The Tongue Is A Powerful Force For Good Or Evil, And Must Be Tamed
On a Sunday morning, Louis Talbot discovered that the Church's janitor took out—as trash—the sermon he had painstakingly prepared for that morning. Talbot went into a fit of rage and said regrettable things to the poor fellow. But as he stood to preach that morning, he was convicted. Publicly he confessed his sin and asked for the janitor's forgiveness. Though the conviction had started with him, the whole church too, soon caught the fire. It was an unforgettable service!
Following excerpt from 10% into For This I Was Born the captivating story of Louis T. Talbot by Carol Talbot
He was going to preach one Sunday on the return of the Lord, and he wrote out the whole sermon by hand. “How I worked on that sermon,” he commented. “I couldn’t wait for Sunday to come. I went down to the church Saturday night to put the finishing touches on the sermon, and left the manuscript on the desk in my study. Then I went home just longing for Sunday to come.
“When I went down to the church early Sunday morning to go over that sermon, I found that it was gone. I wondered who in the world had been in my study. Then I heard the janitor down in the basement working with the furnace. I went downstairs and on seeing the janitor, I said, ‘Mr. Williams, were you in my study this morning?’
“‘Yes, Mr. Talbot, don’t worry. I’ve taken care of everything.’
“‘Did you see some papers on my desk?’
“‘Yes. There they are in the furnace. I believe in getting rid of all the rubbish.’
“I landed into that fellow, and said a lot of things that weren’t so and told him to keep out of my study.
“But as I went upstairs, I would have given anything if I could have recalled those words. Then the church service began. As we were getting near the time when I was to preach on the Lord’s coming, I was wishing that we could just dismiss them all. When I got up to preach, I took one look out of my eyes at Mr. Williams, who was sitting in the front row picking at his fingernails.
“I stood there in the pulpit and said to the congregation, ‘My friends, before I can preach on the return of the Lord or preach on anything, I’ve got a little unfinished business to do.’ And then I told them what had happened before the service began and how I had lit into Mr. Williams. I looked down at the brother and said, ‘Mr. Williams, I’m sorry, and I want you to forgive me.’ Then I walked down the steps and put my arm around him, and the old boy started to cry, and then I began to cry. Then the choir started crying, and then the whole congregation wept.
“God gave us a great day that Sunday. Some people got up and walked to the other side of the church and made things right with each other and with God. We were still feeling the influence of that day a year afterwards.”
“When I went down to the church early Sunday morning to go over that sermon, I found that it was gone. I wondered who in the world had been in my study. Then I heard the janitor down in the basement working with the furnace. I went downstairs and on seeing the janitor, I said, ‘Mr. Williams, were you in my study this morning?’
“‘Yes, Mr. Talbot, don’t worry. I’ve taken care of everything.’
“‘Did you see some papers on my desk?’
“‘Yes. There they are in the furnace. I believe in getting rid of all the rubbish.’
“I landed into that fellow, and said a lot of things that weren’t so and told him to keep out of my study.
“But as I went upstairs, I would have given anything if I could have recalled those words. Then the church service began. As we were getting near the time when I was to preach on the Lord’s coming, I was wishing that we could just dismiss them all. When I got up to preach, I took one look out of my eyes at Mr. Williams, who was sitting in the front row picking at his fingernails.
“I stood there in the pulpit and said to the congregation, ‘My friends, before I can preach on the return of the Lord or preach on anything, I’ve got a little unfinished business to do.’ And then I told them what had happened before the service began and how I had lit into Mr. Williams. I looked down at the brother and said, ‘Mr. Williams, I’m sorry, and I want you to forgive me.’ Then I walked down the steps and put my arm around him, and the old boy started to cry, and then I began to cry. Then the choir started crying, and then the whole congregation wept.
“God gave us a great day that Sunday. Some people got up and walked to the other side of the church and made things right with each other and with God. We were still feeling the influence of that day a year afterwards.”
For This I Was Born the captivating story of Louis T. Talbot
by Carol Talbot
| Genre: | Missionary biography |
| Subject: | Louis Talbot |
| Publisher: | Moody Press |
| Year: | 1977 |
| Location: | Chicago |
| Library: | Physical collection at walkingtogether.life |
| Purchase: | https://www.amazon.com/This-Was-Born-Cap... |
Scripture Testimony Index stories in this book
Woodie who had served time for robbery, wandered into a street gospel meeting hoping to steal an organ from a Methodist church, but before the street service was over, Woodie gave his life to Christ; much to the consternation of his gang members. And together with Harry; an ex thief like himself who had found Christ too, the two men abandoned their former life and began chasing an honest living.
The tongue is a powerful force for good or evil, and must be tamedHoly Spirit renewal for the repentant
On a Sunday morning, Louis Talbot discovered that the Church's janitor took out—as trash—the sermon he had painstakingly prepared for that morning. Talbot went into a fit of rage and said regrettable things to the poor fellow. But as he stood to preach that morning, he was convicted. Publicly he confessed his sin and asked for the janitor's forgiveness. Though the conviction had started with him, the whole church too, soon caught the fire. It was an unforgettable service!
Even as he battled for his life, Jim Talbot's one concern was for lost souls; the very cause for which he had burned out his young life. And even on his death-bed, his last prayer to God was for his death to show his unbelieving father—for whom he desperately wanted to be well again—his need for the Savior.
When a cold beggar walked into a church—where Louis was pastoring—seeking for help, Louis was stirred to help the man, and he not only emptied his wallet and gave all he had to the poor beggar, but also gave the cold man a fur-lined overcoat that had been presented to him by a member of his church.
Agnes was a beautiful singer who was physically deformed. She thought that since God didn't heal her, she lacked sufficient faith. But Louis Talbot gave her encouragement from the Apostle Paul's lesson that “His strength is made perfect in your weakness.”
In her moment of grief and uncertainty, Pier was comforted by the reassuring presence of Louis Talbot who stayed and prayed with her as she waited upon her nephew who was undergoing a life-threatening surgery.
Louis Talbot was confronted by the Lord with the very subject matter he was trying to avoid in prayer. But as the Lord spoke to reassure him, Louis took the bold step and true to the promise of God, he found rest, only as he obeyed God.
For his selflessness, Pastor Louis Talbot was loved and earned the respect of not only his congregation but the general public. When he suffered a terrible accident, even the police were eager to help him.
When Eugene Poole faced a financial need, he told no one except the Lord. God answered his prayers through Dr. Talbot!
Carol Talbot was already in the choir and was in fact singing on stage when suddenly the Lord began to truly draw her to the cross and Himself. And only by overcoming the struggles in her head and yielding to God's call did she become truly born again.