Jeremiah 29:13
When young Andrew completed his education and began his ministry, he wrote, “I begin to fear that the state of the great majority of members is much sadder than I at first realized…Nothing but God’s mighty Spirit is able to conquer the deep enmity of the unconverted heart.”
In 1859, various pastors began to express a burden for awakening, calling on others to preach sermons on the character of God, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the need to pray for his outpouring.
A number of small prayer meetings began. The one in Montagu never grew beyond three regular attendees prior to May 1860. The weekly prayer meeting in Worchester seldom had more than three or four participants. However, one dedicated intercessor wore a footpath to the top of a hill overlooking the town praying for Revival.
Andrew Murray was called to lead the congregation in Worcester at the same time that a conference of churches was to meet to discuss the subject of Revival. Carts, wagons and horses brought in 374 visitors representing 20 congregations. This included 8 ministers from the Andrew Murray family. With great excitement the conference began 18 April, laying out the Scriptural basis for Revival.
According to C. Rabie, a teenager who attended the conference and would later become a DRC minister, the Revival began at the conference itself. He wrote: “Ds. Murray (Jnr.)’s participation during the first part of the conference was limited to one prayer, but it was a prayer so full of power and emotion that people came under deep conviction of sin. You can safely say that the Revival dates from that moment.” 1
As the revival spread, one of the surprises was that many of those converted were from the lowest and least religious in the community. People who had lived in conspicuous sin were crying out to God for mercy and turning away from their former life. Another surprise was Andrew Murray’s visceral response to some of the displays of emotion that he witnessed. He was shocked at the apparent disorder as people fell to the ground, crying out for mercy, because they felt overwhelmed by the presence of God.
As Andrew sought to take control of a prayer meeting where people were experiencing agonies of conviction of sin, a stranger touched Ds. Murray and warned him: “Be careful what you do, for it is the Spirit of God that is at work here.”
Andrew quoted from George Whitefield, who stated: “If you try to stamp out the wildfire and remove what is false, you will equally and simultaneously remove what is real.” 1
In our own day, there are many who are troubled by a greater display of emotion than they are comfortable with. Apparently, it is well and good to believe that we have been rescued from an eternity in hell by the loving sacrifice of God’s son who took our punishment and gave us his righteousness without any merit on our part. We should believe this but we ought not to display more emotion than these constipated individuals feel comfortable with. When God moves in a way that makes us uncomfortable, he is being consistent with what he has revealed in the Old and New Testament. Should worship be orderly? Yes. But is it disorderly for people to weep as Jesus did on more than one occasion? Is it disorderly to clap our hands and shout unto God with a voice of triumph as God commands (Psalm 47)? Are loud clashing cymbals to be permitted, or only harps? When Saul was troubled by evil spirits, he apparently was only helped by a harp.
I realize that there are always going to be people who attempt to use music and other techniques in order to generate powerful emotions. Emotion itself is not revival. But a revival that does not manifest itself in an overwhelming way, is not the work of God as outlined in scripture. Years ago, Stuart Briscoe, preaching on Acts 2 noted that when “they heard the gospel, they were cut to the heart and asked, ‘What must we do?’” Briscoe said all three facets of the person are involved. We must hear the gospel. That is intellectual. If we truly hear it, we are cut to the heart. That is emotional. If it is the genuine work of God, we ask, “What must we do?” That is volitional. The mind, the emotions, and the will must all be converted by God.
Many people who are repelled by a greater display of emotion than they prefer in worship, become profoundly emotional and demonstrative at sporting events or in matters dealing with money. I suppose it is a question of the object of our worship. As I read the scriptures, I am reminded that there are times when we must be silent before God. There are times when we should fall on our face, and times when we are commanded to stand on our feet. Instead of policing other people’s response because we are the audience and spectators, let us enter into God’s presence and ask Him, “What would you have me to do?”
Dr. Peter Hammond
The Reformation Society
PO Box 74, Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
www.ReformationSA.org
