God's Marvelous Grace to Me
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Marshall University Marshall Digital Scholar Woods, John Franklin, 1865-? Library of Appalachian Preaching 1936 God’s Marvelous Grace to Me John Franklin Woods Follow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/woods_johnfranklin Part of the Appalachian Studies Commons, Digital Humanities Commons, Other Religion Commons, and the Rhetoric Commons Recommended Citation Woods, John Franklin, "God’s Marvelous Grace to Me" (1936). Woods, John Franklin, 1865-?. 1. https://mds.marshall.edu/woods_johnfranklin/1 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Library of Appalachian Preaching at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Woods, John Franklin, 1865-? by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. MARSHALL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY WEST VIRGINIANA COLLECTION FOR USE IN ROOM ONLY Rev. J. F. Woods God’s Marvelous «•« To Me by REV. J. F. WOODS A general evangelist in the Pilgrim Holiness Church; a member of the West Virginia District Assembly. ***** A short history of the life of the author, with a few Bible readings and sermons. ***** With an introduction by Rev. W. L. Surbrook, General Superintendent of the Pilgrim Holiness Church. Price, $1.00 ; - lKj>2 U.Xj.y Copyright, 1936 by REV. J. F. WOODS '~'srz- 152914 Mis. Daisy K. Woods 1 DEDICATED TO My precious wife, Mrs. Daisy Kate Woods, who is the mother of thirteen children, nine boys and four girls. Ten of these children are still living. There were three sets of twins. My wife has stood by me in all of my tests and trials for more than forty eight years, through hardships and poverty as well as through success and plenty. Her prayers and letters of encouragement while at home taking care of the children have kept me on the firing line these more than thirty years. In all these years there has never been a murmur nor a complaint on account of our insufficient income. She has sacrificed with out knowing she was making a sacrifice, because of the pleasure she received in giving her life for her family and the cause of Christ; and when she gets to Heaven she will be so near the throne that I will not get to see her for a thousand years. J- F. W. ■ Charles Richard 1 Howard Hoke Grace Elizabeth Paul Knapp David Wesley INTRODUCTION Clear Gospel preaching, and positive, spiritual tes timony and instruction are at a low ebb today. With too many there is a fading out of the definite lines of demarcation between the spiritual and the non spiritual, between holiness and anti-holiness and be tween the church and the world. As a result, proper Scriptural standards have been lowered, loyalty to Gospel convictions has crumbled, and the door has been opened to compromise, since respect for rugged truth has so nearly disappeared. In these days when false doctrines are being dis tributed from door to door almost gratis, it is re freshing to read from the pen of one who, through all of his ministerial career, has been known for his unswerving loyalty to God and His Truth. Into this splendid production Rev. J. F. Woods has very faithfully woven many interesting experiences gained while in the service of the Lord, as well as several outside of grace, together with a few very excellent Gospel messages. His years of service as pastor, evangelist and dis trict superintendent have afforded him many valua ble contacts, experiences and data which he has here very generously passed on to us. Rev. Woods’ clear enunciations, positive interpretations and pointed declarations of rugged Gospel Truth make this volume a valuable asset to anyone’s library. Like Peter, he can well say, “I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” Indianapolis, Ind. W. L. SURBROOK September 22, 1936 PREFACE At different times during die past ten years of his ministry, the writer has been solicited to give to the public some of his Bible readings, with a few of his sermons, in connection with a short history of his life. The author never gave this serious consideration until in a meeting at Dover, Delaware, with Rev. P. F. Elliott, Jr., in November, 1935, when Brother Elliott requested him to give his life history to the public one night. He refused to even consider doing so, saying there was nothing special in his life that would interest people; but this request put him to thinking and to taking a retrospective view of his life and, in so doing, he found many experiences that he believes will be helpful to many readers of this book. I have therefore decided to undertake what to me is a tremendous task; but do so in the fear of the Lord, praying that He will make my efforts a bless ing after I have passed from the stage of action. I do not claim originality in my sermons and Bible readings, for I have spent hundreds of dol lars for books and have applied myself in reading them with the object in view of using anything that might be helpful to me in preparing a sermon or a Bible reading; but have not used any other man’s thoughts until I had digested them and knew them to be Scriptural; then I considered them as much mine as his and did not always give him credit for them. Dr. Watson, in talking with a class of preachers at the Cincinnati Camp Meeting at God’s Bible School (at which camp a great deal had been said about stealing other men’s thoughts), when asked the question, by an M. E. Church preacher, if he was a thief for using in his sermons sayings he had read in Dr. Watson’s books, since he did not always give Dr. Watson credit, saying he was sat urated with the truths he had read, answered him, saying, “Young man, you ate meat for your dinner, did you not?” “Yes.” “After you di gested it, to whom did that meat belong—you, or the beef from which it was taken?" “To me.” Dr. Watson then told him that after he had read his or any other man’s thoughts, and had di gested them, they belonged to him as much as they did to the man who had written or spoken them, that the object of writing or teaching was to help the other fellow, and that no one but an egotist would object to having his thoughts used by any one even though credit was not always given to the writer. The author can but trust that his book will be read by hundreds and that it may be the means of helping them to deeper experience and a greater trust in God. If this should be the case, the author will feel his feeble effort has not been in vain. J. F. Woods. HIS BOUNDLESS GRACE What shall I do my God to love? My loving God to praise? The length and breadth and height to prove, And depth of sovereign grace? Thy sovereign grace to all extends, Immense and unconlined; From age to age it never ends; It reaches all mankind. Throughout the world its breadth is known, Wide as infinity: So wide it never passed by one, Or it had passed by me. My trespass was grown up to heaven; But, far above the skies, Through Christ abundantly forgiven, I see Thy mercies rise. The depth of all-redeeming love, What angel tongue can tell? O may I to the utmost prove The gift unspeakable! Charles Wesley GRACE IS FLOWING FROM CALVARY, GRACE AS FATHOMLESS AS THE SEA, GRACE FOR TIME AND ETERNITY, GRACE, ENOUGH FOR ME. E. O. Exccll. GRACE The grace of God appeared to me, When I was lost in sin; And brought salvation to my heart, And now grace reigns within. The grace of God, abundant grace, The gift of God to me; Not of myself, in Him I found, The grace of Calvary. And now, all grace abounds for me. I live by grace, you see, That overcoming, standing grace That gives me victory. O grace of God! abound in me, And make me more like Thee. Now help me magnify the grace That saved a wretch like me. O grace of God, abundant grace, What shall it mean to me? When grace hath opened Heaven’s gates, And there my grace I see? O Son of God, Thy Royal Throne Is but a throne of grace; For He who sits as Regent there Is my amazing grace. Anon. 3 CONTENTS Chapter Page I. Special Providences of God in Sparing My Life.................. ■.. 15 II. Hindrances to Prayer; Teach Us to Pray....25 III. My Conversion and Sanctification.............. 36 IV. Our Obligation as Stewards......................... 53 V. My Call to Preach hand Some Early Ex periences............. 60 VI. The Refuge of Lies.... 79 VII. Some Experiences as District Superin- tendent............... .................................. • 96 VIII. Have Faith in God.... ............. 109 IX. Enlarging Our Borders 124 X. What Is Your Life?........ 141 XI. The Sin of Unbelief...... 154 XII. Self-examination............ 173 I CHAPTER I. SPECIAL PROVIDENCES OF GOD IN SPARING MY LIFE “When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” —Psa. 8:3, 4. "Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!”—Psa.