Illustration results for whitfield
Free Memorial Day Resources
Sermons & Illustrations: Top SermonsTop Illustrations
Sermon & Worship Packages: Time to Remember
Robert Robinson had been saved out of a tempestuous life of sin through George Whitfield’s ministry in England. Shortly after that, at the age of twenty-three, Robinson wrote the hymn Come, Thou Fount.
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Sadly, Robinson wandered far from those streams and, like the Prodigal Son, journeyed into the distant country of carnality. Until one day—he was traveling by stagecoach and sitting beside a young woman engrossed in her book. She ran across a verse she thought was beautiful and asked him what he thought of it.
Prone to wander— Lord, I feel it—
Prone to leave the God I love.
Bursting into tears, Robinson said, "Madam, I am the poor unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago, and I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to enjoy the feelings I had then." Although greatly surprised, she reassured him that the "streams of mercy" mentioned in his song still flowed. Mr. Robinson was deeply touched. Turning his "wandering heart" to the Lord, he was restored to full fellowship.
—Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, p. 52
In the 18th Century, Selina Countess of Huntington invited the Duchess of Buckingham to come and here George Whitfield preach.
The Duchess wrote to the Countess of Huntington about the Gospel that Whitefield and his fellow “Methodists” preached as follows:
“ It is monstrous to be told that you have a heart as sinful as the common wretches that crawl on the earth.
This is highly offensive and insulting; and I cannot but wonder that your Ladyship should relish any sentiments so much at variance with high rank and good breeding.”
That letter tells us a lot about her and even one of her easy going acquaintances found her obnoxious.
Her pride closed her ears to the Gospel. For it is only when we realise that we are as "sinful as those common wretches" that we are open to the Gospel
"Whole days and WEEKS have I spent prostrate on the ground in silent or vocal prayer."
Whitfield, George
George Whitfield conducted outdoor evangelistic campaigns in the 1700’s throughout the American colonies, a period of revival called the “Great Awakening” in America. Although thousands responded to his Gospel message, when asked how many were converted after one of his sermons he replied, “We’ll know in five years.” The point Whitfield was making was that the p...
“I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those hearers in the open fields…I now preach to ten times more people than I would if I had been confined to the churches.”
Whitfield, George
The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield said, "And what is it that you both believe?" "Well, I suppose the same thing."
Jonathan Whitfield.
The content of belief is important: Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, "What do you believe?" "Well, I believe the same as the church." "And what does the church believe?" "Well, they believe the same as me." Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield said, "And what is it that you both believe?" "Well, I suppose the same thing."
Jonathan Whitfield.
Jonathan Whitfield was preaching to coal miners in England. He asked one man, “What do you believe?”
“Well, I believe the same as the church.”
“And what does the church believe?” “Well, they believe the same as me.”
Seeing he was getting nowhere, Whitfield said, “An...
George Whitfield once said about true grace…. "True grace will not be content eating mere morsal but will want to bring others to feast on the delights that are ours in Christ Jesus."
John Wesley had a great contemporary in God’s service in the evangelical revival in the 18th century. His name was George Whitfield. They were great friends from their days at Oxford but were divided in their theology. Wesley was Arminian but Whitfield followed Calvin and there was some animosity between their followers. One of Whitfield’s followers said to him, ‘We won’t see Wesley in heaven, will we.’ Whitfield replied, ‘You are right, we won’t see him in heaven. He’ll be so close to the throne of God, that we won’t be able to see him!’ Close to the throne of God, to join in the praise of the Lamb. That’s where we must seek to be by our faithfulness down here.
Pastor's MediaVault
