May 20, 2010

• Here I stand & from here I cast (devoted to prayer & the ministry of the Word)

  
  Acts 6:4  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

  Just over a year ago I wrote of the importance of the ministry of the Word and prayer in revival and my role in that (see here). If you've never read that post, I would encourage you to do so.

  As of late, I confess I've struggled in persevering in that calling. (I've written some about that here, here, here, here and here.)

  Last month I began reading Iain H. Murray's "Revival and Revivalism: The Making and Marring of American Evangelicalism 1750-1858," Banner of Truth Trust (Edinburgh, 1994, reprinted 1996). Once again, as I did previously, I would encourage those of you who have a desire to see the Church awakened and revived out of her lethargy and deadness to read the accounts of past revivals. As you do so you will be greatly encouraged and will find that prayer and the ministry of the Word are God's appointed means to bring life and breath to the valley of dry bones.

  This from Murray's book (boldface, mine):

  From the general introduction to the period of the Second Great Awakening we turn to some particular observations.

     In the first place, if it be asked, What special means were used to promote these revivals? the answer is that there was none... This is not to say that the spiritual leaders of this new era held the view that the gospel could be advanced without means employed. They are united in regarding such an attitude as a serious abuse of the doctrine of divine sovereignty. As Ebenezer Porter affirmed (Letters of the Religious Revivals which Prevailed about the Beginning of the Present Century (Boston, 1858), pp. 15-16):

  The God of this universe is not dependent on instruments . . . He could fill the world with Bibles by a word, – or give every inhabitant of the globe a knowledge of the gospel by inspiration. But he chose that human agency should be employed in printing and reading and  explaining the Scriptures. God is able to sanctify the four hundred millions of Asia, in one instant, without the agency of missionaries, but we do not expect him to do this without means, any more than we expect him to rain down food from the clouds, or turn stones into bread.

  These men were united in the belief that God has appointed the means of prayer and preaching for the spread of the gospel and that these are the great means in the use of which he requires the churches to be faithful. There are no greater means which may be employed at special times to secure supposedly greater results. It is therefore the Spirit of God who makes the same means more effective at some seasons than at others.
  
      This has perhaps not always been as evident as it was in 1800. Sometimes revivals have coincided with the emergence of hitherto unknown preachers whose abilities have been credited with securing change. But in the case of the Second Great Awakening, nearly all the preachers prominent at the outset had already been labouring for many years. Asbury had been twenty-nine years in America before 1800. Timothy Dwight, grandson of Jonathan Edwards, was ordained in 1783 and had worked for twenty years before he saw revival under his ministry. What Asa Rand wrote of Dr Seth Payson could have been written of many others. Dr Payson was for thirty-seven years (1782-1819) minister at Rindge, in New Hampshire. In a tribute to his memory written in 1849 Rand said of that long ministry:

  During the first half of that period the ministers and churches in that region were generally unblest by copious showers of Divine grace. They were unacquainted with revivals of religion . . . Dr Payson held on his way, faithfully declaring the gospel on the Sabbath, and was blessed in building up a comparatively enlightened and spiritual church, enlarged by occasional additions from the world. Early in the present century, his people were favoured with times of refreshing . . . The latter part of his ministry was far more successful and happy than the former. He lived to produce permanent effects and the results are witnessed to this day. [Quote from W.B. Sprague, "Annals of the American Pulpit" (New York, 1858), Vol. 2, p. 213]

      The facts are indisputable. A considerable body of men, for a long period before the Second Great Awakening, preached the same message as they did during the revival but with vastly different consequences – the same men, the same action, performed with the same abilities, yet the results were so amazingly different! The conclusion has to be drawn that the change in the churches after 1798 and 1800 cannot be explained in terms of the means used. Nothing was clearer to those who saw the events than that God was sovereignly pleased to bless human instrumentality in such a way that the success could be attributed to him alone. . .

      . . . A Baptist author, for instance, describing the revival at Hartford in 1798-1800, wrote: 'The Lord seems to have stepped out of the usual path of ordinances, to effect this work more immediately in the displays of his Almighty power, and outpouring of his Spirit; probably to show that the work is his own.'

      Thus what characterizes a revival is not the employment of unusual or special means but rather the extraordinary degree of blessing attending the normal means of grace. There were not unusual evangelistic meetings, no special arrangements, no announcements of pending revivals. Pastors were simply continuing in the services they had conducted for many years when the great change began. This is why so many of them could say, 'The first appearance of the work was sudden and unexpected.' Their theology taught them that there is no inherent power in the truth to convert sinners and they rejoiced in the knowledge that the size of the blessing which God is pleased to give through the use of means is entirely in his own hands. As William Rogers of Philadelphia wrote to Isaac Backus in 1799, 'The revivals of religion which you speak of are peculiarly illustrative of the glorious doctrines of grace, – "the wind bloweth where it listeth".'

      On the subject of means, something needs to be said more particularly on prayer. As with the truth that is preached, prayer has no inherent power in itself. On the contrary, true prayer is bound up with a persuasion of our own inability and our complete dependence on God. Prayer, considered as a human activity, whether offered by few or many, can guarantee no results. But prayer that throws believers in heartfelt need on God, with true concern for the salvation of sinners, will not go unanswered. Prayer of this kind produces blessing, not because of any necessary cause and effect, but because such prayer secures an acknowledgement of the true Author of the blessing. And where such a spirit of prayer exists it is a sign that God is already intervening to advance his cause. One thing that can be said with certainty about the 1790s, before any general indications of a new era were to be seen, is that there was a growing concern among Christians to pray. Later, on when the evidence of records from those years was compared, it was recognized that across the Union, from Connecticut to Kentucky, the 1790s were marked by a new spirit of intercession.

  p. 126-129

  * * *

  We recently finished the study of the book of John in BSF. I was rereading in John 21 this week:
  
  

  1  After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2  Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
  
  4  Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5  Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”
  
  6  He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8  The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

  I'm like those disciples. When Jesus comes to me and asks, "Child, do you have any fish?" Um, all I can do is hang my head and answer sadly, "No." Like the disciples, I've fished all night and the net is empty.

  Lord, I'm devastated. I'm dismayed. I'm disenchanted. I'm distressed. I'm depressed. I've tried to faithfully teach the Word of God. I've tried to pray. No, I've not done either perfectly. Yet over all I can say I've not held my peace, I've not rested, but as much as possible I've made mention of You and prayed to You on behalf of Your Church. Don't You see the ruins here? I've cast this net. Lord, I'm tired. And to make it worse is that I see lots of other nets being cast and some of those are full of fish, really, really full. And what do I have? Nothing. And the worse thing is that most of those full nets are bogus nets: Your Word is not being preached rightly: man is put at the center rather than Your Son Jesus Christ. *sigh* *groan*"  How long, O Lord? Will you not come and stir up Your strength and save us? Restore us, O Lord of hosts! /end rant/

  But with that, Jesus still tells me to cast once more.

  Of course, this commandment makes no sense at all if I look at it through the eyes of men.

  Albert Einstein said:

  Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

  I've tried to remain faithful to teach the Word of God and to pray. Why would I expect further teaching or praying accomplish anything? Shouldn't I do something different? Wouldn't it make sense to do something different? After all, the net is empty. I'm tired. I've been up all night. Where are the fish? Why cast again?

  Yet . . .

  Has God changed? Have God's means changed? Has God's command changed?

  Devote yourself to prayer and the ministry of the Word.

  Why should I?

  Well, besides the fact I would be in clear disobedience to Him if I don't . . .

  Because in the blink of an eye "the wonderful effusion of God's admirable grace" might be poured out from on high as Timothy Johnes, a pastor in Morristown, New Jersey, witnessed after twenty-one years of ministry on July, 1, 1764 – yes, twenty-one years:

  "The Lord Jehovah has rent the heavens and come down and the mountains are fleeing at his presence. There is something of this blessed work all around me."

  –Johnes, quoted in Murray, p. 47

  Who's to say if the next time I cast the net of prayer and the Word, the net might have a single fish in it, or perhaps it might even be filled?

  

  Impossible with me. Possible with God.

  If Jesus says to cast again, then I must. He has told me that my labor in Him is never in vain.

  It's true that Jesus has not specifically told me that I will catch fish in this life (let's keep in mind that some of His servants are called to fruitless ministry in this life, e.g. - Isaiah, Jeremiah), but that really doesn't matter. I'm to obey my Lord's words to me to cast again and again...

  And He has reminded me again and again that my joy in Him is independent of the number of fish I might catch. The Lord alone is my portion, not how many fish I catch...(Besides He's the One who brings them into the net in the first place.)

  It doesn't matter what I see or how I feel about it.

  Some may call it insanity, and yes, it may seem insane to keep doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. It may seem insane to keep casting the net and bringing it in empty morning after morning. . . But if that same thing we are doing is God's clear commandment to us, then it is pure insanity for us not to keep doing it! In fact, it is not only pure insanity but it is pure disobedience! The truth is this: Prayer and the ministry of the Word have been and will always be God's means to grow His Church. Why? Because those are the means God has chosen and and the means through which He is most glorified.

  As we read the history of revivals, we read of devoted men who labored tirelessly in the pulpit and on their knees for years and years. These faithful servants of God had been casting the net and it'd been returning empty year after year and year...but then suddenly and unexpectedly we find those times when the net was full! One day the Holy Spirit infused their prayers and their sermons to make them effectual and fill the net. The countless years of sowing in tears led to reaping in joy. Why? How can we explain it? We can't. All we can say is that the sovereign God chose to bless at that time all to His praise, honor and glory alone!

  'It is the evident design of Providence to confound all attempts which should be made by philosophy and human reason to account for the effects wrought without ascribing them to God as the marvellous work of his Spirit and grace.'

  –Asahel Hooker, Connecticut pastor, quoted in Murray, p. 128

  By the grace of God, I will devote myself to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.

  Here I stand and from here I cast.

  As I've written previously (e.g.- see here and here), I'm am praying I would not compromise the word of God or sugar-coat it in any way.

  But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. II Corinthians 4:2.

  The temptation to popularity is a daily threat and temptation to me (might I even say moment by moment). By the grace of God I am praying I would not become desperate and jettison the means God has appointed to grow the Church. By the grace of God I hope not to resort to gimmicks or attention-getting devices. I am trusting that as I continue in prayer and give out the Word as God instructs, God will bring those to the net He is calling, that the Holy Spirit will blow where He wills and revive stagnant Christians and breathe life into dead souls – that God will bring the increase where, how and when He wills all to His glory.

  A good friend in Christ recently wondered if as I gave out the Word of God to people if they were really reading it. Frankly, I know some people are not reading it. I also know some people have balked at things I've written and rejected them (and me) outright. In spite of that, I'm casting the net of prayer and the Word. I know Christ did not give up on me when I rejected Him. And I know that the God of Israel was and still is longsuffering. He stretched out His hands all day long to Israel and continues to do so today to His own, so not one of His sheep will be missing. The Church is unique from the world in that we have these two precious treasures from God: His Word and prayer. We can be like the world and keep on giving people pop psychology, but what good will that do their souls for eternity? It may make them happy for a time, it may not cause waves, but it will not truly satisfy in the long run and it won't save. The Word of God stands forever (HT: Jim, for the reminder this morning), and the effectual fervent prayers of righteous men avail much. I am hoping and praying God will give those empty and unsatisfied souls a hunger to eat of Christ, to come and taste and see that the Lord is good. I can't make someone eat, but I can give out the food. I can set the table and get it ready, but Jesus Christ has to show those souls the corn husks are no good and then get them hungry enough to see the pig sty isn't where it's at so they might hear His voice calling them and then run to our Father's house to eat of Him and His Word and be filled.

  Acts 6:4  But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
  By the grace of God I will devote myself to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
  Here I stand and from here I cast, whether the net be empty or full.
  

  
  
  

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  Related:

  My other blogs:

  • tent of meeting: devoted to prayer for revival
  • deerlife: devoted to ministry encouragement

  posts on revival:

  • Naphtali News: Ministry of the Word and prayer
  • Revival resources, etc.
  • More revival resources: opportunity and eyes to see the ruins, a burden from God
  • Letter 6 on assurance and fighting for joy (and the Gospel and revival)
  • Letter 9 on assurance and fighting for joy in contending for the Gospel

  
  posts on the struggle to press on: 

  • Make war (Herod, blogging, appetites, the glory of God & the Word of God)
  • blogging, view count, comments, numbers and the glory of God
  • the devil and God, passion and vision, lies and truth
    

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  • 3:56 PM
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