The
Readings
Day
1:
Introduction & first third of Chapter 1
(p.12-17) (Yun
returns from prison early)
(Don't
miss the Introduction!)
1.
How would you summarise Yun's belief about God while he was still
in prison? (p.12)
2.
What does his comment to his wife reveal about his understanding of
who we are as Christians? (p.13)
3.
What does his life testimony do and what does he want the world to
know? (p.14)
4.
What was the point Yun was making in telling about his time in Norway
and Marie Monsen? (Ch.1 p.15-17)
Prayer:
- Present
your life to the Lord in the certainty that He is sovereign Lord.
- Thank
Him for His grace in saving you.
- Ask
for His grace to enable you to reveal Him to others.
-
Ask Him to help you in prayer, during
this time, to honour those Christians in China.
Bible
Reading
: 1
Timothy 1:12-17
Additional
Point to Ponder: I really haven't a clue about life full
of persecution. I am really going to need God's help to take this
in and realise that this really did happen and still does happen!
Day
2:
Chapter 1 – Humble Beginnings
(p.17-22)
(An early missionary, revival & persecution)
(latter
2/3 of chapter)
1.
What picture is conveyed of Yun's home area, and what reputation did
that area have? (p.17,18)
2.
By 1922 how had the church grown after what sort of experience? (p.18)
3.
What fresh emphasis had Marie Monsen brought after 1901 through to
1932? (p.19,20)
4.
Why and how did the church suffer after 1949? (p.20,21)
5.
How would you summarise the Christian Church's experience in China
as shown in the latter 2/3 of
this
chapter?
Prayer:
- Thank
the Lord for faithful missionaries and all those furthering the
Gospel.
- Thank
the Lord for the faithful church in China
that has endured a persecution
that is largely unknown
in the West.
- Pray
for Christian brothers and sisters (known and unknown to you) whose
heritage is one of opposition
and outright persecution.
- Pray
for ourselves that we will not let ease and comfort dull
or compromise our faith and limit our
support for those in the persecuted church.
Bible
Reading : Acts 14:1-7
Additional
Point to Ponder: I am aware that in many parts of the Church
it is less fashionable today to think about missionaries and yet the
need – worldwide- is just as great.
Day
3:
Chapter 2 – A Hunger Fulfilled
(p.23-26) (Father's
illness, mother's return, healing & revival)
(First
half of chapter)
1.
What were the family circumstances that eventually brought Yun's mother
back to the Lord? (p.23-25)
2.
How did those circumstances change? (p.25)
3.
How did the family overcome the ban to hold meetings, and with what
result? (p.25,26)
4.
What limitation on his faith did Yun first suffer and what desire
did that create in him? (p.26)
Prayer:
- Think
back on circumstances in your own life that the Lord used to bring
you to Him / bring you back to Him, and thank Him for them.
- Thank
Him that He DOES “in all things .... work
together for good” for us (Rom 8:28), whatever the circumstances
the enemy or the world seeks to bring on us.
- Thank
Him that when we pray in line with His will, He DOES promise to
answer (Jn 14:13)
- Ask
Him to create a greater hunger in you for His word, that you will
value it greatly.
Bible
Reading
:
1 Pet 1:1-9
Additional
Point to Ponder: They
were poor but knew the power of God. We mostly don't lack wealth but
mostly lack the power. Does it have to be one or the other? Yun's
mother had never learned to read or write but she became a preacher!
Shame on us!
Day
4: Chapter
2 – A Hunger Fulfilled
(p.26-32) (Miraculous
Provision of a Bible)
(Second
half of chapter)
1.
How did Yun seek to resolve that desire, which we saw yesterday, and
to what lengths did he go to do
that? (p.26-28)
2.
How was that desire fulfilled – what actually happened to fulfil it?
(p.28-30)
3.
What had been Deling's (Yun's future wife) state and how had she come
to the Lord (p.31,32)
4.
What happened in the early days of her new faith, showing the Lord's
provision for her life? (p.32)
Prayer:
- Thank
the Lord for Yun's example in seeking for a Bible. Ask the Lord
again, to increase your hunger for His word.
- Thank
the Lord for the way He worked in different people to bring a Bible
to Yun. Ask the Lord to increase your faith in His wisdom and power
in working for His people.
- Thank
the Lord for the way He worked in a partner for Yun. If you are
single, commit your future to Him. If you are a parent, simply submit
your children's future to Him in this respect.
- Thank
the Lord that He moves sovereignly in our lives to bring all we
need – healing, physical provision, friendship provision, and guidance.
Commit whatever need you have to Him now.
Bible
Reading
:
Gen 24:1-7
Additional
Point to Ponder: How
we take our abundance of Bibles for granted!
Day
5:
Chapter 3 – Go to the West and to the South
(p.33-35) (Yun's
Calling)
(
first half of chapter)
1.
How did Yun come to see his need of the Holy Spirit and what happened
when he prayed? (p.33,34)