In my opinion, the best biography written on George Müller is George Müller of Bristol, written by A.T. Pierson. One of my favorite sections of the biography is when Pierson presents a list of 24 important steps, steps that he believes were essential in the spiritual formation of George Müller. Here are the first six:
1. First of all, his conversion.
In the most unfortunate manner and at the most unexpected time God led him to turn from the error of his way, and brought him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. Next, his missionary spirit.
That consuming flame was kindled within him, which when it is fanned by the Spirit and fed by the fuel of facts, inclines to unselfish service and makes one willing to go wherever, and to do whatever the Lord wills.
I would also add that Müller’s missionary spirit was not a global missionary spirit. Many Christians have the wrong idea of missions, which in turn, limits their usefulness in their present context or simply feeds their nominalism and love of self. Müller understood that his life was Christ’s and his mission was to “make disciples of all men” (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). No matter where he was. No matter what God placed in his path.
3. Next, his renunciation of self.
In more than one instance he was enabled to give up for Christ’s sake an earthly attachment that was idolatrous, because it was a hindrance to his full obedience and single-eyed loyalty to his heavenly Master.
Though I wrote on this in a previous blog entry http://cpletter.blogspot.com/2011/11/george-muller-man-whose-conversion-to.html , the renunciation of self is vital for Christian growth. This is not some monastic endeavor, rather it is the mark of true discipleship (Mark 8:34). Jesus Christ walked in perfection during His earthly ministry, submitted and humbling Himself to the Father. One of last acts, the washing of His disciple’s feet, exemplified the “denial of self” as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe stripped off His outer garments to love and serve others (John 13:1-14; Phil 2:5-8).
4. The approach of taking counsel from God.
Early in his Christian life he formed the habit, in things great and small, of ascertaining the will of the Lord before taking action, asking guidance in every matter, through the Word and the Spirit.
This approach, more than anything, reinforces the purpose of prayer, which is bending our will to God’s will. As John Stott stated:
5. His humble and childlike temper.
The Father drew His child to Himself, imparting to him the simple mind that asks believingly and trusts confidently, and the filial spirit that submits to fatherly counsel and guidance.
The irony is that the spiritual life emphasizes childlikeness, where the physical life emphasizes adulthood. It has been said that George Müller was more “like a child” in his 90’s then he was in his 20’s. May that be said of you and I.
6. His method of preaching.
Under this same divine tuition be early learned how to preach the Word, in simple dependence on the Spirit of God, studying the Scriptures in the original and expounding them without wisdom of words.
How do you “encourage” or “counsel” others? It is your wisdom…or God’s. Do you know enough about God and His word to give them His truth? People need truth. People are also more compelled by truth when they see it lived out.
Müller will never be mistaken as the “prince of preachers” like Charles Spurgeon, but listen to the words of Spurgeon (regarding the preaching of Müller):
1. First of all, his conversion.
In the most unfortunate manner and at the most unexpected time God led him to turn from the error of his way, and brought him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2. Next, his missionary spirit.
That consuming flame was kindled within him, which when it is fanned by the Spirit and fed by the fuel of facts, inclines to unselfish service and makes one willing to go wherever, and to do whatever the Lord wills.
I would also add that Müller’s missionary spirit was not a global missionary spirit. Many Christians have the wrong idea of missions, which in turn, limits their usefulness in their present context or simply feeds their nominalism and love of self. Müller understood that his life was Christ’s and his mission was to “make disciples of all men” (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). No matter where he was. No matter what God placed in his path.
3. Next, his renunciation of self.
In more than one instance he was enabled to give up for Christ’s sake an earthly attachment that was idolatrous, because it was a hindrance to his full obedience and single-eyed loyalty to his heavenly Master.
Though I wrote on this in a previous blog entry http://cpletter.blogspot.com/2011/11/george-muller-man-whose-conversion-to.html , the renunciation of self is vital for Christian growth. This is not some monastic endeavor, rather it is the mark of true discipleship (Mark 8:34). Jesus Christ walked in perfection during His earthly ministry, submitted and humbling Himself to the Father. One of last acts, the washing of His disciple’s feet, exemplified the “denial of self” as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe stripped off His outer garments to love and serve others (John 13:1-14; Phil 2:5-8).
4. The approach of taking counsel from God.
Early in his Christian life he formed the habit, in things great and small, of ascertaining the will of the Lord before taking action, asking guidance in every matter, through the Word and the Spirit.
This approach, more than anything, reinforces the purpose of prayer, which is bending our will to God’s will. As John Stott stated:
“Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating our will to his.”This quote has always been a helpful reminder to me.
The Father drew His child to Himself, imparting to him the simple mind that asks believingly and trusts confidently, and the filial spirit that submits to fatherly counsel and guidance.
The irony is that the spiritual life emphasizes childlikeness, where the physical life emphasizes adulthood. It has been said that George Müller was more “like a child” in his 90’s then he was in his 20’s. May that be said of you and I.
6. His method of preaching.
Under this same divine tuition be early learned how to preach the Word, in simple dependence on the Spirit of God, studying the Scriptures in the original and expounding them without wisdom of words.
How do you “encourage” or “counsel” others? It is your wisdom…or God’s. Do you know enough about God and His word to give them His truth? People need truth. People are also more compelled by truth when they see it lived out.
Müller will never be mistaken as the “prince of preachers” like Charles Spurgeon, but listen to the words of Spurgeon (regarding the preaching of Müller):
“With no flash of oratory, or brilliance of poetry, or breadth of thought, or originality of mind, George Muller is enabled to be one of the most useful of living preachers by his simply testifying to facts by which he has for himself proved the love and truth of God. His preaching is the gospel and nothing else. Of flowers of speech he has none, and we hardly think he cares for them; but of the bread of heaven he has abundance. With speculations he does not intermeddle, but the eternal verities he handles with practical, homely, realizing faith.”To those who read this, let us covenant to strive to have “the bread of heaven with abundance”.
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