Revival history in Christian preaching highlights the transformative power of God's renewing work, often met with opposition yet marked by genuine behavioral change and heartfelt conviction. Illustrations depict revival as a spiritual awakening that pierces the soul, awakening dormant believers and igniting widespread renewal (Acts 3:19). It is portrayed as a divine flood that revives the spiritually dry and waiting hearts (Psalm 85:6).
Revival is misunderstood and opposed as devilish by some, but true revival changes behavior positively.
A Roman-Catholic peasant-boy in Ireland is reported to have listened attentively to a priest earnestly denouncing the "revival," and warning the people against it as the work of the Devil. "Ah, thin, your riverine!" replied the lad, "it must be a new divil; for that's not the way the ould divil used to make the people behave themselves."
Sometimes small words or looks pierce hearts deeply, leading to conviction and revival.
A word, a look, which at one time would make no impression, at another time wounds the heart; and, like a shaft flying with the wind, pierces deep, which, with its own natural force, would scarce have reached the object aimed at.
— Sterne
People lie ready like logs waiting for a revival flood to carry them into spiritual life.
Far in the woods of Maine, in the winter months, there are a hundred camps; and scores of axemen are busy cutting down the huge trees, and measuring the logs, and sorting them, and throwing them into deep gullies, where they will lie dry and undisturbed until the snows melt, and the spring floods come; and then they will be borne out of the ravines into the ever deep-flowing river, and from thence to some Penobscot or Kennebec; and there, collected together, and bound in mighty rafts, they will float down to tide-waters. So men are lying, dry logs along empty channels, hoping that some revival freshet will come, and sweep them down to deep waters of piety.
— Beecher
The lasting spiritual fruit of a revival preacher extends through generations and families.
The fruits of this devoted minister of Christ were not ephemeral—they did not end in excitement. He went to his rest long since. But the fruits of his ministry still remain, in the consistent piety of those who were reared under the influence of parents brought into the church by his labors. A gentleman in Tennessee says: "The fruits of the great revival in Hanover under the preaching of Samuel Davies, are now spreading and growing in the Valley of the Mississippi. There are many of the children and children's children of those persons, who professed religion in Hanover, under the ministry of that eminent man of God, now scattered in this great valley; and I know of no instance where they go, but an altar is reared for the worship of God in their families and neighborhoods."
This is a kind of greatness—an immortality on earth—which a good man might covet, as he is permitted earnestly to covet "the best gifts."
# 25. Influence Injurious.
Humble ministry efforts can lead to widespread revival and lasting spiritual fruitfulness.
At one of the anniversaries in New-York, Mr. Todd, of Northampton, Mass., said—
When a boy, Providence sent an humble, unostentatious minister among us—a man who is now laboring in the wilderness at the west, almost unknown. There was a revival under his preaching—not much said or thought about it, for only a few poor boys and girls were the subjects. It was one among many of similar revivals under the labor of this man. The subjects were poor Sabbath school children: but I can fix my eye upon them, and see two or three of these girls are devoted wives of ministers, two or three of these boys are deacons of churches; two more, at least, ministers of the gospel (of whom the humble individual before you is one). I can point to at least eight new, vigorous, prosperous churches, gathered by these men, and nearly a score of young men from these churches, on the way to the ministry—several powerful revivals of religion, many new Sabbath schools organized, and hundreds of newborn souls, who have begun to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
All this can be traced directly to the little seed which this humble man of God cast by the wayside.
# 261. Trials of Ministers.
Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.
Donate