The most important effect of any adversity is not its outcome on the world or upon other Christians, but its outcome in your own life. We are not saved in order to be a blessing to other people--you will be that inevitably--but primarily we are saved in order to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ, God's Son. In order to fulfil that purpose, God will put His children through any fire if only He may mould and fashion them and make them what He wants them to be--like Jesus. Everyone of us, without exception, as we apply these words to our own lives, would support the statement I have made because what you have gone through has either hardened you or melted you.
What has Paul to say about this? I find it very wonderful and challenging. His surroundings were hostile, his plans in confusion, his missionary campaign checked, but that wasn't everything. Behind all this scene there was God's unchanging and eternal purpose, and therefore, Paul says, "I know this shall turn to my salvation" (v. 19). . . . "This humiliation, this agony, this apparent frustration, being chained to somebody I can't stand, this proximity to any enemy, so much so that even when I pray I am not alone--" Have you thought about that? Paul knew nothing about a quiet time alone. All his time was in the company of a man manacled to him: "--This imprisonment has actually been part of the way in which God's great purpose for my life is being fulfilled. As always, Christ shall be magnified in my body."
In my body? Yes, my lips shall speak of Him. Magnified by my hands which even in prison can serve Him. Magnified by my feet which even here, within the limited space at my disposal, can run His errands. Magnified by my shoulders which gladly submit to this burden and bear it for Jesus' sake. Christ shall be magnified in my body. "For in this experience I have learned," says Paul, "to be willing for all the will of God." Hallelujah--anyway!
. . . . That is what imprisonment had done. It had brought Jesus near.
Have your experiences had that effect, to make the Savior who was only at a distance to be brought wonderfully near? Paul did not know whether he would escape or not, but he was determined to magnify Christ whether by life or by death. In that desperate experience death had taken on a totally new meaning. Had it been left to his choice, he would rather die immediately. "It would be gain for me, because it would be to depart to be with Jesus, and that is far better." Don't let that phrase pass. "To depart" is one thing; even more wonderful, it is to be with Jesus.
"If you leave it to my choice," says Paul, "with all my heart I long for death. But perhaps it isn't God's will for me. For me to abide in the flesh is more needful for you, my beloved Philippians. I am prepared to sink every personal preference, even my longing to see Jesus face to face, if by my staying a little longer I can be a blessing."
"What I have gone through." Have you been applying it personally as a message from God to your own soul? How have you come out of it all? What effect has it had upon the unsaved around you? What effect is it having upon Christian people? But most of all, what effect is it having in you? (Learning to Live, pp. 124-26).
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Alan Redpath (1907 - 1989)
Redpath was a well-known preacher from England who pastored the famous Moody church in chicago for 7 years. He ministered at Keswick conventions and also deeper life meetings on the subject of revival, prayer, full-surrender. He spent the later years of his life ministering Capernwray bible school movement founded by Major Ian Thomas.Dr. Redpath authored six books; the first one, Victorious Christian Living, was published in 1955. Others were Victorious Prayer (1956), Victorious Christian Service (1958), The Royal Route to Heaven (1960), Blessings Out of Buffettings (1965), The Making of a Man of God (1962), and Law and Liberty and Captivity to Conquest (1978).
Alan Redpath was a well-known British evangelist, pastor and author.
Alan Redpath was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, the only son of James and Christina Redpath. He went to Durham School, and then studied to be chartered accountant in Newcastle, completing this in 1928. He then worked as the chartered accountant for ICI until 1935. In 1936, he joined the National Young Life Campaign as an evangelist, where he served until he was called to be pastor of Duke Street Baptist Church in Richmond, London in May, 1940. In 1953 he moved to the United States and became the pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago. In 1955, Redpath was elected President of Unevangelized Fields Mission in the United Kingdom. Redpath ministered at Moody Church until 1962. In 1961, Houghton College awarded Redpath an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree.
Redpath returned to the United Kingdom in 1962 as pastor of Charlotte Baptist Chapel, Edinburgh, Scotland. While at Charlotte Baptist, he suffered a near-fatal stroke in 1964, but was able to recover, although he suffered from deep depression for a period afterwards. He preached there until 1966, when he embarked on ministry as a traveling missionary and conference speaker. In 1969, he became Field Representative for Capernwray Missionary Fellowship, and then in 1975 he was named Pastoral Dean of Capernwray Bible School. Redpath married, and had two daughters. He died March 16, 1989, in Birmingham, England.
Alan Redpath was born January 9, 1907, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom, the only son of James and Christina Redpath. He attended high school at Durham School and trained as a chartered accountant in Newcastle, qualifying in 1928. From graduation year until 1935, Redpath was the chartered accountant with Imperial Chemical Industries and the following year, 1936, he joined National Young Life Campaign as an evangelist, a position he filled until May 1940. In that month, he was called to be pastor of Duke Street Baptist Church, Richmond, London, and he remained with that church until 1953, when he came to the United States as pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. He served in this position between 1953 and 1962. While at Moody Church, Houghton College awarded Redpath an honorary D.D. degree in 1961.
From Moody, Redpath returned to the British Isles in 1962 to become pastor of Charlotte Baptist Chapel, Edinburgh, Scotland, and he remained with the church until 1966. In that year, he began an itinerant conference and missionary ministry. In 1955, Redpath was elected President of Unevangelized Fields Mission in the United Kingdom. Fourteen years later, in 1969, he became Field Representative for Capernwray Missionary Fellowship and in 1975 Pastoral Dean of Capernwray Bible School. He was still serving in all three capacities in 1983.