The Power of the Gospel to Heal the Spirit

“And you will be my witnesses …” Acts 1:8

In 1866 an English Christian named Katherine Hankey was bedridden. Her illness kept her homebound for many months. To pass the time, she decided to write a poem about the Christian faith. She felt inspired as she wrote, and the poem ended up with many verses. She finally broke the poem into two parts: “The Story Wanted” and “The Story Told.” It was about the gospel story and its power to heal the human spirit. Several stanzas of her poem would become the words to our closing hymn this morning, “I Love to Tell the Story,” as well as the hymn “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.”

The various stanzas are wonderful. Here are some of the stanzas of the poem.

Tell me the old, old story, of unseen things above –

Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.

Tell me the story simply, as to a little child;

For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in –

That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin!

Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon!

The early dew of morning has passed away at noon!

Tell me the story softly, with earnest tones and grave;

Remember, I’m the sinner whom Jesus came to save.

Tell me the story always, if you would really be,

In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

You want the old, old story, and nothing else will do!

Indeed, I cannot wonder, it always seems so new!

I often wish that someone would tell it me each day;

I never should get tired of what they had to say.

This is the old, old story, say, do you take it in –

This wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin?

Let everybody see it, that Christ has made you free;

And if it sets them longing, say, “Jesus died for thee!”

Soon, soon, our eyes shall see him, and in our home above,

We’ll sing the old, old story of Jesus and his love!

Enjoy our final hymn and its wonderful words.