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John Wesley
(Prayer Makes History)

On March 9, 1791, when John Wesley was carried to his grave, he left behind him a good library of books, a well-worn clergyman's gown, and a much-abused reputation. But also, an England moved to the very depths and a Church thrilled through and through with an awakened spiritual life. John Wesley was a man who truly possessed both apostolic vision and gifts, but most importantly, he was a man who lived in view of eternity. "Consumed by the thought of the shortness of time, the great work to be done, and the need for haste in doing it, on he marched, preaching, pleading, warning and guiding . . ."

John Wesley was a man mighty in faith and prayer. Time and again, people possessed with devils were brought to him and in answer to prayer, the demons were cast out. Not only were evil spirits cast out, but the sick were healed as well. As Wesley preached, the power of God often came upon his listeners, and hundreds would fall under the power of the Spirit. Then, in
answer, to prayer their souls and bodies were healed. A physician became offended at the cries of many who fell under the power of God. He attended Wesley's meeting and a woman he knew fell under the power. "Great drops of sweat ran down her face, and all her bones shook. But when both her soul and body were healed in a moment he acknowledged the finger of God."

On another occasion when Wesley was traveling the preaching circuit, his horse suddenly became lame. With no one near to offer help, he stopped and prayed. "Immediately the horse's lameness was gone."

Wesley was a constant traveler.  In his Oxford days, he often walked twenty-five miles a day.  He also discovered he could read as he walked for up to ten or twelve miles at a time without discomfort.  One year he walked 1050 miles to preach in the churches around Oxford.  In all it is estimated he traveled 226,000 miles in his ministry and preached 46,000 times.

Wesley pleaded with men to repent and by faith make peace with God or suffer in an everlasting hell. People who had entertained false hopes of salvation had their masks torn away by his plain preaching. Wesley believed that those who failed to warn the sinner and backslider themselves stood under the judgment of Christ. He was determined to declare the whole counsel of God, offering the love of God in Christ and giving warning of the dreadful consequences of rejecting the gospel. Wesley wrote, "Before I can preach love and grace, I must preach sin, law and judgment."

John Wesley, as well as the other early Methodist preachers, was both a bold advocate and a living example of sanctification. Wesley preached with unceasing zeal that complete holiness was the primary fruit of a vibrant faith in Christ. Counseling another minister, Wesley wrote, . . .till you press believers to expect full salvation from sin, you must not look for any revival."

If John Wesley were to make an anonymous visit to the Methodists of today, it is doubtful whether many of its churches would welcome him. They would most likely resent his fervent zeal and enthusiasm. When he was eighty-three he made a note that he was regretful that he could not write more than fifteen hours a day without hurting his eyes. Wesley faithfully preached almost up to the very day he died. Truly, his vigor and zeal in old age were the reward of his faithful stewardship of time. He seemed to consider every thought, word and deed in light of eternity.

"Amid all his arduous labors, his innumerable engagements, his coming and going, Wesley lived a hidden life of intimacy with God. When worn out with overwork he often found new strength in answer to prayer." It was Wesleys strict habit to daily spend one hour in prayer in the morning, and then another hour in the evening. John Wesley shook the world by his preaching because he first shook heaven and hell with his praying. His preaching had a sense of eternal urgency because he had touched eternity on his knees.

It was March 2, 1791, and John Wesley was 88 years of age.  The day before his funeral, his body was laid in City Road Chapel.  People insisted that a heavenly smile lingered on his face.  Some ten thousand people came to the chapel to see him.  His tomb reads, This great light arose (by the singular providence of God) to enlighten these nations.  Reader, if thou art constrained to bless the instrument, give God the glory. 

Charles G. Finney (1792-1875)

Charles G. Finney was an evangelist in the United States during the nineteenth century. Billy Graham writes of Finney, "Few men have had such a profound impact on their generation as Charles Grandison Finney. Through his Spirit-filled evangelistic ministry, uncounted thousands came to know Christ... resulting in one of the greatest periods of revival in the history of America."

But as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without my recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Ghost descended on me in a manner that seemed to go through body, soul and me. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed, it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love; for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.

No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushing of my heart. The waves came over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, "I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me." I said, "Lord, I cannot bear any more"; yet, I had no fear of death.

How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know it was late in the evening when a member of my choir--for I was the leader of the choir--came into the office to see me in this state of loud weeping, and said to me, "Mr. Finney, what ails you?" I could make him no answer for some time. He then said, "Are you in pain?" I gathered myself up as best I could, and replied, "No, but so happy that I cannot live."

He turned and left the office, and in a few minutes returned with one of the elders of the church, whose shop was nearly across the way from our office. This elder was a very serious man; and in my presence had been very watchful, and I had scarcely ever seen him laugh. When he came in, I was very much in the state in which I was when the young man went out to call him. He asked me how I felt, and I began to tell him. He asked me how I felt, and I began to tell him. Instead of saying anything, he fell into a most spasmodic laughter. It seemed as if it was impossible for him to keep from laughing from the very bottom of his heart.

From the time of his conversion and his infilling with the Spirit, Finney was a man ablaze for God with holy boldness, a lawyers directness, and constant guidance and anointing by the Holy Spirit.  Usually wherever Finney preached, people quickly became convicted of their sins, humbled themselves in repentance before God, and received the assurance of salvation.  His revivals spread from town to town like a creeping vine, and wherever he went, new spiritual awakening came to individuals, churches and communities.

In his early walk with the Lord, Finney learned many lessons about prevailing prayer and prayer burdens.  He gathered some of the young men of Adams in the early mornings before daylight for a daily prayer meeting.  Finney began spending hours in prayer, often going to the woods to be alone with God.  He began to add fasting to his prayer regimen.  Just as Wesley had made rules for his Holy Club, so Finney proposed to the young people that they set aside three special times of prayer each day at sunrise, noon, and sunset.  God poured out a spirit of prayer upon the other young people as they prayed faithfully.

Finney lists the striking characteristics of these revivals as:

1)      The prevalence of a mighty Spirit of prevailing prayer

2)      Overwhelming conviction of sin

3)      Sudden and powerful conversions to Christ

4)      Great love and abounding joy of the converts

5)      Intelligence and stability of the converts

6)      Their great earnestness, activity, and usefulness in their prayers and labors for others.