Charles Finney (1792-1875)
READ: Mark 11:20-26; John 14:9-14
As a result of the American
Revolution, the thirteen British colonies had become the new United States of
America. As settlers spread across the country, immorality was on the rise and Christianity
on the decline. The country was again in need of spiritual revival. The 1790s-1840s
saw great outpourings of the Holy Spirit as spiritual revival spread across the
new nation – a Second Great Awakening.
Charles Finney was one of the
movers and shakers of this awakening, earning himself the title as the “Father
of American Revivalism”. Finney was a lawyer who left his trade and moved his
legal logic and courtroom skill to the pulpit, with compelling and persuasive
sermons. He wasn’t in favour of theatrical emotion, but sought to bring people
to a place of excitement knowing it was only then that they would act on what they had heard.
Charles Finney sought to bring
God’s Word to the common man and to include the common man in his ministry.
This was American revivalism – everyone included in the evangelism and
discipleship of the saved. Finney enacted “new measures” which made his
revivals very successful: he held all-night prayer meetings, allowed women to
pray publically, allowed emotional responses in his meetings, and designated an
“anxious bench” where any sinner could come to receive prayer during a revival
meeting.
Finney came on the evangelical
scene with a new approach. He advocated that God has given all man the
opportunity and ability to choose for himself if he will follow God or reject
Him. This brought a new sense of responsibility and passion to people of
America as they sought to actually do
something about their sin.
Charles Finney was also known as
a man of great faith – a faith that allowed him to pray with power. Not
prosperity driven, name-it-and-claim-it prayers of “faith,” but bold prayers
aligned to God’s will through His promised Word. A story is told of a drought
in Finney’s residence of Oberlin, Ohio. One Sunday, Finney awoke and felt the
urge to pray for rain before his congregation. (Some say he even brought an
umbrella to church that morning!) In front of his congregation, he humbly but
boldly asked the Lord to send rain before the end of the service. Within the
hour, the rumble of thunder was heard and soon there was an outpouring of rain
that the land had not received in months! Charles Finney was a man immersed in
Scripture and diligent in prayer, listening to God and seeking His will. He
loved the Lord and sought to obey God’s command. Because of these things, he
could pray and preach in faith and much fruit was seen in his life and ministry
as a result.
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1. Where do you feel weak in your faith?
2. Ask God how He wants to grow your faith this summer. What does He want to do in your heart?
3. Thank God for what He has shown you, and pray that it would become a reality in your life.
