Inspirational Journey of George Muller's Faith

My Spiritual Hero and Me by Andy Acreman George Muller 22ndJune 2025

George Mullers C.V. Highlights Born 1805 in Saxony, Prussia. Imprisoned aged 16 for theft and debt. Playboy, drunkard, womaniser, but brilliant studied at Halle University. Saved at age 20 in a bible study. In 1829 he arrived in England. From 1830 he lived by Prayer and Faith, asking ONLY the LORD for money and provisions. As a result, many were moved to give, both rich and poor 1832 moved to Bristol. Led two churches. In 1836 opened his first of five children s orphanages. Threw down a challenge to unbelievers to prove that God exists by answering his prayers (30,000 in his lifetime!) Prayed in nearly 1.5M in his lifetime equal to 210M in today s money! (Inflation makes today s prices about 140x those in 1838) Spent 140M on running the children s homes in Ashley Down, Bristol 16M on about 80 schools throughout the world 12.5M on giving away bibles, new testaments, gospel tracts and books 36M on supporting missionary work overseas (nearly 200 missionaries) Travelled all over the world preaching the gospel himself. Saw thousands saved. Died March 10th1898, aged 93. The City of Bristol attended his funeral!

The Challenge! One of M ller s colleagues told him that Anthony Norris Groves had worked as a dentist in Exeter but had given up his fifteen- hundred-pound-a-year practice and planned to go as a missionary to Persia with his wife and children. He had no salary but simply depended on God alone to supply his needs. This news delighted M ller so much that he made a note of it in his journal and studied Groves pamphlet on it. It changed his priorities and his life too! M ller embarked on his projects with the stated aim of demonstrating God s reality, and of proving to those who cared to observe that God answers prayer. Now, if I, a poor man, simply by prayer and faith, obtained without asking any individual, the means for establishing and carrying on an Orphan-House; there would be something which, with the Lord s blessing, might be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the children of God, besides being a testimony to the consciences of the unconverted, of the reality of the things of God .

An Example of Gods Provision Early one morning Abigail was playing in the garden on Ashley Down when M ller came out and took her by the hand. Come and see what our Father will do. He led her into the long dining room with the plates, cups and bowls all laid on the table. There was nothing but the empty dishes on the tables. The children were standing waiting for breakfast. Children, you know that we must be in time for school, said M ller. Lifting his hand he prayed, Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat. Then they all heard a knock at the door. The baker stood there. Mr M ller, I couldn t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at two o clock and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it. M ller thanked the baker and praised God for His care. Children, he said, we not only have bread, but fresh bread. Almost immediately they heard a second knock on the door. This time it was the milkman. Mr M ller, my milk cart has broken down outside the orphanage. I would like to give the children the cans of fresh milk so that I can empty the waggon and repair it. M ller thanked the milkman and the children enjoyed their breakfast.

How To Build Up Your Faith My faith, he said, is the same faith which is found in every believer. Try it for yourself and you will see the help of God, if you trust in Him. But what can we do to have our faith strengthened? people used to ask him. First, read the Bible carefully and thoughtfully. Then you will learn more and more about God s character how kind, loving, merciful, wise and faithful He is. Then when difficulties come, you will be able to rest on God s ability and willingness to help you. Second, try to keep your conscience clear. Don t make a habit of doing things which are displeasing to God. Otherwise when your faith is tested, you will have no confidence in God because of your guilty conscience. Third, don t try to avoid situations where your faith may be tested. Naturally we don t like trusting in God alone but it is when we do this that our faith is strengthened. Finally, remember that God won t test you more than you are able to bear. Be patient, and He will prove to you how willing He is to help and deliver, the moment it is good for you.

Simply by Prayer - 1 Ask, and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. This was the simple promise from Matthew 7:7-8 with which M ller began a sermon on prayer in 1880. First, he said, our requests must be according to God s will. Second, we mustn t ask on account of our own goodness or merit, but in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ John 14:13-14. But remember Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. The third condition was that we must exercise faith in the power and willingness of God to answer our prayers. This is deeply important, M ller said. In Mark 11:24 we read, Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours . The fourth condition was that we have to continue patiently waiting on God till the blessing we seek is granted. For observe, nothing is said in the text as to the time in which, or the circumstances under which, the prayer is to be answered. [See next slide ]

Simply by Prayer - 2 In November 1844, I began to pray for the conversion of five individuals. I prayed every day without one single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land or on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be. Eighteen months elapsed before the first of the five was converted. I thanked God, and prayed on for the others. Five years elapsed, and then the second was converted. I thanked God, and prayed on for the other three. Day by day I continued to pray for them, and six years more passed before the third was converted. I thanked God for the three, and went on praying for the other two. These two remain unconverted for next November it will be thirty-six years since I began to pray for their conversion. But I hope in God, I pray on and look yet for the answer . Of the two individuals still unconverted at the time of this sermon, one became a Christian before M ller s death in 1898, and the other a few years later.

Simply by Prayer - 3 How much time do you spend on your knees? , he was asked. More or less every day, M ller replied. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk about, when I lie down and when I rise up. And the answers are always coming. Thousands and tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right and for the glory of God, I go on praying for it until the answer comes. George M ller never gives up! M ller got up from his seat and walked around to the side of a table. Thousands of souls have been saved in answer to the prayers of George M ller. He will meet thousands, yea, tens of thousands in Heaven! There was a pause. The great point is, M ller continued, never to give up until the answer comes The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God s glory, they should pray until they get it.

George Mullers Great Secret In the spring of 1841, he changed the way that he began his morning devotions each day... He began the practice of Biblical Meditation. Digesting Joshua 1:8 NIV. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Psalm 1:2-3 NIV. but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers. Resulted in deep friendship and understanding of God Muller also read fully through the bible each year

George Mullers Funeral Monday March 14th, 1898 was the day of the funeral. It is said that nothing like it has been seen in Bristol before or since. Firms closed or gave their employees time off to witness the event and pay their respects; thousands of people lined the route of the procession; on Bristol cathedral and other churches flags flew at half mast and muffled peals were rung; in all the main streets they put up black shutters or drew their blinds. The city mourned... After addresses from James Wright and Benjamin Perry, nearly a hundred carriages including the mayor s state coach joined the procession across the river to the cemetery where a crowd of about seven thousand people had gathered at the main gates. With considerable difficulty, stewards cleared a way for the bearers to carry the coffin up the hillside to the spot under a yew tree where Mary and Susannah had been buried.

Final Words The living God is with us, whose power never fails, whose arm never grows weary, whose wisdom is infinite and whose power is unchanging. Therefore today, tomorrow and the next month, as long as life is continued, He will be our helper and friend. Still more, even as He is through all time, so will He be through all eternity. (George Muller) What have I learned from him?

Final Words What a lovely, godly, humble, faithful, kindly man! God can use me powerfully if I am fully submitted to Him and willing to put my own desires on hold The Lord is willing and able to meet all my needs if only I ask Him and trust Him. God always answers my prayers, but He is also a master of timing! Faith is like a muscle it grows as you use it! Perseverance in prayer is a key Meditate on the Word if you want to develop a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit Give God the glory!