13. CHAPTER VIII - A LIVING MESSAGE FROM THE EMPOWERED MESSENGER

CHAPTER VIII A LIVING MESSAGE FROM THE EMPOWERED MESSENGER REMINISCENCES OF DEAR PRaying HYDE. IN the last chapter I wrote about Hyde at the Conventions and promised to give one or two other incidents which I observed at the Conventions. He felt that his place was in the Prayer Room, but he had to enter the platform at times, and his messages were delivered with tremendous power, as we would naturally expect when he came straight from the Prayer Room to deliver his message. I shall never forget the effect of one of his Bible readings on the congregation and on the whole Convention. He spoke in Urdu and those who know Urdu say that he spoke the language well, if anything a little highflown, using the book-language more than the collo­quial. I could not follow him, for my know­ledge of Urdu is very meagre, so I had an opportunity of watching him and the congrega­tion. I realized very soon that he was delivering a solemn message, for there was a solemnity in the congregation that was almost oppressive. He spoke quietly, but all could hear him, and I felt that his life was in the Word. He once told me that one had to give himself if he wanted to serve God and help men, that it was not enough to give our time and our talents, that our life ’ must be given. This was true, he said, both in praying and in preaching. Alas I how few of us give of our life ; when we think that our life is touched, we feel it is time to draw back. How often we have heard it said, ’ You will kill yourself if you work as you do, take it easy.’ But Hyde used to say, give your life for God and men,’ let that vital energy, that living power within, be poured out for men. Who is right ? ... Hyde or the modern man ? Hyde gave himself as he preach­ed—he poured out his life as he prayed . . that morning in Sialkot he did this, and men realized the power. I heard that immediately after the service, the Committee was called together to consider God’s challenge to them, and for prayer that the message might influence men. At breakfast, men were in groups asking what should be done, and I know that many went away alone to have their lives re-adjusted by the Holy Spirit. At one of the Conventions he spoke to the Europeans, most of them were missionaries. He spoke on The Cross.’ I think that the Spirit used him to give us all an entirely new vision of the Cross. That was one of the most inspiring messages I ever heard. He began the address by saying, that from what­ever side or direction we look at Christ on the Cross, we see wounds, we see signs of suffer­ing—from above we see the marks of the Crown of Thorns, from behind the Cross we see the furrows caused by the scourging, etc., and he dwelt on the Cross with such illu­mination that we forgot Hyde and every one else, the Dying, yet living Christ’ was before us. Then step by step we were led to see in the crucified Christ a sufficiency for every need of ours, and as he dwelt on the fitness of Christ for every emergency I felt that I had sufficient for time and for eternity. But the climax of all to me was the way he emphasized the truth that Christ on the Cross cried out triumphantly ’IT IS FINISHED,’ when all around thought that His Life had ended. It seemed to His disciples that He had failed to carry out His purposes, it appeared to His enemies that at last their dangerous Enemy had been overcome. To all appearance the struggle was over and His Life had come to a tragic end. Then the triumphant cry of victory was sounded out IT IS FINISHED.’ A cry of triumph in the darkest hour. Then Hyde showed us that if united to Christ we can also shout triumphantly even when everything points to despair. Though our work may appear to have failed, and the enemy to have gained the ascendancy, and we are blamed by all our friends and pitied by all our fellow-workers, even then we can take our stand with Christ on the Cross and shout out ’ Victory, Victory, Victory I ’ From that day I have never been in despair about our work. When­ever I feel despondent I think I hear Hyde’s voice shouting Victory, and that immediately takes my thought to Calvary and I hear my Saviour in His dying hour, crying out with joy IT IS FINISHED.’ As Hyde said, This is real Victory’ to shout triumphantly though all around is dense darkness.

I remember that the Hon’ble M. Waldegrave (the late Lord Radstock’s son) was in the service, and in leaving at the close, he said to me, I generally go to my tent after every service and write the message that I have heard to my wife, but Mr. Hyde’s message just delivered seems so sacred and appealing that I dare not try to write it.’

I had a long talk with Hyde afterwards about the Cross and the message, and he told me that for a whole year he had been fascinated by the Cross. I cannot speak on any other subject now,’ he said. I heard him speak on the Cross at another Convention some weeks afterwards and that was accompanied by the Holy Spirit’s power in a similar way.

4nd when they had prayed .. the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul . . . and great grace was ?thou them all.

—ACV. iv. 31.-33. For God is not the author of confusion, but of Peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

—1 Corinthians xiv. 33. Is Mere not an experience for us, similar in^,kind and degree to that experienced by the apostles f We say similar in kind, because the real secret of the change in the character and conduct of the apostles was not in the Power of speaking with tongues, nor in the power to work miracles, but in Me possession of the Holy Spirit Himself. Power dwells in a Person, and that person is God the Holy Ghost . . He comes to our hearts Himself. His gifts vary with Me ages, sometimes bestowed, and sometimes withheld. His administrations differ according to the needs of the Church and Me times, but He Himself remains the same. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.’ The same power must, therefore, be possible to us which was received by the apostles on and after the day of Pentecost. We are still in the dispensation of the Spirit. The might of God was not exhausted at Pentecost.. . . The Promise still stands, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.’

—THOMAS COOK.