live for Christ alone, come what may.
The united cry went out, “O Lord, henceforth I won’t care what happens to me, life or death, as long as my Jesus Christ is glorified. Joy or sorrow, health or pain, life or death.” Each one that night lifted up their eyes to the risen Lord and reconsecrated themselves to rejoice and sing His praises not only in good times, but in hunger, in insult, in difficulties and seeming failures, all to preach the gospel of Christ to the lost.
They were all filled with The Holy Spirit that night, completely changing the atmosphere and the relationships within the mission station. Love and joyful labour increased, and the blessing spread amongst the tribes, being transformed by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Holiness.
Taken from Life On The Altar Publication
Issue 7 Winter 2022/2023
LIFE ON THE ALTAR 