Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824)

On a bright day in April, 1796, Hans Nielsen Hauge was plowing on his father’s farm, singing at the same time a hymn in praise of Christ. He had just finished the second verse—“Strengthen me within that I may learn the Spirit’s power. Make me Thy prisoner in word and thought”—when he felt such an uplifting to God that he was hardly longer conscious. He left the plow and, going home, climbed to the loft where he was accustomed to sleep and lay down on his bed. “Nothing in the world seemed longer worthy of interest. There was a glory which … Continue reading “Hans Nielsen Hauge (1771-1824)”

“God Revived Me” / Barry Shoemake

Barry Shoemake has been the senior minister of Whitesburg Christian Church, Whitesburg, Georgia, since 2006. Prior to his Georgia pastorate, Barry was pastor of the First Christian Church in Borden, Indiana for 22 years. Barry and I, with two other ministerial colleagues, met weekly for prayer and fellowship for a number of years until the Lord led us to a change in our respective fields of service. We will long cherish those special times together. The following is an account of how Barry experienced a deep life-changing encounter with God. One church member remarked on Barry’s pulpit ministry before and after his … Continue reading ““God Revived Me” / Barry Shoemake”

The God-Thirsty

Thirst and hunger are two appetites and drives that are natural to the human condition. Man was created by God with the need to drink and eat in order to sustain his earthly, biological life and existence. Without either food or water over a prescribed period of time, death is certain. In satisfying our appetite for food and water under normal circumstances, rarely do we consciously process what we are doing when we take a bite of food or lift a cup to our lips. The acts of eating and drinking are so ingrained in our daily rituals, that they … Continue reading “The God-Thirsty”

When God Comes Near (Part 2)

As mentioned in the previous article of this two-part study, God is not only omnipresent in his creation, he is also present in a special way among those whom we might call God-seekers. We saw that one of the spiritual principles of the kingdom of God is that whenever God comes near—i.e., manifests himself through his Holy Spirit to a God-seeker—one of the results will be conviction of sin in the life of the sinner as well as in the life of a failing Christian. The outshining of God’s perfect holiness awakens in both the sinner and the Christian the awareness … Continue reading “When God Comes Near (Part 2)”

When God Comes Near (Part 1)

The Bible teaches us that God is everywhere present in his creation. The psalmist affirmed this truth when he prayed, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways” (Psa. 139:2-3).1 Expanding further on this subject, he inquired of the Lord in verses 7-8, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are … Continue reading “When God Comes Near (Part 1)”