December 5, 2017 Show with Kurt M. Smith on “Thundering the Word: The Life, Ministry & Gospel of George Whitfield” (Part 2)

Iron Sharpens Iron

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:02

Live from the historic parsonage of 19th century gospel minister George Norcross in downtown

00:08

Carlisle, Pennsylvania it's iron sharpens iron a radio platform on which pastors

00:15

Christian scholars and theologians Address the burning issues facing the church and the world today

00:23

Proverbs 27 verse 17 tells us iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another

00:32

Matthew Henry said that in this passage quote we are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with and Directed to have in view in conversation to make one another wiser and better It is our hope that this goal will be accomplished over the next hour

00:50

And we hope to hear from you the listener with your own questions

00:56

Now here's our host Chris Arnton Good afternoon,

01:05

Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Lake City, Florida and the rest of humanity living on the planet earth who are listening via live streaming at iron sharpens iron radio .com

01:14

This is Chris Arntz and your host of iron sharpens iron radio wishing you all a happy Tuesday on this fifth day of December 2017

01:23

I'm delighted to have a returning guest today who I really thoroughly enjoy interviewing every time

01:29

He's on his name is Kurt M Smith and he's in he's an author and he is the pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church of Pine Mountain, Alabama.

01:40

We are once again discussing the life of George Whitfield.

01:46

In fact, we are titling this this interview today thundering the word the life

01:53

Ministry and gospel of George Whitfield and it's my honor and privilege to welcome you back for part two of this discussion to iron sharpens iron radio

02:04

Kurt M Smith Thank you, Chris. It's good to be back always good to be on this program.

02:10

Thank you very much brother It's always good to have you on and if you could once again because of the fact that we have people joining our audience

02:16

It seems every single day for the for the very first time And they may have not have heard you on the program before tell our listeners something about Providence Reformed Baptist Church of Pine Mountain, Alabama Providence Reformed Baptist Church is a newly established

02:34

Reformed Baptist Church we constituted August 31st 2016 and since that time we have joined ourselves an association with the

02:50

Association of Reformed Baptist Churches of America ARPCA But we are the

02:56

We're the only confessional Reformed Baptist Church, at least in this part of Alabama where we are and we have been very grateful to the

03:11

Lord for the growth that we've seen Unfortunately more spiritually than numerically

03:20

But if we could you know, if we choose between the two we would take the spiritual over the numerical

03:25

Because you can have you can have a house full of people and and there there not be the you know

03:32

The spiritual grace is necessary to be a healthy church and and it really be a debacle So so we're very thankful for what the

03:39

Lord has graced us with since we've been together Well praise God and for anybody out there who is either going to be

03:51

Visiting the Alabama area near Pine Mountain Or if you already live there or if you have friends and family there you can go to PR BC 1689 org

04:06

PR for Providence Reformed BC for Baptist Church one six eight nine for the 1689

04:13

London Baptist Confession of Faith org PBRC 1689 org and just for our listeners who may be wondering why a

04:27

Baptist church would have some kind of a confession that is a A Man -written creed or confession?

04:36

it's something that is not a part of the canon of Scripture that may be wondering why on earth the

04:42

Bible believing Baptists need this. Well, this is just a summary of What we as Reformed Baptists believe that the

04:50

Bible teaches this is not a compilation of traditions invented by men

04:55

Am I correct? Yeah, that is correct. And and also, you know for those

05:00

For those who say in the spirit of David Campbell the Founder of the

05:06

Churches of Christ back in the early 19th century. I think it was Alexander Campbell wasn't it? Oh, thank you.

05:12

Thank you. David Campbell was my former pastor David is now

05:26

Pastoring in northern England but he was pastoring here for about 15 years at Grace Baptist Church of Carlisle and I had the blessing to have him as my pastor for I guess it was

05:40

Over four years and now I am very blessed to have John Miller as our new pastor.

05:46

So but anyway, that's a slide Yeah Yeah Because I know

05:53

John personally and and I know how much of a blessing that their brother is So you guys are very great.

05:59

They're at Grace Baptist. Oh praise God. Well, he should be it He should have been in here today co -hosting the show with me, but I know he's very busy right now

06:06

Well, um, well what you know, the famous the famous quote that Alexander Campbell had made is

06:17

No, no creed, but the Bible Or or the Bible is my creed right and and that that's really a misnomer

06:27

Because because if you if you ask the question to a Christian Well, what do you believe the Bible teaches and then they begin to tell you what they believe the

06:35

Bible teaches Then you can just simply say well, there you go. There's your creed yes, and I have many friends in the

06:42

Church of Christ to Count the restoration movement as their their heritage and but I can say that I was in a

06:54

Church of Christ congregation once for a Bible conference and the speaker was

07:01

Speaking about that very same thing we in the Churches of Christ Do not have any creed or confession

07:06

But the Bible and I held up a tract that I got from their lobby and I said Just out of curiosity,

07:12

I wanted to read something here from something I found in your lobby it says this Congregation is a

07:18

Church of Christ our Ministers do not wear clerical garments or robes.

07:24

They wear business suits. We only use acapella worship During the services and we celebrate the

07:33

Lord's Supper Every week and we baptize only believers by immersion only

07:39

For the remission of sins and I said, do you realize that this is your creed? This is a confession

07:51

I don't remember there being much of a response other than a perhaps a nervous chuckle and well, let's move on Yeah But anyway,

08:03

I'm sorry, I don't mean to make fun of my friends in that group, but I just it's a true story What can I tell you? Well, you know that there is

08:12

Granted I mean, this is not the the the main the main part of our subject, but but having a confession of faith while it is never on an equal par with God's infallible inerrant word yet it is it is an important and And I'll go so far as to say

08:38

I think it's very necessary and healthy for a local church to hold to a confession of faith because it

08:47

It sends a message To anybody who comes into the local church a very clear message as to this is who we are

08:56

This is what we believe. This is where we stand upon Scripture because it's just Frankly, it's not enough to simply say.

09:05

Well, I believe the Bible is a word of God and Just leave it there, right? And in this litigious society that we are living in where Christians are being sued

09:15

In fact the Supreme Court as you know, or may know The Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in regard to the now infamous

09:25

Gay wedding cake Controversy where a baker was sued

09:30

Because he refused to make a specifically gay Wedding cake for customers of his that That would made it would have made it evident that he was joining in on their celebration in some way even if he was being paid for and This is a scary world that we're living in and having a confession of faith

09:53

At least will further protect local congregations when people are

10:01

Joining themselves to those congregations. Hey, you knew when you join this congregation what we believe that's in our our

10:08

Confession and our guidelines and obviously we would in this day and age have to add to our Constitution anyway

10:15

If we don't have some kind of an amended version of the 1689 London Baptist Confession, we should be including that marriage is a sacred act

10:26

That involves one man and one woman pledging before God to be united for the rest of their lives and you know that that's

10:38

It's crazy that we would have to even consider the necessity of adding that today, but it's it's scary

10:45

Yeah, it is. Well, I know when when we constituted as a church back in August 2016

10:54

When we were putting together the Constitution there is a part of our church Constitution that lays all of that out very clearly, you know as to what we firmly believe the

11:06

Bible very plainly and clearly teaches about Marriage and what marriage is what constitutes marriage?

11:13

But but I agree with you. I mean it It's remarkable as well as it's tragic that in these in this day and time

11:24

That we're even having to clarify something as basic as that but you know this this is the day we're living in and and And as I know that we've talked about this in previous

11:37

Talks before on your program with with the right with the increasing rise of paganism combined with secularism

11:48

This this is this is the end result, you know, this is this is the byproduct And this is also the byproduct of churches even evangelical churches caving in to the whims and demands of the secular society where we bend our statements of faith and our worship and all kinds of things to accommodate the world where we buy into The the lie that it is more important to spare the feelings of lost people than to be

12:26

Compassionate towards them that they might repent and be spared of not only the earthly consequences of their sin, but also eternal torment

12:35

But anyway, that's it's a crazy crazy world Yeah, well, yeah true and that's and it's because of that You know in what you're describing about broad evangelicalism

12:48

Here in our country. I mean, that's why that's why we you know, we need desperately

12:56

Churches Where pastors are faithfully clearly unashamedly?

13:03

proclaiming the whole counsel of God and And and not backing down not negotiating

13:10

Anything that you know that that is that is scripturally clear and this and this is a good segue into Into going back to the 18th century going back to where things were prior to God Saving and raising up and sending out

13:32

George Whitefield to preach the gospel in his day because England England in the early 1700s was

13:43

Was was in in an absolutely horrible morally socially spiritual plight and It's one of that's one of the reasons.

13:54

I mean the darkness was so thick. In fact as JC Ryle in the 19th century

14:02

When JC Ryle was writing about that period of time in England He said he said that The darkness was so gross and thick that you could feel it

14:14

Wow and Yeah, and so and so it you know to imagine

14:20

Imagine a culture to imagine a nation in you know in spiritual moral darkness like that social darkness like that You know how how amazing it was

14:33

To you know to have someone like Whitfield you know literally just Piercing that darkness with the light of the gospel in the power of the

14:44

Spirit But it was it was so needed and needed on every single level

14:51

Just to give you an example And the first 30 years of the 18th century in England It was a culture

15:03

Swallowed up in sexual immorality, which sounds real familiar Pornographic literature in that day

15:13

Multiplied unchecked Wow you talking about just literary or were you talking about like woodcuts?

15:24

Literature I mean books being produced They they multiplied in that day totally unchecked

15:32

Newspapers advertised such things as the services of gigolos cures for venereal disease One could purchase guidebooks to the numerous brothels in London Socially England was overrun with disease that either saw no cure or was left unrestrained the life expectancy

15:50

At that time period in England was only 35 years of age with Wow Yeah with an infant mortality rate that was absolutely staggering and of course one cultural phenomena in Great Britain at that time

16:08

Which of course increased the social ills of England society was what was called the gin craze?

16:15

It was reported that by mid century the consumption of gin was 11 million gallons a year in London 100 ,000 people drank gin as their principal means of sustenance

16:31

Wow and the suffering Which such a craven indulgence like that brought upon the people?

16:40

Is illustrated by one news article in London from 1748

16:46

That read at a christening at Bennington in Surrey The nurse was so intoxicated that after she had undressed the child instead of laying it in the cradle

16:57

She put it behind a large fire and burnt it to death in a few minutes. Oh my goodness.

17:03

Oh, wow one one contemporary of that period said that gin has made the

17:10

English people what they never were before cruel and inhuman But if if all of that wasn't bad enough these moral and social sins

17:23

That were so pronounced and so unbridled Was largely due because the

17:29

Church of England itself was sound asleep Right. I think I think by the way, this is a lesson.

17:35

I know this is not our topic today But this is a lesson. I think a very powerful lesson

17:42

For all of our Reformed Brethren and I am not saying that There is no

17:48

Christian Liberty to moderately imbibe in alcoholic beverages but the way that many of our

17:57

Reformed Brethren flaunt that Liberty and I think Cross the line on that Liberty I think that this is a it should be a wake -up call to that kind of attitude towards alcohol well,

18:13

I agree because Obviously there are limits to our freedom, you know to our liberties limits to our liberties as Christians and and of course

18:23

Go to Scripture go to passages like Romans 14 first Corinthians chapter 8

18:30

Where you know there in that chapter the Apostle Paul? Writing about the meat offered to idols and how that yes

18:38

I mean a Christian had the freedom to eat meat that have been offered idols and there were Members of the Corinthian Church that were doing that very thing because of the strength of their faith

18:47

It wasn't a matter of you know, it didn't Do anything to their conscience, but yet there were there were other believers other

18:54

Christians Where they couldn't do that because it was a matter of conscience and for Paul the

19:01

Apostle if you remember He says in first Corinthians chapter 8. He said That you know for the sake of you know for the sake of love

19:10

Love for Christ love for the soul. He said he said he said I'll never be to eat again you know,

19:16

I you know, I will not eat meat, you know for the sake of this brother and And I do think that you know that principle

19:27

Needs to be first in in all of our liberties as Christians, but especially when it comes to alcohol

19:35

So, I mean I you know, I I don't believe the scripture teaches You know total and complete

19:42

Abstinence from alcohol and granted that can be Debated and it is debated all the time in in certain circles and I'm not up for that up for that debate in this conversation but but there there has to be and there is a very clear moral responsibility a moral ethic that the scripture lays down when it comes to the things that we are free to do as Believers and we have to always be thinking about the other person.

20:17

Amen, and I think that there are certain people like myself Who should never touch alcohol again because I had a serious problem with it.

20:25

I had a serious addiction to it so Obviously someone like myself.

20:31

It'd be very stupid to even casually or moderately

20:37

Touch it. Oh Yeah. Oh, yeah. Absolutely Absolutely. Well, we we have a there's a member of our church that would be in that same exact category with you and And so yeah,

20:50

I mean for you know for Christians in whose lives You know it it was enslavement

20:58

No, they they should they should never They should never get anywhere near it ever again.

21:04

Amen. So so this is the this is the atmosphere out of which Whitfield emerges on the scene and I know that you are in the process.

21:13

In fact, you are almost finished writing a book on Whitfield and Could you tell us the title is our title today close to the title of the book?

21:24

Yeah, it is the title the title book is called thundering the word and The and the subtitle to it is a primer on George Whitfield's life and legacy proclaiming

21:37

Christ as a Calvinistic Evangelist the the content it's not

21:42

It obviously is not it. It's not what you'd call a definitive biography Right.

21:49

They've are there. They're there. They've already been very very good Definitive biographies in Delamore, right?

21:56

Oh, yes, definitely Arnold Alley more really is standard definitive biography

22:03

This is more of what you would call in the category of a popular biography It it paints

22:09

Whitfield's life with very broad brush strokes highlighting Certain things about his character

22:20

Certain aspects about his his life as a whole, but especially of course

22:25

His life is a Christian. His life is a gospel preacher But really it it goes after this focus on Whitfield as an itinerant evangelist and more specifically a

22:40

Calvinistic evangelist and in really laying out What we see in his in his life and ministry

22:50

As an itinerant evangelist as a Calvinistic evangelist with Several very practical important lessons that we can glean from Whitfield learning from him just Thinking of what

23:07

Hebrews 13 7 says and I this is what I put in my introduction to it Remember your leaders those who spoke to you the

23:13

Word of God Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith And so that's what

23:19

I'm that's what I'm striving to do in in this small biography Let's consider some things about Whitfield's way of life some things that are worth imitating as to his faith

23:32

And so so that that's that's what I'm going after in this Great, if you could summarize what we began this conversation with the last time you were on give us a brief summary overview of Whitfield and then we'll move on to the

23:49

Uncharted territory in regard to our discussions on this program Okay well,

23:56

George Whitfield, he lived between the years of 1716 to 1770

24:04

He was born in Gloucester, England But he left this world in Newburyport, Massachusetts and his remains are actually buried

24:18

In in a vault underneath Directly under the pulpit there at the

24:24

First Presbyterian Church in Newburyport Yes, in fact a dear friend of mine who is now with the

24:30

Lord for eternity Al Stein he was believe it or not an assembly of God or assemblies of God pastor who

24:40

I knew before he became a Calvinist and then over the years he became a thoroughgoing five -point Calvinist and Was not only a pastor in the assemblies of God but a bishop an overseer and he had this he loved

24:54

George Whitfield and before he Went home to the Lord. He had the opportunity of standing behind Whitfield's pulpit and had a photograph of himself

25:03

Standing there, which was precious to see but anyway, I'm sorry. I digress Oh, no,

25:09

I like that kind of digression Whitfield's ministry would last over a span of 34 years

25:17

When he died in 1770, it has been said that he preached some 18 ,000 sermons averaging 60 hours a week in this labor

25:29

It has been estimated that during his ministry. He preached he preached to Combined audiences of over 10 million and that four -fifths of the colonists in America From Georgia to New Hampshire heard him at least once Which could not be said of any other person at that time in his travels

25:49

He would not only cover all of England and Wales But he would journey to Scotland 15 times

25:55

Ireland twice Holland once and crossed the Atlantic 13 times with seven trips to America one to Gibraltar and Bermuda with attempts to reach

26:05

Canada in the West Indies And of course, what is the most astonishing thing about the magnitude of such an itinerary like this?

26:14

Is that it was accomplished before there were planes trains and automobiles travel was either by boat buggy horseback or foot and And furthermore

26:23

Whitfield's extensive trekking was in spite of his premature aging and the onset of asthma

26:31

That would eventually claim his life in late sick in late September of 1770

26:36

Wow now he and John Wesley is

26:42

Armenian counterpart in that day and age who were Very they had a very unusual relationship because they were very close friends, but at the same time they were theological rivals and had very heated exchanges on their differences on the doctrines of Sovereign Grace, but Would you consider

27:06

Whitfield a Methodist as John Wesley was because I know that there were Calvinist Methodists.

27:11

In fact, even as Recently as the 20th century.

27:17

Dr. Martin Lloyd -Jones Many would recognize that name from the 20th century he was a

27:23

Calvinist Methodist and there are other people that that name or that way of describing oneself seems to disappeared from popularity, but Could you tell us it was

27:35

Whitfield a Calvinist Methodist? Yeah, absolutely. He was in fact in January of 1743 in South Wales Whitfield was directly involved in the organization and then in the moderating of the very first Calvinistic Methodist Association Wow, and yeah, and so yes, he was he was a

28:03

Calvinistic Methodist now in regards to Wesley What's interesting in correlation with the

28:14

Calvin Calvinistic Methodist Association is that in 17 in 1748

28:23

Whitfield he He was he was continually grieved over the division suffered between he and the

28:32

Wesley brothers Which was a division that took place nine years prior to this particular year 1748

28:39

Not to mention he was very grieved or the increasing effects of that division among all who had attached themselves to either of these men

28:47

And so Whitfield made a very bold decision Realizing that those gathered under his and John Wesley's leadership would never be united He determined to relinquish his place in position as the leader of his

29:03

Methodist Societies as they were called and by this one act

29:08

Whitfield would actually spare the Methodist movement from bitter strife which in turn

29:15

Would permit John Wesley to emerge as the single head of Methodism even though It was

29:24

George Whitfield It was the original Founder of the Methodist movement

29:29

Wow Okay And look we're gonna have you pick right up where you left off on that When we write when we return from our first break if anybody would like to join us on the air our

29:40

Email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail .com. If you have a question, ch r is a r n z n at gmail .com

29:48

Please give us your first name your city and state and your country of residence If you live outside of the good old

29:55

USA and please only remain anonymous If you are asking about a personal and private matter

30:03

So we look forward to hearing from you and your questions and we also look forward to the continuation of our interview with Kurt M Smith on The thundering on thundering the word the life and ministry and gospel of George Whitfield.

30:16

Don't go away. God willing We'll be right back after these messages from our sponsors One sure way all iron sharpens iron radio listeners can help keep my show on the air is to support my advertisers

30:30

I know you all use batteries every day. So I'm urging you all from now on to exclusively use

30:37

Battery Depot calm for all your battery needs at Battery Depot calm

30:43

They're changing the status quo. They're flipping the script. They're sticking it to the man

30:48

In other words, they'd like to change the battery industry for good by providing an extensive inventory of top -of -the -line batteries

30:56

There are uniformly new dependable and affordable Ordering from Battery Depot calm

31:02

Ensures you'll always get fresh out -of -the -box batteries. You can count on to work properly at competitive prices

31:09

Whether you need batteries for cordless phones cell phones radios PCs laptops tablets baby monitors hearing aids smoke detectors credit card readers digital cameras electronic cigarettes

31:24

GPS's mp3 players watches or nearly anything else you own that needs batteries go to Battery Depot calm next day shipping available all products protected by 30 -day guarantees and six -month warranties pull 866 403 3768 that's 866 403 3768 or go to Battery Depot calm.

31:52

That's Battery Depot calm Every day at thousands of community centers high schools middle schools juvenile institutions coffee shops and local hangouts

32:07

Long Island Youth for Christ staff and volunteers meet with young people who need Jesus We are rural and urban and we are always about the message of Jesus Our mission is to have a noticeable spiritual impact on Long Island, New York by engaging young people in the lifelong journey of following Christ Long Island Youth for Christ has been a stalwart bedrock ministry since 1959

32:29

We have a world -class staff and a proven track record of bringing consistent love and encouragement

32:35

To youths in need all over the country and around the world help honor our history by becoming a part of our future

32:42

Volunteer donate pray or all of the above for details call Long Island Youth for Christ at six three one three eight five eight three three three

32:52

That's six three one three eight five eight three three three or visit liyfc .org

33:01

That's liyfc .org Tired of box -store

33:11

Christianity of doing church in a warehouse with all the trappings of a rock concert Do you long for a more traditional and reverent style of worship?

33:19

And how about the preaching perhaps you've begun to think that in -depth biblical exposition has vanished from Long Island Well, there's good news

33:27

Wedding River Baptist Church exists to provide believers with a meaningful and reverent worship experience

33:32

Featuring the systematic exposition of God's Word and this loving congregation looks forward to meeting you

33:39

Call them at six three one nine two nine thirty five twelve for service times six three one nine two nine

33:46

Thirty five twelve or check out their website at wrbc .us

33:52

That's wrbc .us I'm James White of Alpha Omega Ministries The New American Standard Bible is perfect for daily reading or in -depth study used by pastors scholars and everyday readers

34:04

The NASB is widely embraced and trusted as a literal and readable Bible translation The NASB offers clarity and readability while maintaining high accuracy to the original languages

34:13

Which the NASB is known for the NASB is available in many editions like a topical reference Bible Researched and prepared by biblical scholars devoted to accuracy.

34:21

The new topical reference Bible includes contemporary topics relevant to today's issues From compacted giant print

34:28

Bibles find an NASB that fits your needs very affordably at NAS Bible Calm whichever edition you choose trust discover and enjoy the

34:35

NASB for yourself today. Go to NAS Bible calm That's NAS Bible calm

34:47

Hi, I'm Buzz Taylor frequent co -host with Chris Arnzen on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio I would like to introduce you to my good friends

34:55

Todd and Patty Jennings at CVBBS Which stands for Cumberland Valley Bible Book Service Todd and Patty specialize in supplying reformed and Puritan books and Bibles at discount prices that make them affordable to everyone since 1987 the family -owned and operated book service has sought to bring you the best available

35:13

Christian books and Bibles at the best possible prices Unlike other book sites, they make no effort to provide every book that is available because frankly

35:22

Much of what is being printed is not worth your time. That means you can get to the good stuff faster

35:29

It also means that you don't have to worry about being assaulted by the pornographic

35:34

Heretical and otherwise faith insulting material promoted by the secular book vendors. Their website is

35:40

CVBBS .com Browse the pages at ease shop at your leisure and purchase with confidence

35:47

As Todd and Patty work in service to you the church and to Christ That's Cumberland Valley Bible Book Service at CVBBS .com

35:57

That's CVBBS .com. Let Todd and Patty know that you heard about them on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio And you can also call

36:07

CVBBS .com at their toll -free number 800 -656 -0231 800 -656 -0231

36:15

They are currently having a sale 10 % off everything until December 15th and in addition to all of their regular discounts and special prices this additional 10 % comes off even those already discounted prices, so we are also they are also giving away for free a $29 .99

36:40

value book That is the Theology of the

36:45

Reformers by Timothy George You will get that absolutely free of charge if you purchase a minimum of $50 worth of merchandise on top of that They have sales on such books as Morning and Evening The Gift Edition, which is the classic devotional by Charles Adams Spurgeon With free name imprint that is also a $29 .99

37:08

value and you are getting that for $16 .19 after the extra 10 % discount and So go either go to CVBBS .com

37:20

That's CVBBS .com or if you prefer calling their toll -free number is 800 -656 -0231 800 -656 -0231 and Please you have to always remember to mention that you heard about Them from Chris Arnzen on IronTroop and Zion Radio.

37:38

If you're calling you could tell them verbally If you are ordering on the internet, what you have to do is you have to include that on the instructions

37:48

Section after you place your order you can click on an area that says instructions and there you can put you heard about CVBBS .com

37:58

on IronTroop and Zion Radio because their sales have really Dramatically gone up after we began really pushing them hard and telling you about the discounts

38:06

But very few of you apparently have been telling them that you heard about them from Chris Arnzen on IronTroop and Zion Radio, and it seems too much of a

38:17

Timely factor for it to be merely coincidence that the sales have radically

38:23

Reversed for the better right after we started pushing them daily, so please make sure you tell them that you heard about them from Chris Arnzen on IronTroop and Zion Radio because that's the way our

38:36

Our sponsors are going to continue To advertise on our program and keep it going through their advertising dollars

38:43

But thank you very much for Todd and Patty Jennings for your faithful support of IronTroop and Zion Radio Well, we're now back to our discussion this is part two of Thundering the word the life ministry and gospel of George Whitfield If you'd like to join us on the air with a question of your own

39:00

Our email address is Chris Arnzen at gmail .com Chris Arnzen at gmail .com

39:05

C -h -r -i -s -a -r -n -z -e -n At gmail .com and please give us your first name city and state and country of residence if you live outside of the

39:14

USA before we Return to anything that you have to say

39:19

To follow up on what you were saying before the break. I do have a listener in Slovenia Joe in Slovenia who says while researching

39:29

George Whitfield recently I came across a source that recognized him as the greatest preacher that England has ever produced

39:36

However, he spent little time formally preparing sermons Whitfield secretary is quoted as saying

39:43

I believe he knew nothing about such a kind of exercise Brother Smith, does your research confirm this if so, what is your understanding of the explanation of this was

39:54

Whitfield? So knowledgeable in the scriptures that he didn't need to study and prepare. Was he such a

40:01

What was he such a powerful Extemporaneous speaker that he didn't need prior preparation of manuscripts or even notes

40:09

Did he essentially? Preach the same few messages over and over was it a combination of these and or other factors in your estimation

40:19

How does Whitfield compared to Spurgeon as a preacher? Thank you for sharing your insights I pray the

40:24

Lord has another Whitfield for our nation soon Well, I always appreciate

40:31

Joe's questions Well in in regards to his question

40:42

George Whitfield very very early in his ministry

40:48

He actually he actually prepared he sat down he sat down and he prepared a full full manuscript of his sermons

41:00

But what he would what he would end up having to do over time and and this was something that really occurred very quickly for him because of Just I mean he was converted in 1735 and yet by 1737

41:22

He was already having crowds of people thronging to hear him preach the gospel and And he was ended up preaching five five to ten times a week

41:38

In different towns and villages of England then of course the same would happen when he

41:43

Made his first trip to America and then later trips to America. So what

41:49

I'm getting at is is that What Whitfield did is that he prepared several sermons?

41:58

But he also would memorize those sermons and And and therefore when he preached well, he preached extemporaneously that is without notes

42:10

But he preached sermons that he had memorized In fact

42:16

Thomas Kidd in his in his biography on Whitfield he said that Often repeated memorized sermons were essential components of Whitfield's mature preaching

42:32

As he gained experience he could also respond on the fly to an audience's mood

42:38

Sometimes he did not know what he would say until he ascended the field scaffold He picked texts and biblical stories based on the feel of the moment and matched his remarks to the crowds emotions

42:49

But he could do that because of how just how powerfully gifted extraordinarily gifted of an orator that he was and so There was nothing loosey -goosey about Whitfield as a preacher

43:07

He was a voracious reader he had a

43:13

Fantastic memory so he could he could retain much very much of what he read and And he was constantly

43:23

Constantly Meditating on the word. I mean he he was a very strongly self -disciplined man his his his hours in the day, he would rise at 4 in the morning every morning and from 4 and From 4 to after 5 he would be in the word

43:46

Privately devotionally with the Lord in prayer and then by 6 o 'clock in the morning.

43:51

He's out into the open fields preaching But he was in bed by 10 o 'clock at night every night and so he so he lived a

44:01

Strongly self -disciplined never excessive kind of a life and Therefore, you know in in his later years

44:11

He wasn't you know, he wasn't preparing like I would have to prepare as a pastor every week but he had accumulated so many sermons in his earlier years and He had memorized them.

44:24

He had retained them word for word that That He would he would preach and repreach those sermons, but But also to wherever he was in the search in certain situations and circumstances

44:39

He He would he would he would be very engaging with with the crowd of people

44:45

He was preaching to to know, you know What what point or what part of this sermon needed greater emphasis, you know a greater accent as Far as to an application that would be given

44:59

Well, thank you. That would be my answer Thank you Joe in Slovenia and keep spreading the word about iron trip and Zion radio in Slovenia and Beyond well, if you want to pick up right where you left off before the break

45:12

Yeah it's 1748 and and as I've said

45:20

Whitfield had made the decision to Relinquish his place in position as the leader of his

45:26

Methodist societies because by this time in 1748 There was a division within Methodism and it was a very specific division theologically doctrinally you had the

45:37

Armenian Methodist and you had the Calvinistic Methodist and Whitfield, of course was the leader the head of the

45:43

Calvinist Methodist. Well When he made this decision to relinquish his place in position as leader of the

45:50

Calvinistic Methodist Association Naturally many of his followers were not happy with his decision

45:58

They warned him that his fame would be lost that he would be all but forgotten to future generations

46:06

They pleaded They pleaded with him not to fade from the scene as it were

46:11

They wanted him to retain his position increase his party continue the prominence of his name

46:18

But His where his heart really was

46:25

In making the decision that he did which would which would as I said It would permit

46:30

John Wesley to emerge as the single head of Methodism, which is why to this day Many Christians have any know anything about being the

46:37

Methodist Church They'll always link it to John Wesley, but know anything about Wesley. So what he was the founder but historically he really wasn't

46:45

But that was because George Whitfield denied himself and He turned that all over to Wesley, but to really know what

46:54

Whitfield's heart in this In a letter to a friend on July the 12th 1748.

47:00

This is what he wrote. He said never mind me Let my name die Everywhere let even my friends.

47:08

Forgive me if by that means the cause of the Blessed Jesus be promoted and To another friend in 1749.

47:17

He said you judge right when you say it is your opinion That I do not want to make a sect or set myself at the head of a party

47:26

No, let the name of Whitfield die so that the cause of Jesus Christ may

47:33

Live and then even to others he would express incessantly Let my name be forgotten.

47:40

Let me be trodden under the feet of all men if Jesus made thereby be glorified

47:47

Amen Wow, you know, I mean, I mean for me when I read that I say, okay

47:53

Now there's something right there about Whitfield's faith. That is very much worth imitating and Very rarely imitated in the 21st century

48:07

Well, that's powerful that's something for us all to learn from I think the most pressing question that any of our listeners about Whitfield is

48:17

What's the deal with the princess Leia powdered wig that he had? A custom of a certain time that I'm glad is no longer with us

48:38

It's actually still exists in England in the the court system Yeah that you're right, you're right it sure does but you know, thankfully thankfully with with ministers

48:52

You know, we yeah, we don't see that but yes that that was a that was a peculiar custom

48:58

But I was just joking by bringing it up. But anyway Well, I want to learn as much as possible that we didn't cover the last time on the show about Whitfield And I know that we've touched on this before I don't know if you have anything to add to it, but It's said that there are even confessionally reformed and Calvinistic brothers in Christ who have a big problem with Whitfield and do not count him among their heroes, which is very baffling and puzzling to me,

49:30

I mean there are a number of Big differences between The Reformers themselves and those who would later pick up the mantle

49:41

Throughout the centuries all kinds of differences. Why why would you? Be so hostile to George Whitfield and his memory if you indeed are a believer in the same gospel that he preached well, one of the reasons that Whitfield has received such criticism from particular

50:07

Parts in in the Reform camp is because there

50:14

There are those among Reformed Brethren who? Who really really see

50:21

George Whitfield as having as having been sort of the the father or the pioneer of what we know today as the parachurch ministry or the parachurch organization

50:35

They They they don't they don't see a strong churchmanship in Whitfield because he was such a

50:45

Strong itinerant evangelist. I mean that really his his life's work really was itinerant evangelist, but But what what these brothers are not?

50:57

Being fair to Whitfield about in regards to his churchmanship. Is that George Whitfield? Was a committed confessional

51:05

Anglican He he was he was very strongly committed to the

51:12

Church of England Committed to her 39 articles of faith. He was committed to the book of common prayer.

51:20

He you know He he had a very strong churchmanship When it came to the church that he was a member of the church

51:31

That he was ordained in But because his life's work was itinerant and Therefore he was not a settled pastor in one church

51:47

Even though he did serve in a pastoral capacity in two different chapels that were

51:52

Built by those that were very much attached to him among the Calvinistic Methodist.

51:57

That's in more fields and Tottenham Road Court But by and large because of his itinerant evangelism and not being really a true settled pastor

52:09

You know you you can get the impression on the surface if you don't really dig deep

52:15

To think that well Whitfield. He just really wasn't a churchman but yet for George Whitfield There was no greater delight for him when it came to preaching the

52:28

Word of God Preaching the gospel than to be preaching the scriptures in a

52:36

Anglican Church Well that that explains why we had here in the United States I don't know what the counterpart in the

52:44

UK would have been or in Great Britain and other places in Europe But we had at one time there was a division between the

52:56

Episcopal Church and the Methodist Church and they were known as the Methodist Episcopal Church and today we even have the

53:04

African Methodist Episcopal Church, but but at one time there was a multi racial cultural denomination called the

53:12

Methodist Episcopal Church and so that I guess that's That explains the connection of course since the

53:19

Whitfield being a Methodist was also an Anglican Yeah, yes, yeah, that's right and in regards to just to his commitment as as an

53:33

Anglican minister There is a there's a single volume biography that was written in 1837 by a man named

53:42

Robert Phillips Banner of truth, they actually published this biography, which

53:48

I'm really glad they do. It was the first biography written full -scale biography written on George Whitfield following his death in 1770 a friend of Whitfield's man by the name of John Gillies He had he had written a very short biography of Whitfield that was published two years after Whitfield's death, but Robert Phillips in 1837 wrote a full -scale biography and In this biography he writes this of Whitfield in regards to the

54:25

Anglican Church. He says that He says Whitfield He says access to the

54:33

Episcopal churches Delighted him much wherever it occurred. He never fails to record both his gratitude and gratification when he obtains on any tour

54:43

Access to even one church. It was always good. It excuse me.

54:49

It always did him good True, he was at home wherever there were souls around him, but he was most at home in a church

54:58

Except indeed when he had a mountain for his pulpit and the heavens for his sounding board and half a county for his congregation

55:08

Then neither st. Paul's nor Westminster had any attractions for him the fact is

55:13

Whitfield both admired and loved the liturgy and that of course is referring to the rights of the

55:21

Anglican Church In fact, we're gonna pick up right where that you left off about the liturgy because we have to get to our midway break We're gonna be back.

55:27

This is our elongated break to Satisfy the requirements of grace life radio 90 .1

55:34

FM in Lake City, Florida They require a 12 -minute break between our two hours. So don't go away.

55:39

God willing. We'll be right back with Kurt M Smith and more on George Whitfield Iron sharpens iron radio is sponsored by Harvey Cedars a year -round

55:54

Bible conference and retreat center nestled on the Jersey Shore Harvey Cedars offers a wide range of accommodations to suit groups up to 400 for generations

56:04

Christians have enjoyed gathering and growing at Harvey Cedars each year thousands of high school and college students come and learn more about God's Word an

56:15

Additional 9 ,000 come annually to Harvey Cedars as families couples singles men women pastors seniors and missionaries 90 miles from New York City 70 miles from Philly and 95 miles from Wilmington and easily accessible scores of notable

56:35

Christian groups frequently planned conferences at Harvey Cedars like the Navigators InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Campus Crusade and the

56:45

Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Find Harvey Cedars on Facebook or at hcbible .org

56:53

hcbible .org Call 609 -494 -5689 609 -494 -5689

57:04

Harvey Cedars where Christ finds people and changes lives Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said give yourself unto reading the man who never reads will never be read

57:26

He who never quotes will never be quoted. He will not use the thoughts of other men's brains

57:32

Pruessley has no brains of his own. You need to read Solid ground

57:37

Christian books is a publisher and book distributor who takes these words of the Prince of Preachers to heart the mission of solid ground

57:44

Christian books is to bring back treasures of the past to minister to Christians in the present and future and To publish new titles that address burning issues in the church and the world

57:53

Since its beginning in 2001 solid ground has been committed to publish God -centered

57:59

Christ exalting books for all ages We invite you to go treasure hunting at solid -ground -books .com

58:07

That's solid -ground -books .com And see what priceless literary gems from the past or present you can unearth from solid ground

58:15

Solid ground Christian books is honored to be a weekly sponsor of iron sharpens iron radio

58:24

Chef exclusive catering is in South Central, Pennsylvania Chef exclusives goal is to provide a dining experience.

58:31

That is sure to please any palate Chef Damian white of chef exclusive is a graduate of the renowned

58:37

Johnson and Wales University with a degree in culinary arts and applied science Chef exclusive caterings event center is newly designed with elegance and style and is available for small office gatherings bridal showers engagement parties and rehearsal dinners

58:53

Critics and guests alike acknowledge chef exclusives commitment to exceeding even the highest expectations

59:00

I know of their quality firsthand since chef exclusive catered by most recent iron sharpens iron radio pastors luncheon for details call 717 -388 -3000

59:12

That's 717 -388 -3000 or visit chef exclusive .com

59:18

That's chef exclusive .com You Have you been blessed by iron sharpens iron radio

59:30

We remain on the air because of our faithful sponsors and because of listeners like you there are four ways you can help

59:37

First do you know potential sponsors who may wish to advertise their goods or services on iron sharpens iron radio?

59:45

Second whenever possible purchase the products or use the services that our sponsors advertise and Then let them know that you heard about them on iron sharpens iron radio

59:56

Thirdly you can also donate to iron sharpens iron radio by going to our website at iron sharpens iron radio

01:00:02

Calm and click support at the top of the page But most importantly keep iron sharpens iron radio in your prayers

01:00:09

We hope that iron sharpens iron radio blesses you for many years to come Iron sharpens iron welcomes solid rock remodeling to our family of sponsors serving

01:00:28

South Central, Pennsylvania Solid rock remodeling is focused on discovering Understanding and exceeding your expectations.

01:00:36

They deliver personalized project solutions with exceptional results

01:00:41

Solid rock remodeling offers a full range of home renovations including kitchen and bath remodeling decks porches windows and doors

01:00:51

Roof and siding and more for a clear detailed professional estimate

01:00:56

Call this trustworthy team of problem solvers who provide superior results that stand to the test of time

01:01:04

Call solid rock remodeling at seven one seven six nine seven 1981 seven one seven six nine seven 1981 or visit solid rock remodeling calm that solid rock remodeling calm solid rock remodeling bringing new life to your home

01:01:29

Paul wrote to the church at Galatia for am I now seeking the approval of man or of God or am

01:01:35

I trying to please? Man, if I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ Hi, I'm Mark Lukens pastor of Providence Baptist Church We are a reformed

01:01:45

Baptist Church and we hold to the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 We are in Norfolk, Massachusetts We strive to reflect

01:01:52

Paul's mindset to be much more concerned with how God views what we say and what we do

01:01:57

Than how men view these things that's not the best recipe for popularity But since that wasn't the

01:02:03

Apostles priority, it must not be ours either we believe by God's grace that we are called to demonstrate love and compassion to our fellow man and To be vessels of Christ's mercy to a lost and hurting community around us and to build up the body of Christ in truth

01:02:18

And love if you live near Norfolk, Massachusetts or plan to visit our area, please come and join us for worship and fellowship

01:02:24

You can call us at 508 -528 -5750 That's 508 -528 -5750

01:02:31

Or go to our website to email us listen to past sermons worship songs or watch our TV program entitled resting in grace

01:02:38

You can find us at Providence Baptist Church ma .org That's Providence Baptist Church ma .org

01:02:45

or even on sermon audio .com Providence Baptist Church is delighted to sponsor iron sharpens iron radio

01:02:53

Hi, I'm pastor Bill Shishko inviting you to tune in to a visit to the pastor's study every

01:03:00

Saturday from 12 noon to 1 p .m Eastern Time on WLIE radio www .wlie540am

01:03:10

.com We bring biblically faithful pastoral ministry to you and we invite you to visit the pastor's study by calling in with your questions

01:03:18

Our time will be lively useful and I assure you never dull Join us this Saturday at 12 noon

01:03:24

Eastern Time for a visit to the pastor's study because everyone needs a pastor. Welcome back

01:03:29

This is Chris Arnzen If you just tuned us in our guest today for the full two hours with just about an hour to go is

01:03:37

Kurt M Smith He is the pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church in Pine Mountain, Alabama And he is an author and we are discussing part two of thundering the word of the life ministry and gospel of George Whitfield Our email address if you have a question of your own is

01:03:56

Chris Arnzen at gmail .com Chris Arnzen at gmail .com but as I said, we have some important announcements to make regarding special events that our

01:04:06

Sponsors are conducting this Friday December 8th from 1130 a .m.

01:04:11

To 1 p .m CBMC which stands for the Christian businessmen's connection are having a special Christmas luncheon all are welcome, whether you are men or women and the theme of the event is

01:04:27

Joseph the quiet hero of Christmas the speaker at the luncheon who will be speaking on that theme is

01:04:35

My dear friend Marcus a McKnight the third attorney at law Managing shareholder at Erwin and McKnight PC here in Carlisle, Pennsylvania he's also a former elder of the church where I am a member now

01:04:49

Grace Baptist Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and he's a current member of the

01:04:54

West Shore Evangelical Free Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania And if you would like to attend this event

01:05:00

It's going to be held at the comfort suites of downtown Carlisle, Pennsylvania To register call 7 1 7 2 4 9 2 3 5 3 7 1 7 2 4 9 2 3 5 3 and it normally costs $20 for a registration, but if you mention iron sharpens iron radio, you will get

01:05:24

Registration absolutely free of charge. Well, you get admission to this event absolutely free of charge by mentioning iron sharpens iron radio

01:05:30

So make sure you do that when you call 7 1 7 2 4 9 2 3 5 3

01:05:36

I hope to see as many of you as possible this Friday December 8th From 1130 a .m.

01:05:42

To 1 p .m. At the Carlisle suites of downtown Carlisle then coming up in January the

01:05:50

G3 conference one of my favorite events to attend In fact, I think it was probably my favorite conference that I ever attended in my life last

01:05:59

January Well, it's returning to Atlanta, Georgia this January from the 17th through the 20th

01:06:08

Yeah, the 17th in the daytime. Anyway is going to be exclusively in Spanish and then in the evening

01:06:15

Dr. James R. White of Alpha and Omega ministries is going to be debating another Muslim apologist at this event

01:06:23

I'll give you more details as they come to me as far as the theme and so on and then the conference the

01:06:32

English -speaking conference begins on The 18th through the 20th and the guest speakers include in addition to dr

01:06:40

James R. White Stephen Lawson Votie Balcom Phil Johnson Keith Getty HP Charles jr

01:06:45

Tim Challis Josh Bice Tom Askell Anthony Matheny and Michael Kruger David Miller Paul trip

01:06:51

Todd frill Derek Thomas Martha peace and Justin Peters if you'd like to register for this event go to g3 conference calm g3 conference calm and you could also register for an exhibitors booth if you have a business a power church ministry a church or anything else that you want to promote if you have the signage and everything else that you'd like to Bring there to Atlanta to man your own exhibitors booth as I will be doing for iron sharpens iron radio

01:07:24

And you could also go to g3 conference calm and find out more information about that, please please please tell them that you heard about the g3 conference from Chris Arnzen on iron sharpens iron radio by the way g3 stands for grace gospel and glory in case you're wondering and this year's theme or should

01:07:42

I say this January's theme is Knowing God a biblical understanding of discipleship

01:07:48

So I hope to see as many of you as possible at the g3 conference last but not least once again,

01:07:54

I have to bite the bullet and Start begging for money because it's something that makes me very uncomfortable and I do not like doing this at all especially because of the the blight or the the dark stain on Christendom that so many charlatans and frauds who are televangelists and radio evangelists have

01:08:19

Have stained the reputation of Christianity with with their their phony pleas for money and it's unfortunate that many may look at all pleas for money in a similar light, but That's something that I cannot avoid and we are

01:08:37

Experiencing a very difficult time financially that gives us some

01:08:43

Fear and trepidation that we are going to be going off the air But If that's

01:08:49

God's will that that is going to happen But if you would like iron sharpens iron radio to remain on the air if you love this program

01:08:56

You listen to it every day You look forward to it and please donate as much and as often as you can by going to iron sharpens iron radio calm click on support and Then you will find an address a mailing address where you can mail a check for any amount

01:09:11

Made payable to iron sharpens iron radio never ever ever siphon money out of your local

01:09:17

Giving to the church where you are a member if you're not a member of a church and you're not prayerfully

01:09:23

Seeking out one or seeking to find a biblically faithful church. You are living in disobedience.

01:09:29

So please rectify that situation but please don't ever siphon money out of your giving to your church or never take

01:09:36

Food off of your family's dinner table because providing for your home and your church are commands of God Providing for iron sharpens iron radio is not a command of God But if you are blessed financially above and beyond your ability to obey those two commands and please please consider

01:09:53

Contributing to iron sharpens iron radio, please consider Making us a part of your monthly Charitable budget if you have one or perhaps you should create one

01:10:03

And we would love to start receiving more checks from you we thank God that there is now once again a small stream of checks coming in And I'm not saying that the checks themselves are all small some of them.

01:10:18

They're quite astonishingly large But there was a time when there were no checks coming in for a couple of months and we thank

01:10:25

God that that Has reversed and we thank all of you from the depths of our hearts here at our interpreters on radio

01:10:32

For your generosity and I wish I could take more time to thank you But I'm sure you don't want me to do that either because you want to go back to our interview with Kurt Smith But if you want to advertise with us, you can also send an email to Chris Arnson at gmail .com

01:10:46

Chris Arnson at gmail .com and put advertising in the subject line Whatever it is your advertising whether it's your church power church business professional practice with your lawyer a doctor or dentist

01:10:56

Whether it's just a special event as long as whatever it is Your advertising is compatible with the theology we express on Iron Trip and Zion radio doesn't have to be identical

01:11:04

To our theology just needs to be compatible It can't militate against what we believe and we will be more than thrilled to Discuss launching an ad campaign with you because we certainly could use the advertising dollars

01:11:15

So send us an email to Chris Arnson at gmail .com and put advertising in the subject line

01:11:21

Well now we are back with Kurt M Smith author and pastor of Providence Reformed Baptist Church of Pine Mountain, Alabama We are discussing part two of Thundering the word the life ministry and gospel of George Whitefield if you'd like to join us with your own question

01:11:36

That's the email that I just mentioned that you can send a question to that's Chris Arnson at gmail .com

01:11:42

Give us your first name city and state and country of residence if you live outside of the USA Well, if you could pick up where you left off the last thing you were talking about is how much

01:11:52

George Whitefield loved the Anglican liturgy Yes, that's right.

01:11:57

And with that this biographer Robert Phillips Who I said in the last hour he was he wrote the first full -scale single -volume biography of George Whitefield Following Whitfield's well several years following Whitfield's death and in 1837 was when this biography was published in in this biography

01:12:22

He is addressing Whitfield's love for commitment to devotion to the

01:12:30

Anglican Church and He did say that Whitfield both admired and loved the liturgy meaning

01:12:35

You know the the way the the order of worship was Was put together in in the

01:12:43

Anglican Church, but it's interesting he says that Whitfield had the spirit of its compilers and Of its best prayers talking about the prayers of out of the common prayer book

01:12:55

He says he had this in his own bosom and therefore it was no form to him

01:13:03

He says it had been the channel upon which the first mighty springtides of his devotion flowed and the chief medium of his communion with heaven and so Robert Phillip he

01:13:14

He concludes this by saying that Whitfield therefore was most in his element

01:13:20

With the Anglican Church service, although he was often equally and more successful without it and In regards to that pertaining directly to that While we were on our longest break there

01:13:38

I pulled up a Interesting observation made by J.

01:13:44

I Packer in in relation to George Whitfield and Whitfield's Anglicanism and Packer said that Whitfield did in fact unwittingly encourage an

01:14:04

Individualistic piety of what we would call a para church type a piety that gave its prime loyalty to trans denominational endeavors that became impatient and restless in face of the

01:14:19

Relatively fixed forms of institutional church life and that conceived of evangelism is typically an extra ecclesiastical activity and Packer says, you know

01:14:31

Whitfield may not have wished to have had this effect, but involuntarily he did and in that That is where You know these these certain brethren in in the reform camp whether they be

01:14:47

Mostly so they're in among Presbyterians, but even among some Reformed Baptists are very very critical in that respect to Whitfield but But again, well,

01:15:02

I think I think as Packer was noting. I think that is a fair I think that's a fair criticism

01:15:10

But what what I was trying to point out with withdrawing from Robert Phillip is that that's not the whole story

01:15:18

George Whitfield was a churchman and and In while, you know while his his endeavors his activities to reach as many people as he could with it with the gospel

01:15:30

I mean it was Whitfield who said the world is now my parish You know, so it was it was just world evangelization all the way with him

01:15:42

You know while that was his life's work his life's endeavor But Whitfield always believed that he did that under the auspices and the authority of the

01:15:53

Church of England, he never saw himself as Separated from the

01:16:00

Church of England Was he more forgiving? Toward the

01:16:06

Church of England and the Church of England was toward him In in some respects, you know

01:16:14

Now granted in his in his earlier years in in the in the first first Four or five years that he was all that he was he was beginning to you know, preach the gospel

01:16:29

He he was saying some very bold things publicly Against the

01:16:35

Anglican clergy and in what what he believed that he was seeing As true among so many of them

01:16:43

You know coming just coming right out to say that you know that they they cannot even be truly converted ministers and he later on in his later years, he would actually come back and retract from that and and and ask forgiveness and apologize for for speaking like that publicly

01:17:08

Even though granted, I mean the you know what the facts were regarding the Church of England at that time.

01:17:14

I mean you you had You had most Anglican you had most

01:17:19

Anglican clergy who who were Who were largely men given over to just self -indulging pleasures like box hunting politics agriculture chemistry law drinking

01:17:33

I mean that that was the large the large segment the large culture that you saw among Anglican priests and so, you know, so Whitfield was not necessarily speaking out of turn but But he he did recognize that he he did take some things too far in What he had said

01:17:55

Against many Anglican clergy and that was one of the reasons it wasn't it wasn't all the reasons

01:18:00

But that was one of the cheap reasons why When when he when he came back to England after his first trip to America He started seeing pulpits closed up and and and shut out to him because of the things that he was probably saying about fellow

01:18:19

Anglican ministers now, I know that the the rise of Tractarianism the

01:18:27

Oxford movement I believe they were also known as the pussy ites

01:18:33

Within the Anglican Church who were very Romish. I know that that really started to gain foothold in the 19th century, but what what were the main problems that Whitfield was dealing with in the

01:18:47

Era in which he preached and and had his ministry with the Anglicans. What were the main problems he was facing?

01:18:54

Well the main problems as I just mentioned regarding the

01:18:59

Anglican clergy I mean, they were mostly Very worldly men nominal.

01:19:06

It was nominal Christianity based very very very nominal The other thing is that the sermons of the

01:19:14

Anglican Church during that time were moralistic they were stressing decency with a strong aversion to anything that hinted at what they called

01:19:24

Enthusiasm and by enthusiasm what they meant by that They were describing any Christian whose practice of the faith showed zeal and earnestness

01:19:32

So you can only imagine How they looked at Whitfield Especially doing it out in the middle of the street

01:19:42

Yeah I mean to them largely Whitfield was nothing

01:19:48

But just this rank enthusiast and and then of course combined with that because of the because of the moralistic sermons

01:19:59

The very very heavy strong accent that George Whitfield put in his sermons on You must be born again

01:20:07

And that That just sent shockwaves Through the

01:20:13

Anglican Church and to the Anglican clergy because they were not preaching that They simply they were not telling the people you must be born again and in so that That message in fact that was the very first sermon that Whitfield ever had printed

01:20:33

Was a sermon that he had entitled the necessity of The new birth and in in that in in that you know, that was a very very shocking sermon hmm now the obviously since Whitfield and Wesley both came out of Anglicanism but wound up having

01:21:01

Polar opposite views of the doctrines of God's sovereignty and unconditional election and definite atonement

01:21:11

Well, I'm assuming that the Anglican Church must have been equally divided over this issues at that time

01:21:21

I'm not sure how How divided they were like Whitfield and Wesley were?

01:21:30

when it you know when it came to Calvinism versus Arminianism You know when you read the 39 articles of the

01:21:38

Church of England Which George Whitfield made a full subscription to?

01:21:45

The the article on election predestination As a reformed

01:21:51

Baptist, I would say Amen, amen. I could I could actually echo nearly all of the 39 articles.

01:21:57

It's interesting I've said this but yeah, I've said this before and I've even rubbed this into the wounds of my

01:22:04

Anglican friends But even even the article on baptism, it says nothing about infant baptism

01:22:10

It just says that we're not supposed to forbid children From being baptized and reformed

01:22:15

Baptists don't forbid children if they are repentant believers Yeah, right, right.

01:22:23

Yeah Yeah in in in Whitfield's time Really what you had as far as the division was concerned you really had a division between a

01:22:41

Group of very worldly Even even in some pockets lip, you know what we would call liberal

01:22:51

Anglican ministers Versus those that would be considered just Evangelical like George Whitfield and and and even and even to some extent even

01:23:02

John Wesley I mean, you know Wesley did preach justification by faith alone and That was very controversial as well.

01:23:11

And of course Wesley also did preach the necessity of the new birth now that that was controversial amongst

01:23:18

Anglicans because that's Inherent in the 39 articles, isn't it? It is it is inherent

01:23:24

But we have to remember that at this period of time in the 18th century in the early 18th century the

01:23:32

Anglican Church as A whole generally speaking had left the substance the content

01:23:42

Certainly the spirit of the 39 articles, you know as as I've said a moment ago

01:23:48

Their sermons by and large were just nothing but rank moralism

01:23:54

I guess that's what that's what gave fertile soil to the Anglo Catholic movement that arose in the 19th century

01:24:01

Yeah. Oh, yes. Yeah very much so very much so And and you know that the ain't that the evangelical

01:24:11

Movement within the Anglican Church. It has always been a remnant

01:24:18

It's always been a a small Movement within the church thing, right?

01:24:23

even when Thomas Cranmer was the archbishop who actually drafted the 39 articles who was a thoroughgoing

01:24:30

Calvinist and Protestant King Henry the eighth his King was theologically

01:24:37

Roman Catholic the only thing that he militated against was the The primacy of the

01:24:45

Pope and the infallibility of the Pope and so on He did not want the Pope over him as as a head, but everything else.

01:24:52

He really never left Rome until there I know a Cranmer scholar

01:24:58

Ashley null who believes that That King Henry the eighth repented on his deathbed because Cranmer asked him if he believed and If he believed in justification by faith alone to squeeze his hand or something like that when he was dying and apparently

01:25:14

King Henry the eighth Squeezed his hand so that gave confidence to Cranmer about it But it still shows you that even in the

01:25:20

Church of England when Protestantism reigned supreme They're the king who started the

01:25:26

British or the English Reformation He himself was theologically Catholic still

01:25:32

Yes, he was he sure was in fact if you recall King Henry the eighth even even wrote a track against Luther That's right ending

01:25:44

Roman defending Roman Catholicism In regards, you know, we're talking about how

01:25:53

How controversial? Whitfield was as a preacher to the

01:25:59

Church of England Just to give a sample from one of his sermons

01:26:06

Which as as as I've read this sermon, I I think I think to myself.

01:26:12

Well, I know plenty of Men of God even you know, even today even even in good sound churches that that do not address their congregations like Whitfield Addressed the people that came to hear him, but this is a sermon that he had preached in the high church yard in Glasgow Scotland He preached it in September of 1741 this was his very first visit to Scotland and the sermon is entitled the method of grace and In this in this very strong evangelistic message

01:26:56

Just to give one sample he He says in his first point.

01:27:02

He says before you before you can speak peace to your hearts You must be made to see made to feel made to weep over made to bewail your actual transgressions against the law of God He says if if one evil thought if one evil word if one evil action deserves eternal damnation

01:27:29

How many hells my friends do every one of us deserve? Whose whole lives have been one continued rebellion against God Wow He says before ever therefore you can speak peace to your hearts

01:27:45

You must be brought to see brought to believe what a dreadful thing it is to depart from the living

01:27:51

God and Now my dear friends examine your hearts, or I hope you came

01:27:56

Either with the design to have your souls made better Give me leave to ask you in the presence of God whether you know the time and if you do not know exactly the time

01:28:06

Do you know there was a time when God wrote bitter things against you when the arrows of the

01:28:12

Almighty were within you? Was ever the remembrance of your sins grievous to you was the burden of your sins

01:28:19

Intolerable to your thoughts. Did you ever see that God's wrath might justly fall upon you on account of your actual?

01:28:27

Transgressions against God were you ever in all your life? Sorry for your sins Could you ever say my sins are gone over my head as a burden too heavy for me to bear?

01:28:36

Did you ever experience any such thing as this? Did ever any such thing as this passed between you but passed between God and your soul if not

01:28:46

For Jesus Christ's sake do not call yourselves Christians You may speak peace to your hearts, but there is no peace.

01:28:54

May the Lord awaken you May the Lord convert you may the Lord give you peace if it be his will before you go home

01:29:02

Amen Can you just you know imagine

01:29:08

No one was preaching like that Huh that day in that hour in how?

01:29:15

Arresting and how alarming and how startling? Words like that were you mean nobody was preaching like that in the

01:29:23

Anglican Church? Yeah, that's right. I'm assuming that there were Calvinistic Baptists and even non -Calvinistic

01:29:30

Baptists and and others that were I'm assuming that they were you know, it's

01:29:39

It's interesting in bringing that up because Among the non -conformist bodies of that time

01:29:49

Arnold Dalai more in his two volume biography on Whitfield He says this regarding the non -conformist bodies like the

01:30:00

Baptist particular Baptist and so forth He says in fact in fact as you pick right up there when we because we have to get our final break

01:30:07

Don't go away folks We'll be right back after these messages send in your emails now at Chris Arnzen at gmail .com

01:30:13

Before we run out of time Chris Arnzen at gmail .com. God willing. We'll be right back after these words from our sponsors

01:30:27

Have you been blessed by iron sharpens iron radio We remain on the air because of our faithful sponsors and because of listeners like you there are four ways you can help

01:30:37

First, do you know potential sponsors who may wish to advertise their goods or services on iron sharpens iron radio?

01:30:44

second whenever possible purchase the products or use the services that our sponsors advertise and Then let them know that you heard about them on iron sharpens iron radio

01:30:55

Thirdly, you can also donate to iron sharpens iron radio by going to our website at iron sharpens iron radio

01:31:01

Dot -com and click support at the top of the page, but most importantly keep iron sharpens iron radio in your prayers

01:31:09

We hope that iron sharpens iron radio blesses you for many years to come Linbrook Baptist Church on 225

01:31:18

Earl Avenue in Linbrook Long Island is teaching God's timeless truths in the 21st century Our church is far more than a

01:31:25

Sunday worship service It's a place of learning where the scriptures are studied and the preaching of the gospel is clear and relevant

01:31:30

It's like a gym where one can exercise their faith through community involvement It's like a hospital for wounded souls where one can find compassionate people in healing.

01:31:38

We're a diverse family of all ages Enthusiastically serving our Lord Jesus Christ in fellowship play and together.

01:31:44

Hi I'm pastor Bob Walderman and I invite you to come and join us here at Linbrook Baptist Church and see all that a church can

01:31:50

Be call in Brook Baptist at five one six five nine nine nine four zero two That's five one six five nine nine nine four zero two or visit

01:31:59

Linbrook Baptist org. That's Linbrook Baptist org Are you a Christian looking to align your faith and finances then you'll want to check out thriving financial services provider

01:32:11

We're a not -for -profit fortune 500 organization that helps are nearly to be wise with money

01:32:18

We provide guidance that reflects your values so you can protect what matters most

01:32:23

We help members live generously and strengthen the communities where they live work and worship

01:32:28

Learn more about the thriving story by contacting me Mike Gallagher financial consultant at seven one seven two five four six four three three again seven one seven two five four six four three three

01:32:43

We were made for so much more Lending faith finances and generosity.

01:32:55

That's the private story Hi, I'm pastor

01:33:10

Bill Shishko inviting you to tune in to a visit to the pastor's study every Saturday from 12 noon to 1 p .m

01:33:17

Eastern Time on WL ie radio www .wl ie 540 a .m.

01:33:25

Dot -com We bring biblically faithful pastoral ministry to you and we invite you to visit the pastor's study by calling in with your questions

01:33:33

Our time will be lively Useful and I assure you never dull join us this Saturday at 12 noon

01:33:39

Eastern Time For a visit to the pastor's study because everyone needs a pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said give yourself unto reading the man who never reads will never be read

01:33:54

He who never quotes will never be quoted He will not use the thoughts of other men's brains proves that he has no brains of his own

01:34:03

You need to read solid ground Christian books as a publisher and book distributor who takes these words of the

01:34:09

Prince of preachers to heart The mission of solid ground Christian books is to bring back treasures of the past to minister to Christians in the present and future and To publish new titles that address burning issues in the church and the world

01:34:22

Since its beginning in 2001 solid ground has been committed to publish God -centered

01:34:27

Christ exalting books for all ages We invite you to go treasure hunting at solid ground books .com

01:34:35

That's solid -ground -books .com and see what priceless literary gems from the past or present

01:34:42

You can unearth from solid ground Solid ground Christian books is honored to be a weekly sponsor of iron sharpens iron radio

01:34:49

And don't forget a solid -ground -books .com when you're doing all of your holiday shopping

01:34:55

Solid -ground -books .com why not purchase gifts for those you love that will have eternal consequences and Even when you are patronizing one of my other advertisers cvbbs .com

01:35:09

cvbbs .com you can purchase solid ground Christian book titles from cvbbs .com

01:35:16

cvbbs .com is a book distributor not a publisher and solid ground

01:35:22

Christian books is a publisher so you can get those books from cvbbs .com as well and Please remember that when you help

01:35:31

Our Advertisers remain in business you're helping iron sharpens iron radio to remain on the air because without their advertising dollars we would cease to exist barring a miracle and now we are back to our final 24 minutes or so of our interview with our guest

01:35:51

Kurt M Smith and We are discussing thundering the word the life ministry and gospel of George Whitfield and you were just about to Give us a profound quote when we were an

01:36:03

I interrupted you to go to our last station break That's all right Yeah, this is coming from Arnold Dallymore.

01:36:11

It's coming from the first volume of his two -volume biography on George Whitfield and he's he's talking about the the religious conditions of that time of that era and After he had finished

01:36:26

Telling telling us how bad things were in the Church of England He says that among the non -conformists who would be

01:36:32

Presbyterians Independents and Baptists he said conditions were undoubtedly better But very little so than in the

01:36:42

Church of England Wow to the reason yeah He said here's the reason why it says though persecuted from the time of the great

01:36:48

Ejection of 1662 onward they came into Liberty with the act of toleration of 1689 in the joy of this new freedom they immediately began to conduct themselves with great vitality

01:37:02

Yet their fervor lasted but a short time and Before many years had passed the spiritual lethargy of the times had descended up had descended on them, too

01:37:13

He said the strength of the non -conformist bodies became sapped as had that at the

01:37:18

Church of England by skepticism Certain men who held the fund to the fundamental principles of Christianity Endeavored to contend for them, but amidst the majority of the ministers

01:37:30

Arianism was common and some preached nothing more than the vigaries of deism

01:37:35

Wow but a few he says with but a few notable exceptions the pulpits were cold and Discord and stagnancy were the chief features of denominational life by the year 1700 such divisions had taken place that in London there were three separate groups of Presbyterians four of Independence and six of Baptists Wow and so Yeah You know things were not

01:38:09

Things were not that that much better even among Calvinistic Baptists, you know the

01:38:17

Presbyterians the Independence at that time and this is a point that I even bring out in in my in my book what

01:38:26

I'm writing now on Whitfield and Talking about this and what I say is that That where there was

01:38:33

Christian orthodoxy present it was vastly dead Lacking genuine spirit given authority and power thus on the surface

01:38:44

There was not a more apparent dismal and hopeless situation for any culture than that of England in the primal years of the 18th century and That's where when

01:38:56

George Whitfield came on the scene 1737 1738 that's when the

01:39:03

Lord providentially Arrested Whitfield out into the public is

01:39:10

His preaching Anointed by the Holy Spirit It as I said before it was so arresting.

01:39:17

It was so alarming it it literally just startled the nation Because no one was hearing preaching like that You know and certainly not with that divine unction and authority of the spirit

01:39:32

I guess that's why Benjamin Franklin who was not even from what we know a genuine genuinely regenerate person

01:39:41

He was fascinated by Whitfield. Oh Yes, he definitely was in fact in what

01:39:48

I was writing earlier today Okay, I wrote about this regarding Benjamin Franklin in part of in part of my work in The fifth chapter of my book

01:40:02

I talk about I really go into great detail about What what was it?

01:40:10

What was it about Whitfield's preaching? What was it about Whitfield as? as a as a man

01:40:20

What was it about the content of his preaching that captivated so many people and In beginning to answer that question

01:40:29

I Deal with with what was very

01:40:36

It can be very fairly called a human attraction There was a human attraction to him

01:40:43

His physical appearance was very striking. I go into detail talk about that But next to his physical appearance was the massive appeal from all branches of society to his very extraordinary gift in oratorical powers

01:40:59

And this is where I'm actually quoting from eyewitnesses of that period such as Sarah Edwards Jonathan Edwards wife and what she testified about Whitfield's oratorical powers the famous skeptic

01:41:14

David Hume It was a Ruthless public critic of Christianity an unbeliever and yet David Hume said it was worth traveling 20 miles just to hear

01:41:24

Whitfield preach the most famous professional actor of that age David Garrick who reported that Whitfield can make men weep or tremble by his varied utterances of the word

01:41:37

Mesopotamia But Benjamin Benjamin Benjamin Franklin Who we know became

01:41:47

Whitfield's first publisher in America. He wrote in his memoirs concerning The grand scale of Whitfield's Elocution he said this he said every accent every emphasis every

01:42:04

Modulation of voice was so perfectly well -turned and well -placed That without being interested in the subject one could not help being pleased with the discourse a

01:42:18

Pleasure of much the same kind would that receive from an excellent piece of music?

01:42:26

Hmm Wow we have John and Bangor Maine who asks

01:42:35

I know that George Whitfield and John Gill the great

01:42:41

Calvinist Baptist hero of the faith were Contemporaries did they know each other?

01:42:46

Did they write about each other? Did they like each other? I Don't know the answer to that directly.

01:42:58

I know that Michael Hagen he he wrote in A in what was called in a series of biographies called bite -sized biographies published by evangelical evangelical press and Michael Hagen actually wrote a bite -sized biography on George Whitfield, and he devoted a chapter which

01:43:24

I found very fascinating of Whitfield's impact upon the

01:43:30

Baptist and He brings out And I can't remember if if he if he mentions

01:43:41

John Gill in this chapter, but But he brings out that the

01:43:46

Baptists by and large in England were not exactly very favorable to Whitfield and He he says of course what one reason why was just the fact that George Whitfield was a

01:44:05

Anglican and And that you know that in itself

01:44:14

That in itself was was something that oh, well, here's something here

01:44:20

Okay. So in this chapter he says he says the leading

01:44:26

Baptist theologian during the mid 18th century John Gill of London and Hopefully this answers this brother's question from Maine Can state with no equivocation the

01:44:36

Church of England has neither the form nor matter of a true church Nor is the Word of God purely preached in it

01:44:47

Now Obviously, we know there that how John Gill really felt about the

01:44:53

Church of England So what then what then would Gil say about Whitfield?

01:44:59

Well, he says It Michael Aiken says not surprisingly many Calvinistic Baptists at deep reservation

01:45:06

About the revival since it was uniformly led by Anglican hmm a few these a few these

01:45:13

Anglican preachers were Arminian in theology like the Wesley brothers and thus Definitely beyond the pale for the

01:45:19

Calvinistic Baptist. However, Whitfield was a Calvinist Yet he was still an

01:45:24

Anglican In addition the fervency of his evangelism and his passionate urging of the lost to embrace

01:45:30

Christ prompted a number of Baptist critics Whose heightened Calvinism caused them to question the wisdom of?

01:45:39

Whitfield's evangelistic strategies to complain of what they termed is

01:45:46

Arminian accent I Hope that answers this question

01:45:55

Yes, and it's it's said that Many of our

01:46:01

Arminian brethren who would not necessarily call themselves Arminian But they are always it seems convinced that if somebody preaches with passion and urgency and Invitations for the lost to come to Christ.

01:46:19

I'm not talking about invitations to come forward in a church service But invitations right flee to Christ for salvation

01:46:27

These brethren will say well this person can't be a Calvinist I mean listen to him or read what he has to say.

01:46:33

He's obviously not a Calvinist and he and is some of our fundamentalist freewill believing

01:46:42

Friends and obviously Calvinists believe in free will too, but it's The fact that we can only please

01:46:49

God with our will and when we are regenerate and born again, but anyway, um the the

01:46:56

Baptists and others who acquiesce That Charles Spurgeon theologically on paper was a

01:47:01

Calvinist will say well Thankfully he was inconsistent with his theology, but that is that is not the case at all.

01:47:09

It's because of the theology of those who are truly Historically faithful and biblically faithful most of all

01:47:18

Calvinistic that they are passionate and zealous and aggressive in their urgent pleas of repentance and following Christ Yes, amen to that and and I believe that that is one of the chief reasons why as Calvinistic Baptists and Reformed Baptists today

01:47:40

Why we need to look at men like Whitfield or Charles Spurgeon and And learn from them at and how how fervent impassionate we can be and we should be in our proclamation of the gospel and Pleading with sinners just just like the excerpt

01:48:05

I read earlier from Whitfield sermon the method of grace You know the the way that he

01:48:12

Questioned his hearers the way that he did, you know that he pleaded with them and exhorted them to examine themselves

01:48:21

You know with George Whitfield was a thoroughgoing Calvinist to the hill

01:48:28

You know, he he loved the doctors of grace. He loved the reformed faith as a whole and That's why his his disagreements with Wesley even though they were

01:48:38

Covered with love especially on Whitfield's side. They were still great. They were still pretty heated

01:48:45

Yes, they were. Yes, they were because yeah, because for George Whitfield You know as far as as far as he was concerned

01:48:55

It was only it was only the doctrines of the Reformation that that that could bring about the change that was needed in that time in that era and Whitfield he said as much but in regards to in regards to his formal response to John Wesley and Wesley's sermon that he had

01:49:21

He had published he preached it and published it as we as we know that was against Against the doctrines of election

01:49:30

Predestination and in just against Calvinism as a whole when George Whitfield when he wrote his formal response to that To that that sermon in one portion of that.

01:49:46

He said this He said this doctrine and he's talking here about the doctrine of election.

01:49:51

He says this doctrine is my daily support I Should utterly sink under a dread of my impending trials

01:50:00

Was I not firmly persuaded that God has chosen me in Christ From before the foundation of the world and that now being effectually called

01:50:11

He will suffer none to pluck me out of his almighty hand Wow we have

01:50:20

Ronald in Eastern Suffolk County who wants to know I Have heard that one of the reasons that Whitfield requested that his friend

01:50:30

John Wesley preach at his funeral was that Whitfield was Starting to second -guess or question his own theology.

01:50:38

Is that true? No, that is definitely not true Yeah, that that is that is not true.

01:50:46

We we have we have primary source material that is

01:50:52

Whitfield in his own words from his sermons from Correspondence that he had with others that he he never he never once questioned the the

01:51:09

Reformation The the Reformation doctors the reform faith once he had become convinced of The reform faith which was just in the first two years of his of his

01:51:22

Christian life He he he never left it he just kept continuing to grow and to mature

01:51:30

In the reform faith. So no, he never he never second -guessed it

01:51:36

Let's see here. We have Robert in Westchester, New York who wants to know

01:51:42

Can you give us the three most vital things that separated Whitfield out from the pack three most vital things

01:51:55

I Would say the first thing which which may be very surprising that I would

01:52:05

I wouldn't say this is first, but his humility he

01:52:12

To to be as popular as he was One one author said that Whitfield was

01:52:21

America's very first cultural hero He was America's first Celebrity if you will he's been called that really he was even yes.

01:52:31

Yes, and he was even described as that by his own contemporaries With the enormous popularity that he had

01:52:42

What set him apart and this would have to set him apart because nobody was more popular than he was as far as gospel preachers of that era were

01:52:50

Concerned is that he was so ruthless with himself

01:52:56

He he abased himself so much Hum, you know just just so full of humility if you remember the

01:53:06

The quotes that I gave earlier from the letters he wrote in 1748 49 when he's saying let the name of Whitfield be forgotten.

01:53:14

Let my name die everywhere and That I would say

01:53:19

I mean that was most definitely one of the three most striking things

01:53:24

About him that set him apart from the pack He just he showed he showed an enormous grace of humility the other the other striking thing was the phenomena of The power the authority the liberty of the

01:53:48

Holy Spirit in his preaching He of course was not the only

01:53:54

Gospel preacher during the Great Awakening during the evangelical revival in Great Britain who who experienced

01:54:03

That kind of divine unction in their preaching, but he was the only one

01:54:08

Who experienced it for as long as he did? and And and it really was and I said this in our first talk about Whitfield back in October That is as gifted as he was in his oratorical powers

01:54:26

And and you could even say that as a footnote that certainly set him apart from the pack No one had the oratorical gifts that Whitfield had in that day.

01:54:34

Nobody did he he had no equals in that Yeah, it's astonishing even scientifically how how far his voice carried which is one of the things that captivated the imagination of Benjamin Franklin Absolutely it did

01:54:47

But you know, but even with that even with that It that does not explain

01:54:56

That does not explain the attraction the appeal all of the people

01:55:02

Tens of thousands of people over 34 years of ministry being drawn to hear him every time wherever he was

01:55:12

There was there was just always a crowd of people and that kind of phenomena

01:55:17

Goes beyond the man in his natural gifting. That is

01:55:25

That is only accredited to God in what God was doing in Whitfield and how

01:55:30

God chose Very obviously how God chose to use Whitfield in a unique way that he was not using other men of God During that time both in America and Great Britain and so that would

01:55:46

I would say that would definitely be the second thing that would set him apart from the pack and then and then thirdly the third thing is

01:55:55

Would just be is is is enormous is enormous passion in zeal to spread the gospel

01:56:06

I mean Just to really just wear him wear himself out to death, which is quite literally what he did

01:56:15

He he literally just wore his body out physically Seeking to get the gospel to as many people as he could humanly reach and there just simply was no one

01:56:29

No one at that time. No one in that era who? who was carrying the gospel to the lengths that he did and and just Driven by a zeal that even his own contemporaries.

01:56:43

They all recognized that. I mean that that was not something that Later men in later

01:56:49

Generations would look back and recognize about Whitfield Whitfield's own contemporaries saw that in him

01:56:56

You know that he really was a man set apart as a true herald of the gospel

01:57:02

So those would be the three things that immediately come to my mind and number four, of course is the princess

01:57:08

Leia powdered wick Well If you could in a

01:57:23

Minute and a half just wrap up what you most want etched in the hearts and minds of our listeners today about this great figure from history well,

01:57:33

I would say What what I would want most and and it had to be to two sides of the same coin and that is is

01:57:48

Is is fervent exaltation of Christ extolling Christ above all and Then on the flip side of that as I said earlier is is humility

01:58:03

To to be graced In in sanctification with with that with that kind of humility as he had

01:58:12

I mean that That should be something that all of us as Christians should strive to imitate in the faith of Whitfield that the

01:58:20

Lord would grow us and sanctify us more in The humility that we see in him with the God that we would have the same spirit and principle to say let my name be forgotten

01:58:29

If by that the name of Christ may be Glorified. Hey, man, and I want to make sure that all of our listeners have the necessary contact information for you

01:58:40

The website for the Providence Reformed Baptist Church in Pine Mountain, Alabama Is PR BC 1 6 8 9 org

01:58:53

PR for Providence Reformed BC for Baptist Church 1 6 8 9 org and the website for solid ground

01:59:01

Christian books, which carries a number of The printed or published works of our guests today is solid -ground -books .com

01:59:11

Solid -ground -books .com. We look forward to hearing updates from you on the publishing of this book on George Whitfield Thank you so much for being on the program today

01:59:23

I want to thank everybody who listened especially those who took the time to write in questions and I hope that you all always remember for the rest of your lives that Jesus Christ is a far far greater

01:59:35

Savior Than you are a sinner. We look forward to hearing from you and your questions for our guests tomorrow on iron sharpens iron radio