Book Report 2

Travis Piepho
“Rees Howells: Intercessor” by Norman Grubb

The general theme of this book focused upon Mr. Howells and how he lived his life as a living sacrifice for Christ and the influence he had as he sacrificed. Howells was an intercessor so the book was explaining his experiences of stepping between God and the people as a bridge for God’s work. The theme of the book was one of trust in God and His goodness. It was a theme that led Mr. Howells to an extreme life and onto a road that no one could follow without divine help.
The three principles that spoke to me were: Trust, faith, and relationship.
The principle of trust was seen in Rees Howells undying belief in God’s goodness (Rom 12:2), in his trust in God’s ability to provide (John 3:16) and in his belief that God was always going to show up (John 17:26). He trusted in God’s ability to give him Spirit of willingness in the hard times, and there were many hard times (Rom. 8:26).
The principle of faith is seen in Howells constant communication with the Lord. Rom. 8:26, he believed that the Spirit would help him to intercede as he prayed to God. He believed in “fasting for the bridegroom” and praying that he would be able to intercede and help people (Matt. 9:14-17). Howells whole-heartedly believed that as he petitioned God in Jesus’ name that he would be able to do all things through faith (Hebrews 11).
The last principle of relationship can be seen when Rees Howells didn’t wear a cap when culture said that people who didn’t wear a cap were not honorable. Relationship is seen when Rees Howells gave up his newborn son so that he could do missions. Relationship is seen in how Rees Howells lived, ate and sometimes looked like those he knew God wanted Him to pray for. Relationship was seen in Rees risky business dealings with buying property. The sign that this relationship was real is that God did work all of them for the good. Hebrews 11 was lived out and Howells was in constant union with our Lord.
To apply these principles to my life I will try to live somewhat like Rees Howells in being righteous so that God can give me my own unique calling. I will try to keep God’s greatest commandments of loving the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself so that I can be in constant relationship with my Lord. I can pray and trust in Him at all times and live a life according to that. Intercessor helped to inspire me to become all that I can as a man of God.
I am excited to continue to learn to live that way I have been called to live. I think the testimony that most inspired me to be a man after God’s heart. Was when Rees Howells gave his one and only son away to his brother, at birth, so that he could fulfill his calling to go to Africa. In giving his son to a trustworthy and good family he was still having to give up everything that he wanted in life so that he could always do God’s unique work in His life.

It is crazy how this man lived. I would strongly suggest reading it.