Revival and Response

Below is something I discovered in a Word Document and decided it is worth posting. The following was a general response on the subject of revival, and specifically to a comment about Jack Hyles: “If immediate outward manifestations measured revival, Hyles did better than anyone I’ve ever seen and on a more consistent basis.”

It is interesting and apparently reflective of our culture, that happenings like the “Jesus Revolution” and the “Asbury University Revival” grasps attention in the wider culture, but “revivals” like those of Jack Hyles did not. Yes, Hyles and those in his orbit had much better “results” over a longer period of time and, as was stated, “on a more consistent basis.” Now, to be clear, I do not think Hyles’s revivals were really any more revival than what is what is happening at Asbury now. Back probably thirty years ago or so, for a while I made a concerted effort to go through and “add up” the revivals reported by evangelists to the Sword of the Lord periodical. It was quite consistent, in having multiple reports over and over with results such as “100 saved, 2 baptisms.” There is something wrong with that when this kind of ratio is consistently true of a large group of evangelists. It does not follow the biblical pattern.

All that said, it is intriguing that people outside of the “revivals” such as the “Jesus Revolution” and the “Asbury University Revival” get caught up in meditating on them as possible heirs to the “Great Awakenings” – while never giving revivalists such as Hyles the time of day. Not sure why that is/was. Regardless, time has proven the fruits of the “Hyles Revolution” were not as tasty as many independent Baptists thought.

No Kings

 

May 22, 1782

Lewis Nicola: “…it will, I believe, be uncontroverted that the same abilities which have lead us, through difficulties apparently unsurmountable by human power, to victory & glory, those qualities that have merited & obtained the universal esteem & veneration of an army, would be most likely to conduct & direct us in the smoother paths of peace…it may therefore be requisite to give the head of such a constitution as I propose, some title apparently more moderate, but if all other things were once adjusted I believe strong arguments might be produced for admitting the title of king, which I conceive would be attended with some material advantages.”

George Washington: “Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for your self or posterity—or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind, & never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sentiment of the like nature.”

Get on board

Resting Wednesday suspended for today.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Psalm 108:12

This post is for Christians, for the day after a nationwide election. I don’t expect that the rest of you readers will be trusting in God. Awhile back I scheduled ahead of time on my Facebook page for Revelation 19:6 to post on the morning of the election, and on the morning after the election – to affirm one thing that has not changed in a day.

…Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19:6

Many of those whose candidate or candidates won yesterday are congratulating themselves like the euphoric Edomites perched in the clefts of the rock of Mount Seir (Obadiah 1:3). Many of those whose candidate or candidates lost yesterday are cutting themselves like the manic ministers of Baal failing before Elijah (1 Kings 18:28-29). If so, you are both exaggerating the importance of your win or your loss; and you have invested too much in a temporal process that will fail you.

In writing this, I do not suggest none of this matters, or that it is unimportant. I do not suggest that Christians should not pray, should not care, or should not vote. I do not suggest that God does not use means, for he most certainly does. However, Christians, your triumph or your torment should be tempered with the true knowledge of God revealed in the Bible. He is the omnipotent God who reigns over all; the omnipotent God who lifts up and casts down, who rules over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomsoever he will; the omnipotent God in heaven who does as he pleases; the omnipotent God whose thoughts are not as our thoughts; the omnipotent God who gives his born-again ones the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ – not through the ballot box.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:8–9

His people can and should trust in him. The rest of you better get on board.

Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

Government of a New Testament Church

Government of a New Testament Church.

Every local New Testament church is an independent, self-governing body, having Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its leader.

In accordance with the law of Christ, the members of each local church have the sole right to determine and safe-guard the vital and fundamental principles as outlined for its procedure her in the world for His work.

Places in the Bible where taught:

• The church receives members into its communion. Romans 14:1. Rom. 15:7.
• The church excludes unworthy members. 1st Cor. 5:1-5; II Thess. 3:6.
• The church restores excluded penitent members. 2nd Cor. 1:6-8.
• The church chose another apostle to take the place of Judas. Acts 1:23-26.
• The church chose deacons. Acts 6:1-6.
• The church chose pastors (Elders) in every local organization. Acts 14:23.
• The pastors are not to be rulers over the church. 1st Pet. 5:1-3.
• The deacons are not rulers over the church. Acts 6:1-3.

The Fundamental Faith and Doctrine of those called Missionary Baptists, Compiled and Arranged by Henry Filmore Sanders, Nacogdoches, Texas (Printed by Baker Printing Company, Nacogdoches. No date, no pagination) – with slight punctuation and formatting changes.

Make your marriage a priority

“Make your marriage a priority. Children grow up and move out, parents leave this world, and friends change over time. In the end, it is just the two of you—so build a bond that cannot be broken.”

“Real Mom Thoughts” Facebook page, November 3, 2025

Mercy, O thou Son of David

XCV. Bartimeus. [Mark] x. 47, 48. [8s.7s. meter]

1. “Mercy, O thou Son of David!”
Thus blind Bartimeus prayed;
“Others by thy word are saved,
“Now to me afford thine aid.”
Many for his crying chide him,
But he called the louder still;
Till the gracious Saviour bid him,
“Come, and ask me what you will.”

2. Money was not what he wanted,
Though by begging used to live;
But he asked, and Jesus granted,
Alms, which none but he could give:
“Lord, remove this grievous blindness,
“Let my eyes behold the day.”
Straight he saw, and, won by kindness,
Followed Jesus in the way.

3. Oh! methinks I hear him praising,
Publishing to all around;
“Friends is not my case amazing?
“What a Savior I have found!
“Oh! that all the blind but knew him,
“And would be advised by me!
“Surely, would they hasten to him,
“He would cause them all to see.”

By John Newton, in Olney Hymns, In Three Books, Hymn 95, pp. 117-118.

John Newton (1725-1807) is best known – is some cases almost exclusively – for his hymn “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.” It is certainly a good one! One that has been called a “spiritual national anthem” or “Christian national anthem.” Newton wrote many good hymns on texts of scripture. “Mercy, O thou Son of David” is one of these. In it he takes the historical incident and related miracle of “Blind Bartimaeus” and teaches us a lesson on spiritual blindness. It needs to find broader use in conservative Christian communities. Listen to three four-line stanzas (1a, 2a, 2b) of John Newton’s hymn, sung with the grand tune Villulia. 

J. M. Day wrote this tune, but nothing is known of who he was.

In the seed, and other quotes

The posting of quotes of human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

“In the seed lives the hope of the harvest.” -- J. T. Harris

“It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors.” -- A. W. Pink

“Slogans are often unhelpful, because they leave too much unsaid and often end up creating more confusion.” -- Tim Barnett

“Social media is warping our reality and our humanity.” -- Kaizen Asiedu

“The clock keeps moving toward an appointment written on a calendar we cannot see” (Hebrews 9:27). -- Rich Bitterman

“A dead man’s calendar can still look busy.” -- Rich Bitterman

“A good day doesn’t begin with perfect circumstances; it begins with a perfect God.” -- Matt Gholson

“Bitterness ensnares you in yesterday. Anxiety enslaves you to tomorrow. Jesus gives peace for today.” -- Garrett Kell

“Many go into court to get wool, but come out closely shorn.” -- Charles H. Spurgeon

“The spiritual enemy doesn’t ‘fight fair.’” -- Shane Wiggins

“The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.” -- Augustine of Hippo

“Our Father dwells in tents as well as in temples, but his favorite abiding-place is in the hearts of mankind.” -- J. Fred Jones

“You can be born again, but you cannot be born again and again and again.” -- Charles H. Spurgeon

“If you can’t tell the difference between a female athlete and a male athlete in a wig, you’re a pallbearer for the death of common sense.” -- Nancy Mace

“When your funds run out, your ‘friends’ will run out.” -- James V. Peoples

Spiritual adultery in U.S. pulpits

Jeremiah 2:12-13, 23-24

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

As I notice the wild unbiblical raging and rambling that is multiplied in U. S. pulpits, I think of the condemnation God brought against his people through the prophet Jeremiah. After all that God had done for them, they forsook the eternal fountain of living waters in trade for broken cisterns that would not hold water. They in their flagrant idolatry were like the wild donkey used to the wilderness. This wild donkey in heat (in her occasion) runs around seeking paramours; she sniffs the wind, and sends her scent over the winds; she is not hard to find. Oh, how descriptive of the depravity of debased so-called Christianity in our day. It will neither love the Lord nor heed the word of God, but in spiritual adultery turns away to seek that which is vile, debased, and broken.

Jeremiah 3: 2 Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.