I’ve been reading through “It’s God’s Church! The Life & Legacy of Daniel Sidney Warner”,

and I’m struck at the utter resilience and determination of the man. Warner is credited with founding

the Church of God movement in the late 1800’s and did so through endless hours at the printing press and on the road evangelizing. He communicated the message of salvation and freedom through Jesus Christ on paper and in the pulpit with eloquence and electricity! From revival tent meetings to town hall buildings, Warner spread the Gospel with consistent fervor, even through tremendous difficulties.

It’s one thing to pioneer new efforts with little obstacle and quite another thing to do so when it

feels as if the whole world is against you. Warner developed issues with his lungs while serving in the

military during the Civil War which affected him till his passing in 1895 at the age of 53. Warner lost

his first son when he was an infant, as well as triplets and then his first wife. Afterward he remarried

and everything appeared to be well; however, his wife eventually left him. Furthermore, Warner was

forced to move his printing company at least five times, regularly faced attacks on his character, and

was even assaulted on occasion for daring to hold a mixed race service. Preaching freedom in Christ

wasn’t always accepted nor appreciated.

How is it then that Warner was able to persevere a midst incredible hardships and heartbreaks?

What kept him going? Was it the pioneer spirit that some innately embody or the hope for success that positive dispositions readily employ? Warner certainly did not make much in the way of money or popularity. His ideas of freedom in Jesus and Jesus alone were, in many ways, ahead of his time, and it wasn’t till approximately twenty years after his death that the Church of God became the fastest growing segment of Christianity in America. What then kept Warner going when so much tried to stop him?

Purpose, namely renewed purpose through the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-20 says this:

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the

Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Jesus, who is resurrected at this time and has conquered both sin and death, commands all those

who bear His name (Christians) to “make disciples”. That is to say, train up converts to Christianity to

know and follow Jesus in all aspects of their life. It’s a tall task so we don’t do it alone. We work

together as the church through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. That being said, we do all of these things motivated by the love of God to love others because “he loved us first” (1 John 4:19b).

With his love we can then do what Jesus says is the greatest of the commandments, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind,” and “love your neighbor as yourself”

(Matthew 22:37-39). As Christians these are our purposes given to us from Jesus. And it’s His purpose that brings renewal.

Warner was able to handle the hardships of reality because he kept making it about God’s

purpose. Check out his journal passage from February 3, 1877:

“Started before daylight, hoping to be able to go to Bro. Oliver who has been laboring for two

weeks five miles south of Perryville, Ohio. Roads getting very bad. Reached home (22 1⁄2 miles) by

three o’clock, found that I could go no farther. Baked me a good supper and after studying until a late

hour and offering my devotion to God, I retired solitary and full of meditation upon the goodness of

God who had now sustained me a poor feeble worm through the last 3 1⁄2 months of constant labor in

His vineyard. Praise God, oh my soul. Praise Him forevermore and forget not all His benefits.”

As Christians we are renewed for the purpose of Jesus. Remember, if He called you then He’ll

sustain you. Join us in these pursuits and together we’ll fulfill the great commission by and through the love of Jesus.

It’s a Great Time to Grow,

Pastor Aaron