Pastors Jim and Marie Watt
(From “George Muller of Bristol” by Dr. A.T. Pierson, Revell, 1899)
Mr. Muller traveled over 200,000 miles when he was over 70, to make known the secrets and principles of faith that God had taught him through the Orphanage in Bristol, and 8 other endeavors of faith. He felt a divine compulsion to share these truths near and far.
1. To preach the gospel in its simplicity, especially to show how salvation is based, not upon feelings or even upon faith, but upon the finished work of Christ; that justification is ours the moment we believe, and we are to accept and claim our place as accepted in the Beloved without regard to our inward states of feeling or emotions.
2. To lead believers to know their saved state, and to realize their standing in Christ. Great numbers not only of disciples, but even preachers and pastors are themselves destitute of any real peace and joy in the Lord, and hence unable to lead others into joy and peace.
3. To bring believers back to the Scriptures, to search the Word and find its hidden treasures; to test everything by this divine touchstone and hold fast only what will stand this test; to make it the daily subject of meditative (vocal) and prayerful examination in order to translate it into daily obedience.
4. To promote among all true believers, brotherly love; to lead them to make less of those non-essentials in which disciples differ, and to make more of those great essential and foundation truths in which all true believers are united; to help all who love and trust one Lord to rise above narrow sectarian prejudices, and barriers to fellowship.
5. To strengthen the faith of believers, encouraging a simpler trust, and a more real and unwavering confidence in God, and particularly in the sure answers to believing prayer, based upon His definite promises.
6. To promote separation from the worldand deadness to it, and so to increase heavenly-mindedness in children of God; at the same time warning against fanatical extremes and extravagances, such as sinless perfection while in the flesh.
7. And finally to fix the hope of disciples on the blessed coming of our Lord Jesus; and, in connection therewith, to instruct them as to the true character and object of the present dispensation, and the relation of the church to the world in this period of the outgathering of the Bride of Christ.
Summary: These seven objects may be briefly epitomized thus: Mr. Muller’s aim was to lead sinners to believe on the Name of the Son of God, and so to haveeternal life; to help those who have thus believed, to knowthat they have this life; to teach them so to build upthemselves on their most holy faith, by diligent searching into the word of God, and praying in the Holy Spirit, so that this life shall be more and more a real possession and a conscious possession; to promote among all disciples the unity of the Spirit and the lovewhich is the bond of perfectness, and to help them to exhibit that life before the world; to incite them to cultivate an unworldly and spiritual type of charactersuch as conforms to the life of God in them; to lead them to the prayer of faith which is both the expression and the expansion of the life of faith; and to direct their hope to the final appearance of the Lord,so that they should purify themselves even as He is pure, and occupy till He comes. Mr. Muller was thus giving himself to the double work of evangelization and edification, on a scale commensurate with his love for a dying world, as opportunity afforded doing good unto all men, and especially to them who are of the household of faith.
It was laid upon his heart frequently to address his brethren in the ministry of the Word and the care of souls. Everywhere, throughout the world, he welcomed opportunities for interviews, whether with many or few, upon whom he could impress his own deep convictions as to the vital secrets of effective service in the pulpit and pastorate. Such meetings with brethren in the ministry numbered hundreds and perhaps thousands in the course of his long life, and as his testimony was essentially the same on all occasions, a single utterance may be taken as the type of all. During his American tours, he gave an hour's address which was reported and published, and the substance of which may therefore be given.
Firstof all he laid great stress upon the need of conversion. Until a man is both truly turned unto God and sure of this change in himself he is not fitted to convert others. The ministry is not a human profession, but a divine vocation. The true preacher is both a heraldand a witness, and hence must back up his message by his personal testimony from experience.
But even conversion is not enough: there must be an intimate knowledge of the Lord Jesus. One must know the Lord as coming near to himself, and know the joy and strength found in hourlyaccess. However it be done, and at any cost, the minister of Christ must reach this close relationship. It is an absolute necessity to peace and power.
Growth in happiness and lovewas next made very prominent. It is impossible to set limits to the experience of any believer who casts himself whollyon God, surrenders himself whollyto God, and cherishes deep love for His word and holy intimacy with Himself. The first business of every morning should be to secure happiness in God,
He who is to nourish others must carefully feed his own soul. Daily reading and study of the Scriptures, with much prayer, especially in the morning hours, was strenuously urged. Quietness before God should be habitually cultivated, calming the mind and freeing it from pre-occupation. Continuous reading of the Word, in course, will throw light upon the general teaching of the Word, and reveal God's thoughts in their variety and connection, and go far to correct erroneous views.
Holinessmust be the supreme aim: prompt obedience to all known truth, a single eye in serving God, and zeal for His glory. Many a life has been more or less a failure because habits of heart well pleasing to God have been neglected. Nothing is more the crowning grace than the unconscious grace of humility. All praise of man robs God of His own honor. Let us therefore be humble and turn all eyes unto God.
The messagemust be gotten from God, if it is to be with power. “Ask God for it,” said Mr. Muller, “and be not satisfied unto the heart is at rest. When the text is obtained ask further guidance in meditating upon it, and keep in constant communion so as to get God's mind in the matter and His help in delivery. Then, after the work is done, pray muchfor blessing, as well as in advance.” He then told some startling facts as to seed sown many years before, but even now yielding fruit in answer to prayer.
He laid also sp[ecial emphasis upon expounding the Scripture. The word of God is the staple of all preaching; Christ and nothing else the center of all true ministry of the Word. Whoever faithfully and constantly preaches Christ will find God's word not returning to him void. Preach simply. Luther's rule was to speak so that an ignorant maid-servant could understand; if she does, the learned professor certainly will; but it does not hold true that the simple understand all that the wise do.
Mr. Muller seldom addressed his brethren in the ministry without giving more or less counsel as to the conduct of church life, giving plain witness against such hindrances as unconverted singers and choirs, secular methods of raising money, pew-rents and caste distinctions in the house of prayer, etc., and urging such helps as inquirers' meetings, pastoral visits, and, above all else, believing prayer. He urged definite praying and importunate praying, and remarked that Satan will not mind how we labor in prayer for a few days, weeks, or even months, if he can at last discourage us so that we cease praying, as though it were of no use.
As to prayers for past seed-sowing, he told the writer of this memoir how in all supplication to God he looked not only forward but backward. He was accustomed to ask that the Lord would be pleased to bless seed long since sown and yet apparently unfruitful; and he said that, in answer to these prayers, he had up to that day evidence of God's loving remembrance of his work of faith and labor of love in years long gone by. He was permitted to know that messages delivered for God, tracts scattered, and other means of service had, after five, ten, twenty, and even sixty years, at last brought forth a harvest Hence his urgency in advising fellow laborers to pray unceasinglythat God would work mightily in the hearts of those who had once been under their care, bringing to their remembrance the truth which had been set before them.
The humilityMr. Muller enjoined he practiced.He was ever only the servantof the Lord. Mr. Spurgeon, in one of his sermons, describes the startling effect on London Bridge when he saw one lamp after another lit up with flame, though in the darkness he could not see the lamp-lighter; and George Muller set many a light burning when he was himself content to be unseen, unnoticed, and unknown. He honestlysought not his own glory but had the meek and quiet spirit so becoming a minister of Jesus Christ.
This man - from his seventieth to his eight-seventh year - when most men are withdrawing from all activities, had traveled in forty-two countries and over two hundred thousand miles, a distance equivalent to nearly eight journeys round the globe! He estimated that during these seventeen years he had addressed over three million people; and from all that can be gathered from the records of these tours, we estimate that he must have spoken, outside of Bristol, between five thousand and six thousand times. What sort of teaching and testimony occupied these tours, those who have known the preacher and teacher need not be told. While at Berlin in 1891, he gave an address that serves as an example of the vital truths which he was accustomed to press on the attention of fellow disciples. We give a brief outline:
He first urged that believers should never, even under the greatest difficulties, be discouraged, and gave for his position sound scriptural reasons. Then he pointed out to them that the chief business of every day is first of all to seek to be truly at rest and happy in God.Then he showed how, from the word of God, all saved believes may knowtheir true standing in Christ, and how in circumstances of particular perplexity they might ascertain the will of God. He then urged disciples to seek with intense earnestnessto become acquainted with God Himself as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, and carefully to form and maintain godly habits of systematic Bible studyand prayer, holy livingand consecrated giving. He taught that God aloneis the one all-satisfying portion of the soul, and that we must determine to possess and enjoy Him as such. He closed by emphasizing it as the one, single, all-absorbing, daily aimto glorify God in a complete surrender to His will and service.
NOTE: George Muller was introduced to me in 1944 by some unremembered person who gave to me as a new believer, his book “Answers to Prayer.” I memorized the 6 points of the Preface How to Ascertain the Will of God, and the 5 points of Appendix A, How to Prevail in Prayer. Later I purchased his biography by Dr. A. T. Pierson, by Revell publishers, 1899, from which appear the quotes from above. I count him as one of the 4 most effective mentors in my life out of 144. I am currently rereading this biography each month, and seeking by God's grace to walk in the same steps of George Muller. Will you join me? - Jim Watt
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