"Do not, i pray you, be satisfied with the ordinary. Aim at the best at the threshold of your life's work you may elect to be a dwarf or a giant. To be the latter, you must be touched by the live coal. Let everything else bend to that. Pay a big price to secure it. I say a big price, for remember, everything worth having has to be paid for.
To be set on fire may mean to you much soul conflict, possibly sleepless hours. Certainly much crying of the soul unto God. But it will be worth a gethsemane to secure you a pentecost. And it is pentecost that is going to make you a useful, successful and soul winning preacher... Pray do not make the mistake that so many have fallen into, that fire and noise are synonymous terms. Oh dear, NO! What alot of noise you can get out of an empty kerosene tin. The magicians of egypt with their machinations could counterfeit the miracles of moses. In my time, I have seen a good deal of fire, both within and outside the church, that was wildfire. YOu may create fire by friction and also there may be much of the flesh in the energy displayed by all of us. It was never more necessary than today to offer the prayer 'Strange fires from my heart far remove!'
One of the quietest preachers I have ever heard was the great William Arthur whose wonderful book, The Tongue of Fire, that i have referred to; quiet did i say? Yes, but a strange but almost marvelous unctioned attended him. As a lad I often sat in awe at his feet. The power of the Holy Spirit seemed to radiate off that man. No wonder that he was spoken of as one the greatest preachers of his day.
And now my talk is done, if only i have in poor fashion touched the springs of your life. If only I have made you feel as I feel this day: that without the power of the Holy Spirit a preacher, be he ever so able and eloquent, is a failure and that all i have been indicated may be yours if only you are prepared to pay the price too. The price, I shall never cease to thank God for the privilege of speaking to you about. Let me leave you with a soul yearning cry from David Brainerd that was heard by heaven and answered from heaven: 'O! that I were a flaming fire in the service of my God!'"
Rev. W.G. Taylor
(Partial quote taken from the larger audio found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjEQNAEUMm8#t=744 )
To be set on fire may mean to you much soul conflict, possibly sleepless hours. Certainly much crying of the soul unto God. But it will be worth a gethsemane to secure you a pentecost. And it is pentecost that is going to make you a useful, successful and soul winning preacher... Pray do not make the mistake that so many have fallen into, that fire and noise are synonymous terms. Oh dear, NO! What alot of noise you can get out of an empty kerosene tin. The magicians of egypt with their machinations could counterfeit the miracles of moses. In my time, I have seen a good deal of fire, both within and outside the church, that was wildfire. YOu may create fire by friction and also there may be much of the flesh in the energy displayed by all of us. It was never more necessary than today to offer the prayer 'Strange fires from my heart far remove!'
One of the quietest preachers I have ever heard was the great William Arthur whose wonderful book, The Tongue of Fire, that i have referred to; quiet did i say? Yes, but a strange but almost marvelous unctioned attended him. As a lad I often sat in awe at his feet. The power of the Holy Spirit seemed to radiate off that man. No wonder that he was spoken of as one the greatest preachers of his day.
And now my talk is done, if only i have in poor fashion touched the springs of your life. If only I have made you feel as I feel this day: that without the power of the Holy Spirit a preacher, be he ever so able and eloquent, is a failure and that all i have been indicated may be yours if only you are prepared to pay the price too. The price, I shall never cease to thank God for the privilege of speaking to you about. Let me leave you with a soul yearning cry from David Brainerd that was heard by heaven and answered from heaven: 'O! that I were a flaming fire in the service of my God!'"
Rev. W.G. Taylor
(Partial quote taken from the larger audio found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjEQNAEUMm8#t=744 )