the focus of this message and that probably is the right word for it.

I do biographies to preach, not out of any mere historical or academic interest alone.

The focus of this message on Hudson Taylor is how he experienced union with Christ.

Could focus on many other things in his life, but that's what this message is about.

And of course that raises warning flags

because many people know that he was deeply influenced

by the Kesik movement.

And in its worst expressions there are deep flaws in the

Kessic understanding of the Christian life and sanctification in particular and my conclusion is going to be that Hudson Taylor was not one of those

worst examples but in fact was protected from being one of the bad examples by his allegiance to the

Bible, his devotion to the sovereignty of God, and his lifelong experience of suffering.

So that's where we're going. Which means that there are glorious things to be learned

from the life of Hudson Taylor.

Wonderful lessons about abiding in Christ, about faith, about prayer, about

obedience, about sacrifice, about self-denial, whatever else Kessick's teaching may have gotten wrong, it was not wrong to say to all

Christians everywhere there is more joy, more peace, more love, more power, more fruit to be enjoyed

than you are presently enjoying.

First Thessalonians 4.1, as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God just as you are doing do so more and more. First Thessalonians 410 concerning brotherly love we urge you brothers do this more and more

Philippians 1-9, it is my prayer to God

that your love may abound more and more.

Ephesians 518 be filled with the Holy Spirit, addressing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and singing and making melody to the Lord from your heart.

Just on a scale of 1 to 10, how you doing with that one?

...