DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – WEDNESDAY WARRIOR! #40. ALL FOR CHRIST- C.T. Studd.

Over a hundred years ago, in February 1885, a group of young men set sail from England to become missionaries in China. They included graduates and ex-army officers and were known as the "Cambridge Seven" because they had felt called to the mission field after attending meetings at that University. The leading member of the group was Charles T Studd, the son of a wealthy indigo- planter who had retired from India to a large country house at Tidworth in Wiltshire. His father had been converted in 1877 when a friend took him to hear D. L. Moody preaching in London and he immediately gave up his pastimes of racing and hunting, and used his home for evangelistic meetings until his death two years later.

Charles and two of his brothers, Kynaston and George, were all at Eton when their father was converted and they were far from pleased by his efforts to interest them in the gospel. However, unknown to each other, all three were also converted when a visiting preacher went to stay with the Studd family during the summer holidays of 1878. The three brothers excelled at cricket both at Eton and later at Cambridge where they achieved a remarkable record of each captaining the cricket team in successive seasons from 1882 to 1884. The exceptional skills shown by Charles gained him a place in the England team in 1882 which lost the match to Australia which originated the tradition of the "Ashes" between the two countries.

The following winter he toured Australia with the England team that recovered the trophy but in 1884 his brother George was taken seriously ill and Charles was confronted by the question, "What is all the fame and flattery worth ...... when a man comes to face eternity?" He had to admit that since his conversion six years earlier he had been in "an unhappy backslidden state." As a result of the experience he stated, "I know that cricket would not last, and honour would not last, and nothing in this world would last, but it was worth while living for the world to come."

From then onwards Charles began witnessing to his friends and fellow players and helping his brother Kynaston who had started organising missions amongst students. Soon he had the joy of leading others to the Lord and he prayed for power to be more effective in proclaiming the gospel. Through the promise contained in Acts 1:8, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me....unto the uttermost part of the earth," he realised that his own zeal and energy were not sufficient and that he had to rely entirely upon God.

Up until that time he had felt content to witness amongst his own associates but after hearing a missionary speaking about the need for workers in China. Charles was increasingly burdened and convicted by verses such as "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Psalm 2:8). Although his friends and relatives tried to dissuade him, Charles knew he was being called to the mission field and he sought an interview with Hudson Taylor, the director of the China Inland Mission and was accepted as an associate member.

Studd's decision was followed by six others within a few weeks and as they prepared for the mission field, members of the "Cambridge Seven" spoke at meetings up and down the country with remarkable results. In addition to numerous conversions a great wave of missionary zeal swept through the students of Edinburgh, London, Oxford and Cambridge which was to have profound effects throughout the world in later years.For C. T Studd those future years were to see him giving away his family inheritance to help the work of George Muller, D. L. Moody, Dr. Barnardo and others and spending ten years in China where he suffered great hardships to reach remote areas where the gospel had never been heard before.

On returning to England he was invited to visit America where his brother Kynaston had recently arranged meetings which had led to the formation of the Student Volunteer movement. During this tour he experienced powerful blessing upon his ministry and the spiritual life in many colleges, churches and other bodies was radically transformed.

From 1900-1906 Studd was pastor of a church at Ootacamund in South India and although it was a different situation to the pioneer missionary work in China, his ministry was marked by numerous conversions amongst the British officials and the local community.

However, on his return home Studd became concerned about the large parts of Africa that had never been reached with the Gospel and in 1910 he went to the Sudan and was convicted by the lack of Christian witness in central Africa. Out of this concern Studd was led to set up the Heart of Africa Mission and when challenged as to why he was preparing for a life of inevitable hardship he replied, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

On his first venture into the Belgian Congo in 1913, Studd established four mission stations in an area inhabited by eight different tribes. Then a serious illness to his wife required his return to England, but when he returned to the Congo in 1916 she had recovered sufficiently to undertake the expansion of the mission into the World Evangelism Crusade with workers in south America, central Asia and the middle East as well as Africa. Supported by his wife's work of home, Studd built up an extensive missionary outreach based on his centre at Ibambi and although she made a short visit to the Congo in 1928 that was the only time they met again since she died in the following year.

Two years later, still labouring for the Lord at Ibambi at the age of seventy, Charles Studd died, but his vision for China, India and Africa had expanded to reach the whole unevangelised world.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to be a warrior like C.T. Studd. I ask all of this in the mighty and wonderful name of Jesus, for His glory, and for the extension of His Kingdom. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT – WEDNESDAY WARRIOR! #6.

When we are in hand-to-hand conflict with the world, the flesh, and the devil himself, neat little Biblical confectionery is like shooting lions with a pea-shooter; God needs a man who will let go and deliver blows right and left as hard as he can hit, in the power of the Holy Ghost. Nothing but forked-lightning Christians will count. – C.T. Studd.

Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well; - 1 Timothy 1:18.

There should be no doubt in any Christians mind, that we are at war with Satan, for the souls of men, women, and children. It is a war that must be fought if we are to stand before Jesus, and hear His wonderful words… "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' - Matthew 25:23.

One of the best examples of a good and faithful warrior is… C.T. Studd.

Wealth and luxury surrounded C.T. Studd as he grew up in the 1870's on the family estate in Wiltshire. C.T. received the finest education, attending Cambridge University, where he also enjoyed an illustrious athletic career. As captain of the cricket team and best all around player of the Cambridge Eleven, C.T. Studd was considered by many to be, "England's greatest cricketer." But God had a different plan for the life of C.T. Studd, one that would require him to sacrifice wealth and prestige and to dedicate his life to foreign missions.

One night C.T. Studd went to hear D.L. Moody speak, and following the message C.T. made the decision to devote his life to missionary service. His decision created a sensation, and he with six other students, who were dubbed the "Cambridge Seven", sailed to China together to serve under China Inland Mission. "Never before in the history of missions," wrote a newspaper reporter, "has so unique a band set out to labor in the foreign field." To many people the decision of the "Cambridge Seven" was a rash move and a tremendous waste of intellect and ability. But to Studd and the other six it was using their ability to the fullest.

Studd's tenure in China was less than a decade, but it was filled with activity. He met and married Priscilla Steward; and had four daughters born to him on Chinese soil. "For five years", wrote Studd, "we never went outside our doors without a volley of curses from our neighbors." But their ministry tarried-Priscilla with her evangelistic work with the women and C.T. in his work with the opium addicts.

Illness forced Studd to come back to England in 1894, and for the next six years he spoke throughout the United States and England. His words were spoken in conviction to students, and according to J. Herbert Kane, "… student by the thousands flocked to his meetings, sometimes six a day… and hundreds, caught up in the revival movement, volunteered for missionary service." Studd then moved to India for six years and again back to England where spoke to thousands of students.

But while he was in England, Studd heard that there were hundreds of thousands of tribal people in Central Africa who had never once heard the gospel because, "no Christian had ever gone to tell of Jesus." "The shame," according to Studd sank deep into his soul. So, Studd, against the advice of his doctors left for Africa. He preached the gospel and won many to the Lord and his efforts opened the doors for missionaries to reach those remote peoples.

C.T. Studd sacrificed his life for the work of the Lord and stood for the conviction of his spirit. He was a man who served God and lived to bring hope to the hopeless.

What a powerful man of God C.T was, what a great example to follow into battle!

Here are further quotes from the mighty warrior…

Funds are low again, hallelujah! That means God trusts us and is willing to leave His reputation in our hands.

Christ's call is to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers but sinners to repentance; not to build and furnish comfortable chapels, churches, and cathedrals at home in which to rock Christian professors to sleep by means of clever essays, stereotyped prayers, and artistic musical performances, but to capture men from the devil's clutches and the very jaws of Hell. This can be accomplished only by a red-hot, unconventional, unfettered devotion, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the Lord Jesus Christ.

A lost reputation is the best degree for Christ's service.

We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but a blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism... To your knees, Christian! And to your Bible! Decide at once! Don't hedge! Time flies! Cease your insults to God, quit consulting flesh and blood. Stop your lame, lying, and cowardly excuses. Enlist! – C.T. Studd.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a mighty warrior for you, and for the extension of your Kingdom, help me to follow the example of great warriors like C.T. Studd. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen .

Be encouraged!
GBYAY