A Surprise from God "Himself"

Something happened this past Sunday that reminded me of God’s ability to surprise us with His presence and His ability to make a difference in and around us. This surprise came to me as I prepared to preach a sermon from Revelation 2, the message to the church at Ephesus on the loss of their first love for the Lord. But to share that story, I have to provide some background.

Over the past several years, I have spent much time reading, studying and writing about historic revivals, times when God moved in a dramatic way in the church and culture. One of those revivals I learned about was in Shantung, China. Baptist missionaries were an active part of God’s work during this season of reviving. One of those missionaries was Bertha Smith, who served in China for many years, to return to America in retirement to minister in churches here until she was 99 years of age.

One of the things I have looked for in revival research is music that has made a difference during seasons of revival. Bertha Smith, in her book, How the Spirit Filled My Life, told a story from the reviving time in China, specifically the summer of 1927, about the way they sang during this season. She said that “one result of our personal reviving is that we all became singers. We sang individually and delighted to do so in groups, praising the Lord for all He had done for us and was doing in us at the time.”

She went on to say, “Our favorite hymn was Dr. A.B. Simpson’s “Himself.” We sang this song daily, as nothing else could so clearly express our new life.”

Here are the lyrics to that hymn:

Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word.
Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost!
Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care.
Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me.
Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine.
Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the veil.

All in all, forever, Jesus will I sing;
Everything in Jesus, and Jesus everything.

This story and hymn grabbed my attention and my heart, but I had never heard this hymn before. So, I found the music online, and listened to a recording of it. Karla and I were captivated by the message of this hymn, so much so that I framed them for display and remembrance. All of this happened several years ago, but the hymn remains an important reminder of revival to us.

Now, to this past Sunday when I was to preach at Charlotte Chinese Baptist Church, invited by Pastor Steven Wang when he heard I was preparing a series of messages on Revelation 2-3. He knew that my text would be Revelation 2:1-7, on the need for the church to return to our first love for Christ. But we had not discussed any other details of the service, other than the fact that I was to lead the celebration of communion during the service.

Doug Lee, the associate pastor, gave me a bulletin for the service. As I sat at the front of the sanctuary listening to the piano prelude, I glanced at the page and saw my sermon title, and text, and next was the hymn, #383 – “Himself.” I couldn't believe it – so I found a hymnal and sure enough, it was Dr. Simpson’s old hymn, sung by the missionaries and believers in China during the great revival there, and about to be sung by a Chinese congregation in Charlotte as I joined them in worship.

I enjoy preaching, but this was one Sunday when I was looking forward to the song after the sermon more than the sermon itself. I finally heard a congregation sing that hymn that stirred hearts in China long ago. This heart was stirred, especially when the worship leader asked the ladies to sing the fourth stanza, and hearing those women of God sing in Chinese, I closed my eyes to picture those sisters in China singing the same words 83 years ago this summer.

I was overwhelmed with the amazing connectedness of the Spirit’s work here and around the world – how He knew what this servant of His needed that morning, and how Chinese brothers and sisters still know the history of that wonderful song, lifted in worship during a powerful season of revival in their homeland.

Pastor Steven was sick and unable to be there on Sunday, but when I emailed him to share what had happened, he replied with this comment about the hymn: “It is one of my mother's favorite songs, and I can still hear her when she sang it with tears streaming down her face!”

Yes, God surprised me with “Himself” on Sunday. I was reminded of how I need to love Him for who He is, and how that love is the fuel I need to be faithful to the One who came to give me life. It’s so simple, but it must be my song: “All in all forever, Jesus will I sing; everything in Jesus, and Jesus everything.”