Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication
By Pastor Efrem Leakemariam
George Whitefield was born on December 16, 1714, in the Bell Inn, Gloucester, England. His father died when George was two, and his widowed mother; Elizabeth struggled to raise him up. In November 1732, at the age of 17, Whitefield entered Pembroke College at Oxford. He was gradually drawn into a group called the "Holy Club," where he met John and Charles Wesley. Later, Charles Wesley loaned him a copy of a book titled "The Life of God in the Soul of Man," and after reading that book, the light of salvation by faith alone radiated into his soul, the weight of sin lifted, and his soul was flooded with unspeakable joy. He was deeply affected resulting in his conversion in the spring of 1735. This conversion experience was to be central in kindling the blaze of the eighteenth-century Evangelical Revival.
1. The New birth by faith in Christ and the ministry of the gospel.
On Saturday, February 17, 1739, Whitefield made the decision to take to the open air and preach to a group of colliers in Kingswood, a coal-mining district on the outskirts of Bristol. The Anglican evangelist's revival's message was about the new birth in Jesus Christ (inner regeneration), justification by faith through grace, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. These were the main subjects of his sermon, and could be classified in to four doctrinal parts: original sin, justification by faith alone, the new birth, and inward feelings of the Spirit.
Whitefield regarded preaching as the primary means, which God used to save souls. He said: "The foolishness of preaching may be a means of bringing some of them to believe on him who justifies the ungodly… (29)." For thirty-four years, Whitefield’s preaching became God's instrument of revival in the awakening, resounding throughout England and America. It is said that Whitefield preached more than 18,000 sermons in his lifetime, an average of 500
a year, or ten a week.
But, it was not only preaching that brought a vital impact in reaching out the lost; but also, Prayer and compassion for souls were also vital in his ministry. He was anointed and his evangelistic ministry revealed sin that often made people cry out in repentance. Like the apostle Paul, he had a deep compassion for souls. He said:
"My heart is full of a sense of the divine goodness, that I could persuade all men to love God (9)."
"With a heart bleeding with compassion for so many thousands led captive by the devil at his will…at six O'clock in the morning, attended by a large congregation of people, I ventured to lift up the name of Jesus of Nazareth…I continued in praying, preaching, and singing about three hours … Three hundred and fifty awakened souls were received in one day (21)."
Whitefield was not impressed by easy-believisim practice in an altar call. He had a set of lists by which he could confirm one's genuine conversion as he calls these "the marks of the new birth." They are prayer without ceasing, overcoming the world, hating sin, loving enemies and one another, glorying in the cross of Christ, and rejoicing to be accounted worthy to suffer shame for the Christ's sake (7).
1.2 The Marks of Spirituality
Conversion is an act of the triune God, Whitefield said; "The author of this blessed change is the Holy Ghost, who "applies Christ's redemption to our hearts." Therefore, "the means to attain this Holy Spirit," or the marks of one's spirituality are:
If preaching of the gospel does not result a 'New Birth' and Biblical Spirituality, people's gathering would be like social club, which is a dead ministry and "a dead ministry will always make a dead people (19)."
2. On the Doctrine of Grace
Whitefield was a firm Calvinist in his theology, yet unrivalled as an aggressive evangelist. "Though I hold particular election, yet I offer Jesus freely to every individual soul (20).
Whitefield said, as opposed to the doctrine of election, "the doctrine of universal redemption is the finest doctrine in the world to cause a soul to be falsely still. And to say Peace, Peace, and Peace, when there is no peace (14)."
3. On Human Corruption
Concerning human depravity, Whitefield reflected his own shortcomings and the corrupted nature. He did not hide his struggles and failures. But, he rejoiced in God who kept him faithful by his unconditional love. "I know so much of the corruption of my own heart, that was God to leave me to myself but one moment, I should with oaths and curses deny my master (10)… I am less than the least of all saints, I am the chief of sinners, and yet Jesus loves me, and sheds his love abroad in my heart abundantly by the Holy Ghost? (15)... worthless, ungrateful wretch, yet the Lord fills me out of his divine fullness day by day (13)… the chief of sinners, and yet, o stupendous love! The Lord's work still prospers in my unworthy hands (19)…I am not ashamed of my Master, though my master may well be ashamed of me (23)."
"The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. Whom he loves, I am persuaded, he loves to the end (10)."
4. On the Unity of the Saints
According to Ephesians 4:13-16 Christian Unity is based "in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son God," and the head of the unity is Christ. But, once such unity is established, there are three main points to keep it alive and fresh.
In the same way, Whitefield seems reflecting all these three points. On one hand he is concerned about the unity of the body. "Satan does not love that Christ's ministers should come together (18). How glad would the enemies of the Lord be to see us divided? (12). May all disputing cease, and each of us talk of nothing but Jesus, and him crucified! This is my resolution (20)." But, on the other hand, he is firm on the truth of the gospel. Whitefield did not compromise the truth for the sake of unity with his best friend when opposing Wesley's doctrine of sinless perfection. In all of his letters, the tone of his expression of the truth was in love.
"There is no such thing as dominion over indwelling sin, nor rest from working for life wholly (17)…to the best of my knowledge at present, no sin has dominion over me, yet I feel the struggling of indwelling sin day by day; I can therefore by no means come into your interpretation of the passage mentioned in the letter (12)…You may carry sanctification to what degrees you will, only I cannot agree that the in-being of sin is to be destroyed in this life (20)…if you labor after any other perfection here, you will labor in vain (16)…truth, I believe, will prevail (18)"
5. Trials and personal tragedy (perseverance of the saints).
"As my final perseverance, I bless God, I have not the least doubt thereof (10)."
"A public life is attended with innumerable snares; and a sense of my unworthiness and unfitness so weighs me down, that I have often thought it would be best for me to retire. But I know these are all suggestions of the enemy. Why should I distrust omnipotence? Having had legion of devils cast out of my heart by the power Christ, why should I not tell what he hath done for my soul, for the encouragement of others? (10)."
"In Moorefield (1742), "I was honored with having a few stones, dirt, rotten eggs, and pieces of dead cats thrown at me, whilst engaged in calling them from their favorite but lying vanities. My soul was indeed among lions (21)… advancing near the pulpit attempted to slash me with a long heavy whip several times, …a large body …having got a large pole for their standard, advanced towards us…I saw, gave warning, and prayed to the captain of our salvation for present support and deliverance. He heard and answered; for just as they approached us with looks full of resentment, I know not by what accident, they quarreled among themselves, threw down their stuff and went their way (21).
"But Satan did not like thus to be attacked in his strongholds, and I narrowly escaped with my life; for as I was passing from the pulpit to the coach, I felt my wig and hat to be almost off. I turned about, and observed a sword just touching my temples (22)."
"A few poor souls began to insult me, but Jesus strengthened me much. Several clods
Were thrown, one of them fell on my head, and another struck my fingers, while I was in
Prayer, a sweet gospel spirit was given to me (24)."
5.1 Family Tragedy
Whitefield had a son born to him. At first he hoped his son would live and become a preacher. He felt that God had told him through his word. However, his son died later, and Whitefield admitted that his previous claim was not actually from God but the Devil.
"Satan was permitted to give me some wrong impressions, whereby, as I now found, I misapplied several texts of Scripture (25)."
However tragic it may seem, there is a lesson in this. Many people today claim that God had told them this and that. How many people have become zombies to their own feelings? How many are passing through such tragic experience? The important lesson from Whitefield is that he could recognize, admit, and learn from his past mistakes, a good character for a minister. Other than that, the agony of loosing his son was unbearable to him.
"Who knows what a day may bring forth? Last night I was called to sacrifice my Isaac, I mean to bury my only child and son about four months old… My beloved was cut off with a stroke…the flower was cut down. (25)."
How did Whitefield manage to survive such tragedy?
The key words here are "prayer" and "looking up!" Through prayer and looking up, grace was given to him to enable him pass through.
"I immediately called all to join in prayer, in which I blessed the Father of mercies for giving me a son, and taking it from me so soon… at first, I must acknowledge, it gave nature a little shake, but looking up, I recovered strength, (at the funeral) we kneeled down, prayed, and shed many tears, but I hope tears of resignation (25)."
Another lesson to learn is that even in such a tragic situation, we are to hold on God, and on his promises, we are to stand in our ministry; here is how Whitefield responded:
"All joined in desiring that I decline preaching 'till the child was buried; but I remembered a saying of good {Matthew) Henry, "that weeping must not hinder sowing," and therefore preached twice the next day, and also the day following, on the evening (25)
Whitefield did not complain or react in a way of bitterness. His attitude towards trial was a third important lesson I found in him.
"But this and everything we meet with here, is only to shake and free us of our corruptions, and to fit us more and more for a blessed hereafter. As long as we are below, if we have not one thing to exercise us, we shall have another. Our trials will not be removed, but only changed…But Christ is the believer's hollow square…here only I find my refuge. Garrisoned in this, I can bid defiance to men and devils (34)."
6. On ministry
There are many important lessons for us, ministers in Whitefield's letters:
"Study your hearts as well as books. Ask yourselves again and again, whether you would preach for Christ, if you were sure to lay down your lives for so doing (11.) Study books and men, but above all, study your own heart…get your heart free from worldly hopes and worldly fears, and you will avoid thousands of those snares, into which young ministers for want of this too often fall (29)."
"O that my heart was Christ's library! I would not have one thief to lodge in my Redeemer's temple (23)."
Whitefield has a good point here. He is saying that before venturing to ministry, first and foremost, one has to study his/her own heart. The heart has to be a library for Christ. Christ's righteousness, holiness, salvation …not the things of the world.
"I hope you will enter into your studies not to get a parish, nor to be polite preachers, but to be great saints…the more holy you are, the more will God delight to honor you. He loves to make use of instruments, which are like himself…I am sure you can never serve a better Master than Jesus Christ, or be engaged in a higher employ than in calling home souls to him (19)."
"As you are preparing for the ministry, loose not one moment of time, but labor to be always on the stretch for him, who was stretched on the accused cross for you (29).
There are many areas in the letters where we can see how Whitefield was using his time for ministry. We can almost say, he had no day off or vacation.
"After sermon I rode twenty miles to Kingsbridge, where. To my great surprise, I found about a thousand souls waiting till eight in the evening to hear the Word. Though nature said, "Spare thyself," I thought faith and duty said, "Venture upon the Lord's strength, and speak to them." I did, from these words of our dear Lord's: "I must work the works o him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work (30)."
His schedule was very busy. He listed all his speaking engagements in a very amazing way. "On Sunday morning at eight... afternoon… at six in the evening… on Monday morning about eight… by eleven... about one I went to bed exceeding happy (24)."
And yet, despite all these busy schedules, he would say "I am ashamed that I can do no more for that Jesus who hath redeemed me by his own most precious blood (23)."
"Make God the alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all your actions. Study to know him more and more…Study to know him as he revealed himself in Christ Jesus (9)." "What a blessed master do we serve? (29)."
As I read and begun to write the history of Whitefield’s Life and Ministry, I have pondered many times and I found it very challenging ended; and I hope and believe that you will be blessed by this story. It is my prayer that the words of George Whitefield will eco in your life and ministry. Surely, “you can never serve a better Master than Jesus Christ!”
May God Bless You Richly,
Reference:
Michael A. G. Haykin, The revived Puritan, The spirituality of George Whitefield, Joshua Press Inc., Dundas, Ontario, Canada, 2000.
Note: The numbers in brackets are numbers of the selected letters of Whitfield compiled in the book.