02 - Chapter 02
Chapter 2 - Preliminary Meetings ------------------------------ PRELIMINARY MEETINGS.
Compiled by Mr. Montagu Beauchamp. The first Preliminary Prayer Meeting was held on July 5th. In the opening it, Mr. Hudson Taylor said, ―In meeting for prayer tonight, let us keep in view two objects— 1. To seek to be drawn nearer to God and to each other. 2. To pray that we may see more clearly the needs of our work, and obtain more fully God’s guidance in it.
Then reading two verses (Psalms 62:5, Psalms 62:8) “My soul, wait thou only upon God:
“For my expectation is from Him.”
“Trust in Him at all times, ye people;
“Pour out your hearts before Him:
“God is a refuge for us.”
Mr. Taylor continued, ―Let us all expect a full blessing from our Father. I trust we have learned to look on prayer-meetings as no vague uncertainties. We have been singing of showers of blessing: let us expect them. If God gives us a mighty outpouring of His Spirit, will not friction be wonderfully reduced? Will not all the wheels of the machinery receive a most effectual lubrication? Then let us wait on God, remembering that it is He Who is at the helm, and that “all things are working together for good to them that love God.” (Romans 8:28) If we are right, nothing and no one can harm us. (1 Peter 3:13) To betray his Master was all wrong in Judas. To be betrayed was all right for the Lord Jesus.
“The cup (not which Judas has given Me, or the priests, but) which the Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11)
“Only upon God.” Let us get into the right attitude. We must not look to this brother, and that (we are so glad to hear them), but only upon God must we wait. Again we must wait in no uncertainty: “God is a refuge for us.”
We must also look Shan-si in the face: suppose the number of missionaries multiplied tenfold; how few we should be. But, praise God, it is not a question of the supply at all, but of the Supplier. What shall we do with those five thousand, with only five barley loaves and two small fishes? Make them recline! ― Rest: not in the presence of the apostles, but of Jesus.
Now if we are to come together for blessing, let us seek to come in blessing. Let us come with hearts full to begin with, and then we can look for an overflow. As regards the ordering of the work, let Him do what He chooses: whatever He chooses will be well chosen; whatever He decides will be well decided. Away with our plans: they are too much like those of the apostles, who said “Send them away into the cities that they may buy,” forgetful of the great Giver.
Lastly, we will note this word (Psalms 90:16-17)—
“Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, “And Thy glory upon their children.
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us:
“And establish Thou the work of our hands upon us;
“Yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.”
“Let Thy work appear.” God’s work is not man working for God; it is God’s own work, though often wrought through man’s hand.
Mr. Stanley P. Smith
Said a few words with reference to Psalms 90:16, “Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory upon their children,” and to Psalms 91:1-16 and Psalms 92:1-15. On looking at my Bible before me, Psalms 90:1-17; Psalms 91:1-16; Psalms 92:1-15 are marked. They happen to be the three Psalms chosen by the Church of England for the Morning Lessons of the 18th day of the month. Arriving in China on March 18th last year, I got alone with the Lord and my Bible as soon as I could; and as was my custom, read the three Psalms for the morning portion. Amongst one or two other verses marked are the following: Psalms 91:1: “Abide under the shadow of the Almighty”. Psalms 92:4: “I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.” These promises were brought with great power to my mind, so much so that I wrote in ink at the bottom of the page, “Promises on entering China, March 18th, 1885.” In March, last year, I had a letter from a friend, asking, ―“Have you ever noticed the connection between Psalms 90:1-17; Psalms 91:1-16; Psalms 92:1-15?—
1st. The prayer, “Let Thy work appear.” Psalms 90:1-17.
2nd. ‘Abide’ as the secret of fruitfulness. Psalms 91:1-16.
3rd. A note of praise, ‘I will triumph in the works of Thy hands.’ Psalms 92:1-15.” Was not that a striking coincidence? The meeting was closed with prayer, that, in T’ai-yuen, P’ing-yang, and all parts of China—and not only in China, but throughout the world—“His work” might this year “appear” unto His servants.
“Then they that feared the Lord spake one with another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.
“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in the day that I do make, even a peculiar treasure; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”