Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians

by James Gilchrist Lawson

A life of greater power can be yours! James Gilchrist Lawson examines the ways in which some of the most famous Christians of the ages reached a greater experience of God’s love and power. The impact and influence of John Bunyan, Fénelon, Madame Guyon, D. L. Moody, and many others are here intimately revealed, mostly in their own words.
You will discover how you can… There is a life of spiritual fullness beyond salvation, and God is waiting for you to be receptive so that He can pour out this blessing to you. You, too, can experience the Spirit-filled life today!

Genres: Biography, Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Faith, Christianity, Nonfiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1981

About the author

James Gilchrist Lawson (1874–1946) was a prolific British Christian author and compiler. Most notably, he compiled biographical sketches into Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians (1911), which is a landmark text in Pentecostal and Charismatic history. This book draws broadly from Christian history and the Wesleyan holiness movement to include many post-conversion experiences with the Holy Spirit, which Lawson believed to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this way, it connects the modern Pentecostal movement, which began in 1900, to the much larger stream of Christian theology and history. Biographical sketches include Girolamo Savonarola, Fenelon, Madame Guyon, John Wesley, Charles Finney, William Booth, and many others. Author and professor Dallas Willard wrote that Deeper Experiences is ″the one book other than the Bible that has most influenced me.″

Lawson was editor of The Marked Reference Bible, which was an expansion on The Christian Worker's New Testament which he had published in 1924. The Marked Reference Bible includes a chain-reference and a color-coding system. The four colors represent the primary topics of salvation (red), the Holy Spirit (green), temporal blessings (brown), and prophetic subjects (blue). This Bible comes highly recommended by Winkie Pratney as a reference for biblical theology. The Bible allows you to see not only where a topic or subtopic is mentioned, but how many times, as a guide to that topic's importance to the biblical text.

Lawson was also a prolific compiler of quotes and stories. His compilations include Greatest Thoughts About the Bible, Greatest Thoughts About Jesus Christ, Greatest Thoughts About God, The World’s Best Humorous Anecdotes (1923), The World’s Best Conundrums and Riddles of all Ages (1924), The World's Best Epigrams (1924), and The Best Loved Religious Poems. In 1941, Lawson published a compilation of biographical sketches called Famous Missionaries.

James Lawson says of himself in the introduction to Greatest Thoughts About God, ″For the greater part of his life the compiler of this volume has been collecting the greatest thoughts of the greatest thinkers on the greatest themes. During the years the compiler has engaged in evangelistic work in the United States and Great Britain, he was able to consult the best books in the best libraries of America and Britain and to glean the best thoughts from them. While engaged in journalistic work, for five years, for the leading religious papers, in London, England, he was brought in contact with most of the religious leaders of the world and garnered the best thoughts from them. Through his connection with the religious publishing business during the last ten years, he has been able to collect the best thoughts from all the leading religious papers. Owing to the exceptional privileges which have been given to him by the providence of God, the compiler of this volume is able to give to the world the very cream of religious thoughts concerning God.″

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

“How wonderful that God should have borne so long with me.”

Written in 1911, DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS is a sometimes poorly written text. It fluctuates greatly in terms of quality. This book draws from Christian history (and the Wesleyan holiness movement) to include many post-conversion experiences with the Holy Spirit, which author James Lawson believed to be the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The book’s Introduction is an interesting overview of a few major theological points and some of the various ways said points are interpreted by various Christian denominations/practices. The text is heavy on the theological concepts of “justification by faith”, “indwelling of the Holy Spirit”, etc.

Leaving all that aside, there are three persons considered in the book whose story, or an element of it, left an impression on me. First was that of Madame Guyon (who I had never heard of) a spiritual leader in France, whose life seems to have been the 15th century version of the biblical Job. Second was the chapter about the Welsh preacher Billy Bray, a man filled with joy. Consider this quote attributed to him; “Well, friends, I have been taking vinegar and honey, but praise the Lord, I’ve had the vinegar with a spoon and the honey with a ladle.” Finally, I enjoyed the chapter on Pastor A.B. Earle. It was comforting to read about a great man of God who still struggled long after he accepted the faith. Such lives seem possible to us and demonstrate the patience and love of God.

Quotes:
• “So long as men have different degrees of light they are bound to differ in theory.”
• “True joy and peace come from living by faith, without regard to feelings.”
• “When we lose our inward happiness, we are very apt to think that we lose God, not considering the moral life of the soul does not consist in pleasure, but in union with God’s will, whatever that may be.”
• “God preserves the lives of those who He has chosen for some great work.”
• “This is the mystery of effective preaching. We must be endued with power from on high.”
• “How reluctant we are to cleave to the Lord” How prone to creature dependencies.”
• “When the Spirit, the Word, and the providence of God agree, we may be quite certain that the Lord is leading us, for these three are always in harmony and cannot disagree.”
• “There must be full surrender before there can be full blessedness. God admits you by the one into the other.”

I believe that DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF FAMOUS CHRISTIANS is a book for a select audience. If you like brief autobiographical sketches of Christians (mostly Protestant) with some theology thrown in, you will find value here. Otherwise, this is probably not the book for you. For me, there were moments that I greatly enjoyed and I am glad I encountered this collection.

[Bob Japenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by Dallas Willard. Excellent

I would love to be able to talk to Dallas about this book. It was dogeared by him. I wish he was still with us

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have had this book on my shelf for 30 years or more. I was reading "The Great Omission" by Dallas Willard, to which he states in the back of the book that this book was one of the most influential books he has ever read. That is a pretty high recommendation, so I decided I would finally read it. I almost stopped reading the book in the first section because he is grasping at straws to convince the reader of the need of a Second Work of Grace of the Baptism of The Holy Spirit, of which I doctrinally disagree. However, I decided I would presss on and I am gald I did. Once I got into the biographical section of the book (Not complete biographies, just skectches concerning thier deeper spiritual experiences)the book became an encouragemnt to me. Even though doctrinally this book is all over the map, and although I don't think it is wise to measure ourselves in light of someone elses experiences (It is the truth os the Holy Scriptures which is the Believer's rule in whcih to measure ourselves), I do recommend this book on the basis that you will most likely leran things about some well known Christians in History you didn't know before. Plus, you will learn about some believers I never heard of before.One of the greatest attributes about this book is that it will challange the reader about thier spiritual lives.

[LeahBethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians was a good introduction to men and women who have had a major impact in their ministries. From Girolamo Savonarola in the 15th century to D.L. Moody in the 20th century, I enjoyed learning more about these Christians.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is an encouragement for those who have committed their lives to Christ and are at waiting points in their journey. For those who haven't made such a commtiment or who don't believe in Holy Spirit baptism and the power associated with it, the book will likely seem like foolishness. The biographical sketches are high-level and, at times, may seem a bit dramatized through unfortunate word choices such as the best ever or greatest ever but the meat of the individual accounts of God's working in the lives of rather ordinary people is worth wading through the hyperbole. While there were some names I recognized, there were quite a few individuals whose name and stories I hadn't heard, and whose lives and writings I want to explore more. Any book that makes you want to dig a little deeper is a plus in my world.

[Joshua Caraway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was referenced in a sermon by Vance Havner, who is one of my favorite preachers and who is also a household name in my family.

This author, James Lawson, a Baptist preacher himself, made it his mission to visit libraries across Europe and America over the course of some years to research literature on the deeper experiences of prominent figures throughout the history of God’s people.

His conclusion was that irregardless of denominational terminologies (by Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and all others), the experience was always more or less the same: it was the “empowering” or “filling” of the Holy Spirit to carry out the mighty works God had called them to do, as evidenced by the Scriptures.

Essentially, Lawson wrote brief biographical accounts ranging from the apostles, to the church fathers, to Madam Guyon, to Girolamo Savonarola, to John Wesley, to DL Moody, amongst many others, who received this filling before going to do work for the Lord, and how the fruits of their ministry increased dramatically.

I really enjoyed his approach and found it encouraging to see the range of folks throughout church history who killed the “self-life” and yielded fully to the power and leading of the Holy Spirit. It has made a profound impact on me and stirred something in me to want to follow suit.

[Shannon Hrinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, would not recommend because: Theologically unsound or at least questionable.

The author’s view of the “filling of the Spirit” is: an event that supposedly comes after regeneration and baptism and is the seal of salvation. Apparently this is something you, or others praying over you, need to ask God to happen.

There is a lot of truth in what I’ve read of this book about the work the Spirit does, but there are questionable things intermixed. The more I read it, the more “off” it seems and I’m discerning that continuing to read it would not be wise or beneficial.

[Brother Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surely this is one of the greatest books I've ever read. Reading the lives of these saints makes me want to have my own deeper exerience with God. I see no other way of living than to be prayerful and intoxicated with the mission of God and making Him known among all men.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

An encouraging account of many who have desired to be wholey God's. Reading all these mini-biographies opens your eyes to the vital elements and consistencies that you may not have otherwise noticed.

[Jan Rannow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best writing, but the content is gold

The biblical examples at the start of the book were fine, but the book really takes off when the author gets to the post-biblical mini biographies. It makes me want to read more complete biographies for some.
Most of the biographies in this book are of those who practiced evangelism. It’s unfortunate, I think, that there is no possible way to get a companion book entitled, “Deeper Experiences of Christians Who Were Never Famous”; never famous, that is, because their spiritual gifts were less “flashy”, though still essential to the body of Christ and foundational to the more visible gifts.

[Cale Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly soul-stirring, enriching, and challenging! With each Christian mentioned, their "deeper experience" varies by the timing of it, the terminology of it, and how they received it. But for these highly influential Christians, the secret to their effectiveness was not money, talent, education, or popularity. On the contrary, they were rather ordinary and many had quite a few challenges. But what they had all in common was that they could point to a moment of deep, full surrender and an unmistakable anointing with the Holy Spirit's power.

[Nironen Antti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read book as it is so inspiring

This book introduces the reader to the lives of people that God has used to change the lives of millions of people. It is so inspiring to learn how very ordinary people have been filled with The Holy Spirit and have brought change to lives of many, change to cities and whole countries. It encourages one to pray and seek for such things to happen today in one's own life and those around us.

[Carol Ashey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a breath of fresh air when all I hear about the world is how broken it is. I learned a lot about the history of my own faith, and the saint I connected with the most was the first one, Giovanni Savonarola. If there isn’t a sequel on 21st century saints there needs to be because I want to read that next.

[Robert Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great revivals of the past were begun by those who sold all to Christ

Reading this book, you will discover that the christian experience in third millennium America knows nothing of the real moving of the spirit. Lord send us truly sanctified men and women to call this generation.

[David L Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but very selective history

An interesting history of mostly Protestants of the 1700's and 1800's. Focuses on experiences related to complete sanctification and evangelism in the UK and United States.

[Austin Hood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some extra biblical stories we don’t hear too often! The underlying theme: the Holy Spirit still moves in us today if we ask for and seek its power.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of many great gems.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book which serves as an introduction to the lives of some of the great Christians. It makes you want to read more of their actual lives.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice short biographies.

[Maurice De · Rating 4 out of 5]

zeer inspirerend

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because Dallas Willard kept mentioning it in one of his books (can't remember which one). So, I figured if it inspired Dallas, it must be something I need to read. I wasn't wrong.

Out of the twenty-five chapters, twenty of them deal with one specific individual, their life of faith, and their "deeper experience" with God through the Holy Spirit. One chapter is an introduction, and the others deal with groups of people, such as Old Testament figures, New Testament figures, early church saints, and then a few "honorable mentions" at the end.

I know quite a few of the names that are mentioned, but there were also a few that I had never heard of.

For me, the greatest takeaway from this book (and I believe that I will revisit it from time to time, if only to read random chapters) is the vast difference in the lives of faith of these people compared to our current day. This book was originally published in 1911. But I can simply think of no one in our modern world that measures up to the people that are discussed in this book. This fills me with both wonder and sadness.

It makes me wonder where we have lost our way. I'm still pondering that, and will continue to do so. I believe that it has to do, though, with our lack of practice of the "classic disciplines" in which many, if not all, of these people engaged. It also has to do with our affinity with this world and its "shiny things." It has to do with a lack of serious prayer in our lives.

This book describes scenes that I can only imagine happening. It describes men who traveled all over the world, even in their old age, teaching and preaching the Gospel, and seeing thousands of people come to Christ. It describes people ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit, while seeing many people in their gatherings come under the obvious influence of the Trinity. Maybe some of the reactions are emotional, that happens. But I got the sense that most of what I was reading about was authentic.

As I already stated, I plan to revisit these chapters in the future, and seek out a "deeper experience" (I have to say that I'm already on that journey and have been for some time) of my own. Not a copy of any of their experiences. I just want to go deeper with God as I fellowship with the Trinity, knowing each member intimately. Books like this one can certainly help.

[Scott Jeffries · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Power of God.

This was the phrase that was repeating in my head after I finished Deeper Experiences of Famous Christians by James G. Lawson. The author used this phrase over and over to describe great and miraculous things that happened through the work of well-known and slightly well-known Christians.

It has been several months since I have read this book but several of the bios featured in the book still come to mind - namely George Whitfield, Dwight Moody, and Charles Finney. Lawson definitely places a glossy sheen on many of these stories and his accounts of their lives gets pretty close to legend on a few occasions. But, I don't think his myth making tendencies distract from the principles and lessons to be learned from each bio.

Beyond biography, many of these stories are about spiritual movements and how they came about. Again, these movements come down to the power of God breaking forth in a particular time and place. May this inspire our prayer for our particular time and place.

Lord, may your power come to us today.

[Richard Edwards · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first 80 pages are interesting in understanding how the Holy Spirit understanding evolved from the beginning of the church until now. The accounts of various significant Christians are of dubious value. I felt much of what was written was conjecture, and dubious scholarship. I don't think the accounts were substantially corroborated.

Still the information about the Holy Spirit as understood by the various denominations was worth reading.

[David Rickards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accidentally bought the large print/edited version ... speed kills on Amazon! But I learned a few things. This book was written in the early 1900s and focuses on evangelists who came to prominence in England and America, mostly during the 1800s. Most of them took a long walk in the woods, had a radical encounter with God, and left whatever job they had to evangelize. Amazing men (one complaint: what about the amazing women?).

[Kathy Penrod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. I love to read biographies and this book is a great introduction to the lives of some saints I had never heard of. I'll definitely be reading more in depth biographies of these men and women of God.