The Inextinguishable Blaze

The extremes of eighteenth-century debauchery and vice depicted by the artist Hogarth were not confined to the poor; the English Prime Minister, Walpole, led the way by his openly immoral life, and his principle of let sleeping dogs lie allowed every kind of public and private corruption to flourish unchecked.Yet side by side with these poisonous weeds there grew the good seed that was to produce the Evangelical Revival--Daniel Rowland and Howell Harris in Wales, Jonathan Edwards in New England, the golden-tongued Whitefield in England and Scotland, and the two Wesleys, who took the world for their parish. While these and others helped to save Britain from the horrors of such a Reign of Terror as engulfed her nearest neighbor, they lit a blaze that the darkness could not put out. With an enthusiasm informed and controlled by diligent scholarship and up-to-date research, Skevington Wood here tells the gripping story of those momentous days, and shows how the candle of men like Master Ridley and Latimer, that had become the refining fires of Puritan times, had now turned into an inextinguishable blaze that would, in the century to follow, carry the Light of the World to the ends of the earth.

The Church of the early 21st Century needs something that only God can give. He has done it in the past, and He can do it again. But it will not come by means of any program, activity or act of self-effort. It is a sovereign act of God in response to and in fulfillment of the heart-cry found In Isaiah 64:1, "Oh, that Thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down." The Church of our generation desperately needs a divine visitation, a burning coal fresh from God's altar that turns smart Christians into flaming radicals - carriers of that "inextinguishable blaze" which, throughout the history of the Church, has set the world on fire for Christ. In this book, organic church advocate and revival historian Maurice Smith argues that God is preparing His Church for a season of spiritual awakening by calling out "Children of the Burning Heart" who will seek Him in genuine holiness and fear, personal repentance and renewed intimacy with Him. Are you one of them? This book is your call to become a carrier of "The Inextinguishable Blaze."

The following is a brief description of the prevailing spiritual and moral tides that were washing over much of Europe and America in the early eighteenth century--God's "righteous name had been intolerably dishonored, his pure and holy word disregarded by incompetent or unconverted clergy, and the human family, created to glorify God and enjoy him forever, willfully and with abandon gave themselves to all manner of corruption." These were despairing times--with striking similarities to our present day. And yet, in the midst of this seemingly hopeless era, the omnipotent God did what no man alone could accomplish: he restored the honor due to his great name, and exalted the power of his holy word through a revival that set ablaze two spiritually parched continents--God Walked Among the Nations! The pulpit was powerfully revived, men and women by the tens of thousands were soundly converted, and biblical renewal and social reformation flourished throughout the land. Do you wonder if a revival so vast in scope that it produces extraordinary biblical, moral, and social reformation throughout your nation is even possible? If you're pondering this question, then it is time to read about the glorious event best known as the First Great Awakening and renew your hope.

The Church of the early 21st Century needs something that only God can give. He has done it in the past, and He can do it again. But it will not come by means of any program, activity or act of self-effort. It is a sovereign act of God in response to and in fulfillment of the heart-cry found In Isaiah 64:1, "Oh, that Thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down". The Church of our generation desperately needs a divine visitation, a burning coal fresh from God's altar that turns smart Christians into flaming radicals - carriers of that "inextinguishable blaze" which, throughout the history of the Church, has set the world on fire for Christ. In this book, organic church advocate and revival historian Maurice Smith argues that God is preparing His Church for a season of spiritual awakening by calling out "Children of the Burning Heart" who will seek Him in genuine holiness and fear, personal repentance and renewed intimacy with Him. Are you one of them? This book is your call to become a carrier of "the inextinguishable blaze".

This work by a veteran pastor and professor of homiletics looks at the history of preaching from its roots in the Old Testament prophets to its continuing development in the modern era.

The nineteenth century, observes Dr. Orr, was the century of Christian action and accomplishment. The social and political upheavals of the late eighteenth century were followed by a decline in Christian witness so serious that it seems as though Christianity was near death. In despair, Christian leaders prayed for Divine intervention; and answer came--a series of six great waves of evangelical renewal and advance which made the nineteenth century the Great Century of evangelism. From this study of Evangelical Revivals it is possible to trace a pattern of action and discover a progression of achievement which demonstrates that the same Spirit of God who moved the apostles continues to operate in the world. Dr. Orr suggests that the evangelical awakenings may be shown to be the foremost method of an Almighty God to promote the betterment of all mankind, and His primary instrument to win men to transforming faith in Himself.

Historian Michael Haykin stokes a passion for revival by investigating the history of spiritual renewal in the Reformed tradition. After examining the Holy Spirit’s outpourings during the Reformation and English Puritanism, Haykin focuses on two remarkable moments of renewal in the eighteenth century: the Great Awakening and the revival of the Particular Baptists in the British and Irish islands. By looking back at revivals from the past, we can develop a biblical framework for expectant prayer for revival in our day.