Martin Luther was born in Eisleben in 1483 the son of a coal miner. He was educated in Efurt, graduating in 1505. He became a priest in the Catholic Church but a visit to Rome in 1510 opened his eyes to the true state of the Church, and from then on his life was spent in trying to reform it and to recapture the purity of the early Church.
As a professor of biblical exegesis - explaining the meaning of the Bible - Luther rediscovered some of the great doctrines that had for so long been neglected and contradicted by the traditions of the Church. He began to preach that salvation was by faith alone and was the gracious gift of God, and in 1517 he nailed his famous 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. The Reformation was beginning. Luther now went on to attack the whole Papal system accusing the Pope of pride and avarice. He contrasted the poverty and meekness of Christ with the splendour of the Papal Court. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V summoned Luther to appear before the Diet of Worms- an assembly of rulers and dignitaries not the food of birds- but the Diet was divided as to what to do about him and he was allowed to leave. However, he was immediately arrested for his own protection and imprisoned in the Wartburg castle for about a year, during which time he started on his translation of the Bible which came to be regarded as a classic piece of German literature.
Luther married an ex- nun Katherina von Bora and they had six children. A man of enormous energy and charm he was also stubborn and uncompromising in discussion with the other Reformers and this was to split the Reformation. Endowed with a brilliant intellect his commentaries on the Bible are still available and can be read with profit. He also wrote many hymns for congregational singing such as his paraphrase of Psalm 46 "God is our refuge and strength", number 360 in Christian Hymns
Luther did not set out to start a new church but to reform the corruptions of the Papal System. He retained much of the ritual of the Church and his version of the mass is in essence the same as that of the Catholic Church. He was also somehow able to reconcile the idea that children were saved by being baptised with the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Luther's fear of anarchy made him side with the princes against the common people in the Peasant's War in 1524. This lost him much support and led to the steady passing of control of the Reformation into the hands of the secular authorities. Luther also persecuted godly men who believed that the Church should consist of those who had been saved by the grace of God, not all of those people living in a particular place. Whereas in some areas Luther may have not pushed reform far enough in others he could be too extreme. In his great battle to establish the doctrine of salvation by faith alone he devalued the place of good works in the life of the Christian and he derided the Letter of James as "an epistle of straw".
Martin Luther was undoubtedly a great man raised up by God to reform the Church, but he was only a man. His particular significance was in his ability to motivate men and to inspire the early struggle with the Church of Rome, but it was left to the genius of Calvin to place the Reformation on more sound theological foundations. In our own days the Lutheran Churches are mostly compromised by modernism and are drifting back into the arms of the Catholic Church.
Monday 30 March 2015
Monday 23 March 2015
Revival - Part 4: The Reformation
The Reformation which took place in the sixteenth century was the most significant event in the history of the Christian Church since the Day of Pentecost. It was called a reformation because the leaders, the Reformers, did not seek to introduce anything new but rather to purge the church of its corruption and return to the purity of the early church.
The period of preparation had been long and costly in terms of men's lives, and can be traced through the Waldenses and the Lollards down to Martin Luther. Many had come to deplore the worldliness of the Church with its obsession with money and secular power, particularly the sale of indulgences. According to the Roman Church, the soul on death went to Purgatory to be purified and made fit for Heaven, and early release from its torments could be obtained by purchasing an indulgence from the Pope. "When the coin in the coffer rings , the soul from Purgatory springs". Whenever the Pope was short of money the sale of indulgences was turned to as an easy source of income. Luther was incensed by the activities of Johann Tetzel who travelled throughout Europe selling these indulgences, much as nowadays we see articles being sold from stalls in an open air market. Luther asked why the Pope as a merciful man did not release all of the souls in Purgatory free of charge.
The Reformation can be said to have started on 31 October 1517 when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. These challenged the accepted teachings of the Church and invited a debate on matters of faith and practice. From this time the Reformation spread quickly through the many small states that then made up Germany. To the godly it was an opportunity to preach the Gospel and reform a corrupt Church, but to many of the rulers it was the occasion to seize Church lands and property, and to shake off the power of the Holy Roman Emperor. Here is an example of God overruling the sinful plans of men for his own purposes, because the protection of the princes and nobility was to play a vital part in saving the Reformers from the persecution of the Church.
So much of what we take for granted in the Protestant Church today was recovered and established at the time of the Reformation. The great doctrines of the early Church became its very hallmark.
The Reformation was a mighty act of God to revive His Church, and we should be on our guard against those who would minimise its true significance in the hope of patching things up with the present Catholic Church. The precious truths that we hold dear were purchased with the blood of the martyrs, and we should pray that God in his mercy will once again reform all of our churches and raise up men of the calibre of Luther and Calvin.
The period of preparation had been long and costly in terms of men's lives, and can be traced through the Waldenses and the Lollards down to Martin Luther. Many had come to deplore the worldliness of the Church with its obsession with money and secular power, particularly the sale of indulgences. According to the Roman Church, the soul on death went to Purgatory to be purified and made fit for Heaven, and early release from its torments could be obtained by purchasing an indulgence from the Pope. "When the coin in the coffer rings , the soul from Purgatory springs". Whenever the Pope was short of money the sale of indulgences was turned to as an easy source of income. Luther was incensed by the activities of Johann Tetzel who travelled throughout Europe selling these indulgences, much as nowadays we see articles being sold from stalls in an open air market. Luther asked why the Pope as a merciful man did not release all of the souls in Purgatory free of charge.
The Reformation can be said to have started on 31 October 1517 when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Church. These challenged the accepted teachings of the Church and invited a debate on matters of faith and practice. From this time the Reformation spread quickly through the many small states that then made up Germany. To the godly it was an opportunity to preach the Gospel and reform a corrupt Church, but to many of the rulers it was the occasion to seize Church lands and property, and to shake off the power of the Holy Roman Emperor. Here is an example of God overruling the sinful plans of men for his own purposes, because the protection of the princes and nobility was to play a vital part in saving the Reformers from the persecution of the Church.
So much of what we take for granted in the Protestant Church today was recovered and established at the time of the Reformation. The great doctrines of the early Church became its very hallmark.
- Justification by faith alone. The only way to be declared not guilty by God is by faith in JesusChrist. We cannot be saved by sacraments or by good works.
- The Priesthood of all believers. The individual is in direct personal relationship with God, and every believer is a priest. Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father, not the Virgin Mary, or the saints, or the priesthood.
- Sola Scriptura, The Bible Alone. The Bible is the only rule for the faith and practice of Christians, which rules out the traditions of men. It is the duty of every believer to read the Bible, and to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling.
The Reformation was a mighty act of God to revive His Church, and we should be on our guard against those who would minimise its true significance in the hope of patching things up with the present Catholic Church. The precious truths that we hold dear were purchased with the blood of the martyrs, and we should pray that God in his mercy will once again reform all of our churches and raise up men of the calibre of Luther and Calvin.
Monday 16 March 2015
Revival - Part 3: John Wycliffe and the Lollards
Christianity was introduced into Britain some time in the second century and maintained an attitude of robust independence toward the Roman Church. In 596 Augustine was sent from Rome together with 40 monks to convert the Anglo Saxons and to establish the authority of the Catholic Church. For almost a thousand years the gloom of the Dark Ages spread over Britain.
In about 1320 John Wycliffe was born in Yorkshire and became a popular teacher in Oxford. Having been introduced to the teachings of the Waldensians he set about correcting the abuses that he saw all around him in the church. He was a prolific writer and early on his denunciation of the role of the church as a temporal power made him powerful friends among the nobility. When Wycliffe proposed that the Church would be better off without pope or bishops his friends were able to protect him from the church who tried to bring him to trial as a heretic.
His early writings were in Latin which was normal for that time, but after about 1380 he began to write tracts in English for use among the common people. He then translated the Latin Bible into English for the first time and organised a body of preachers to travel the country with their hand written Bibles carrying the Gospel to the people. These" poor preachers" were scornfully derided as the Lollards – a Dutch term for mumblers.
In spite of persecution from the Church the work of the Lollards continued and true religion was revived in our land so that the country was prepared for the coming of the Reformation. The reading of the Bible in English was to arouse a longing among the people to possess a copy of the Scriptures in their own language. This became possible with the invention of the printing press, and when the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale, was printed in 1526, in spite of being banned, it sold in its thousands to rich and poor alike.
It is so difficult for us to imagine what life was like in the days of Wycliffe. Church services were conducted in Latin which was understood only by the well educated people. The Bible was not available in English and its possession was limited to the clergy. It was thought to be too dangerous to be read by ordinary people. Worship consisted of little more than attending the mass conducted in Latin.
Do we really appreciate our Bibles as much as we should? Its preservation down through the centuries, in spite of the efforts of men to suppress it or tamper with it, is an instance of God's providential goodness. It cost many good men their lives to bring us the Scriptures and we should remember them and thank God for them. I wonder how many of us would be prepared to die because we own a Bible.
If we in our day neglect God's word we will return to another dark age and how dark will that darkness be.
In about 1320 John Wycliffe was born in Yorkshire and became a popular teacher in Oxford. Having been introduced to the teachings of the Waldensians he set about correcting the abuses that he saw all around him in the church. He was a prolific writer and early on his denunciation of the role of the church as a temporal power made him powerful friends among the nobility. When Wycliffe proposed that the Church would be better off without pope or bishops his friends were able to protect him from the church who tried to bring him to trial as a heretic.
His early writings were in Latin which was normal for that time, but after about 1380 he began to write tracts in English for use among the common people. He then translated the Latin Bible into English for the first time and organised a body of preachers to travel the country with their hand written Bibles carrying the Gospel to the people. These" poor preachers" were scornfully derided as the Lollards – a Dutch term for mumblers.
In spite of persecution from the Church the work of the Lollards continued and true religion was revived in our land so that the country was prepared for the coming of the Reformation. The reading of the Bible in English was to arouse a longing among the people to possess a copy of the Scriptures in their own language. This became possible with the invention of the printing press, and when the New Testament, translated by William Tyndale, was printed in 1526, in spite of being banned, it sold in its thousands to rich and poor alike.
It is so difficult for us to imagine what life was like in the days of Wycliffe. Church services were conducted in Latin which was understood only by the well educated people. The Bible was not available in English and its possession was limited to the clergy. It was thought to be too dangerous to be read by ordinary people. Worship consisted of little more than attending the mass conducted in Latin.
Do we really appreciate our Bibles as much as we should? Its preservation down through the centuries, in spite of the efforts of men to suppress it or tamper with it, is an instance of God's providential goodness. It cost many good men their lives to bring us the Scriptures and we should remember them and thank God for them. I wonder how many of us would be prepared to die because we own a Bible.
If we in our day neglect God's word we will return to another dark age and how dark will that darkness be.
Wednesday 11 March 2015
The Challenge of Lent – Preparing for Service (Part 2)
Last time we looked at the Old Testament basis for prayer and fasting and found a marked contrast with the common practices associated with Lent. We concluded that prayer and fasting is designed more to prepare us for service than for mere spiritual uplift, or as works. Some say the New Testament does not teach fasting, that the Lord's condemnation of the Pharisees fasting methods was in fact a rejection of fasting. This is not so, there is in the New Testament just as powerful a case to regard prayer and fasting as a necessary preparation for service. As we noted previously our primary role model is the Lord who prior to commencing His public ministry and service - to establish the kingdom of God - spent forty days & nights in fasting and prayer, and being tempted by Satan in the desert. MATT 4:1; MARK 1:12; LUKE 4:1.
We could also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.
What should be the motivation or driving force to observing Lent? Is it just to feel good, to achieve some kind of spiritual experience? Certainly not! We noted in the Old Testament God required Israel on the Day of Atonement to afflict your souls. It was God who commanded Moses to appear before Him with the imperative be there. What prompted Jesus to spend forty days & nights praying and fasting in the wilderness? This was no mere human decision, but the Spirit of God working sovereignly (Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1, and Mark 1:12 & 13) where we note - angels ministered to Him.
Matthew Mark and Luke use different words to describe the Spirits action.
Luke has ηγετο - to lead to another place, e.g. to guide.
Matthew has ανηχθη, - to lead or conduct away, e.g. a prisoner led into or from court.
Mark has εκβαλλει, - to lead by force, impel. Often translated as ‘cast.’
Overall they combine to give a strong sense of compulsion. That compulsion is evident throughout Jesus ministry JOHN 4:4 He must needs go through Samaria. LUKE 9:51 ‘He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem’ (Matthew 16:21). Jesus began to show unto his disciples, that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer [...] and be killed, and the third day be raised up (Luke 4:43). Jesus said, 'I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God' (see Luke 13:33, 19:5, 22:37, and John 9:4).
Paul evidently felt the need to go to Arabia (Galatians 1:17) where it appears he had a great spiritual experience (2 Corinthians 12:2-4), although he does not say he was led there by the spirit, or that he prayed and fasted. However it is clear Paul did fast regularly, such as when acts of service were being initiated for example in Acts 13:2&3 when Barnabas and Saul were chosen as missionaries, and again at the appointment of elders in each church (Acts 14:23), not forgetting of course Paul's own calling (Acts 9:8).
None of these people entered lightly into periods of prayer and fasting. Nor should we. Lent, as preparation for service is a serious matter not to be entered into light-heartedly of casually. For implicitly we must emerge from such an exercise and impact upon society, if we do not, we must question our motives why we fasted and prayed in the first place. Was it merely to satisfy self, to follow the crowd, or were we compelled, driven by the Spirit. Those whom we have highlighted are those who were clearly called to be leaders. But every Christian, every child of God has been commissioned to proclaim the gospel to all men everywhere. So each of us have reason to seek a closer walk with God that our lives may more effectively witness for Him.
What was the mission or service? Jesus mission was to establish the kingdom of God on earth, and ultimately to die on the Cross in order that God's great redemptive plan may be fulfilled. Moses, was to lead a grumbling nation, and through the Law given at Sinai forge them into God’s own people. Paul’s mission was to spread the Word of God, to push the boundaries of the Church/kingdom of God to include all men. Our mission is no less, to proclaim salvation to those around us, wherever we are. To further the establishment of the kingdom of God by church planting as Paul did. To provide instruction in the Laws of God, building men up in the most holy faith that they in turn may be called to the service of the Master. For that we need the power that comes from time spent in the presence of God and in His word. When Moses met with God at Sinai his face shone, evidence that he had been in the presence of the glory of God. If Jesus, the Holy Son of God found it necessary to spend time in prayer and fasting, how much more necessary is it for us, weak and sinful as we are.
What will be the end result? The immediate result is twofold -
What about us? Will we have any sheaves to lay at His feet? Will there be anyone in heaven because I prayed, because I fasted, and because I witnessed. Lent, we conclude, is more than giving up this or that for a season, it is more than personal spiritual improvement, it is about preparation for service. Service led, inspired and empowered by the Spirit of God. Such preparation and service does result in personal spiritual improvement and spiritual enrichment. It is a time for sacrificing ourselves afresh as 'First fruits' unto God; Devoting more of our time and resources than previously we have done; Engaging more fully in the great commission; Serving the Lord and Him alone. How good it would be to see Lent become superfluous again as it was in the white hot passion of the early church where passionate Christian living was the norm. For that to happen, your life and my life needs to change - NOW. So let us, not only in the Lenten season, but always present ourselves before the Lord in prayer and fasting, seeking from Him the leading, the guidance, the enabling we need for our service in the task ahead.
We could also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.
What should be the motivation or driving force to observing Lent? Is it just to feel good, to achieve some kind of spiritual experience? Certainly not! We noted in the Old Testament God required Israel on the Day of Atonement to afflict your souls. It was God who commanded Moses to appear before Him with the imperative be there. What prompted Jesus to spend forty days & nights praying and fasting in the wilderness? This was no mere human decision, but the Spirit of God working sovereignly (Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1, and Mark 1:12 & 13) where we note - angels ministered to Him.
Matthew Mark and Luke use different words to describe the Spirits action.
Luke has ηγετο - to lead to another place, e.g. to guide.
Matthew has ανηχθη, - to lead or conduct away, e.g. a prisoner led into or from court.
Mark has εκβαλλει, - to lead by force, impel. Often translated as ‘cast.’
Overall they combine to give a strong sense of compulsion. That compulsion is evident throughout Jesus ministry JOHN 4:4 He must needs go through Samaria. LUKE 9:51 ‘He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem’ (Matthew 16:21). Jesus began to show unto his disciples, that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer [...] and be killed, and the third day be raised up (Luke 4:43). Jesus said, 'I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God' (see Luke 13:33, 19:5, 22:37, and John 9:4).
Paul evidently felt the need to go to Arabia (Galatians 1:17) where it appears he had a great spiritual experience (2 Corinthians 12:2-4), although he does not say he was led there by the spirit, or that he prayed and fasted. However it is clear Paul did fast regularly, such as when acts of service were being initiated for example in Acts 13:2&3 when Barnabas and Saul were chosen as missionaries, and again at the appointment of elders in each church (Acts 14:23), not forgetting of course Paul's own calling (Acts 9:8).
None of these people entered lightly into periods of prayer and fasting. Nor should we. Lent, as preparation for service is a serious matter not to be entered into light-heartedly of casually. For implicitly we must emerge from such an exercise and impact upon society, if we do not, we must question our motives why we fasted and prayed in the first place. Was it merely to satisfy self, to follow the crowd, or were we compelled, driven by the Spirit. Those whom we have highlighted are those who were clearly called to be leaders. But every Christian, every child of God has been commissioned to proclaim the gospel to all men everywhere. So each of us have reason to seek a closer walk with God that our lives may more effectively witness for Him.
What was the mission or service? Jesus mission was to establish the kingdom of God on earth, and ultimately to die on the Cross in order that God's great redemptive plan may be fulfilled. Moses, was to lead a grumbling nation, and through the Law given at Sinai forge them into God’s own people. Paul’s mission was to spread the Word of God, to push the boundaries of the Church/kingdom of God to include all men. Our mission is no less, to proclaim salvation to those around us, wherever we are. To further the establishment of the kingdom of God by church planting as Paul did. To provide instruction in the Laws of God, building men up in the most holy faith that they in turn may be called to the service of the Master. For that we need the power that comes from time spent in the presence of God and in His word. When Moses met with God at Sinai his face shone, evidence that he had been in the presence of the glory of God. If Jesus, the Holy Son of God found it necessary to spend time in prayer and fasting, how much more necessary is it for us, weak and sinful as we are.
What will be the end result? The immediate result is twofold -
- Increased opposition; as Jesus was tested by Satan so also shall we be tested (Matthew 4:2-11).
- A dynamic Spirit of power LUKE 4:14,15. Enabling and endowing the Church for the task ahead.
What about us? Will we have any sheaves to lay at His feet? Will there be anyone in heaven because I prayed, because I fasted, and because I witnessed. Lent, we conclude, is more than giving up this or that for a season, it is more than personal spiritual improvement, it is about preparation for service. Service led, inspired and empowered by the Spirit of God. Such preparation and service does result in personal spiritual improvement and spiritual enrichment. It is a time for sacrificing ourselves afresh as 'First fruits' unto God; Devoting more of our time and resources than previously we have done; Engaging more fully in the great commission; Serving the Lord and Him alone. How good it would be to see Lent become superfluous again as it was in the white hot passion of the early church where passionate Christian living was the norm. For that to happen, your life and my life needs to change - NOW. So let us, not only in the Lenten season, but always present ourselves before the Lord in prayer and fasting, seeking from Him the leading, the guidance, the enabling we need for our service in the task ahead.
Monday 9 March 2015
Revival - Part 2: The Waldenses
The first thousand years or so of our Christian era in Europe are known as The Dark Ages. Roman civilisation had degenerated and under increasing pressure from the so called barbarians the legions had been withdrawn to defend Rome itself. In 395 AD the empire was divided with capitals at Constantinople and Rome. In 410 Rome was sacked by the Visigoths and fifty six years later the western empire was finally overthrown.
At the same time as the empire was collapsing the power and influence of the Church of Rome was increasing in western Europe, As the light of civilisation faded so did the light of the pure Gospel. In 324 Christianity was made the state religion of the empire. An event, many have argued, from which the Church has not yet recovered. As it developed as a secular power so the church departed from the true faith. Alongside the Bible grew up tradition to be placed on an equal footing with the Scriptures, and practices never known in the early church. The flame of true religion sputtered from time to time but Dark Ages is an apt description of the times. However, God has never been without his own witnesses and even in the darkest times there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such was Peter Waldo a rich merchant of Lyons in France. In 1170 he gave his wealth to the poor and began preaching the Gospel of salvation and criticising the church of his day. He denounced the church leaders who lived lives of vice and luxury. He condemned the superstitions that had replaced the true worship of God. Most churches had some sacred relic claimed to be a piece of the cross, a hair from Jesus' beard, a drop of Mary's milk. Alongside Christ there were the saints and Mary claiming the attention of the worshippers and in the mass the bread and wine were claimed to change into the actual blood and body of Christ.
The authorities acted quickly to silence Peter but like his biblical namesake he preferred to obey God rather than men. In 1180 Peter Waldo and his followers were excommunicated and banished from Lyons. Threatened with death they fled to the safety of the mountains where they would keep a faithful witness to God for hundreds of years being known as the Waldenses. By the year 1260 over 800, 000 were worshipping in the secluded valleys of the Alps straddling the border between what is now France and Italy.
The Waldenses took the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice. They rejected all the additions made by the Roman Church. Worship was marked by simplicity in contrast to the elaborate ritual of the church. The Bible was read, the Lord's Prayer was recited, and a sermon was preached. For this they became the object of the hatred of the church and regular crusades were made against them as the enemies of God. In 1211 eighty Waldenses were burned as heretics in Strasbourg.
Preachers were sent out all over Europe and thousands were converted. This has been described as "the most remarkable missionary movement that has ever occurred". Among those influenced was John Wycliffe in England which was to have the most wonderful consequences for the Gospel in our country.
The story of how God preserved his people in the mountains against overwhelming odds is one of the most interesting and thrilling examples of how he looks after his loved ones. So the true Gospel lived on in small communities scattered in the deep alpine valleys until the time of the Reformation when it would burst out over the whole continent. In 1592 when a treaty was made with the churches of the region the Protestants outnumbered the Catholics by a hundred to one.
The history of the Waldenses shows that however dark the times may be and however small the remnant of true believers, that God can at any time raise up a man like Peter Waldo, revive his work, and protect his people.
At the same time as the empire was collapsing the power and influence of the Church of Rome was increasing in western Europe, As the light of civilisation faded so did the light of the pure Gospel. In 324 Christianity was made the state religion of the empire. An event, many have argued, from which the Church has not yet recovered. As it developed as a secular power so the church departed from the true faith. Alongside the Bible grew up tradition to be placed on an equal footing with the Scriptures, and practices never known in the early church. The flame of true religion sputtered from time to time but Dark Ages is an apt description of the times. However, God has never been without his own witnesses and even in the darkest times there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Such was Peter Waldo a rich merchant of Lyons in France. In 1170 he gave his wealth to the poor and began preaching the Gospel of salvation and criticising the church of his day. He denounced the church leaders who lived lives of vice and luxury. He condemned the superstitions that had replaced the true worship of God. Most churches had some sacred relic claimed to be a piece of the cross, a hair from Jesus' beard, a drop of Mary's milk. Alongside Christ there were the saints and Mary claiming the attention of the worshippers and in the mass the bread and wine were claimed to change into the actual blood and body of Christ.
The authorities acted quickly to silence Peter but like his biblical namesake he preferred to obey God rather than men. In 1180 Peter Waldo and his followers were excommunicated and banished from Lyons. Threatened with death they fled to the safety of the mountains where they would keep a faithful witness to God for hundreds of years being known as the Waldenses. By the year 1260 over 800, 000 were worshipping in the secluded valleys of the Alps straddling the border between what is now France and Italy.
The Waldenses took the Bible as their only rule of faith and practice. They rejected all the additions made by the Roman Church. Worship was marked by simplicity in contrast to the elaborate ritual of the church. The Bible was read, the Lord's Prayer was recited, and a sermon was preached. For this they became the object of the hatred of the church and regular crusades were made against them as the enemies of God. In 1211 eighty Waldenses were burned as heretics in Strasbourg.
Preachers were sent out all over Europe and thousands were converted. This has been described as "the most remarkable missionary movement that has ever occurred". Among those influenced was John Wycliffe in England which was to have the most wonderful consequences for the Gospel in our country.
The story of how God preserved his people in the mountains against overwhelming odds is one of the most interesting and thrilling examples of how he looks after his loved ones. So the true Gospel lived on in small communities scattered in the deep alpine valleys until the time of the Reformation when it would burst out over the whole continent. In 1592 when a treaty was made with the churches of the region the Protestants outnumbered the Catholics by a hundred to one.
The history of the Waldenses shows that however dark the times may be and however small the remnant of true believers, that God can at any time raise up a man like Peter Waldo, revive his work, and protect his people.
Wednesday 4 March 2015
The Challenge of Lent - Preparing for Service (Part 1)
The three churches in the Wiltshire village of Dilton Marsh where I was pastoring an Evangelical church, enjoyed regular fellowship as we met quarterly for prayer and bible study. Easter was approaching and it was my turn to bring a study at our pre-Easter fellowship which was to take place in the Anglican church. I felt the Spirit leading me to consider the practice of Lent. The following two part study is the result.
Please read Exodus 34:10-35, Leviticus 16:29-31 & 23:27-32, and Numbers 29:7.
Lent, is traditionally a time when people give up some of the luxuries of life in the pious hope of gaining some spiritual benefit. In the Church of Rome it is regarded as a time of penance, of forgiving others, a time of self-denial in favour of those in need thus it becomes works of mercy. Sadly Lent has become a ritualised precursor to Easter. But should it be like this?
Well for the more spiritually minded it is period of self-denial, fasting and prayer for a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. A time for reflection, for remembering our baptismal promises; a time to rededicate our lives to Christ and His cause, anew. It is a time for contemplation on the temptations of Jesus and His fasting in the desert over a period of 40 days and nights. A time when we are to afflict our souls (Leviticus 16:29) or put to death the flesh 'For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death (mortify) the deeds of the body, you will live.' (Romans 8:13) as we seek to live a more holy life. But is that all?
First we must ask, why was Lent instituted?
Lent was instituted by the Early church fathers Circa 345 AD - because the primitive church did not retain its perfection unbroken - it’s apostolic fervour declined post Pentecost, and that rapidly. The case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) shows how quickly the principle of having all things common lapsed. Selfish thoughts began to make inroads into the faith. The early fathers alarmed at how quickly believers lapsed into sin and half-hearted service of the Lord concluded that ‘of a truth sin cannot exercise dominion over those who live faithfully under the liberty of grace.’ So it seemed good to the clergy to institute a fast whereby men could be recalled to their pious duties of faithful living. Now that is a very laudable aim. It is one we readily identify with today in these days of spiritual apathy and decline in the church. However the problem here is that the fast itself soon became a duty, and thus part of the ritual of the Church which is seldom performed heartily as unto the Lord. So, although Lent is still observed, we have lost sight of its true purpose as its keeping has become a matter of individual choice. True times of prayer and fasting, times of solemn assembly, have become extremely rare, but have been attended by great blessing as in the 1845 Welsh revival under Daniel Rowlands.
However it was in (AD 350) St. Cyril the then bishop of Jerusalem began to use military terms in his traditional Lenten call for baptismal candidates, as a call to service. This is a concept I want to explore today, linking it to the biblical teaching on prayer and fasting.
So let us explore this concept of Lent as a call to service.
The primary role model is of course the Lord who prior to commencing His public ministry / service - to establish the kingdom of God - spent forty days and nights in fasting, prayer, and being tempted by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12 and Luke 4:1).
We could also look at Moses, forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, before presenting and implementing God’s law in the newly constituted nation. We might also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.
Thus self mortification, fasting, periods of intense spiritual exercises, communion with God, may be seen as preparation for service. It is not merely a pious way of increasing our standing in righteousness, its purpose is to enable us to serve God more fully.
Who should prepare for this service, and how? When Israel assembled before God on the Day of Atonement they were instructed, by God, to afflict your souls (Leviticus 16:29,31 & 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7).
What does it mean to afflict ones soul? John Gill puts it thus - abstaining from eating and from drinking, and from the use of baths, and from anointing, and from the use of shoes, and of the marriage bed; thus we see it is a means to deny ourselves those things which bring us personal comfort.
Now those who were required to afflict their souls were those whom God called ‘My People’ - Israel, and who in obedience to Him brought and made a sin offering. Thus they would be reckoned by God as righteous children called to His service. Today they would be those who are born again and in a right relationship with God. JOHN 3 tells how when Jesus was baptised in Jordan, heaven opened and acknowledged Him as the Son with whom God was well pleased, and upon whom the Spirit rested. Clearly Jesus was in a right relationship with God.
Jesus here of course typifies every baptised believer in whom God’s spirit dwells. Thus we can say only true believers benefit from this service of prayer and fasting (Lent). Only those who know God in this way will truly be blessed by this fast, for others it will be nothing more than a ritual of works.
What is true of the body of God's people is also true for individuals called to particular service. Here we consider the OT example of Moses, he was very evidently called by God even from birth, remember the burning bush experience of God. But his calling and burning bush experience is not sufficient for the task ahead. He needs to afflict his soul and mortify the flesh to equip him for the kind of service God had in store for him. Only a man fully and humbly committed to the Lord could spend forty days and nights there with the Lord (Exodus 34:24). From that experience Moses emerged arguably the greatest leader Israel ever knew. Furthermore his encounter with God was evident to all as the glory of God shone in his face. Oh that we might emerge from our meeting with God the stronger and more fruitful in ministry and service of Him.
Sadly what had been designated as a means of blessing quickly fell into disrepute as men presumed upon the blessing of God. Little wonder that God through His prophets warned Israel time and again that their service was unacceptable, and rejected their fasts because they were not done for Me - for Me (Zechariah 7:3-7). Jesus criticised the Pharisees for fasting in order to be seen by men (Matthew 6:16) and for boasting about the frequency of their fasting (Luke 18:12). But He told us how to fast v18 - without show (even to disguise the fact) - secretly. He would then reward openly.
There lies before us, the Church, a great task. The task of serving the Lord and representing Him in the community. For that great task we must prepare ourselves as Ezra prepared that little band of exiles returning to Jerusalem - by prayer and fasting to seek from God the right way for us our little ones and all our possessions.
Well for the more spiritually minded it is period of self-denial, fasting and prayer for a period of 40 days leading up to Easter. A time for reflection, for remembering our baptismal promises; a time to rededicate our lives to Christ and His cause, anew. It is a time for contemplation on the temptations of Jesus and His fasting in the desert over a period of 40 days and nights. A time when we are to afflict our souls (Leviticus 16:29) or put to death the flesh 'For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death (mortify) the deeds of the body, you will live.' (Romans 8:13) as we seek to live a more holy life. But is that all?
First we must ask, why was Lent instituted?
Lent was instituted by the Early church fathers Circa 345 AD - because the primitive church did not retain its perfection unbroken - it’s apostolic fervour declined post Pentecost, and that rapidly. The case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) shows how quickly the principle of having all things common lapsed. Selfish thoughts began to make inroads into the faith. The early fathers alarmed at how quickly believers lapsed into sin and half-hearted service of the Lord concluded that ‘of a truth sin cannot exercise dominion over those who live faithfully under the liberty of grace.’ So it seemed good to the clergy to institute a fast whereby men could be recalled to their pious duties of faithful living. Now that is a very laudable aim. It is one we readily identify with today in these days of spiritual apathy and decline in the church. However the problem here is that the fast itself soon became a duty, and thus part of the ritual of the Church which is seldom performed heartily as unto the Lord. So, although Lent is still observed, we have lost sight of its true purpose as its keeping has become a matter of individual choice. True times of prayer and fasting, times of solemn assembly, have become extremely rare, but have been attended by great blessing as in the 1845 Welsh revival under Daniel Rowlands.
However it was in (AD 350) St. Cyril the then bishop of Jerusalem began to use military terms in his traditional Lenten call for baptismal candidates, as a call to service. This is a concept I want to explore today, linking it to the biblical teaching on prayer and fasting.
So let us explore this concept of Lent as a call to service.
The primary role model is of course the Lord who prior to commencing His public ministry / service - to establish the kingdom of God - spent forty days and nights in fasting, prayer, and being tempted by Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12 and Luke 4:1).
We could also look at Moses, forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, before presenting and implementing God’s law in the newly constituted nation. We might also think of Paul who spent an unspecified time in the desert of Arabia before commencing his great missionary work.
Thus self mortification, fasting, periods of intense spiritual exercises, communion with God, may be seen as preparation for service. It is not merely a pious way of increasing our standing in righteousness, its purpose is to enable us to serve God more fully.
Who should prepare for this service, and how? When Israel assembled before God on the Day of Atonement they were instructed, by God, to afflict your souls (Leviticus 16:29,31 & 23:27-32 and Numbers 29:7).
What does it mean to afflict ones soul? John Gill puts it thus - abstaining from eating and from drinking, and from the use of baths, and from anointing, and from the use of shoes, and of the marriage bed; thus we see it is a means to deny ourselves those things which bring us personal comfort.
Now those who were required to afflict their souls were those whom God called ‘My People’ - Israel, and who in obedience to Him brought and made a sin offering. Thus they would be reckoned by God as righteous children called to His service. Today they would be those who are born again and in a right relationship with God. JOHN 3 tells how when Jesus was baptised in Jordan, heaven opened and acknowledged Him as the Son with whom God was well pleased, and upon whom the Spirit rested. Clearly Jesus was in a right relationship with God.
Jesus here of course typifies every baptised believer in whom God’s spirit dwells. Thus we can say only true believers benefit from this service of prayer and fasting (Lent). Only those who know God in this way will truly be blessed by this fast, for others it will be nothing more than a ritual of works.
What is true of the body of God's people is also true for individuals called to particular service. Here we consider the OT example of Moses, he was very evidently called by God even from birth, remember the burning bush experience of God. But his calling and burning bush experience is not sufficient for the task ahead. He needs to afflict his soul and mortify the flesh to equip him for the kind of service God had in store for him. Only a man fully and humbly committed to the Lord could spend forty days and nights there with the Lord (Exodus 34:24). From that experience Moses emerged arguably the greatest leader Israel ever knew. Furthermore his encounter with God was evident to all as the glory of God shone in his face. Oh that we might emerge from our meeting with God the stronger and more fruitful in ministry and service of Him.
Sadly what had been designated as a means of blessing quickly fell into disrepute as men presumed upon the blessing of God. Little wonder that God through His prophets warned Israel time and again that their service was unacceptable, and rejected their fasts because they were not done for Me - for Me (Zechariah 7:3-7). Jesus criticised the Pharisees for fasting in order to be seen by men (Matthew 6:16) and for boasting about the frequency of their fasting (Luke 18:12). But He told us how to fast v18 - without show (even to disguise the fact) - secretly. He would then reward openly.
There lies before us, the Church, a great task. The task of serving the Lord and representing Him in the community. For that great task we must prepare ourselves as Ezra prepared that little band of exiles returning to Jerusalem - by prayer and fasting to seek from God the right way for us our little ones and all our possessions.
Tuesday 3 March 2015
New Horizons
Joshua 3:4 - ‘for you have not passed this way before’
Israel are about to pass through the river Jordan, to enter and possess the land God had promised them. Moses their leader for the past forty years is dead, Joshua is his successor. The Ark of the Presence of God has been set in order and will lead the people into Canaan. Israel will follow at a set distance, so they can easily see and follow the Ark. Israel are about to embark on the greatest venture of all time, for any nation, any people. Neither they, nor anyone else for that matter, had been this way before.
A New Year lies before us, so in a very real sense we can say we have not been this way before. Sure some of us have celebrated many previous New Years, but none have repeated exactly the preceding year. It is new territory for us as it was for Israel under their new leader Joshua. So how should we move forward? Can the Bible offer any help? Perhaps we can learn something from Israel’s preparation to enter Canaan.
The key lies in the way Moses prepared Israel for her momentous moment in history. We must step back a little in time. First we note that Israel was encamped on the border of Canaan. They had in fact been there nearly forty years earlier, but because of unbelief God caused them to wander in the wilderness, but now once more they stand at the threshold of Canaan. It is here Moses rehearses their history of the last forty years in their hearing, commands the public reading of the law every seventh year, and teaches them a song to remind them of the greatness of their God and of their unique relationship to God.
He encouraged obedience to the word of God as the means of blessing both temporal and spiritual. In the closing words of the song the concept of God providing ‘atonement’ is introduced. A blessing that would extend far beyond Israel’s borders.
John Gill summarises ‘thus ends this most excellent and wonderful song, which is of such a large extent and compass, as to reach from the beginning of the Jewish nation, and before it, to the conversion of the Jews in the latter day; an history of more than four thousand years already; and how long more is yet to come before all in it is fulfilled no man call say.
Moses reminded them of their failure to enter into Canaan the first time was because of their rebellion against God, (Deuteronomy 1), followed by the wasted years, wandering in the wilderness, (Deuteronomy 2&3).
Moses commands obedience to the Law of God reiterating The Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy ch.5). Perhaps they expected some great oration, some new directive or standard, but Moses took them back to the Word of God - and reminded them of their responsibility before God as His people.
Then followed the great commandment ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your might’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus would later underline the importance of this commandment when challenged by the Pharisees (Matthew 22:37). Saying that on this commandment (and the second) hang the law and prophets. He reminded them of their standing with God ‘You are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.’ (Deuteronomy 7:6) and that they were loved by God.
Then he reminded them of their proneness to sin, to rebel, against God, (Deuteronomy 9). The next 18 chapters are a distillation of nearly forty years of Moses teaching on the Law of God. Blessing on obedience and cursing / judgement on disobedience, chaps. 28-30. Finally He commanded that the Law of God be read, in public, every seventh year (Deuteronomy 31).
So having instructed them on the importance of the Law of God, and their responsibility towards God as His special people, Moses gave them a song to sing (Deuteronomy 32) which would remind them of these great truths, as they sang about the greatness of God (vv 1-4). Acknowledged their sinfulness. (vv 5-6). Sang of God’s mercy (vv 7-14). Their sin in scorning the God of their salvation vv 15-18. How mournful that song was at times when God hid His face from them (vv 19-35). However The Lord is compassionate (vv 36-43), and will ultimately provide atonement (v43).
Clearly Israel had much to be thankful for, much to sing about, and much to encourage her as she faced the unknown. We, too, have much to praise God for, both individually and collectively. We who once were bound in sin have been gloriously set free. We have been made partakers in the atonement promised to Israel, thus knowing personal salvation. We have been adopted into the family of God - thus we are chosen in a very real and special sense.
We are assured of God’s love for us - in that He gave His Son, the incarnate Word, to die for us, and that Jesus is coming back to take us to be with Him. So whatever the future holds for us - we have confidence in Him. Knowing that ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us.’ The God who has led us thus far will not suddenly abandon us, leaving us to the mercy of the enemy of our soul.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes.
That soul though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
We have noted how Moses prepared Israel for her future by anchoring it to total obedience to Law of God. So without equivocation we say with Moses - obedience to the Word of God is the key to our future in the New Year ahead, both individually and collectively. That is the Word of God in its entirety, even the bits we do not like.
We must set our hearts upon the Word, the Word must be the motivation for seeking, serving, and loving the Lord. We must apply our minds, our thinking, our knowledge to knowing and obeying the Word of God. We must be resolved, determined, ever inclining towards the practice of the word. We must ensure our children are taught not just the word, but obedience to the word.
Now in the eyes of the world such things are futile, but for the true child of God, they are vital to life (eternal) which is his inheritance and possession in Christ. As John reminds us, ‘Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city’ (Revelation 22:14).
Thus the final blessing of obedience to the Word of God is full atonement realised in life eternal, and entrance into heaven itself.
Israel are about to pass through the river Jordan, to enter and possess the land God had promised them. Moses their leader for the past forty years is dead, Joshua is his successor. The Ark of the Presence of God has been set in order and will lead the people into Canaan. Israel will follow at a set distance, so they can easily see and follow the Ark. Israel are about to embark on the greatest venture of all time, for any nation, any people. Neither they, nor anyone else for that matter, had been this way before.
A New Year lies before us, so in a very real sense we can say we have not been this way before. Sure some of us have celebrated many previous New Years, but none have repeated exactly the preceding year. It is new territory for us as it was for Israel under their new leader Joshua. So how should we move forward? Can the Bible offer any help? Perhaps we can learn something from Israel’s preparation to enter Canaan.
The key lies in the way Moses prepared Israel for her momentous moment in history. We must step back a little in time. First we note that Israel was encamped on the border of Canaan. They had in fact been there nearly forty years earlier, but because of unbelief God caused them to wander in the wilderness, but now once more they stand at the threshold of Canaan. It is here Moses rehearses their history of the last forty years in their hearing, commands the public reading of the law every seventh year, and teaches them a song to remind them of the greatness of their God and of their unique relationship to God.
He encouraged obedience to the word of God as the means of blessing both temporal and spiritual. In the closing words of the song the concept of God providing ‘atonement’ is introduced. A blessing that would extend far beyond Israel’s borders.
John Gill summarises ‘thus ends this most excellent and wonderful song, which is of such a large extent and compass, as to reach from the beginning of the Jewish nation, and before it, to the conversion of the Jews in the latter day; an history of more than four thousand years already; and how long more is yet to come before all in it is fulfilled no man call say.
Moses reminded them of their failure to enter into Canaan the first time was because of their rebellion against God, (Deuteronomy 1), followed by the wasted years, wandering in the wilderness, (Deuteronomy 2&3).
Moses commands obedience to the Law of God reiterating The Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy ch.5). Perhaps they expected some great oration, some new directive or standard, but Moses took them back to the Word of God - and reminded them of their responsibility before God as His people.
Then followed the great commandment ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your might’ (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus would later underline the importance of this commandment when challenged by the Pharisees (Matthew 22:37). Saying that on this commandment (and the second) hang the law and prophets. He reminded them of their standing with God ‘You are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.’ (Deuteronomy 7:6) and that they were loved by God.
Then he reminded them of their proneness to sin, to rebel, against God, (Deuteronomy 9). The next 18 chapters are a distillation of nearly forty years of Moses teaching on the Law of God. Blessing on obedience and cursing / judgement on disobedience, chaps. 28-30. Finally He commanded that the Law of God be read, in public, every seventh year (Deuteronomy 31).
So having instructed them on the importance of the Law of God, and their responsibility towards God as His special people, Moses gave them a song to sing (Deuteronomy 32) which would remind them of these great truths, as they sang about the greatness of God (vv 1-4). Acknowledged their sinfulness. (vv 5-6). Sang of God’s mercy (vv 7-14). Their sin in scorning the God of their salvation vv 15-18. How mournful that song was at times when God hid His face from them (vv 19-35). However The Lord is compassionate (vv 36-43), and will ultimately provide atonement (v43).
Clearly Israel had much to be thankful for, much to sing about, and much to encourage her as she faced the unknown. We, too, have much to praise God for, both individually and collectively. We who once were bound in sin have been gloriously set free. We have been made partakers in the atonement promised to Israel, thus knowing personal salvation. We have been adopted into the family of God - thus we are chosen in a very real and special sense.
We are assured of God’s love for us - in that He gave His Son, the incarnate Word, to die for us, and that Jesus is coming back to take us to be with Him. So whatever the future holds for us - we have confidence in Him. Knowing that ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us.’ The God who has led us thus far will not suddenly abandon us, leaving us to the mercy of the enemy of our soul.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes.
That soul though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
We have noted how Moses prepared Israel for her future by anchoring it to total obedience to Law of God. So without equivocation we say with Moses - obedience to the Word of God is the key to our future in the New Year ahead, both individually and collectively. That is the Word of God in its entirety, even the bits we do not like.
We must set our hearts upon the Word, the Word must be the motivation for seeking, serving, and loving the Lord. We must apply our minds, our thinking, our knowledge to knowing and obeying the Word of God. We must be resolved, determined, ever inclining towards the practice of the word. We must ensure our children are taught not just the word, but obedience to the word.
Now in the eyes of the world such things are futile, but for the true child of God, they are vital to life (eternal) which is his inheritance and possession in Christ. As John reminds us, ‘Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city’ (Revelation 22:14).
Thus the final blessing of obedience to the Word of God is full atonement realised in life eternal, and entrance into heaven itself.
Sunday 1 March 2015
Revival - Part 1: What is Revival?
“Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence”. (Isaiah 64:1)
“Will thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6
These verses contain the very essence of revival, God does wonderful things, and as he draws near to his people they rejoice in his presence. However, there is no neat definition of revival that enables us to state simply what it is or what it is not, and the best that can be done is to describe it as it has appeared down through the centuries.
However, it is first of all necessary to clear up some misunderstandings about revival that have given it something of a bad name in some quarters. Revival is not something that can be organised by a church on a particular date. However successful such meetings may be they have little impact on the outside world. In revival whole towns, cities and countries are affected.
Revival is not a successful campaign involving mass advertising, huge choirs and a famous evangelist. When George Whitefield preached in 1739 at Kennington Common, during the Great Evangelical Revival, over 30,000 people gathered without the use of such means.
Revival is to be distinguished from so called "phenomena" that have sometimes been associated with it. These have included fainting, excitement, visions, and reported miracles. These things have caused divisions and bitter debate among Christians both at the time of revival and later. John Wesley believed that they were the marks of a work of the Holy Spirit. Charles Wesley disapproved of such matters and discouraged them in his meetings. Jonathan Edwards apologised for them. A feature of revivals is their great variety, some being completely free from phenomena, others being famous because of them. Whatever these strange things may be they are not essential to revival.
Finally, revival is not a short cut to a successful church or an excuse to opt out of the means that God expects us to use day by day to take the message of the Gospel to the lost. Revival is unusual and special, a glorious work of God alone that is additional to the ordinary means that he uses to refresh his people and gather the church.
“Will thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” (Psalm 85:6
These verses contain the very essence of revival, God does wonderful things, and as he draws near to his people they rejoice in his presence. However, there is no neat definition of revival that enables us to state simply what it is or what it is not, and the best that can be done is to describe it as it has appeared down through the centuries.
However, it is first of all necessary to clear up some misunderstandings about revival that have given it something of a bad name in some quarters. Revival is not something that can be organised by a church on a particular date. However successful such meetings may be they have little impact on the outside world. In revival whole towns, cities and countries are affected.
Revival is not a successful campaign involving mass advertising, huge choirs and a famous evangelist. When George Whitefield preached in 1739 at Kennington Common, during the Great Evangelical Revival, over 30,000 people gathered without the use of such means.
Revival is to be distinguished from so called "phenomena" that have sometimes been associated with it. These have included fainting, excitement, visions, and reported miracles. These things have caused divisions and bitter debate among Christians both at the time of revival and later. John Wesley believed that they were the marks of a work of the Holy Spirit. Charles Wesley disapproved of such matters and discouraged them in his meetings. Jonathan Edwards apologised for them. A feature of revivals is their great variety, some being completely free from phenomena, others being famous because of them. Whatever these strange things may be they are not essential to revival.
Finally, revival is not a short cut to a successful church or an excuse to opt out of the means that God expects us to use day by day to take the message of the Gospel to the lost. Revival is unusual and special, a glorious work of God alone that is additional to the ordinary means that he uses to refresh his people and gather the church.
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