July 23, 2010
-
“God’s Word will make its own way/this foolishness of preaching” (George Whitefield’s Journals)
Down in Chicago-land for Ignite…
Filled up earlier tonight with some Chicago-style stuffed pizza…
And then filled up with some of Whitefield’s words from 1739…
Wednesday, July 18. … I reached Abingdon, twenty-two miles from Cirencester, about seven, and preached to several thousands soon after I came in. Much opposition had been made against my coming. T he landlord, whose house we offered to put up at, genteellly told us he had not room for us; and numberless prejudices had been industriously spread to prevent my success. But God’s Word will make its own way, let men say what they please. Our weapons are not carnal, but mighty through the Divine Power, to the pulling down of Satan’s strongholds.
Thursday, July 19. At the request of several well-disposed people, preached again this morning, though not to so great a number as before. A sweet power was felt amongst us. The hearers melted into tears under the Word. Oh, what a sudden alteration does this foolishness of preaching make in the most obstinate hearts. ‘Tis but for God to speak the word, and the lion is turned into a lamb. Oh, that we were like that dear Lamb of God, Who died to take away the sins of the world.
I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Related:
Comments (8)
WHOOO SHINY….Jeremy Camp you must see as well as After Edmund, Sanctus Real…Barlowgirl!! Yay….Britt Nicole just see everyone on the list already…=D
I love how Whitefield just casually says he preached to several thousand. Yup. He sounds quite unbothered really.
@llamalima - I don’t even know some of the bands that are playing.
There’s one stage, so you see everyone. Of course, you know I’m here primarily for Crowder on Sunday, more or less. 
Eh, but why not come for both days, right? 
The forecast is calling for storms/rain for tomorrow, though. 
I love how Whitefield just casually says he preached to several thousand. Yup. He sounds quite unbothered really.
Yeah, and he was only 24 then…And the maturity he had was astounding. He was so humble. It was absolutely crazy how things exploded in his ministry. And this was taking place at a time when there was some kind of embargo, so he was still in England, otherwise if he’d had his way, he’d already have sailed back in the States (er, well, colonies then). God sovereign much?
I think there were even a couple times he preached to 60,000 or 70,000 people, if I’m remembering right. Many times 20,000-30,000. The churches wouldn’t let him in (you know, that controversial new birth/regeneration teaching!), so he decided to go and preach outside. Well, there’d be nowhere you could fit thousands of people inside any church (at that time). God brought them and there was room. And people were able to hear him preaching. No microphones, no sounds systems or anything like that.
@deerlife - Yup. You’ll have to give us a report on who you like. Barlowgirl is very cool…I think you listen to them already anyway. Bring an umbrella, good for whacking young hooligans as well.
RE: Whitefield. 24 is amazing…Don’t let anyone look down on you because you’re young…to the max. I shall have to pick up that book one day. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Whitefield. He must have one booming voice.
@llamalima - Weather is iffy, but looking a little better…
Bring an umbrella, good for whacking young hooligans as well. You mean you’re going to be there?
Yes, ok, I’ll just whack them and say, “I see you are a young hooligan. Well, let me tell you this: a llama from New Zealand told me to whack you, so there. *whack*”
Re: Whitefield: Hmm…I do believe someone I know suggested you read the Journals.
@deerlife - In my state of mind recently, I have forgotten whether I know how to find those journals…Can you imagine a preacher these days going somewhere to preach only to find that the airline had lost his luggage or that his hotel reservations were canceled? We have it so soft these days compared to what it was like several centuries ago.
@quest4god@revelife - I agree we do have it quite soft today, for sure…
The version I have of the Journals was originally published in 1960 by Banner of Truth Trust, and is still under copyright, so there’s no online version available. It compiled several of Whitefield’s journals into one volume for the first time, along w/ an intro. by Iain Murray and a couple appendices, one of which was Whitefield’s letter to Wesley re: “Free Grace.” (I will add here that the Journals were republished in this form in no small part due to ML-J’s encouragement.) You would have to buy it or it might be available to borrow from in a good library. You can go to WorldCat and check availability; some libraries can even arrange to have books delivered to your local library. Dallimore’s bio of Whitefield is also good, though I’ve only read the abridged version ~ 200+ pages. The full 2 volume set is about 1200 pages. (I need more to read, right?
)
@deerlife - I think that all of us who read you are amazed at the wealth of material you are finding….and absorbing! It has served you well, both the bios as well as the scripture you are thereby directed to. I would keep it up, if I were you – with an eye to your own limits. ☺
@quest4god@revelife - Thanks.
Finding, yes. Absorbing, eh…well, that’s another story.
But thanks. I have a really terrible memory. I’m trusting that God will help me to absorb what’s important. It always blesses me when I’ve just read something & then realize it’s so perfect for a conversation/discussion not long afterwards.