The Faithfulness Of The Living God
Do you believe in the real and living God? If so, do you ever doubt His faithfulness? George Muller was a man who learned to take God at His Word. “Sell that ye have, and give alms” (Luke 12:33) and “[o]we no man anything, but to love one another” (Romans 13:8)—such were the commands he obeyed. In 1834, he set out to prove the reality and faithfulness of God by establishing (and then maintaining) an orphan house in Bristol by prayer and faith only—with no fund-raising and no loans. Muller did not expect God to create silver and gold for him, but he knew that the Lord could move the hearts of men to aid his God-given work. “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10): Muller felt led to apply this promise to the orphanage work.
In 1845, God made it clear through various means that the time had come to build an orphanage. Premises for three hundred children would be needed, and a large piece of ground near Bristol for the building and a small farm. That would cost at least £10 000, and Muller would not enter into any contract until the sum had been received.
On the thirty-sixth day after Muller began to pray, he received £1000 for the building of the Orphan House—the largest single donation he had ever received. After six hundred and seven days of seeking the Lord and receiving His provisions, building work finally began.
One November, the boiler began to leak in the new house. To fix it, the children would have to suffer for lack of warmth, for the heat had to be shut off while repairs were going on. After the day was set for the repairs, a bitter north wind began to blow. Muller now asked the Lord for two things: to change the north wind into a south wind, and to give the workmen a desire to work. He remembered how much Nehemiah in the Old Testament had accomplished in fifty-two days while building the walls of Jerusalem because “the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
On the morning of the repairs, a south wind began to blow. No heat was needed, the brickwork was removed, the leak was found, and the repairmen set to work. At about 8.30pm, the manager of the repair firm paid a visit to see how the work was progressing. Muller went to the cellar to see him and his men. “The men will work late this evening and come very early again tomorrow,” said the manager. “We would rather, sir,” replied the foreman, “work all night.” By the next morning, the boiler was repaired. Within thirty hours, the brickwork which had been taken down was up again, and the fire was in the boiler. All that time, the south wind blew so mildly that no heat was needed. God had answered both prayers.
What were Muller’s principles in prayer? He knew that to have them answered, He must make his requests to God on the ground of the merits and worthiness of His perfect Son, the Lord Jesus. He could not depend on his own merits and worthiness.
Trusting in God meant more than just obtaining money by prayer and faith; Muller desired his faith to extend toward everything. By reading God’s Word and meditating on it, by maintaining an upright heart and a good conscience, by embracing trials of faith, and by allowing God to work for him, Muller found his faith greatly strengthened. And so might yours be.
In 1845, God made it clear through various means that the time had come to build an orphanage. Premises for three hundred children would be needed, and a large piece of ground near Bristol for the building and a small farm. That would cost at least £10 000, and Muller would not enter into any contract until the sum had been received.
On the thirty-sixth day after Muller began to pray, he received £1000 for the building of the Orphan House—the largest single donation he had ever received. After six hundred and seven days of seeking the Lord and receiving His provisions, building work finally began.
One November, the boiler began to leak in the new house. To fix it, the children would have to suffer for lack of warmth, for the heat had to be shut off while repairs were going on. After the day was set for the repairs, a bitter north wind began to blow. Muller now asked the Lord for two things: to change the north wind into a south wind, and to give the workmen a desire to work. He remembered how much Nehemiah in the Old Testament had accomplished in fifty-two days while building the walls of Jerusalem because “the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).
On the morning of the repairs, a south wind began to blow. No heat was needed, the brickwork was removed, the leak was found, and the repairmen set to work. At about 8.30pm, the manager of the repair firm paid a visit to see how the work was progressing. Muller went to the cellar to see him and his men. “The men will work late this evening and come very early again tomorrow,” said the manager. “We would rather, sir,” replied the foreman, “work all night.” By the next morning, the boiler was repaired. Within thirty hours, the brickwork which had been taken down was up again, and the fire was in the boiler. All that time, the south wind blew so mildly that no heat was needed. God had answered both prayers.
What were Muller’s principles in prayer? He knew that to have them answered, He must make his requests to God on the ground of the merits and worthiness of His perfect Son, the Lord Jesus. He could not depend on his own merits and worthiness.
Trusting in God meant more than just obtaining money by prayer and faith; Muller desired his faith to extend toward everything. By reading God’s Word and meditating on it, by maintaining an upright heart and a good conscience, by embracing trials of faith, and by allowing God to work for him, Muller found his faith greatly strengthened. And so might yours be.
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