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George Whitefield: The Opposition Grows

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Di Pietro: “The authorities and Anglican power brokers were intimidated by his ministry. They felt something had to be done to stop him. They drew the line in the sand and said they were not going to allow his efforts to go unchallenged. Some New England pastors wrongly claimed that Whitefield destroyed, “New Englands’ orderly parish system, communities, and even families.” A prominent newspaper editor in Charleston, South Carolina labeled him, “blasphemous, uncharitable, and unreasonable.” In many of the Colonial pulpits, Whitefield was accused of being an “imposter, a devil, the beast, the man of sin, the antiChrist.” In 1757, while preaching in Dublin, Ireland, a huge Roman Catholic mob rioted and attacked him. These out-of-control people wounded Whitefield severely and smashed his portable pulpit. Opponents threw anything they could get their hands on – rocks, feces, rotten food, and even dead cats. On one occasion, Whitefield was almost killed by a man who beat him with a brass-headed cane. Another time he was assaulted by a woman wielding, “scissors and a pistol, and her teeth.” Whitefield endured numerous public humiliations including the time an opponent climbed a tree and urinated on him.”

Yet, he “was unwavering in his commitment to preach. He stood whether people received his words or not. When the people became harsh, he said, that they were “being hardened as were Pharaoh and the Egyptians.” Any opposition made him more adamant to set God’s people free.”

Rend the Heavens

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“A dead ministry will always make a dead people, whereas of ministers who are warmed with the love of God themselves, they cannot but be instruments of diffusing that love among others.” – George Whitefield

“Men who long ago lost their anointing still minister, using the same cliche’s and mannerisms. But they are not feared in hell; they are just ‘clouds with out water.’ Lord have mercy.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“And as the circumcission in the flesh, and not the heart, have no part in God’s good promises, even so they that are baptized in the flesh, and not in the heart have no place in Christ’s Blood.” – William Booth

Rend the Heavens: George Whitefield

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Frank Di Petro, Rend the Heavens: “The English colonies were entering a desperate time with the dawning of the eighteenth century. The church had become inconsequential in the affairs of mankind. Christians had become impotent; instituting little to change society. As the prophet Isaiah foretold, “darkness covered the earth and deep darkness the people…” (Isaiah 60:2).”

Enter George Whitefield, the “flame of fire” who preached 18,000 sermons to ten million hearers. George was born December 27, 1714, in Gloucester, England. His parents ran an Inn and Tavern called Bell’s Tavern. It was a gathering place for malcontents and highwaymen – robbers and pimps. (As a result) George was continually around lying, thievery, gambling, and cursing.

As a young man, Whitefield attended Oxford University in England. Here he met a group of students called the “Holy Club” and his life was changed forever. This small group was led by two brothers, John and Charles Wesley. After years of study Whitefield was ordained an Anglican Minster. Meeting other ministers and speaking in churches, he came to the realization that the religion of his day did not address the inner needs of people. In much of the Anglican Church, there was no teaching on having a personal relationship with Jesus. As he was searching for answers, he came upon Henry Scougal’s work, “The Life of God and the Soul of Man.” What he read shook him to the core. Afterward, he wrote the following in his journal: God showed me that I must be born again or be damned! I learned a man may go to church, say his prayers, receive the sacraments, and yet not be a Christian. Shall I burn this book? Shall I throw it down? Or shall I search it? I did search it; and…addressed the God of Heaven and earth.”

Whitefiled began to pray, “Lord, if I am not a Christian, or if I am not a real one, for Jesus Christ’s sake show me what Christianity is that I may not be damned at last.” This was a sincere prayer that defined the rest of his life. Whitefield became desperate for intimacy with the Living God. Casting the world and self aside, he ran toward his Savior in a hungry search for complete conversion.”

Rend the Heavens!

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“A dead ministry will always make a dead people, whereas of ministers who are warmed with the love of God themselves, they cannot but be instruments of diffusing that love among others.” – George Whitefield

“Men who long ago lost their anointing still ministers, using the same cliche’s and mannerisms. But they are not feared in hell; they are just ‘clouds without water.’ Lord, have mercy.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“What would the devil say about your life – Do they know you in hell like they know your Christ – Are you boiling hot or are you cold as ice. You live your life like a compromise – Holding on to this world you faith slowly dies – The spiritual battle that we fight every day – Are the demons concerned when we get down and pray – Tell me…What would the devil say about your life – Do they know you in hell like they know your Christ – Are you boiling hot or are you cold as ice…?” – Steve Camp, What Would the Devil Say?

“And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded… – Acts. 19:15-16

“And as the circumcision in the flesh, and not the heart, have no part on God’s good promises, even so they that are baptized in the flesh, and not in the heart have no place in Christ’s Blood.” – William Booth