Spirit of the Living God -- Daniel Iverson and Michael Baughen

He was taking his cue from a sermon, and counting on the Providential input that he felt would come. Daniel Iverson started something in 1926 on one continent, and Michael Baughen added to it half a century later on another continent. That’s a message about how broad and magnetic the Spirit’s influence is, for people who call upon Him. The second composer was not even alive when the initial composer first penned his words that would capture the latter’s heart and imagination. But, that’s also instructive…the Spirit was already at work for a long time before any of us had a heartbeat.

Daniel Iverson and Michael Baughen both ministered in several areas of their native lands, and although we know only Iverson’s specific circumstances when he crafted his verse, we can surmise some of the surroundings for both of these believers in 1926 and 1980. Iverson was a 36-year old who was visiting Orlando, Florida, up the Atlantic Ocean coast from his future Miami home, where he traveled to attend a crusade, and was inspired by a sermon he heard there. We have George Stephans and his evangelism group to thank, evidently, for Iverson’s stimulation toward his musical composition. Stephans or one of his group must have spoken about the need for the Spirit to come anew in that place, to invigorate the hearers toward His purposes. Iverson had been in ministry as a Presbyterian for 12 years already, having served in Georgia, and North and South Carolina. But, perhaps he was sensing he did indeed need something new, for by 1927 he had started another Presbyterian church in Miami, where he stayed for nearly the next quarter-century. He also reportedly started seven other churches in that area. Could one safely say the Spirit had answered Dan Iverson’s request for a new adventure? Michael Baughen was 50 years old in London in 1980, the 16th year of his professional life as an Anglican minister, first in Manchester and then in London by 1970. He felt the need to build on Iverson’s personal request for the Spirit, calling for His influence to occupy the entire body of believers with a selfless love. What had moved Baughen at this point in his experience to make such a plea – a need inside the church or in the larger urban community there?  

Iverson’s and Baughen’s words are in fact wide open for all of us who need what they asked from the Spirit. He starts by working on the individual, whose response infects those around him. Inside-out, that’s what the two composers’ fused message communicates. This method certainly worked in Daniel Iverson’s life, though it wasn’t he who would pen the words of the 2^nd verse that completed this idea. Whether you’re asking for yourself or for your community, the crucial factor is who you’re asking.  Try Him out, and see how He answers in either way.

Check out the following links to read about the initial composer: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/i/v/e/iverson_d.htm

See this link for the song’s background story, and biographic information on composers: http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/PsH/424