Rev. David Hind is a minister in the Christian Centre at Nottingham shortly to move to Leicester to take over a church there. He is the author of the book In Hindsight and the following is an extract from it.
The more thing
The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook’s uniform, stationed himself at the copper, his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered at each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said, somewhat alarmed at his own temerity, ‘Please, sir, I want some more.’
The master was a fat, healthy man, but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.
‘What!’ said the master at length, in a faint voice.
‘Please, sir,’ replied Oliver, ‘I want some more.’
I became a Christian in November 1985 whilst visiting a friend at university. The next day I attended a church service and was overwhelmed in the presence of God. I have found that nothing in life compares to the presence of God.
Recently a plumber visited my house and during a conversation he asked about my employment. Following an attempt to make him guess (no one guesses, is this good?) he began to tell me of a visit to a Christian Union when he was fourteen. He explained, as though it had been the day before, of sensing a presence and being overwhelmed by the power of an invisible force. Twenty-eight yeares later, and not yet a Christian, he was recounting a moment with God that still lived with him. I told him what I now tell you – ‘There is more’ – more of His presence, more of His love, more of His power.
I love Psalm 63 because it captures David’s longing for God:
‘O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.’ (Psalm 63:1
I long for Him and these words help me find Him. I have included a number of quotes from the biography of Duncan Campbell, a revivalist who experienced encounters with God in the Hebrides.
O God….
A statement by the writer, not a debate.
….the Christians longed to see a renewed manifestation of God’s power…gradually in many hearts, concern deepened into a conviction that God’s time to favour them had come. They began to pray and faith and experience grew…..2
You are my God….
A decision and confidence that the God of all is our God.
….Campbell’s first contact with the men convinced him that he was in the company of those living on a high spiritual plane. As he walked down the road the next day his spirit discerned that God was at work; he realised that revival had already come; it would be his privilege to share in it.
Earnestly I seek you ….
A priority expressing that above all things, nearness to God is the greatest goal.
A solemn hush came over the church that night and a young deacon whispered, ‘Mr. Campbell, God is hovering over. He is going to break through. I can hear the rumblings of heaven’s chariot wheels.’ …the whole congregation lingered outside, reluctant to disperse; others had joined them, drawn from their homes by an irresistible power they had not experienced before.
My soul thirsts for you ….
A cry that confesses a desperate need for Him.
One evening as they were preparing to leave the church, an old man took his hat off, pointing excitedly in the direction of the congregation which had just left the service: ‘Mr. Campbell, see what’s happening! He has come! He has come!’ The Spirit of God had fallen upon the people as they moved down towards the main road and in a few minutes they were so gripped with the subduing presence of God that no one could move any further.
My body longs for you ….
A declaration that captures a physical longing for His presence.
What the world needs to see is the wonder and beauty of God-possessed personalities. Women and men with the life of God pulsating within, who practice the presence of God and consequently make it easy for others to believe in God.
One day we will see Him, and He will be more wonderful than we ever imagined. Everything will have been worth it.
* Let’s live for things beyond this life
* Let’s invest in things that will outlast us
* Let’s long for more of Him
There is more!
Quotes from Charles Dickens – Oliver Twist and Andrew A. Woolsey – Channel of Revival.
; it would be his privilege to share in it.
