mgpcpastor's blog

John Woodbridge’s SMBC Preaching Conference topic was ‘Ten Great Truths from Revivals for Preachers Today’. But such was his obvious love and enthusiasm for church history, that by the time we were done he had provided fifteen. He achieved this in two ways. The first was to provide a survey of revivals and awakenings from The First Great Awakening through to, and including, the ministry of Billy Graham.
Mr Woodbridge’s scholarship was deep and commanding, but winsomely and engagingly displayed. Rather than a structured lecture, these sessions were reminiscent of a raconteur, artfully regaling us with fantastic tales. The difference here, of course, was that every story was true. The hero of every story was God, and His living power at work to build His kingdom.
As we gained this ‘birds eye’ view of these movements, shared characteristics could be observed among them. The benefit of identifying these common characteristics was intended to be two-fold.
The first benefit was to give those of us who live in an era (and in Australia, a culture) where we have not personally experienced God’s power and workings in such a manner the knowledge of what God has done in the past and the circumstances in which He was pleased to work. The effect of this knowledge is to challenge us to believe and pray that God will work in similar ways in our location.
The second was to give us knowledge of the way in which God has generally been pleased to work during such times, so that we can be co-operative and active with such workings now. If those who do not learn from the past are fated to repeat it mistakes, those who are ignorant of God’s power in revival and awakening may find themselves distanced from such workings because they do not know that these are ways in which does work.

The Summary:
1. Awakenings affected large numbers of people, from all backgrounds.
2. Circumstances were not propitious; often there was hostility toward Christianity.
3. God pours out his Spirit for large and widespread (international) effects.
4. Justification by faith alone was central to the Gospel message preached.
5. Jonathan Edward’s distinguishing marks were discernable:
i. Esteem of Jesus must be lifted up.
ii. Satan’s kingdom is torn down.
iii. There is greater regard for Holy Scripture.
iv. People have a much better idea of truth and error.
v. A spirit of love for God and for neighbour.
6. Prayer (earnest, longsuffering) before, during, after.
7. One (two, three) person’s/people’s prayer was often a beginning point.
8. Hospitality (not really touched on, but consider Lady Huntington)
9. Lay persons were often at the heart/lead of these outworkings.
10. Our prayer can be crippled/emaciated by limited expectations.
11. Both Arminians and Calvinists were active and their efforts were blessed.
12. Belief (operative faith) needs to catch up to doctrinal/biblical knowledge.
13. The same Holy Spirit is present and working today.
14. Christians: make resolutions young and stick to them; avoid damage and sin that may hinder future ministry and witness.
15. Walk humbly before the Lord.

The survey, which Mr Woodbridge presented as not exhaustive, but selective and representative (This is a very brief overview of the content, much of what is recorded in both popular and scholarly material, see me if you want to borrow a book. The chief value of these talks was Mr Woodbridge’s summary evaluations.):
The First Great Awakening of the 1730-40s: a trans-Atlantic movement; central figures George Whitefield, John and Charles Wesley, Jonathan Edwards and Howell Harris. The effect of the response of thousands to the preaching of the Christian Gospel included tremendous social reform. Towns and regions were transformed in their character.
The Second Great Awakening: a widespread movement across North America from 1792 – 1842. This was the time in which the Christian faith became entwined with the American self-consciousness in places as diverse and the frontier, the South and Yale University. There were extreme physical actions associated with some meetings, and concerns were raised that the manifestations were sought and not the Spirit. Timothy Dwight, grandson of Jonathan Edwards, has a tremendous impact on the students of Yale University, influencing them by his commitment to the Scriptures and his winsome life.
Charles Finney – a polarising figure that Woodbridge maintained needed to taken on his merits in a variety of areas. Not everything he said and did is antithetical to reformed evangelicalism.
The Revival of 1857-58: (a personal favourite of Mr Woodbridge’s). This movement started with a lunchtime prayer meeting for businessmen commenced by Jeremiah Lanphear. It impact would spread from New York to Chicago, Philadelphia and other major U.S. centers. Irish Presbyterians would learn of the outpouring and experience renewal in their own land. Although the American Civil War would soon follow this revival, many of those in the Northern and Southern Armies were affected by it. Many would minister among the injured on the battle fields, soldiers from both armies would die on the fields, singing hymns together as their wounds overtook them.
The Revival of 1905. Movements were evident in Wales and Korea. Research has not revealed any linkage, but both trace their beginnings to individuals who totally set themselves apart for God’s work in repentance and faith. Their example was infectious and emulated by thousands of others.
Billy Graham was included because of his worldwide impact of over fifty years. He is also noteworthy because he self-consciously identifies with the revival movements. These are relevant points about Graham:
1. An unwavering commitment to serve Lord without qualifications. (This is reminiscent of the resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, who said at the age of nineteen that he resolved: to live so as I shall wish I had done when I die.) Near the 18th green of a golf course Graham commits himself as ambassador for Christ come what may.
2. An unreserved commitment to Biblical ethics. In Modesto the team covenant a manifesto of shared standards. Finance, reports on numbers of commitments, morality.
3. Linked the Bible to evangelistic preaching. Graham had real doubts about the authority of Scripture. Chuck Templeton, a contemporary evangelistic preacher of Graham’s went another direction. Mr Graham was shaken, but affirms Scriptural authority, (cf. the publication of the first issue of Christianity Today). One night in the woods, at age 30, he prays to God that he does not understand everything or have all the answers. He affirms faith despite lack of understanding.
4. Courage. He did not depend on his preaching skill, but on the word of God. Not flashy preaching or great oratory. The power of the Bible calls people to surrender. Graham is always ready to preach because he believes in the power of God.
5. Humility. He is recalled by one as lying flat on the floor praying.
6. Sexual purity. Early commitment to flee youthful lust left him unable to understand lust in others. Guarded purity, never alone with another woman beside wife and daughters.
7. A successor? God carries on his work. No-one is indispensable.

So, John Woodbridge left us with his prayer that we would all, in pursuing these qualities and consecrating our lives to the service of God, be Graham’s successors, each of us praying for, and willing with all our hearts to be part of God’s power and purpose for our nation and the world.