Dr. Anita Davies was a protégé of Dr. Margery Blackie, the homeopathic physician to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Dr. Davies was a qualified medical doctor and a perceptive practitioner of homeopathy. Whereas homeopathy is often disdained –especially in America, it has been given respect in the UK owing to the Royal Family’s well-known support of it. Dr. and Mrs. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, both medical doctors, were great users of homeopathy.
In many ways Dr. Anita was our physician. She came to our London flat regularly to check my blood pressure. Anita rang our door one evening – the night before Louise was prepared to go into hospital to have a breast removed. Louise had already bought a special gown for the hospital. Her mind was made up to get it over with! But Anita pleaded with Louise: “You don’t have cancer”. “But how do you know I don’t have cancer ?”,Louise asked. “Because you don’t!”, said Anita. Anita had a gift of perceptiveness that went beyond medical training. Anita canceled the surgery for Louise and took Louise personally to the top consultant surgeon in London that deals with breast cancer. After examining Louise, the consultant said to me: “I would not operate on your wife today or tomorrow”. That was thirty years ago.
Although Dr. Anita attended Westminster Chapel from the first day I arrived, she claims she was not truly converted until she enrolled in the Evangelism Explosion course – designed by the late D. James Kennedy. After the sixth week into the course the light broke through on her for the first time – that Jesus the God-man had by Himself paid her debt on the cross. She subsequently asked me to baptize her. Shortly after that she took me to meet her mother, then in her eighties. I had the privilege of leading her mother to Christ.
We went through many trials and tribulations at Westminster Chapel – those twenty-five years being “the best of times, the worst of times” – to quote Charles Dickens. Dr. Anita Davies stood firmly behind our ministry – even when it led her slightly outside her comfort zone! During the past sixteen years since our retirement Dr. Anita would always come to hear me preach – and managed to spend time with us year after year.
She is now in Heaven. She is there because Jesus Christ the God-man paid her debt on the cross—and Anita transferred her trust in her own good works to the finished work of Christ. She would want all who read these lines or hear these words to know this – and do what she did.
“Thus far has the Lord helped us” – 1 Samuel 7:12.
Today – my 83rdbirthday – finds me with TR in Nelspruit, South Africa. It has been an interesting week. When something unusual or exciting takes place it is easy to exaggerate at the time (like saying “that’s the best meal I ever ate” when you will probably say it again!). So I will be cautious.
TR and I spent the first three days of this week in Pemba, Mozambique with Rolland and Heidi Baker and some of their team. Some of you may recall that I was in Mozambique two years ago, but was disappointed that I did not go to the bush – where the miracles seem to happen. However, I was invited back. The way was paid for. But I mainly wanted to go to the bush – as did TR. After the visas were granted and our round trip booked, we were told that it would not be possible to go to the bush. Not only that; many of the Iris team were being sent away, visitors to Iris were not being allowed – and the only choice was to go to Nelspruit, South Africa. It was there I would be able to speak to some 240 students who had hoped to be in Pemba. We were of course very disappointed, but decided do go to Pemba anyway – even if we were not allowed in (the tickets were paid for). We decided to make the most of it, assuming we would be spending all the time in Nelspruit. There are too many details to cover in this letter. But in a word: (1) it was a miracle that we were allowed into Pemba; (2) to our utter surprise we were allowed to go to the bush. It was sort of an island to which there were no roads. The only access was by a one- hour boat ride with a dozen others which then had to moor several hundred yards off shore. We then waded in mud and water and walked for over a mile to find a village that the Bakers did not know existed until recently. The village was behind the mangroves and out of sight from Pemba or the sea. We waded through the mud and found the village. It had a population of 920, so the chief of the tribe told me. We had visits with different groups of the locals. All of them live in grass huts. I was allowed to go inside one of them. It was dark inside. I could barely see the beds. There is no electricity. No toilet facilities. No water; one walks six hours to get water. Our second visit was with the tribal chief of the village. To everyone’s amazement, he listened to the Gospel as I was being translated; another 30 or 40 people gathered around and listened. When I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus Christ he said Yes. Keep in mind he has been a person of another faith all his life as are the overwhelming majority of the people of Mozambique. I gave him a prayer to pray aloud in front of the others. He did so. Other who stood around and listened also prayed the prayer.
Heidi had visited the village four times in the recent past. Her request to build a church building was rejected by the same chief four times. He finally allowed permission for them to build a multi purpose building that would provide a tank to collect water for the whole village too. This no doubt softened him. Whatever, she was thrilled when the chief prayed aloud to receive Christ. I must tell you I emphasized Jesus’ death on the cross and shedding of His blood. This is contrary to the belief of the people on this island.
But there is more. The reason we went to the island was to dedicate the church building. We therefore went into the building for which this permission had been granted. There are no seats yet, but room for possibly 100 people. The people stood, dozens and dozens of children sat on the floor. I prayed then that this church would be dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ, praying for the sprinkling of His blood upon all the people and the premises.
However, I should mention something that happened before we prayed. I was asked to pray for a man with elephantitis. I felt so sorry for him. It was the first time I met anybody with this disease. I prayed twice, but God did not seem to answer my prayer. I was disappointed. However, two feet away from me Heidi began praying for a mother who was a deaf mute. The mother was holding her baby. She had never heard anything in her life nor had she ever been able to speak a word. When Heidi prayed for her she asked the lady to say “Jesus”. The reply was loud and clear: “Jesus!” She then began to make sounds which no one around had heard her make before. I saw and heard this with my own eyes.
There were many other important things that happened while in the area – e.g., my speaking to two hundred Mozambiquan men through a translator who were there to learn the Bible. I presented the Gospel. I would estimate that well over a hundred prayed the prayer aloud, then stood to show they were unashamed of what they had just prayed.
You might also like to know that Rolland and I bonded theologically during this time. He and I have a lot in common except this self-effacing husband of the adored Heidi has a lot more humility than I have. The fruit of our friendship may become evident down the road.
I write an open letter like this twice a year, but I did not think I would be writing as I have in this letter. I will now write about other things.
It has not only been an interesting week but also an interesting year so far. Since writing on my birthday twelve months ago today God has continued to open doors in different parts of the world. I am amazed that I still have the strength to travel as I do. I do watch my weight and exercise (including 20 or more push-ups daily). Most of all I am thankful that there are those out there who still invite me to preach. I am honored and very humbled. I give God ALL of the honor, glory and praise.
My book Popular in Heaven, Famous in Hell is out next month. I have begun my next book – An Audience of One. Based upon my life verse – John 5:44 (“How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”), this book can be summed up in the words of Sam Hailes, editor of the UK magazine Christianity.Referring to Billy Graham he wrote: “He may have preached to millions but Billy Graham lived for an audience of one” (Christianity April 2018). I would deeply appreciate your prayers as I continue to write this book.
We return to Nashville August 1st. We have a very heavy autumn – including Qatar and Shanghai. We have been invited to Korea and Beijing for 2019.
Your prayers for each of us mean more than I could ever say. I hope a number of you would put us on your daily prayer list. I know that’s asking a lot! But I’m asking!
God bless each of you who read this.
Warmest appreciation and thanks.
RT and Louise, TR, Annette, Toby, Timothy and Tyndale, Melissa and Rex.
Today – June 28, 2018 – is our 60th wedding anniversary. It happens that we are in Hong Kong, one of my favorite cities in the world. We did not choose to be here because of our anniversary; I had agreed to preach here, knowing we would be coming from London. So we came a couple days early to have some time alone on our anniversary. This way we also saved our children from having to make a big fuss over us had we been in Nashville at this time.
I want to tell you about Louise.
First, read Proverbs 31:10-31 – that is Louise. An extremely rare jewel. Worth more than rubies (my favorite gem; after all, I was born in July!).
Second, she is as beautiful today as she was the day I married her. Have a look!
Third, no woman on earth could have put up with my faults, flesh and frailties as she has done. No one. Only God knows what she has had to live with. Her reward will be great in Heaven.
Fourth, she loves God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. Her prayer life exceeds that of many, many people in the ministry full-time. She has been this way for years. She began reading the entire Bible through from cover to cover yearly beforeI met her. She never wanted to be a preacher’s wife, by the way; it was the last thing she wanted. But I can honestly say she is the best minister’s wife I have ever come across.
Fifth, she is highly intelligent. Only a few get to find this out because sadly I get the lion’s share of the attention. She is much like Mrs. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, wife of my chief mentor. Louise’s I.Q. is higher than mine; she could have earned an Oxford D.Phil. in Shakespeare easier than I did in theology. The funny thing is, I had no idea of this when I met her. I just fell for her – that’s it. I didn’t realize all I was getting in this beautiful package. God was infinitely gracious in preserving her for me. My Dad had prayed for years, “Don’t let R. T. fall in love with the wrong girl”. Prayer answered!
Sixth, she has been a supremely good mother. Whereas I put my ministry first (to my regret), she put the family first. It is to her credit, not mine, that our children have turned out so well. I’m happy to say that both T. R. and Melissa truly appreciate her.
Seventh, she is the best grandmother I ever saw in my life. Amazing. Our grandchildren love her so much. I can’t imagine how they will grieve when she goes to Heaven. I am happy to report that she is in good health; her mother lived until she was 97!
I could go on and on. But now let me pray:
Heavenly Father, thank you for Louise. Apart from saving me, she is further proof how much you love me. I also thank you for T. R. and Melissa. You have given us two wonderful children. Thank you for Annette whom you gave to T.R. Thank you for their children Toby, Timothy and Tyndale. Thank you for Rex whom you gave to Melissa. Sprinkle the blood of Jesus by Your Holy Spirit on all of us. Protect us from the evil oneand guide us by your Spirit until You call us Home. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Minutes after I got off the train today in Preston, England – where I am to address 100 ministers in preparation for the Franklin Graham Festival over here in September, I was told that Billy Graham went to Heaven this morning.
I wonder if, when we are in Heaven, we will get to see a DVD replay of Billy going to glory and being welcomed by Jesus. I could not help but wonder what this would be like. I had the same thought in 1981 when my mentor Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones died. What is it like in Heaven when people like these men enter Glory?
As the photo in my tweet shows, Billy preached for me at Westminster Chapel in May 1984. His visit coincided with the worst trial of my life—when half of my deacons turned against my ministry and hoped to see me gone soon. Some of them were not too happy with my inviting Billy. As many know, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones refused to support Billy Graham’s meetings in London. But it is worth noting that Mrs. Lloyd-Jones, who supported me until the day she died (I preached her Memorial Service in 1991 at Westminster Chapel), came to the service to hear Dr. Graham.
Tens of thousands of articles and obituaries will be written about Billy Graham in the next few days. His relationships with presidents. With Her Majesty the Queen. The millions he preached to. Many of us will want to tell our own stories pertaining to Billy. One of the highlights of my ministry was having him preach for me. He spent an hour and forty-five minutes alone with me in my vestry two days before. He went to the hospital with a nose bleed later that afternoon. There were fears he would have to cancel, but he didn’t. He left his hospital bed (you can see the identity band on his left wrist in my tweet photo of him) to preach for me. Despite rumors he would not show up – due to being in hospital – Westminster Chapel was packed from top to bottom. Had those rumors not spread the crowds would have been lined up and down Buckingham Gate.
He was a true friend. I can’t say we were close friends – not many can. But he was a true friend, always answering my letters, giving me recommendations when I needed them. I’m sure his comment regarding my three volumes of Understanding Theology made a huge difference in sales. He endorsed my book Tithing and wrote a brief forward to Stand up and be Counted (a theological defense of giving an invitation after the sermon). I have preached at his training center – The Cove – annually for some ten years. His daughter Ruth wrote a Foreword for my next book Popular in Heaven, Famous in Hell.
When I came home after that hour and forty-five minutes with him in my vestry, Louise asked: “What was it like to meet Billy Graham?” I replied after a few seconds to ponder it, “He’s so simple. He is so simple”. By that I mean uncomplicated. Unpretentious. He signed my Bible that day – adding Philippians 1:6ff to his name. Then he prayed for me.
His closest friend T. W. Wilson – who patiently waited outside my vestry for that hour and forty-five minutes – also became a good friend. T. W. wrote a book The Key to Everlasting Joy. Billy wrote the Foreword for the American edition but at T. W.’s request his British publisher asked me to write the Foreword for the British edition. “We need a Brit for the edition over here”, they said to me. “But I’m not a Brit”, I replied. “Yes you are”, they said. It was my greatest compliment in 25 years in England!
Good-bye Billy. What an impact you have made on this planet. Utterly indescribable. Words fail. I hope to have more time with you one day. I thank God for you. Good-bye, Billy, good-bye.
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me, has really served to advance the gospel” (ESV).
Two things made me think of Philippians 1:12 this week. The first came right after I wrote the blog about my experience in Bimini – preaching on Hebrews 13:8. Some readers may recall that I referred to that moment as being the greatest anointing experience of my ministry. And so it was. You must remember however that anointing is by degrees. I doubt not that I had a measure of anointing from my first day at Westminster Chapel till the last. I preached approximately 3,250 sermons at the Chapel. But the kind of anointing I always dreamed of came only once during my twenty-five years at Westminster Chapel. It was when we came to Philippians 1:12 in my series of sermons on Philippians. I will never forget that moment as long as I live. When I sat down after preaching that sermon, I thought to myself: “At last the unction has come. This is it – what I have always wanted”. I was not the only one that felt that way. Everybody felt it. The place was electric. Everyone was talking about it.
Two hours later Graham Paddon, one of our deacons, admitted he was dreading to speak to me. “I have some disappointing news. Your sermon this morning was not recorded. The man who does the tape recordings was sick and forgot to let us know. I am truly sorry”.
Imagine this. Two times in my sixty-three years of preaching I had an undoubted touch of supernatural power. Twice. And neither of them was recorded. Supernatural means “above” what is natural. Something that has no natural explanation. It is what every preacher wants. I have had it twice.
I have thought a lot about this over the years. Why are these two sermons not available? They don’t record sermons in Bimini. But we did at the Chapel. Surely these sermons would bless the church. Why are these sermons not available?
I don’t know. Do you?
That said, one of our other deacons then suggested, “Not to worry; you are preaching in Bromley next week; just repeat that sermon from Philippians 1:12”. Good idea. So I did. And guess what? It did not even come close to the power and authority I had in the pulpit at Westminster that morning when I first preached on Philippians 1:12. Not even close. Explain that.
I have the notes from Philippians 1:12. I used the exact same notes the following week when I preached in Bromley. But what I actually said at Westminster that Sunday morning was not to be found in those notes. I had suddenly departed from my notes that day when I preached it at Westminster. I simply just took off. I have only a vague recollection of what I said.
It reminds me of an occasion when someone asked George Whitefield if he could print the sermon Whitefield had just preached. Whitefield replied: “Yes, as long as you can get in the thunder and lightning”.
The thunder and the lightning. That cannot be put in words. I suspect it is the element of surprise that partly makes the anointing the anointing – that is, if you are there to hear the original sermon preached. Proof of this: read Whitefield’s sermons. They are dull. You would take no notice of them if you did not know they were Whitefield’s. You simply had to be there.
I do wish I could recall what I said that morning when I first preached on Philippians 1:12. I remember this much – perhaps ten per cent of what I actually said: I suddenly found myself touching on the enigmas of life – those things in our past which we continue not to understand. Were we right when did what we did? Were we wrong? The answer is, as it came out in my sermon: it doesn’t matter. What matters is the furtherance of the Gospel! That’s all that matters.
When Paul wrote those words in Philippians he was fully aware that some people’s perception of his wisdom and integrity was at stake. He had gone right against the godly opinions and prophetic utterances that warned him not to go to Jerusalem (see Acts 21:4;10-14). Not a single person believed he should go to Jerusalem. He went anyway. Was he right? Was he wrong? Most people would say the great Apostle Paul absolutely did the right thing. But Luke – who wrote of these prophetic utterances in Acts 21 – didn’t think so! So was Paul right? Was he wrong? It doesn’t matter, says Paul; all these things have fallen out unto the furtherance of the Gospel!
It happens that Philippians 1:12 had been signally used in my life – in April 1956. In the middle of a huge crisis that would lead to my father disapproving of me Philippians 1:12 instantly came to my mind. It was an extremely critical moment. I had no idea what that verse said but I immediately pulled the car over and opened my Bible to find out:
“I would that ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (KJV).
That verse and that moment were to hold me steady for many years. In the light of what had happened in the previous week back in April 1956 it was sufficient to assure me that God was at the bottom of what was going on. But some of the strangest things also occurred. Very strange. It therefore made me question over the years: was I right? Was I wrong? According to Philippians 1:12, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is whether the Gospel is advanced! Not whether you or I was right or wrong in this or that!
The second thing that made me want to write this blog seems so very silly. But it was this. I had not been to Bimini for a good while and I so wanted to go there and do some bonefishing. But the weather forecasts were not good. Besides, January is the worst month in the year for bonefishing; the cold weather scatters the fish. I went anyway. The weather was horrible. I spent an entire eight hours fishing in the rain. You have heard of singing in the rain? I was fishing in the rain. With the aid of my guide I caught one little three pound bonefish. Embarrassing. But I did manage to present the Gospel to him; he prayed to receive Christ. I came to my hotel room soaking wet – including my shoes (and I brought no extra pair). I asked the housekeeper to put my shoes in a dryer, but nothing worked. In the meantime I managed to present the Gospel to her and she prayed to receive the Lord.
As for the bonefishing trip, it was a bit of a disaster. Was I right to go? Was I wrong? It doesn’t matter as long as the Gospel was advanced. It was.
I experienced possibly the greatest anointing of my ministry several years ago – not at Westminster Chapel but in Bimini, Bahamas. But let me first introduce Bimini to you.
Bimini is a small island located about 60 miles east of Miami, Florida. Native population is less than 2,000. It claims to be the bonefishing capital of the world, but so does Islamorada, Florida. I have spent more time fishing in Islamorada. Islamorada probably has larger bonefish – average 6 to 8 pounds but Bimini has more bonefish although smaller in size – average 3 to 5 pounds. And yet Bimini boasts of the world record bonefish caught on a spinning rod (16 pounds).
A lady came into the vestry of Westminster Chapel years ago and asked, “What is bonefishing?” I replied: “It is a requirement for membership at Westminster Chapel!” (I hope you know that was a joke.) To understand bonefishing see the Introduction to my book Worhiping God. Or just Google “bonefishing”. It is a rare sort of fishing, combining hunting and fishing simultaneously. You need a guide if you expect to see one or catch one.
I first went to Bimini in 1966. I fell in love with that place and have probably been there 40 times. I have fond memories of Bimini – having won a prize for the most bonefish caught (over 60) in a tournament there in 1968, and the largest bonefish (11 pounds) in a tournament in 1969. The prime minister of the Bahamas, L. O. Pindling presented me with a trophy. In those days the New York congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. – also the senior minister of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem – spent a couple years in exile in Bimini, owing to alleged financial indiscretions. He took Louise and me out on his boat – called Adam’s Fancy – one afternoon. I have taken a lot of friends to Bimini over the last fifty years – among Ernest C. Reisinger, Dr. O. S. Hawkins and the late John Paul Jackson.
The legendary fishing guide Sam Ellis – known as “Bonefish Sam” – took me fishing many times. He was famous for fishing royalty. He once made the cover of Life magazine. He appeared on the TV program “To Tell the Truth”. But in his old age he began preaching and pastored a small church in Bimini. He invited me to preach for him a number of times but one time in particular was most memorable and is one of the two reasons why I am writing this blog.
When we were at Westminster Chapel (1977-2002) we took six weeks of holiday time every summer. We always came to the Florida Keys. But there was one Sunday during our vacation in which I preached at the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and also for Bonefish Sam in Bimini the same day. The morning service was quite liturgical, attended by two thousand worshipers. I wore D. James Kennedy’s rather ornate robe, walked behind the choir down the center aisle as they processed into the huge auditorium and sang the first hymn. And then I preached an old sermon. All went according to plan.
Later that day I flew to Bimini – in time for Sam’s service in the part of Bimini called Baileytown. The contrast was rather striking. All of the nineteen worshipers stood and exclaimed, “Praise the Lord”, to Sam’s opening word, “Praise the Lord”. “I say praise the Lord”, shouted Sam. “Praise the Lord”, said all. “Thank You Jesus”, Sam proclaimed. “Thank You Jesus”, the people joyously responded. This was repeated at least four or five more times. Wearing my short sleeve shirt and trainers, I smiled as I thought of the change of liturgy compared to being at Coral Ridge that morning.
Then all of us went to our knees for prayer time. All prayed aloud at the same time. As I knelt I began to ask the Lord for guidance on what to preach. I could easily repeat the same sermon I preached at Coral Ridge that morning. But all of a sudden the greatest sense of the manifest presence of God I had known in twenty-five years came on me. The presence of Jesus was so real that seeing Him would not have made Him feel more real. For some reason Hebrews 13:8 came to me: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”. I began to ask myself, “In what sense is Jesus Christ the same?” Answer – in several ways. But it came to me in a way I had not really thought about: He looks the same. His appearance has not changed. This “same” Jesus (Acts 1:11, 2:36) has not changed from being the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim.2:5). Not only that; He still has the nails scars in His hands (John 20:27).
Moments later I spoke to those nineteen worshipers. I was given power to convey to those people how the appearance of Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. It was an amazing twenty minutes or so. Totally indescribable. Utterly beyond the natural level of ordinary experience. I could not work that up if you paid me a billion dollars tax free.
I could not help but ask: “Lord, why don’t You give me anointing like this at Westminster Chapel? After all, I reach the world in my own pulpit. Why didn’t You do this today at Coral Ridge – when two thousand of America’s movers and shakers were present?”
Even though I have preached in Sam’s church in Bimini since that memorable evening they still talk about the night I was there and described the nail scars in Jesus’ hands. I have preached on Hebrews 13:8 all over the world since that evening but never once have I experienced the kind of anointing that I had that night.
Why? You tell me.
The other reason I am writing this blog is because I am in Bimini this week – to do some bonefishing. Bonefish Sam is now in Heaven. I took John Paul to Sam’s grave a few years ago. This week I am with a different bonefish guide. I think of John Paul. I think of Sam. Of O.S. The good old days. Nothing is like it was. There is something inside some of us that wants to experience “the good old days”. But we can’t go back.
“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be shaken” – Psalm 16:8 (ESV).
Dear Friends,
We are so thankful for those of you who pray for us regularly and follow our ministry. I made a vow in 1986 to be a thankful man. God loves gratitude. God hates ingratitude. I have sought to teach gratitude for the last 31years. In the past year the Mayo Clinic issued a statement to the effect that “thankful people live longer”! That said, I am so thankful for each of you.
This has been a wonderful year for us. But I am not over the loss of Dr. Michael Eaton. How kind of God that I could be with him in S Africa just before he died.
For the fifth time, Louise and I will be spending six months with Colin Dye and Kensington Temple in London – from February to August 2018. I will also do a year’s worth of TV programs called “Word and Spirit” – shown on TBN UK.
The highlight of the year – and arguably the greatest achievement of my life – was to stand at the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany – where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses – and preach the Gospel to the world! TBN UK and TBN USA covered the documentary. I pray that 100,000 will be saved through this.
To commemorate Luther’s rediscovery my book Whatever Happened to the Gospel? comes out this month – endorsed by Jack Graham, Bill Johnson, Michael Youssef and John Arnott. How about that – men from various perspectives endorsing this book! My next book – “Popular in Heaven, Famous in Hell” – will come out in August 2018, just in time for my speaking on this theme at The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center) August 20-24. How nice it would be if some of you could come!
Psalm 16:8 has been special to me for many years. My advice: take it literally: set the Lord before you – David did! I myself do this literally every single day. I actually picture the Lord Jesus at my right hand looking directly at me. He is there anyway – looking at you too as if there were no one else in the world! So affirm what is true! It will transform your life. I share more of this in my recent book The Presence of God.
Please pray for us to have greater wisdom, anointing and continued stamina. Pray for TR who handles the books, website and travels with me abroad.
From Louise, TR, Annette, Toby, Timothy, Tyndale, Rex and Melissa,
Deepest thanks and much love.
R T – Philippians 4:6 . . . note: “with thanksgiving”.
I could write a book on this. I have preached on this subject several times over the past twenty years. I have an entire chapter devoted to this subject in one of my books.
I received an interesting email out of the blue a couple days ago from the Rev. Kenneth Borthwick, a minister of the Church of Scotland. I felt compelled to pass it on to you. Kenny is the same Church of Scotland minister to whom I refer in my current book WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE GOSPEL? He said that when he watches Christian television in the UK he listens as if through the ears of an unbeliever. He said to his wife Morag: “If I did not know differently, I would believe that Christianity is all about money”.
The Yuk Factor is my phrase to describe how a lot of sophisticated Christians
react when they see certain manifestations of the Holy Spirit. They often say “Yuk”. I sometimes reckon that the Persons of the Godhead have a meeting in the heavenlies from time to time and ask, “What can We do next to offend sophisticated people and make them say ‘Yuk’?” God loves to offend the mind to reveal the heart! What many of us would say is “ridiculous” and which “cannot possibly be of God” is often what God Himself does intentionally to offend the minds of sophisticated people. God offended Naaman the leper by telling him to dip seven times in the river Jordan (2 Kings 5:10-11). He offended the world by choosing to put His Son on the cross (1 Cor.1:18,23). It was the reaction of people to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:13). The list is endless. God continues to choose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Cor.1:27).
I also have taught over the years that spirituality may be defined as “closing the time gap between sin and repentance”. In other words, How long does it take for you to admit you were wrong? Does it take seconds or years to admit you were indignant about what you saw – but eventually climbed down? The less time it takes, I suggest, the more spiritual we are. This can apply to admitting you were wrong to hold a grudge against someone who hurt you or to be angry toward a move of the Spirit – which you were so sure, at first, could not possibly be of God.
Here is part of what Kenny Borthwick sent to me:
Dear R T: Just listened to you speaking on TBN UK on the Yuck Factor. I have a very developed gift of discernment. Everything to which I have said “Yuck” at significant moments in my life turned out to have been God after all!
I said” Yuck” to hearing the message about salvation as a thirteen year old. Because the camp I heard the gospel at announced that we would all be going for a walk in the hills on the Sabbath. As a Scottish Presbyterian I thought I had come among some sort of cult. Walking in the hills on the Sabbath indeed!
I said “Yuck” to the gifts of the Spirit until Morag was baptized in the Spirit and received a gift of prophecy in the Cessationist congregation we were part of at the time as 20 year olds and I had to think again! The time gap was longer than I would have liked but I closed it, or God closed it, when one night in my own house speaking with a friend on the telephone the Spirit of God overwhelmed me and I found myself saying, “Oh it is real. It is all real. It is real after all!” Morag was sitting outside the door of the room and felt the power that I was experiencing in wave after wave coming through the walls.
I said “Yuck” to the Toronto Blessing, when I first heard of it when I was a minister in the north of Scotland. Our window cleaner told us about what was happening. I smiled, but was furiously angry at the very idea that people thought this was God. However, I noticed my spirit was leaping for joy at the very mention of what was offending my mind so much. The time gap was closed, quite quickly, as I was learning to listen to my spirit when it was speaking contrary to my mind. I was kissed by the Father’s love in an overwhelming life-changing and ministry-altering way. Without that CLAN Gathering would never have been. All the leadership were touched in that same move of God.
So basically I said “Yuck” to the truth of The Son, then “Yuck” to The Spirit then “Yuck” to The Father!
Love to Louise and to yourself as another New Year approaches. . . always, Kenny.
I have taken many hits over the years for decisions I have made – from inviting Arthur Blessitt to Westminster Chapel to preaching at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship where the “Toronto Blessing” originated. I can tell you, I’ve never been sorry. Yes, it hurts a bit when people question your sanity! But the increased anointing is so worth it that I want to say, “Bring on more!” The anointing comes in proportion to our willingness to go outside our “comfort zone”.
2018 will be an interesting year. I wonder what God will do this year to offend you and me?
Louise and I have been living in Hendersonville, Tennessee for almost nine years. A few days after arriving the voice at the other end of my cell phone said, “This is Ricky Skaggs. I’m your new neighbor”. We met for breakfast a week later and became intimate friends in minutes – for three reasons: (1) We are both from Kentucky. In fact Ricky was born in Louisa, Kentucky, some twenty miles from my hometown in Ashland. (2) Our favorite food is Indian – curry. One of his first comments to me was, “I reckon you lived in London long enough to pick up a taste for Indian food”. “It’s my very favorite”, I replied. (3) He is a Spirit-filled believer. Some entertainers happen to be Christians but Ricky, married to Sharon (of the White Family fame) are Christians who happen to be entertainers. Ricky and Sharon are members of the Grand Ole Opry and Ricky is a member of the Gospel Hall of Fame. He has also won 14 Emmys. Jesus Christ is first in their lives. Unashamedly first. Some time after we moved from Florida to Tennessee, I asked Ricky to be on our Board.
October 18 was Tyndale’s (whom we call Ty) first birthday, October 19 was TR’s 51st. We decided to make a special celebration of it. TR and Annette prepared five dishes of Indian food. Ricky brought his mandolin, Sharon brought her guitar. Our oldest grandson (aged almost 9) has been taking guitar lessons. Ricky and Sharon found a key that fit with Toby’s progress and played so all Toby needed to do was strum his guitar and it sounded like he was playing well with them. Our grandson Timothy (aged 5) also joined in. Check out the videos (links below) – even if country/bluegrass music is not your cup of tea! While they were playing I said to Annette, “Can you imagine how many people would like to be here right now?” He who plays for Donald Trump in the White House, who attracts thousands to hear him in Nashville and who is on the road all over America week after week, spent an evening with us as if he had nothing else to do. Louise and I, TR and Annette and grandsons will treasure that evening for a long time.
It was worth waiting for: two minutes and forty seconds of darkness in the middle of the day. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
Nashville, Tennessee is best known as the home of country music. But in recent weeks it became known as the best place to see the first solar eclipse in nearly a century. People came to our area from all over the world – including the United Kingdom, even though the “total” eclipse lasted in Nashville itself just over two minutes. However, there was one small part of Nashville where a cloud cover appeared just seconds prior to the total eclipse, so that it could not be seen. Therefore some were very disappointed. “I was gutted”, a man from Manchester, England said. We had decided to share the event with our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons. Our son TR lives in White House, some thirty miles north of Nashville – the exact spot (say the scientists) that the total solar eclipse would last the longest – something like two minutes and forty-two seconds! Many people came from Nashville to the northern part of middle Tennessee to have the extra seconds.
The weather in White House was perfect. Hardly a cloud in the sky. Louise and I arrived at TR’s place just after 12:oo noon, an hour and a half before the total eclipse would occur. Friends had begun to gather. “It has already started”, TR said to us when we arrived. With special glasses to protect one’s eyes I had my first look at the sun as the moon barely passed into its path. In a half hour the moon had edged its way into one third of the sun. The light began to diminish all around us. The temperature began to drop. After an hour and fifteen minutes the sun looked like the crescent of the moon. The temperature fell from 95 degrees to what seemed a pleasant 85. It had begun to get dark. Then came the total eclipse. Amazing. One did not need the special glasses for this incredible moment. You looked right at the moon-covered sun. You gazed. There was the total eclipse plain as day, although it seemed like night! For these two minutes and forty seconds one saw the rim around the moon that let you know the sun was behind it. Around us was the darkness – not black dark but more like a few minutes after sunset when you can still see around you. It was dark enough that the overhead lamp by TR’s garage came on!
We were connected to an app on a cell phone that monitored the entire event, telling us how many minutes, how many seconds were left. As the total eclipse was about to end the voice said, “Five, four, three, two, one” – when the first ray of the sun reappeared – a beam of light brighter than I had ever seen in my life. I had to turn my head away. Special glasses back on! I will never forget that as long as I live. It was almost like participating in history – seeing this live and not from a TV set.
And then the fun was over. The rest was anticlimactic as the next hour and a half saw the temperature rise again and the light reappearing all around us. With my special glasses I had one last look at the sun as the moon made its exodus.
At least two thoughts came to my mind. The first, having seen that dazzling brilliant sun for a split second after the total eclipse – the first time I have ever looked directly at the sun in the middle of the day, I thought of Paul’s testimony. “At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun” (Acts 26:13). Brighter than the sun at midday? Whatever kind of light are we talking about! The only answer is: the glory of God. Its brightness is greater than the light of the sun. After all, the sun is God’s creation. For the light Paul saw was uncreated light. Even the seraphim needed wings to cover their eyes from the glory of the Lord (Isa.6:2). That is the light, by the way, that will give illumination in Heaven throughout eternity. “The city has no need of sun or moon to shine one it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its light is the Lamb” (Rev.21:23).
Second, I thought of these words: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm19:1). By this eclipse I could not help but think of the glory of God and creation. Seeing this eclipse was almost like participating in the heavens! One saw first-hand this exceedingly rare event. It is Jesus Christ who sustains creation; he “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Heb.1:3). This eclipse demonstrates how big God is. This glimpse into the heavenlies is but a minute fraction of the universe God has made. As newsmen interviewed people from all over the area, the typical comment was, “I was in a state of awe”. Yes. “Awe” was the most common expression. Some said, “breathtaking”. Another called it “euphoria”.
According to Paul, the plainness of God’s creation is sufficient to condemn. It leaves people “without excuse” (Rom.1:20). Whereas the phenomenon of a solar eclipse is amazing, to me equally astonishing is how people can view all this – seeing the perfect timing, regularity and predictability of God’s creation – and not also confess there must be a God. To surmise that all this is by “chance” – which is the choice atheists make – is a confirmation of Romans 1:21-23: “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things”.
These things said, natural revelation is sufficient to condemn but insufficient to save. We need the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to be saved (2 Cor.4:4-6).
