This article contains accounts of Christians, who have found the highest level of communion in their relationship with their Lord. In so doing, they have discovered the meaning of the creation of man, made in the image and likeness of God. It is something that causes bewilderment in the mind of an unbeliever, even if he happens to be the husband of a believing woman, as we will see in the first account below. It is followed by the story of another woman, who finds the high calling of an intimate relationship with God, which becomes the greatest thing in her life… more than life itself. Next, we will see an elder in a church, grown cold, although occupied in playing a leading part in religion. He is revitalized in a moment, by one touch of God upon his life. We will see how the overwhelming power of the truth, frees and transforms someone, who had been deceived by error that had been falsely presented to him as Christianity.  Finally, before turning to Finney’s own story, we will see a beloved believer, traveling through the valley of the shadow of death, but no valley or shadow appears, only the hope of joining the triumphant saints in glory.

The amazing work of God in the hearts of human beings

 There was a lady living in the first Ward by the name of Childs, the Christian wife of an unconverted husband. She was a lady of great refinement, and beauty of character and person. Her husband was a merchant, a man of good moral character, and as I should judge from what I heard him say, passionately fond of his wife. She attended our meetings, and became very much convicted for a deeper work of grace in her soul. 

 A few days afterwards her husband called on me one morning with his sleigh, and asked me to take a ride with him. I did so, and found that his object was to talk with me about his wife. He said that she was brought up among the Friends, and when he married her, he thought she was one of the most perfect women that he ever knew. But finally, he said, she became converted, and then he observed a greater change in her than he thought was possible, for he thought her as perfectly moral in her outward life before as she could be. Nevertheless, the change in her spirit and bearing at the time of her conversion was so manifest, he said, that no one could doubt it. "Since then," he said, "I have thought her almost or quite perfect. But." said he, "now she has manifestly passed through a greater change than ever. I see it in everything," said he. "There is such a spirit in her, such a change, such an energy in her religion, and such a fullness of joy and peace and love!" He inquired, "What shall I make of it? How am I to understand this? Do such changes really take place in Christian people?"

 In the last article, I posted some of Finney’s accounts of what took place, as he witnessed a new beginning of true and lively Christianity in Rochester, N.Y. He wrote that “this revival made a great change in the moral state and subsequent history of Rochester. The great majority of the leading men and women in the city were converted.” In this article, I have included a revival in a Rochester high school. As I scanned the book anew, I found that Finney wrote of the Fulton Street revival in New York City. The only connection with Finney was apparently chronological. The revival began because a single layman had a desire to start a one-hour prayer meeting for businessmen, at lunch time in the city. God worked and this effort produced a revival of prayer among the lay people of New York, resulting in the conversion of many souls.

 This article begins with an interesting incident, as Finney has taken by a volunteer from New Lebanon to Stephentown. Then Charles Finney gives some general characteristics of revival, using Stephentown as an example, and after that, he describes the fear of God and His presence in Rome, NY.  In the second section, Finney tells of an occurrence among the Methodists of falling under conviction of sin. Following that, we will read of the foundation of a crowded church, settling into the ground during a meeting. Finally, Finney writes of the forementioned revival in a Rochester high school.   

General revival characteristics, godly fear, and one exemplary meeting

 Accordingly, the next Sabbath, after preaching the second time one of the young converts at New Lebanon offered to take me up in his carriage to Stephentown. When he came in his buggy to take me up I asked him. "Have you a steady horse?" "O yes!" he replied, "perfectly so"; and smiling asked, "What made you ask the question?" "Because," I replied, "if the Lord wants me to go to Stephentown, the devil will prevent it if he can; and if you have not a steady horse, he will try to make him kill me." He smiled, and we rode on; and strange to tell before we got there that horse ran away twice, and came near killing us. His owner expressed the greatest astonishment, and said he had never known such a thing before.

When you read Finney’s autobiography, you will notice many instances in which he refers to a “spirit of prayer”. When questioned concerning methods used in revival, his response was, “Our method is prayer.” This was evidently true, to the point that I want to devote a good amount of space in these chapters to the power of prayer. Already, I have earlier pointed to this truth. I don’t remember the person who remarked that, whenever God’s purpose is to do a special work at any point in history, He first moves His people to pray. Prayer itself, then, is an initial work of the Spirit of God and comments are made that sometimes hundreds and thousands of people are in prayer in a certain geographical area, without having contact with one another. The call to prayer was supernatural.

I also want to point out the fact, that in revivals, the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are in constant operation. There were supernatural words of wisdom and knowledge, as well as prophecy. Certainly, the gift of miraculous faith was frequently manifested. Therefore, I am giving the reader several cases that demonstrate this truth. I suppose, that there are different opinions regarding these operations and what gift specifically is demonstrated in various cases, but that is not my primary concern. My concern is to point to the fact that when the Spirit of God is moving, these gifts continue to occur in the church and through its members in the 19^th Century, resulting from a post-conversion baptism in the Holy Spirit.

 When Finney was baptized in the Spirit, he wrote, “I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart.” This could easily be interpreted as a kind of speaking in tongues (1 Co. 14:2). In the first paragraph he prayed “with groanings which cannot be uttered,” certainly under the influence of the Holy Spirit, according to Romans 8:26. Finney mentions two cases of insanity, of which I would note that there are some cases, such as those he mentions, where it is obvious that evil spirits had taken possession of the mind. These people needed a supernatural deliverance, which comes through the proclamation of the Spirit of Truth (Jn. 8:32). Therefore, I include these two situations under the subtitle of supernatural signs.

The Spirit of prayer 

The Lord taught me in those early days of my Christian experience, many very important truths in regard to the Spirit of prayer. Not long after I was converted, a lady with whom I had boarded, was taken very sick. She was not a Christian, but her husband was a professor of religion. He came into our office one evening, being a brother of Esquire Wright, and said to me, "My wife cannot live through the night." This seemed to plant an arrow, as it were, in my heart… the nature of which I could not at all understand, but with it came an intense desire to pray for that woman.

In this chapter, I wanted to insert a couple accounts of the power of revival praying. There is a touch of humor, as well, in the first account about the prayer of old Deacon Montague. But it was also a demonstration of spiritual power, which stirred everyone present, as well as the entire community. Montague was an old man, but the story that follows concerns young people in prayer. I have learned that nothing satisfies youth more that the reality of the movings of God. We also should observe that the Lord uses young people, just as he uses the older ones. In fact, the Bible teaches that He often called adolescents into His purposes and used them mightily.

 The last part of this section will tell of Finney’s call into the ministry and then, will show that the Holy Spirit, not only empowers, He also trains His servants for service. This is another principle plainly taught in Scripture and one that I would desire to see more candidates follow. In the first place, let them know that they are truly called of God and then, let them enter the school of the Holy Spirit, initiated by a baptism in His presence.

Finney’s employer, Esquire Wright

This morning, of which I have spoken, I went down into the office and there I was having the renewal of these mighty waves of love and salvation flowing over me when Esq. Wright came into the office, where I studied law. I said a few words to him on the subject of his salvation--I do not recollect what. He looked at me with astonishment but made no reply whatever that I recollect. He dropped his head, and after standing a few minutes left the office. I thought no more of it then, but afterwards found that the remark I made pierced him like a sword, and he did not recover from it till he was converted.

 My purpose in this chapter is to show the necessity of the knowledge of the gospel, in those who proclaim it. When Jesus left simple Galilean disciples in charge of future Christianity, “He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Lk.24:45). I have seen that people with little training or education can receive a clarity of truth in their experience, which they share as they expound the gospel. Others only show their ignorance.

 Above all, Finney points to the greatest need of anyone, who attempts to minister the great revelations of heaven to people on this earth, and that is the power of the Holy Spirit in preaching. For that reason, after opening the disciples understanding, four verses later, Jesus counsels them to “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49)

Charles Finney´s Pre-conversion Experience with Christianity

 Total ignorance in preaching 

I believe that the original autobiography of Charles G. Finney was published in 1876, one year after his decease. I found a copy in my dad’s library, sometime in the early 1960’s, published by Revell in 1911 and still have it in my possession. I am going to post a few chapters on this blog, which I hope many will read. I first want to present his personal account of salvation and subsequent Baptism in the Holy Spirit from Chapter 2. I want to emphasize the fact that this was an experience claimed by many great men, used of God, many years before the Pentecostal Movement. It is contrary to today’s popular teaching that this Baptism occurs at conversion. Later, I also would like to give a sampling of Finney’s accounts of revivals in certain places and, perhaps, other experiences in his lifetime.

 CHAPTER 2:  His Conversion and Baptism in the Holy Spirit 

My Conversion to Christ 

On a Sabbath evening just at this time of my history, I made up my mind that I would settle the question of my soul's salvation at once, that if it were possible I would make my peace with God. But as I was very busy in the affairs of the office, I knew that without great firmness of purpose I should never effectually attend to the subject. I, therefore, then and there resolved, as far as possible, to avoid all business and everything that would divert my attention, and to give myself wholly to the work of securing the salvation of my soul. I carried this resolution into execution as sternly and thoroughly as I could. I was, however, obliged to be a good deal in the office. But as the providence of God would have it, I was not much occupied either Monday or Tuesday, and had opportunity to read my Bible and engage in prayer most of the time.

 But I was very proud without knowing it. I had supposed that I had not much regard for the opinions of others, whether they thought this or that in regard to myself; and I had in fact been quite singular in attending their prayer meetings and in the degree of attention that I had paid to religion while in Adams. In this respect I had been so singular as to lead the church repeatedly to think that I must be an anxious inquirer. But I found, when I came to face the question, that I was very unwilling to have any one know that I was seeking the salvation of my soul. When I prayed I would only whisper my prayers after having stopped the keyhole to my door, lest someone should discover that I was engaged in prayer. Before that time I had my Bible lying on the table with the law books, and it never had occurred to me to be ashamed of being found reading my Bible any more than I should be ashamed of being found reading any of my other books. But after I had addressed myself in earnest to the subject of my own salvation, I kept my Bible as much as I could out of sight. If I was reading it when anybody came in, I would throw my law books upon it to create the impression that I had not had it in my hand. Instead of being outspoken and willing to talk with anybody and everybody on the subject as I had been in the habit of doing, I found myself unwilling to converse with anybody. I did not want to see my minister for two reasons: First, I did not want to let him know how I felt; and secondly, I had no confidence that he would understand my case and give me the direction that I needed. For the same reasons I avoided conversation with the elders of the church, or with any of the Christian people. I was ashamed to let them know how I felt, on the one hand; and on the other, I was afraid they would misdirect me. I felt myself shut up to the Bible.

 I would like to bring up old articles from this blog, which I think are especially important. Today, I was reading an article on the Mukti revival in India. I would also like to form written articles from recent messages by our sons Mike, Daniel, and David. Perhaps I will also repeat some of their older messages, already posted here. At the moment, I am thinking of going to an old autobiography of Charles G. Finney, published in 1911, which now is out-of-print. I found it in my dad's library, sometime in the early 1960's and still have it in my possession, although the cover is torn off and a few of the first pages are missing. At that time, early in my ministry, a fire began to be kindled in my soul, that continues to burn today in this 21st Century. I plan to copy a few significant chapters in their entirety. I believe that you will find these on this blogspot in the very near future. I would also like to uncover the heart of Jonathan Goforth, who saw missionary revival in China. 

 At Christianity Today´s suggestion, I am only giving a few sentences from an article by Dr. Thomas H. McCall, professor of theology at Asbury Univeristy in Kentucky. I am offering their link, in order that anyone can read the entire article. In the meantime, I am requesting the author's permission to reprint. His opening words are:

We’re Witnessing a ‘Surprising Work of God’

 Why I’m hopeful about the revival breaking out in our chapel and its implications for the campus and beyond.  

Most Wednesday mornings at Asbury University are like any other. A few minutes before 10, students begin to gather in Hughes Auditorium for chapel. Students are required to attend a certain number of chapels each semester, so they tend to show up as a matter of routine.

But this past Wednesday was different. After the benediction, the gospel choir began to sing a final chorus—and then something began to happen that defies easy description. Students did not leave. They were struck by what seemed to be a quiet but powerful sense of transcendence, and they did not want to go. They stayed and continued to worship. They are still there.

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/february-web-only/asbury-revival-1970-2023-methodist-christian-holy-spirit.html

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 21

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 20

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 19

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 18

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 17

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 16

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 15

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 14

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 13

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal letters, number 12

Quotes from Leonard Ravenhill's Personal Letters, number 11

I wanted to post a couple more Ravenhill letters. I’m a little tired tonight, so I’ll let Leonard speak for himself. He’s quite capable. So, here you are: