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They Found the Secret
Explore the lives of twenty Christian figures whose powerful testimonies and lives of service will inspire you to embrace Christ as the secret to abundant living. Written by V. Raymond Edman, who is best remembered as the fourth president of Wheaton College in Illinois and as the writer of many devotional books, They Found the Secret shares the failures, hardships, yearnings, accomplishments, and ultimate hope and faith of twenty well-known and little-known Christians. There are those of yesteryear like John Bunyan , and of more recent years like Richard C. Halverson and William P. Nicholson . There are clergymen like A. J. Gordon , and laymen like Dwight L. Moody . Some are well known, like Charles G. Finney and Oswald Chambers , while others may be little known or even quite forgotten, like J. A. Wood . There are mystics like Andrew Murray and practical men like Charles G. Trumbull and Robert E. Nicholas . There are women as well as men: Frances Ridley Havergal of England, Amy Carmichael of India, and Eugenia Price of contemporary America. The details of each of their experiences are quite different, yet as you listen to their stories and watch their lives, you will see a pattern that reveals their secret: Out of discouragement and defeat they have come into victory. Out of weakness and weariness they have been made strong. Out of ineffectiveness and apparent uselessness they have become efficient and enthusiastic. Their collective testimony to the reality of the joy and power of the Spirit-filled life is unanimous. Their lives and work have shaped the Christian faith and paved the way for those who have come after them. And from their stories, you too can find the path to deeper faith and a more vital relationship with God.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
January 19, 2023
This one sat on my bookshelf for a long time. In hindsight it's obvious what (rather, Who) prompted me to pluck it from my shelf this week of all weeks. The week I spent alone in a snowy cabin in Colorado, with nothing save my Bible, a legal pad, a 1000 piece puzzle, and this book. Sometimes it's just the right book at the right time.
To all who ask, He who gives good gifts will give without measure. He will fill without measure. And he gives rivers. Not trickles. Not streams. Not a cracking riverbed with only the memory rushing water. But rivers, brimming with life.
I am thankful for the stories in this book. I am thankful for their relatability, and their encouragement.
Lord, my life is Yours, fill me again.
To all who ask, He who gives good gifts will give without measure. He will fill without measure. And he gives rivers. Not trickles. Not streams. Not a cracking riverbed with only the memory rushing water. But rivers, brimming with life.
I am thankful for the stories in this book. I am thankful for their relatability, and their encouragement.
Lord, my life is Yours, fill me again.
February 27, 2023
I miss u ms.beach a lot
Have a great night
Have a great night
July 24, 2023
The longing in my heart to be all that God wants me to be has only increased since reading this book. I was encouraged by the testimonies written in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2015
Great little book that spans the past few centuries capturing short little biographies of great men and women of faith. Amazing common thread across generations is the "crisis of the deeper life" These great 20 transformed lives all come to a place of the "exchanged life" They were all hard working burned out followers of Jesus who wondered why their work wasn't deeply effective. They all come to a crisis and then find true abundant life through abandoning themselves. As the author concludes "It is an obtainment, not an attainment; a gift to be received and not an achievement to be earned. it is from above and not from within. Its life arises out of death to ourselves and not from deeds that we have done." I highly recommend reading this in tandem with "The Saving Life of Christ" by Ian Thomas
April 15, 2011
An amazing collection of 20 stories from people who found the Holy Spirit years after becoming a Christian... life and ministry are a lot easier if you are filled with Him and doing His work instead of your own!!!
April 25, 2023
Great book. Great advice on raising children. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ.
August 24, 2020
This short book is an introduction to the prayer life of different Christians that have been influential in the world. I found the short biographies to be encouraging, but I must admit that I wanted more. There were several chapters that were very short, as if there wasn’t enough information about the individual to write a longer chapter. Despite that, it was a book that encouraged me to spend more time in my prayer closet as those in this book did. This book truly highlights the faithfulness of God.
July 19, 2023
People who believe are called saints. 21 stories, of saints who were not just satisfied at being "Christian " but wanted to serve God with their whole heart ❤️. This is a story about them, but it's also a story about the Holy Ghost, the third person of the trinity, the least known & least understood. The Holy Spirit is at work, constantly in the life of a believer. This illustrates that. This was small but very well written and impactful. I loved it.
September 6, 2023
These testimonies are so beautifully passed on in this book. So many moments of thankfulness, joy and illumination were had in the time I spent reading. I’m left with awe knowing I know the same God that these men and women know.
And what’s the common path? An awareness of our need, a hunger and thirst, appropriation by faith and abiding by faith. Lord help us to yield and abide.
And what’s the common path? An awareness of our need, a hunger and thirst, appropriation by faith and abiding by faith. Lord help us to yield and abide.
January 31, 2024
Despite the terrible title and numerous copyediting mistakes, I'm giving this 5 stars. I've read it probably 10 times and have had it since I was about 18 or 19. Its spine is taped up and that is testimony to the 21 encouraging testimonies contained therein (including the author's). Having just reread it, I thought it high time to add it to my Goodreads list.
November 20, 2014
I really enjoy these types of books with short biographies of faithful believers. One of the key themes focuses on the need to tap into God's sufficiency as we come to the end of ours. My only criticism--and it's not a big one--is that biographies of this era tend to be a little flowery in their efforts to idealize a person's life after a particular encounter with God.
August 28, 2023
I loved that this was no new-age "secret" but the simple secret of giving all to Jesus and abiding in Him. The author profiles many Christians who did amazing things for the kingdom of God and in each case, their story of complete surrender and filling of the Holy Spirit. I found this book to be inspiring and informative.
Read
March 19, 2020Șerban Florian ps. asist. Cogealac, CT 25/02/14
Recenzie a cărții lui V. Raymond Edman, They Found the Secret: Twenty Transformed Lives that Reveal a Touch of Eternity (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1984).
Raymond Edman s-a născut în Chicago la 1900. A slujit ca medic pe frontul Primului Război Mondial. Între 1923-1928 a slujit ca misionar în Ecuador. A contractat o boală tropicală care l-a adus pe patul de moarte. În vreme ce zăcea inconștient, a experimentat prezența copleșitoare a lui Dumnezeu, fapt care l-a schimbat pentru tot restul vieții. A urmat un doctorat în relații internaționale în 1933 și a predat științe politice la Wheaton College, al cărui președinte a fost până în 1965. Cartea sa conține biografiile a douăzeci de bine-cunoscuți și mai puțin cunoscuți oameni ai lui Dumnezeu:
1. Samuel Logan Brengle, pastor în Armata Salvării;
2. J. Hudson Taylor, misionar al Chinei;
3. John Bunyan, predicatorul englez care a scris „Călătoria creștinului”;
4. Andrew Murray, pastor în biserica reformată olandeză din Africa de sud;
5. Amy Carmichael, misionară a Indiei;
6. Oswald Chambers, pastor baptist scoțian care a scris My Utmost for His Highest (tradusă în limba română sub titlul „Totul pentru gloria Lui”);
7. Charles Grandison Finney, pastor prezbiterian american;
8. Adoniram Judson Gordon, predicator baptist american;
9. Richard C. Halverson, capelan prezbiterian al Senatului american;
10. Frances Ridley Havergal, autoare de imnuri creștine, precum imnul „Doamne, ia Tu viața mea”, „Niciunde fără Tine”, „Noaptea-ncetișor se lasă” (9 imnuri din cartea „Imnuri creștine”, 2006);
11. John Hyde, misionar prezbiterian al Indiei;
12. Dwight Lyman Moody, evanghelist american;
13. Handley C. G. Moule, episcop anglican;
14. Robert E. Nicholas, om de afaceri creștin;
15. Eugenia Price, scriitoare americană de romane istorice;
16. W. Ian Thomas, scriitor evanghelic american;
17. Charles G. Trumbull, editor al Sunday School Times;
18. Walter L. Wilson, medic american și predicator;
19. William P. Nicholson, predicator irlandez;
20. John Allan Wood, predicator american.
Edman a resimțit nevoia după o carte care să se adreseze lumii teologice și cititorilor creștini; și care să le atragă atenția asupra nevoii de punere în practică a învățăturii creștine. Pentru creștinii de astăzi, marile biografii par a fi inspirate din trecutul îndepărtat și astfel sunt de domeniul trecutului. „Și tocmai când ne gândim că asemenea oameni trăiau doar pe timpuri, dăm nas în nas cu unul în viața reală, în mijlocul secolului al XX-lea. Detaliile experienței lor cu privire la criza vieții spirituale sunt diferite, totuși mărturia lor cu privire la realitatea bucuriei și puterii acelei vieți pline de Duhul Sfânt este unanimă. Domnul este Acela care poate să astâmpere dorința sufletului. El este secretul unei vieți schimbate!”. Edman întreabă: „Care este această viață schimbată? Într-adevăr, nu este ceva; ea este Cineva. Este locuirea Domnului Isus Hristos, făcută reală și satisfăcătoare prin Duhul Sfânt.”
Biografiile sunt centrate în mod deosebit pe momentul de cotitură din viața fiecăruia dintre protagoniști. Fiecare dintre ei a trebuit să ajungă la capătul propriilor puteri mai înainte de a-L simți pe Dumnezeu lângă ei și de a-I preda viața. Ei au găsit calea către o credință mai profundă și o relație vitală cu Dumnezeu. Cititorul cărții va descoperi ceea ce apostolul se ruga Tatălui Domnului nostru Isus Hristos „ca, potrivit cu bogăția slavei Sale, să vă facă să vă întăriți în putere, prin Duhul Lui, în omul dinăuntru, așa încât Hristos să locuiască în inimile voastre prin credință; pentru ca, având rădăcina și temelia pusă în dragoste, să puteți pricepe împreună cu toți sfinții care este lărgimea, lungimea, adâncimea și înălțimea; și să cunoașteți dragostea lui Hristos care întrece orice cunoștință, ca să ajungeți plini de toată plinătatea lui Dumnezeu. Iar a Celui ce, prin puterea care lucrează în noi, poate să facă nespus mai mult decât cerem sau gândim noi, a Lui să fie slava în Biserică și în Hristos Isus, din neam în neam, în vecii vecilor! Amin.” (Efeseni 3:14-21). Mulțumiri deosebite fratelui Grig Leordean, profesor și pastor. El ne-a pus în mână cartea.
Recenzie a cărții lui V. Raymond Edman, They Found the Secret: Twenty Transformed Lives that Reveal a Touch of Eternity (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1984).
Raymond Edman s-a născut în Chicago la 1900. A slujit ca medic pe frontul Primului Război Mondial. Între 1923-1928 a slujit ca misionar în Ecuador. A contractat o boală tropicală care l-a adus pe patul de moarte. În vreme ce zăcea inconștient, a experimentat prezența copleșitoare a lui Dumnezeu, fapt care l-a schimbat pentru tot restul vieții. A urmat un doctorat în relații internaționale în 1933 și a predat științe politice la Wheaton College, al cărui președinte a fost până în 1965. Cartea sa conține biografiile a douăzeci de bine-cunoscuți și mai puțin cunoscuți oameni ai lui Dumnezeu:
1. Samuel Logan Brengle, pastor în Armata Salvării;
2. J. Hudson Taylor, misionar al Chinei;
3. John Bunyan, predicatorul englez care a scris „Călătoria creștinului”;
4. Andrew Murray, pastor în biserica reformată olandeză din Africa de sud;
5. Amy Carmichael, misionară a Indiei;
6. Oswald Chambers, pastor baptist scoțian care a scris My Utmost for His Highest (tradusă în limba română sub titlul „Totul pentru gloria Lui”);
7. Charles Grandison Finney, pastor prezbiterian american;
8. Adoniram Judson Gordon, predicator baptist american;
9. Richard C. Halverson, capelan prezbiterian al Senatului american;
10. Frances Ridley Havergal, autoare de imnuri creștine, precum imnul „Doamne, ia Tu viața mea”, „Niciunde fără Tine”, „Noaptea-ncetișor se lasă” (9 imnuri din cartea „Imnuri creștine”, 2006);
11. John Hyde, misionar prezbiterian al Indiei;
12. Dwight Lyman Moody, evanghelist american;
13. Handley C. G. Moule, episcop anglican;
14. Robert E. Nicholas, om de afaceri creștin;
15. Eugenia Price, scriitoare americană de romane istorice;
16. W. Ian Thomas, scriitor evanghelic american;
17. Charles G. Trumbull, editor al Sunday School Times;
18. Walter L. Wilson, medic american și predicator;
19. William P. Nicholson, predicator irlandez;
20. John Allan Wood, predicator american.
Edman a resimțit nevoia după o carte care să se adreseze lumii teologice și cititorilor creștini; și care să le atragă atenția asupra nevoii de punere în practică a învățăturii creștine. Pentru creștinii de astăzi, marile biografii par a fi inspirate din trecutul îndepărtat și astfel sunt de domeniul trecutului. „Și tocmai când ne gândim că asemenea oameni trăiau doar pe timpuri, dăm nas în nas cu unul în viața reală, în mijlocul secolului al XX-lea. Detaliile experienței lor cu privire la criza vieții spirituale sunt diferite, totuși mărturia lor cu privire la realitatea bucuriei și puterii acelei vieți pline de Duhul Sfânt este unanimă. Domnul este Acela care poate să astâmpere dorința sufletului. El este secretul unei vieți schimbate!”. Edman întreabă: „Care este această viață schimbată? Într-adevăr, nu este ceva; ea este Cineva. Este locuirea Domnului Isus Hristos, făcută reală și satisfăcătoare prin Duhul Sfânt.”
Biografiile sunt centrate în mod deosebit pe momentul de cotitură din viața fiecăruia dintre protagoniști. Fiecare dintre ei a trebuit să ajungă la capătul propriilor puteri mai înainte de a-L simți pe Dumnezeu lângă ei și de a-I preda viața. Ei au găsit calea către o credință mai profundă și o relație vitală cu Dumnezeu. Cititorul cărții va descoperi ceea ce apostolul se ruga Tatălui Domnului nostru Isus Hristos „ca, potrivit cu bogăția slavei Sale, să vă facă să vă întăriți în putere, prin Duhul Lui, în omul dinăuntru, așa încât Hristos să locuiască în inimile voastre prin credință; pentru ca, având rădăcina și temelia pusă în dragoste, să puteți pricepe împreună cu toți sfinții care este lărgimea, lungimea, adâncimea și înălțimea; și să cunoașteți dragostea lui Hristos care întrece orice cunoștință, ca să ajungeți plini de toată plinătatea lui Dumnezeu. Iar a Celui ce, prin puterea care lucrează în noi, poate să facă nespus mai mult decât cerem sau gândim noi, a Lui să fie slava în Biserică și în Hristos Isus, din neam în neam, în vecii vecilor! Amin.” (Efeseni 3:14-21). Mulțumiri deosebite fratelui Grig Leordean, profesor și pastor. El ne-a pus în mână cartea.
July 16, 2023
I'll admit from the start that I do not share the same doctrinal views as this book. The author and thus the book are more: charismatic, Spirit- filled, Keswick (a term I had never heard before) than my beliefs.
I picked this book up on a bargain rack for a few bucks. I was familiar with some of the names and wanted to read a bio.
However, reading this book was slow going, despite the short chapters. I fought sleep often as not. The flow and pace of the book was not well done. Often feeling disjointed.
The book did not succeed as either a bio or a doctrinal/Christian living title. There's no teaching or application for daily living. And the stories are so short, the reader barely knows 2 or 3 things about the individual. It jumps around their lives with only snippets of what happened (I guess the page count should have clued me in to that).
Additionally, the book doesn't even fit as a spirit filled book. The author tells of one or two significant events in the person's life but barely touches on it. There's no depth as to what exactly happened or how (strange how vague/ subjective these encounters always are). They just 'feel' something and suddenly we're told to believe they're given special anointing and go do great deeds. No way to understand or imitate. I'd be curious to compare these accounts to other bios on them, especially the more well known 'heroes'.
Finally, while I don't agree with the doctrinal view, there were 2 or 3 times I saw something that I thought was actual error, not difference.
I picked this book up on a bargain rack for a few bucks. I was familiar with some of the names and wanted to read a bio.
However, reading this book was slow going, despite the short chapters. I fought sleep often as not. The flow and pace of the book was not well done. Often feeling disjointed.
The book did not succeed as either a bio or a doctrinal/Christian living title. There's no teaching or application for daily living. And the stories are so short, the reader barely knows 2 or 3 things about the individual. It jumps around their lives with only snippets of what happened (I guess the page count should have clued me in to that).
Additionally, the book doesn't even fit as a spirit filled book. The author tells of one or two significant events in the person's life but barely touches on it. There's no depth as to what exactly happened or how (strange how vague/ subjective these encounters always are). They just 'feel' something and suddenly we're told to believe they're given special anointing and go do great deeds. No way to understand or imitate. I'd be curious to compare these accounts to other bios on them, especially the more well known 'heroes'.
Finally, while I don't agree with the doctrinal view, there were 2 or 3 times I saw something that I thought was actual error, not difference.
November 2, 2017
This is a good book for anyone seeking to grow in godliness and holiness. It's for anyone who wants more of God's Spirit in their life. The author's main theme is how twenty saints of God were empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a victorious life in Christ....Moody, Finney, Bunyan, Amy Carmichael, and others are explored. It touches on Keswick teaching and makes a solid case for a second-filling. Definately a book I will be recommending to my pastor and others.
October 13, 2021
These short bio’s had a theme of men who followed a life pattern … progressing from salvation, to zeal, to fruitless lives, to frustration, and finally to breakthrough. The breakthrough centered upon interacting with the Holy Spirit in a different way than during their early years with the Lord. Very inspiring stories!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2017
Keswick teaching
How to Live on Christ, Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Fellowship of the Burning Heart, Richard C. Halverson
pg. 83
All for Jesus
The Spiritual Unfolding of Bishop H. C. G. Moule, John Baird
Christ and the Christian, Moule
He is My Victorious Life, Price
Whose Body is Yours?
How to Live on Christ, Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Fellowship of the Burning Heart, Richard C. Halverson
pg. 83
All for Jesus
The Spiritual Unfolding of Bishop H. C. G. Moule, John Baird
Christ and the Christian, Moule
He is My Victorious Life, Price
Whose Body is Yours?
January 24, 2018
20 mini biographies on one theme: The importance of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life.
It wasn't the easiest to read since a majority of each chapter was from letters, journal entries, and so on, but it reawakened an important yearning, so it did it's job.
It wasn't the easiest to read since a majority of each chapter was from letters, journal entries, and so on, but it reawakened an important yearning, so it did it's job.
July 29, 2020
A very enjoyable read, I covered a chapter each morning during my quiet time. I found the entries on Frances Havergal, Handley C.G. Moule, W. Ian Thomas, and the author's own epilogue to be especially interesting.
April 20, 2023
Enjoyed reading this book not only for it's insights but also because it was written by mutual friends of his from his Wheaton College days (Billy Graham, Jim Elliot, Nate Saint). Reminder of the effective life of one committed to serving the Lord in every way.
May 8, 2023
I highly recommend if you are seeking more of the Holy Spirit, wanting to draw closer to and understand His role in your Christian life. Full of wisdom from those who struggled and overcame through the revelation of the Homy Spirit! The yearnings of the saints through the ages was my heart cry.
November 2, 2017
I enjoyed the old fashioned manner of speaking and writing. Interesting spiritual biographies I never heard before.
December 29, 2021
💡: The impact of the “works” increases ONLY by deepening your relationship with Him, not more works. My #1 prayer request of 2022 is to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
January 2, 2022
Although the language is a bit dated, the stories are inspiring!
January 18, 2022
Powerful! Give up self and striving to do God’s work and let Christ work his will through you. He is in me and works through me as I yield up my self to his will.
February 10, 2022
Edifying Book
I truly enjoyed the real life testimonies of all 20 people. Their stories helped me grasped the truth that is found in God’s precious word.
I truly enjoyed the real life testimonies of all 20 people. Their stories helped me grasped the truth that is found in God’s precious word.
March 6, 2023
So inspiring! Loved it so much I've read it twice!
June 5, 2023
Great book about 20 transformed lives!
March 31, 2024
A very good little collection of biographies of believers who found the secret of surrendering their life to the Holy Spirit and to sanctification. I’d read it again.
March 9, 2017
To move our life from SAVIOR of our lives for eternity is one thing, but to move toward making Him LORD of our lives after salvation is another thing. To know the SCRIPTURES is one thing, but to know and combine with with the SPIRIT means a whole new way of Christian living. Much to ponder and reflect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews