Journal: Reformation and Revival
Volume: RAR 02:4 (Fall 1993)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

RAR 2:4 (Fall 1993) p. 119

Book Reviews

Letters on Revival, Ebenezer B. Porter. Brooklyn, NY: Linde Publications (1992). 316 pages, paperback, $6.95.

The subject of revival is so multifaceted one scarcely knows where to begin. Through all the ages of the church on earth there have been special seasons when the Holy Spirit has come down in power to renew the church’s obedience to God’s Word, give impetus to missions work, and to bring many unsaved to a living faith in Christ. Church historian Earle Cairns has observed that revivals may be local, regional, or international; general revivals usually follow periods of spiritual declension, and when anointed preachers once again fearlessly proclaim the biblical message of law and gospel (cf. Earle E. Cairns, An Endless Line of Splendor).

During times of declension God prepared His church for revival by restoring the doctrines of grace to the church (see Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book, Revival, Crossway Books). One generation of godly men may lay the foundation for revival in a later generation (see Edward N. Kirk’s Lectures on Revival, 1874). God may use ordained ministers such as Whitefield and Wesley or laymen such as the Norwegian, Hauge, to spearhead revival. The Lutheran, O. Hallesby, pondered the mystery of revival when he wrote:

It is generally conceded to be an incontrovertible fact that there has been, and is, very little spiritual awakening as a result of the preaching of the ministers of Norway [ca. 1920s].... When I see the feeble spiritual awakenings which result from the activity of Norwegian theologians, who on the whole are both capable and conscientious, then the question which arises, Why is there so little spiritual awakening resulting from ministerial preaching? becomes very serious and humiliating to me indeed.... If we desire

RAR 2:4 (Fall 1993) p. 120

spiritual awakenings, if we pray for such awakenings, if there is a cry in the souls of our pastors for spiritual awakenings, why then cannot God make use of us to bring them about? Is there something about our training, is there something about our preaching, or is there something about the life we live that hinders God from using us?

I know very well the gift of spiritual awakening ... cannot be and is not given to every preacher. But to us theologians it is an exceedingly humiliating fact that God during the past 125 years has had to seek evangelistic preachers that He could use outside of our ministerial circles as a rule (How Can the Word of God Be Preached So As to Result in Awakening and Conversion?, pp. 180, 182).

James M. Boice has observed this same lack in the pastoral ministry with respect to revivals. In an article titl...