Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was the founder of the China Inland Mission (today known as Overseas Missionary Fellowship). To Hudson Taylor, faith was a supernatural adventure.
Faith principles from Hudson Taylor:
1. We have a supernatural relationship – be in constant communion with Christ.
Taylor believed that he could not be satisfied with anything less than the best, God’s best – the real and constant enjoyment of His Presence. The real secret of an unsatisfied life lies too often in an unsurrendered will.
“How then to have our faith increased?” Taylor answered, “Only by thinking of all that Jesus is and all He is for us … not by one own mental effort but by dwelling on Jesus and His Word, and experiencing the joy of unbroken communion.”
2. We are a supernatural people – exercise the muscle of faith
Taylor believed faith is a gift from God, but it grows by exercise of the “spiritual muscles of faith,” which he claimed, is impossible without trial.
Taylor learned to “claim God’s supply from the bank of heaven.”
“God’s work done in God’s way will not lack God’s support.”
3. We are kept by a supernatural power – trust in God’s providential protection
Taylor learned was to trust in God fully, yet not presume upon Him. The use of means ought not to lessen our faith… it would appear as presumptuous and wrong to neglect the use of those measures which He Himself has put within our reach.
4. We are led by a supernatural God – trust in God’s faithfulness
When Taylor was a young missionary, he often struggled with his faith until he came into “the exchanged life” – he exchanged his weak, defeated life for Christ’s life. Not by striving after faith, but by resting in the Faithful one.
Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
我 已 經 與 基 督 同 釘 十 字 架 ， 現 在 活 著 的 不 再 是 我 ， 乃 是 基 督 在 我 裡 面 活 著 ； 並 且 我 如 今 在 肉 身 活 著 ， 是 因 信 神 的 兒 子 而 活 ； 他 是 愛 我 ， 為 我 捨 己 。
5. We are sustained by a supernatural food – partake of the Word of God
His faith rested on the promise of God. He believed “superhuman wisdom” is needed to comprehend the Word of God.
6. We have a supernatural victory – be an overcomer
“Satan, the Hinderer, may build a barrier about us, but he can never roof us in, so that we cannot look up.”
“the less I spent on myself and the more I gave to others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my soul become.”
[Taken from “Moving Mountains” by Paul L. King (pp 35-48)]