This perpetual calendar includes:
- Remarkable testimonies of souls won to the Savior
- Explanations of gospel concepts
- Answers to frequently-asked questions
- Stories of real-life witnessing opportunities
- Encouragements and tips for sharing the glorious gospel
October 8
George Whitfield (1714-1770), who was used by God to spread the Great Awakening, became perhaps the best-known preacher in Britain and America in the 18th century. In May of 1750, after hearing Whitfield preach, John Thorpe and three friends attended a local “Hell-Fire Club,” an atheists’ gathering. To amuse his friends, with amazing accuracy Thorpe recited the sermon he had just heard Whitfield preach. With remarkable tone and clever mimicry, John Thorpe presented the preacher’s message until, suddenly, he slumped into a chair and cradled his weeping face in his hands. With a self-inflicted wound, he had been converted under his own preaching! “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12). Subsequently, John Thorpe was greatly used in Bristol in the salvation of many.
Today’s Reading: Zechariah 12-14 Memorize: 2 Corinthians 5:19October 7
No man is greater than his prayer life. The preacher who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. The pulpit can be the shop window to display one’s talents; the prayer closet allows for no showing off. Poverty-stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; much fashion, little passion. Failing here, we fail everywhere. The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion, both of which are born in, and maintained by, prayer. The ministry of preaching is open to few; the ministry of prayer is open to all. God is not prodigal with His power, but to be much for God, we must be much with God. In the matter of New Testament, Spirit-inspired, hell-shaking, world-breaking, soul-winning prayer, never has so much been left by so many to so few. — Leonard Ravenhill, Why Revival Tarries, pp. 7-10
Today’s Reading: Zechariah 9-11 Memorize: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15October 6
William Williams, in his fascinating account of pioneer work in Venezuela, called It Can Be Done, tells how it was done, how a handful of missionaries, in a country one sixth the size of the U.S., carried the gospel to every city, town, and village in one generation. Facing strong opposition from the priests, long horseback rides over treacherous mountain paths, carrying loads of Bibles, books, and tracts so heavy that they often had to walk leading their mounts, with poor food and accommodations, unhealthy conditions and disease, they just kept at it, sowing the seed of God’s Word until it began to sprout here and there. Just one chapter of his book describes a 1,500-mile journey to distribute gospel literature: “We look back on our trip with joy, and marvel at what God enabled us to do—to sell six thousand books and scatter four thousand five hundred tracts in these very needy parts.” When we feel it a strain to hand out one tract, or share our faith, we would do well to read a chapter like that!
Today’s Reading: Zechariah 6-8 Memorize: 2 Corinthians 4:18October 5
What are the most positive and most negative sentences in the NT? The first reads, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every (lit. all) good work” (2 Cor 9:8). In the Greek, the root word for “all” occurs five times in this one sentence. The most negative verse is Hebrews 13:5, “He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Erich Sauer writes: “This sentence contains a five-fold negation, as if the text should read: ‘Not will I fail thee! Nevermore! No! Never and by no means will I forsake thee!’ Thus these two scriptures show in their harmonious contrast, positively and negatively expressed, the same precious message: Will God give me all things that are necessary and good? Yes! Five times yes! All grace! In all things! Always! All sufficiency! All good works! Will He ever forsake me? No! Five times no! Never! Nevermore! Never and by no means! In no circumstances! Therefore ‘Have faith in God!’”
Today’s Reading: Zechariah 3-5 Memorize: 2 Corinthians 4:6October 4
I was standing with some Christians in a small antiquities shop hard by the ancient pool of Siloam. The clerk, a Muslim, had been spoken to about the Lord Jesus, and in defense had launched into his own “personal testimony” of his conversion to Islam, a borrowed rendition from previous Christians who had witnessed to him. “Come, come,” I said. “You were born a Muslim, weren’t you? You had no choice in the matter.” He smiled his confession, having been found out. As we continued our discussion, my son stood listening. When there was a lull in the conversation, he thanked the clerk for the information he had been able to glean concerning Islam. “So,” he asked, “you believe Jesus is a prophet?” “Yes.” “A true prophet of God?” Again a yes. “Then it would follow, wouldn’t it, that to be a good Muslim, you should believe His own words when He said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (Jn 14:6).” It would indeed!
Today’s Reading: Zephaniah 3; Haggai 1-2; Zechariah 1-2 Memorize: 2 Corinthians 4:3-4October 3
How do you respond to someone who says: “I’d like to be a Christian but I don’t think I can live that kind of life”? Robert J. Little responds, “Christians are not expected to live the Christian life in their own strength. No one could do this. Part of the experience of conversion to Christ is being born again by the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:12-13). Also the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit comes to live within each believer (Eph 1:13; Rom 8:9). The indwelling Spirit gives believers the resources to live for God. The believer is renewed day by day as we read God’s Word and seek His help through prayer. ‘In the day when I cried You answered me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul’ (Ps 138:3). In Eph 3:16, Paul prayed that believers might be ‘strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.’ Without such support we would be sure to fail.” And don’t forget the support of the saints and the intercessory prayers of our Savior (Heb 7:25)!
Today’s Reading: Habakkuk 3; Zephaniah 1-2 Memorize: 1 Corinthians 15:22October 2
D.L. Moody paid nine visits to the Civil War battlefront. One evening past midnight, he was called to visit a dying soldier. “He said, ‘I wish you to help me to die.’ ‘I would help you if I could,’ replied Moody. ‘I would take you on my shoulders and carry you into the kingdom if I could, but I can’t. But I can tell you of One who can.’ And I told him of Christ being willing to save him; how He left heaven and came into the world to seek and save the lost. I quoted promise after promise, but all was dark. It seemed the shades of eternal death were gathering round his soul. At last I thought of John 3, and read it to him. When I came to ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life’ he cried, ‘Stop, sir. Is that there?’ A smile spread across his face. ‘That is enough,’ he said. ‘Thank God for that. That’s all I want.’ And within three hours he rode away on one of the Savior’s chariots.
Today’s Reading: Nahum 3; Habakkuk 1-2 Memorize: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4