In the life of many saints there are the lessons of our spiritual warfare that it would do well for us to learn. Jonathan Goforth's book, 'By My Spirit' is the wonderful testimony of real revival in China. God used him in a mighty way there to begin and continue the fires for God's glory which are still evident almost 100 years later. Jonathan Goforth's wife, Rosalind Goforth also wrote a book, 'How I know. . . .God Answers Prayer' and tells her account of her spiritaul struggle and mighty hand of God that led her.
Two accounts that I wish to share and document for us to understand the attacks of our enemy, Satan and the need for us to prevail with God.
1. Upon arriving in Chin in the early 1900's, the Goforth's were in a strange land and among many trails and afflicitons. Satan uses the things of our life to afflict, discourage and remove us from the work of God. An older missionary that had been there for decades shared his testimony at one paticular meeting. He had fought the battle of dysentery. Through infection which has and could lead to death without proper treatment. He had this and struggled off and on with it. Finally the doctors told him that if he desired to return to health, he would have to return to Europe and recover from this disease. But God had called him to China. If he left, the work would languish and deteoriate. He could not go back on his calling to China. In his conversation with God, he affirmed what he knew: God had called to China; this disease was hindering him; and God was able to heal him. So he resolved, 'God, either I will be healed by you and continue the work. Or I will die here in China. But I will not leave the work; I am in Your hand for Your appointed will.' From that moment the disease lost its hold on him and he recovered.
Mrs. Goforth had not been afflicted with dysentery. She was struggling. Each year it grew worse, but as she remember the testimony she knew she must yield. The doctors told her the same news, in order to be healed she would need to return to England. She was called to China, not England, she grappled. She resigned to leave herself in the LOrd's hand, but she would not go back on her surrender to the Lord's calling to serve in China. Since that resolve to trust the Lord, she had very little trouble from that dreaded disease.
Once you resolved to trust the Lord, stay true to Him lest SAtan gain the advantage over you and your testimony.
Mrs. Goforth was attacked by this resolve again. It is one thing when we are attacked and afllicted, but quite another when our loved ones are assualted. WE trust God for ourselves, but do we trust God for them?
Mrs. Goforth's 18 month old child came down with dysentery. A child, or a older person struggling with this disease is sure to succomb in death. The doctors came and told them the news again, return to England and the child could be saved. But the Goforth's both knew the certainty of God's calling for them and their family. Mr. Goforth was resigned to the will of the Lord, 'in life or in death, Thy will be done for this child.' A very hard prayer, but very obedient heart. Mrs. Goforth was not as obedient to the Lord's will. She rebelled against this and fought God for her child's life.
Finally as the child grew worse and the doctors said the child would not live through the night, Mr. Goforth told her that she must surrender the child to the will of God. And as she labored in her heart, she finally yielded after a long and bitter struggle. Then as Mr. Goforth began to commit the child in death to the Lord and prayed something happened. She ran to get a candle to see what was going on in the dark. The child's laboring for breath had stopped and eased. The fever producing sweat was now abated. Mrs. Goforth surrender her will and the child to the Lord was the battle. God gave the victory and the child was made whole.
do you see? Satan sent the disease to cause them first, to leave their calling and return to their homeland. Thus, affecting the work in China in both missioanries testimonies. The second was the will that had not been surrendered. A child's life was at stake in the present, but her obedience and testimony was the larger thing at stake. If Mrs. Goforth had not surrendered, I dare say that the child would have died, and she would have been left in bitterness against the Lord. But do you see God waits for us to trust and believe in Him. Do you see who the true enemy was pressing these sicknesses? It was the devil afflicting, causing disease to impend the work and labor for the Lord.
And is not our life made up of the same scenarios often. WE are let to choose. And so often SAtan wins and the work and testimony of Christ is lost upon an unfaithful servant who yields to the flesh instead of the Spirit of God.
2. The second story is just as revealing to obedience to the Lord. The Goforth's, with their children was heading down the river for vacation. On their way down the river, a rain had settled in. The air and wind was cold. The oldest son, disobeying his mother to have proper clothing on, was immediately affecting by the wet, cold and wind. By nightfall he was fevered and sick. As they arrived at their destination the doctors over a day or two told them the child had pneumonia. The childs temperature spiked to 106 degrees. The doctors lost all hope and prepared them for the worst. That night as the child struggled and writhed in pain, misery and sickness. The mother sat beside her child consoling, wiping his brow and praying. She looked at the child and said, 'You disobeyed me, and have thus brought this illness upon yourself. I forgive you; ask Jesus to forgive you, and give yourself to Him.' "The child looked at me for a moment steadily then closed his eyes. I saw his lips move for a moment; then quietly he sank into a sound sleep. When he awoke, about dusk, I took his temperature, and found it 101. Byt the time the doctor returned, it was normal and did not rise again."
Do you see? Satan worked through disobedience and sickness. But the confession, mercy of God was sought and He gave it upon a rependent child. Sorrow that would have added afflicttion and sorrow to the hearts of the parents in their work for God. There is so much to glean from these truths before us. OUr affliction, sicknesses, sorrows are upon us for defintie reasons. We need to sin if sin, rebellion, unsurrendered things are allowing and promoting these things in our life. WE cannot go forward without dealing with this. Absolute surrender is required!
May these truths rest on our hearts, minds and eyes to see how our enemy, SAtan, would keep us from obeying and doing the will of the Lord in great and small things. And may we do what is requried of us for His glory. May the Lord take these testimonies and speak to the reader as it has taught and spoke to me.
until,
dan
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