But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NKJ
Yesterday we began our new sermon series, When Jesus Is Our Center; which is built on our theme for the year, Enabling Grace. So far we’ve learned that all through the Bible God showed His grace. And that grace was given through relationship with God. Although God is generous with His grace, the closer our relationship with Him, the more freely it flows in our lives.
Although there are plenty of Biblical examples of this, I believe we sometimes separate ourselves too much from them and think the people and the time they lived in was much different than ours. And therefore, God works differently. So, I want to use the life of George Mueller, who lived from 1805-1898, and proved beyond a doubt the truth of today’s verse. George was born in Germany and grew up in a home where his father was an unbeliever and his mother died when he was 14. He himself said he grew up as a liar and a thief and as his mother was dying he was out roving the streets nearly intoxicated. By 16 he was in jail for stealing. His father bailed him out and moved him to another town, where he used his educational gifts to tutor students. His father enrolled him at the University of Halle. Then one afternoon in November 1825, he was invited to a Bible Study and everything changed. He soon left Germany to live in England to become a missionary. Soon he became sick and went to recuperate in a small town and there learned the doctrine of Grace, that truth developed a deep and intimate relationship with the Lord that made nothing to be impossible.
In 1834 he began his orphans ministry, which he built 5 orphanges and ministered to 10,024 orphans. He was he pastor to a church during that time preaching 3 times a week. At age 70 he became a missionary for 17 years and traveled to 43 countries, traveling over 200,000 miles, spoke 3 languages fluently and was well versed in Greek and Hebrew. He lived out the balance of his life serving in the orphanges he established. He preached his final sermon on a Wednesday night and was found the next morning at the age of 93 lying along side his bed peacefully. He did all this and much more, by learning to toally relying on God for everything. Because he believed his ministry was to inspire others to continue on the Lord’s work that was begun, some fifty years later over 100,000 orphans were still begin helped. He never asked anyone for financial help and only relied on God to miraculously provide and work through people to support the work of the Lord.
What God did through George Mueller, He not only can, but will do through us when we stop serving God through the natural and develop a supernatural relationship with Him. Tomorrow we will begin to learn the keys George Mueller emplyed to live this amazing life dedicated to the glory of God.
“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” George Mueller
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