An emphasis on revival
Haldane, of course, like several authors Lloyd-Jones drew attention to, experienced revival. This can be thought of as a personal knowledge of Christ and an experience of grace on a large scale. One of the attractions of the book by Fletcher of Madeley was that it pointed “to the one thing that finally matters, and without which all else is more or less vain” and “to the highway to revival - both personal and general.”
Revival was always an important theme for Lloyd-Jones. In 1947 he had written a foreword to a little book by his friend P E Hughes, Revive us again. Typically Lloyd-Jones says
There is no subject which is of greater importance to the Christian Church at the present time than that of Revival. It should be the theme of our constant meditation, preaching and prayers. Anything which stimulates us to that is of inestimable value. At the same time it is the finest spiritual tonic.
At a time when the greatest danger is to rush into well-intentioned but nevertheless oft times carnal forms of activism, it is good to be reminded forcefully of the essential difference between an organised campaign and the sovereign action of the Holy Spirit in Revival.
Likewise it is right that this subject be approached from the standpoint of Scripture teaching and also the testimony of history. We are thus reminded that in spite of all we are told about the new and exceptional features in the modern situation, the laws governing the operation of the Holy Spirit in Revival seem to be strangely and wonderfully constant.
Above all, no one can read this book without realising that the way to Revival is still the way of holiness.
May God bless and use these eleven brief chapters, and in his mercy "revive us again".
A decade and more later, in 1958, thoughts were turned to the coming centenary of the 1859 revival and Sprague's lectures on the subject were republished. The Doctor was again arguing the case
I am profoundly convinced that the greatest need in the world today is revival in the Church of God. Yet alas! the whole idea of revival seems to have become strange to so many good Christian people. There are some who even seem to resent the very idea and actually speak and write against it. Such an attitude is due both to a serious misunderstanding of the Scriptures, and to woeful ignorance of the history of the Church. Anything therefore that can instruct God's people in this matter is very welcome.
He particularly commends Sprague's treatment as it is “scriptural, theological and balanced”. He likes the collection of letters in the appendix where “great saintly and scholarly men of God” such as Archibald Alexander, Samuel Miller and “the seraphic Edward Payson” write of their own experience in revivals.
He sees the book as an excellent tool to prepare for the meetings due to be held the next year “to recall the great revival of 1857-59”. He concludes
My prayer is that as we read it and are reminded of "Our glorious God," and of His mighty deeds in times past among His people, a great sense of our own unworthiness and inadequacy, and a corresponding longing for the manifestation of his glory and His power will be created within us. His "arm is not shortened." May this book stir us all to plead with Him to make bare that arm and to stretch it forth again, that His enemies may be confounded and scattered and His people's hearts be filled with gladness and rejoicing.
The same concern underlies his foreword to Eifion Evans' account of the 1904 revival (1969), which he sees as helpful not just in analysing a particular revival but the phenomenon more generally. As ever his concern is contemporary not merely historical. He saw the book as important for particular reasons
First, the great need of revival in the churches. This is surely the only real hope; but it is essential that Christians should be clear as to the difference between revival and organised evangelism. Here is a reminder of what is possible, and especially for those whose whole doctrine of the Holy Spirit really leaves no room for revival.
Secondly, this book is most opportune because of what is known as the "Charismatic Movement" and a new interest in spiritual phenomena. It helps to show the danger of passing from the spiritual to the psychological and possible even the psychic.
He admits that there are particular issues in connection with the 1904 revival but warns against dismissing “the entire phenomenon because of certain excesses that often accompany it”. He ends
No one can read this book without coming under judgement. It will reveal whether our ultimate faith is in "the power of God" or in human ability and organisations". It is my prayer, and my hope, that it will lead many so to realise anew and afresh the the glory and the wonder of the former that they will begin to long and to yearn and to pray for another "visitation from on high" such as we experienced in 1904-5.
It is the same concern he had just a few years before in the 1962 book on Harris.
Would you know something of what is meant by the term "revival"? Would you know the real meaning of, "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God"? Would you know more of "life in the Spirit," and "prayer in the Spirit," and something of "the powers of the world to come"?
“Then read this book” he says “and remember that Harris was but "a man of like passions with ourselves" and that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today and forever."”
One more example of the same thing is in the foreword to Whitefield's sermons
May God grant that, as we read of the man whom God made so mighty, and the things which he taught and preached, we may be led to long for and to pray for such a revival in our day and generation as God gave in His sovereign grace and mercy 200 years ago.
Haldane, of course, like several authors Lloyd-Jones drew attention to, experienced revival. This can be thought of as a personal knowledge of Christ and an experience of grace on a large scale. One of the attractions of the book by Fletcher of Madeley was that it pointed “to the one thing that finally matters, and without which all else is more or less vain” and “to the highway to revival - both personal and general.”
Revival was always an important theme for Lloyd-Jones. In 1947 he had written a foreword to a little book by his friend P E Hughes, Revive us again. Typically Lloyd-Jones says
There is no subject which is of greater importance to the Christian Church at the present time than that of Revival. It should be the theme of our constant meditation, preaching and prayers. Anything which stimulates us to that is of inestimable value. At the same time it is the finest spiritual tonic.
At a time when the greatest danger is to rush into well-intentioned but nevertheless oft times carnal forms of activism, it is good to be reminded forcefully of the essential difference between an organised campaign and the sovereign action of the Holy Spirit in Revival.
Likewise it is right that this subject be approached from the standpoint of Scripture teaching and also the testimony of history. We are thus reminded that in spite of all we are told about the new and exceptional features in the modern situation, the laws governing the operation of the Holy Spirit in Revival seem to be strangely and wonderfully constant.
Above all, no one can read this book without realising that the way to Revival is still the way of holiness.
May God bless and use these eleven brief chapters, and in his mercy "revive us again".
A decade and more later, in 1958, thoughts were turned to the coming centenary of the 1859 revival and Sprague's lectures on the subject were republished. The Doctor was again arguing the case
I am profoundly convinced that the greatest need in the world today is revival in the Church of God. Yet alas! the whole idea of revival seems to have become strange to so many good Christian people. There are some who even seem to resent the very idea and actually speak and write against it. Such an attitude is due both to a serious misunderstanding of the Scriptures, and to woeful ignorance of the history of the Church. Anything therefore that can instruct God's people in this matter is very welcome.
He particularly commends Sprague's treatment as it is “scriptural, theological and balanced”. He likes the collection of letters in the appendix where “great saintly and scholarly men of God” such as Archibald Alexander, Samuel Miller and “the seraphic Edward Payson” write of their own experience in revivals.
He sees the book as an excellent tool to prepare for the meetings due to be held the next year “to recall the great revival of 1857-59”. He concludes
My prayer is that as we read it and are reminded of "Our glorious God," and of His mighty deeds in times past among His people, a great sense of our own unworthiness and inadequacy, and a corresponding longing for the manifestation of his glory and His power will be created within us. His "arm is not shortened." May this book stir us all to plead with Him to make bare that arm and to stretch it forth again, that His enemies may be confounded and scattered and His people's hearts be filled with gladness and rejoicing.
The same concern underlies his foreword to Eifion Evans' account of the 1904 revival (1969), which he sees as helpful not just in analysing a particular revival but the phenomenon more generally. As ever his concern is contemporary not merely historical. He saw the book as important for particular reasons
First, the great need of revival in the churches. This is surely the only real hope; but it is essential that Christians should be clear as to the difference between revival and organised evangelism. Here is a reminder of what is possible, and especially for those whose whole doctrine of the Holy Spirit really leaves no room for revival.
Secondly, this book is most opportune because of what is known as the "Charismatic Movement" and a new interest in spiritual phenomena. It helps to show the danger of passing from the spiritual to the psychological and possible even the psychic.
He admits that there are particular issues in connection with the 1904 revival but warns against dismissing “the entire phenomenon because of certain excesses that often accompany it”. He ends
No one can read this book without coming under judgement. It will reveal whether our ultimate faith is in "the power of God" or in human ability and organisations". It is my prayer, and my hope, that it will lead many so to realise anew and afresh the the glory and the wonder of the former that they will begin to long and to yearn and to pray for another "visitation from on high" such as we experienced in 1904-5.
It is the same concern he had just a few years before in the 1962 book on Harris.
Would you know something of what is meant by the term "revival"? Would you know the real meaning of, "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God"? Would you know more of "life in the Spirit," and "prayer in the Spirit," and something of "the powers of the world to come"?
“Then read this book” he says “and remember that Harris was but "a man of like passions with ourselves" and that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today and forever."”
One more example of the same thing is in the foreword to Whitefield's sermons
May God grant that, as we read of the man whom God made so mighty, and the things which he taught and preached, we may be led to long for and to pray for such a revival in our day and generation as God gave in His sovereign grace and mercy 200 years ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment