• As Julie mentioned in announcements, the president of Covenant College, Derek Halvorson, will be with us Sunday. If you are in high school, or have kids in high school, you’ll want to come early enough to catch announcements. You’ll also have a chance to meet Dr. Halvorson between services.
• I think I’ve mentioned a couple times that I’m reading Ian Murray’s one-volume biography of D.M. Lloyd-Jones, the 20th century Welsh preacher whom J.I. Packer called “the greatest man I have ever known.” Lloyd-Jonesbegan his ministry in the 1920s, not too long after a turn-of-the-century revival in Wales and parts of England. When he first began preaching, worship attendance across Wales was hemorrhaging and most churches had resorted to popular programs to try to attract people. Lloyd-Jones ended the programs and went back to a gospel of sin and redemption, real hope in the atoning work of Christ for people who could have no hope in themselves. Worship grew, but more importantly there were conversions as Lloyd-Jones confronted people with the reality of sin and the reality of hope in Christ.
• Those early years in Wales were characterized by remarkable prayer meetings. They were held on Mondayevenings and began around 7:00. ML-J wouldn’t stop the meetings until he had a sense people were done praying. More than once the meetings ran from 7:00 to 10:00. I’ll try to share more in the weeks to come, but at one meeting a former professional soccer player (now in his 60s), whose conversion had been a joy to the relatively small congregation, prayed the Lord would send him home after a glorious prayer meeting. That’s how it happened. One night, after he had prayed a prayer
Lloyd-Jones
described as filled with the Holy Spirit, he slumped over and was gone, his longing fulfilled. Imagine that moment for all the people who had gathered that evening.
• Anyway, I’ll share more. Time is tight this morning. Revival can be an idol, but the Lord says straight up that the Father will give his Spirit to those who ask. Several days a week I ask for his Spirit. If you would, join me in that prayer. See you Sunday.
Pastor Eric