Category Archives: Holy Spirit
Marks of True Revival (from OT)
NINE CHARACTERISTICS OF GREAT REVIVALS THROUGHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT
Wilbur Smith lists nine characteristics of the great revivals:[1]
(1) Most revivals were preceded by a time of deep spiritual decline and despair.
(2) Each of [the ten great OT] revivals began in the heart of one of God’s servants, who then became the instrument in God’s hands to stir up the sleeping consciences of God’s people.
(3) Every revival in the Old Testament rested solidly on a new and powerful proclamation of the Word of God.
(4) Each revival was marked by a return to the genuine worship of Yahweh.
(5) Revivals are preceded by a destruction of every idol that blocked the rightful acknowledgement of Yahweh as the only true and living God.
(6) In each case, there was a deep sense of sin and an overpowering desire to separate themselves from it and from all its sponsoring causes.
(7) In every revival in the Old Testament, there was a likewise a return to the offering of blood sacrifices. In other words, there was a corporate return to the one place of atonement–the Lamb that was slain for the removal of sin.
(8) Old Testament revivals were accompanied by the experience of a new sense of unbounded joy and exuberant gladness.
(9) Each revival was followed by a time a great productivity and prosperity.
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[1] Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Revive Us Again: Biblical Principles for Revival Today (Scotland: Christian Focus, 2003), 10-14. Kaiser cites Wilbur M. Smith, The Glorious Revival under King Hezekiah (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1937), vi-vii.
Holiness of Heart and Life
The Gospel Produces the Fruit of Holiness
Charles Hodge wrote the following thoughts on holiness:
“Holiness is essential to the correct knowledge of divine things and the great security from error… Wherever you find vital piety, there you find the doctrines of the fall, of depravity, of regeneration, of atonement, and of the deity of Jesus Christ.”[1]
Keeping the gospel before us is God’s way of protecting us from error–as a result, our lives will reflect the fruit of His Spirit and character of His Son.
Guarding One’s Heart
In lectures to his seminary students, he wrote the following:
“‘Keep your hearts with all diligence, for out of them are the issues of life.’ Remember that it is only in God’s light that you can see light. That holiness is essential to correct knowledge of divine things, and the great security from error. And as you see, that when men lose the life of religion [the Spirit of God], they can believe the most monstrous doctrines, and glory in them; and that when clergy once fall into such errors, generations perish before the slow course of reviving piety brings back the truth; ‘what manner of men ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness.’ Not only then for your own sake, but for the sake of your children, and your children’s children, forsake not your God…
“Finally, lean not to your own understanding. If there be any declaration of the Bible, confirmed by the history of the church, and especially by the recent history of European churches, it is that ‘he that leaneth to his own understanding is a fool.’ When men forsake the word of God, and profess to be wise above that which is written, they inevitably and universally lose themselves in vain speculations… Submit yourselves, therefore, to the teaching of him, in whom ‘are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ It is only when thus taught, that you will be able to teach others also.’”[1]
The heart is the well-spring of life. Where there is true piety–spiritual regeneration–there will be Christlike fruit and increasing maturity and spiritual security. The Spirit of the Lord guides, grows, and guards His own.
[1, 2] David Calhoun, Princeton Seminary: Faith and Learning (1812-1868) (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1994), 123-24.
More Light Lord, More Light…
“More Light, Lord… More Light!!”
Charles Spurgeon in his lecture entitled “Light. Fire. Faith. Life. Love.” wrote this brief account of a desperate prayer for greater illumination: “I suggest to you all the prayer of a Puritan who, during a debate, was observed to be absorbed in writing. His friends thought he was taking notes of his opponent’s speech; but when they got hold of his paper, they found nothing but these words, ‘More light, Lord! More light, Lord!’ Oh, for more light from the great Father of lights!”
The Importance of the Holy Spirit in the Life of a Theological Student:
Archibald Alexander, the first President of Princeton Theological Seminary, 1812:
The student of the Bible must receive illumination and assistance from the Holy Spirit in order to “be possessed of sincere and ardent piety. He should be a man ‘taught of God,’ conscious of his own insufficiency, but confident of the help of the Almighty… he, who would understand the Scriptures, therefore, ought not to ‘lean to his own understanding,’ but by continual and earnest prayer should look unto the ‘Father of lights,’ from whom proceedeth every good and every perfect gift; and who hath promised to give wisdom to those who lack it, and ask for it… There is no person who needs more to be in the constant exercise of prayer than the Theological student: not only at stated periods, but continually in the midst of his studies, his heart should be raised to heaven for help and direction.” [1]
Ashbel Green, former President of the College of New Jersey (1812, Princeton) on the purpose of a theological institution:
The primary purpose of a theological seminary would be a gospel institution that serves to: ”unite, in those who shall sustain the ministerial office, religion and literature [faith and learning]; that piety of the heart which is the fruit only of the renewing and sanctifying grace of God, with solid learning; believing that religion without learning, or learning without religion, in ministers of the Gospel, must ultimately prove injurious to the Church.”[2]
Education without a regenerate heart, proves inadequate and spiritually-destructive, often evidenced in self-promotion and pride. A regenerate heart that does not seek to grow and learn shall bear little fruit within itself and spur on even less in the lives of those around it. In everything a seminary seeks to be, it is useless without the powerful working of the Holy Spirit to effect all that it is and hopes to be for the cause of Christ and His Kingdom.
[1] David B. Calhoun, Princeton Seminary: Faith and Learning (1812-1868) (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1994), 35.
[2] Ibid, 31.
