The Turning Point
George Müller's conversion marked the beginning of his new life as a disciple of the Living God, and he was constrained to love Jesus in return after understanding the reason for Jesus' sacrifice.
George Müller shares his dramatic conversion experience in November 1825, which transformed his life and purpose. Introduced to a prayer meeting by a friend, he was deeply moved by the genuine love and humility of the group, culminating in a profound spiritual atmosphere during prayer that led to his rebirth as a disciple of Christ. Müller reflected on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice, realizing the depth of His love and feeling compelled to love Him in return. Following his conversion, he pursued theological studies and made the bold decision to become a missionary, despite facing opposition from his father, which forced him to rely solely on God for support.
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George Müller's conversion in November 1825 was dramatic and his whole direction, purpose and way of life changed immediately.
He was introduced to the prayer meeting by his friend Beta and upon arrival was greeted with 'Come as often as you please; house and heart are open to you.' This welcome touched George Müller very much. The singing of hymns, study of the Bible and reading of a printed sermon made a deep impression and he felt this night he would find 'something' for which he had been searching all his life. The genuine love, great joy and deep humility in the hearts of the members of that group had a profound effect on George Müller but perhaps the turning point was when they all knelt to pray. He had never seen this before, let alone knelt to pray himself, and the whole meeting breathed such a spiritual atmosphere that he entered upon an entirely new experience! He was born again! No longer an idle and lazy character, but a disciple of the Living God.
Some time later George Müller said about that evening, 'I understood something of the reason why the Lord Jesus died on the cross and suffered agonies in the Garden of Gethsemane; even that thus, bearing the punishment due to us, we might not have to bear it ourselves. And therefore, apprehending in some measure the love of Jesus for my soul, I was constrained to love Him in return.'
George Müller continued his theological studies at Halle University and within two months of his conversion to the Christian faith decided to become a missionary. This decision angered his father so much that he withdrew his son's financial support which left George Müller dependent on God alone.
Sermon Outline
- I. George Müller's Conversion
- A. Introduction to the prayer meeting
- B. The impact of the prayer meeting on George Müller
- C. The turning point: kneeling to pray
- II. The Effect of the Prayer Meeting
- A. George Müller's newfound love for Jesus
- B. The reason for Jesus' sacrifice
- C. George Müller's decision to become a missionary
- III. Dependence on God
- A. Withdrawing from his father's financial support
- B. George Müller's reliance on God alone
Key Quotes
“I was constrained to love Him in return.” — George Mueller
“I understood something of the reason why the Lord Jesus died on the cross and suffered agonies in the Garden of Gethsemane;” — George Mueller
Application Points
- We can experience a profound spiritual atmosphere when we kneel to pray with others, leading to a deeper love for Jesus.
- Our dependence on God is essential for our spiritual growth and development.
- Sharing the love of Jesus with others can be a powerful motivator for our lives.