A Burning Heart: Do You Have One?

I have listened over and over again lately to the English preacher Leonard Ravenhill. I can honestly say I have learned more about preaching, praying, Christian living and Bible study from his audio sermons than I ever did anywhere else. I can’t imagine the amazing and earth-shattering effect the Church would have if all her pastors had sat under Ravenhill. The man was profoundly in love with his LORD, out of love with this world and unafraid to preach the Bible cover-to-cover.

I can say with authority that my Bible classes never came within a hundred miles of the blessings, rebukings and usefulness of simply spending time listening to this man. I can then add that no preaching heard by my ears has ever matched his–of course his was not polished and academically perfected into a science void of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. He preached; he did not teach. Teaching is what the Holy Spirit did in his heart and he in turn preached to men.

 

*** May I digress for a moment? This point is  necessary.

The term “preacher” is grossly incorrect today when referring to a minister standing in a pulpit. Preaching per se is all but extinct. Men no longer spend time in the deserts and caves seeking God’s face and beseeching the Holy Spirit’s power, but rather find a four year undergraduate degree to equal preparing for the ministry, and a seminary a much cheaper substitute for the power of God. While in their degree program or heaven forbid–seminary, they learn to methodically and systematically “academize” the Bible, God and most obviously, the Holy Spirit. They learn to deliver perfectly polished and scholarly sermons that are simply that: polished and academic–but empty, dead and powerless!

Academics replace power, humor replaces instruction, theology replaces knowing God, and the modern gospel of standardless separation–an oximoron–and all love replaces the moving power of the Holy Spirit to effect holiness and radical influence of the Church on a lost and dying world.

It is frustrating, but more so sad to watch. Even sadder is the majority of believers are content with it because it is oh so convenient. Maybe they simply don’t know there is something better out there; this is surely possible.

Back to the term “preacher”: No we hear little of that, but teaching. That is great and proper in its place, but information alone is just that: academic. The Church needs unction and men who will preach their hearts out and urge the lost to repentance and the saved to righteous living and dedication to Christ. (I’m not calling for a bunch a screaming rednecks to hoot and holler. Any fool can scream and sweat.) By the way, Ravenhill is not a very loud preacher. It’s not about volume or dynamics, but unction, zeal, and one other thing…what was it….Oh! POWER! Not man’s substitutes of polished academics and rhetoric. Those things are not bad, but can’t stand without the Holy Spirit’s power and unction. ***

 

Ravenhill’s preaching was not glamorous or spectacular; in fact, most of you would probably find it boring or would never get past his dry accent and humor. Throughout history God has proved through His greatest preachers that rhetoric and polished sermons avail little for the Kingdom of Heaven. Even the lowliest servant touched by the Holy Spirit’s power can unleash the mightiest of whirlwinds against the power of darkness.

Oh how I used to sit through service after service, message after message, chapel after chapel, etc. longing with unspeakable agony just to hear another man with the same burning heart as Leonard Ravenhill. I don’t believe his equal will ever surface. So the best I can do is keep listening to him, though he is dead and gone, his burning heart lives on and his message still shakes the bowels of Hell today. In addition to listening to him every chance I get, what human better to emulate? Maybe Paul.

The man had a burning heart, so vibrant for the love of God and disdain for all this world that would hinder that love; it shames me every time I listen to him or read his books. No other sermons on earth bring such conviction and inspiration unto holiness and complete abandonment of this world. That is power! I want what he had, his love of God and thirst for righteousness. I want a burning heart; I’m not at all claiming to have one, but I want one more than anything. Can you say the same? If not, why not. This is the thought I end with. Why not?

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In Light of Eternity

“In Light of Eternity” is the new biography of the fiery, Spirit-filled English preacher who was the undisputed authority on revival and the greatest preacher of the last century.

This man was used mightily of God to reach thousands and now tens of thousands with his preaching, his power and his ministry in prayer. His life’s power has extended beyond the grave. His story reminds me of Elisha, when a dead man was cast into Elisha’s grave, he revived and lived! Elisha’s ministry lived on! So it is with Leonard Ravenhill.

He was the man of the hour, God’s man. I have never heard a preacher more fiery, more in touch with God, more driven by an eternal perspective and a more real passion for God and life lived in response to His holiness.

The LORD has used him, though dead, more in my life and heart than any other. It is from Ravenhill I have learned more about prayer, revival and preaching than any other person or class. He had something not many have had since the days of Paul. No church can give it to us, no seminary can teach it to us. It can only be learned by an encounter with God in the desert of solitude with Him.

I am moved to tears at the vast difference in what Ravenhill had to what the Church has today. If I could only have a tenth of his spirit!

Leonard Ravenhill Biography: In Light of Eternity from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

In Light of Eternity

Revival Series: Part 2

Exodus 33:2-23; Exodus 34:28-35

We left off last time with the Israelites mourning at the absence of God’s presence. Now we arrive at a suspense in the narrative where Israel is told to mourn and stay quiet while God and Moses discuss what He will do with them.

 ⁵For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

This was surely a fearful and anxious time for the Israelites. Even though those untrue to God had been put to the sword, God was still heavily grieved with the remnant and I cannot imagine the sheer terror they faced–knowing at any moment God might destroy them as well. This only goes to show us how serious God is about disobedience to His word. Even something seemingly small to us is not small in God’s sight.

⁶And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

The stripping of ornaments (jewelry) was not because jewelry is sinful. We know this because several chapters later we them wearing jewelry again. It was a sign of serious repentance. Jewelry was a status symbol; it meant one had wealth and brought attention to themselves and their financial standing. When God’s people truly repent, they will cast aside their pride and that which draws attention to themselves and humble their hearts and bodies before God. Such a display of humility was a somber sight.

⁷And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Moses set up the sacred tent outside the camp, “far off.” Sometimes we have to venture away from the camp and into seclusion to find God. Many examples throughout Scripture show us where men, even Christ, went out away from everyone else and all distractions to intensely seek the face of God.

⁹And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.

What a sight that must have been! The pillar was the sign of God’s presence and it descended where Moses stood. This confirmed that God was with Moses. Imagine a one on one conversation with the LORD! We can have intimate fellowship with God, but we cannot have such a conversation, at least not this side of Heaven. Moses got to do something only a handful of men have done: carry on a two-way conversation with Jehovah.

¹⁰And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

As Moses talked with God, all the people stood in their doors and watched; they bowed in worship. Even though they were not speaking to God or hearing the conversation, they were overwhelmed by the awe of His presence and nearness. Do we have the same reaction? Maybe we’ve never known or sensed God’s presence in such a way. God’s presence is not a given. It must be sought and besought through prayer.

 ¹¹And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

What a description! Face to face. (We know Moses did not actually see God’s face, because later we see that no man can see God’s face and live.) What does this mean. It appears to describe the manner in which he and God conversed rather than the physical conversation. God talked to Moses as a friend talks to a close companion. What an amazing compliment that God would call a finite, sinful man His friend. As Moses left the tabernacle to tell Israel of the verdict, Joshua did not follow him; he stayed in the tabernacle. The Scriptures are silent on why or what he did. Perhaps he was so overwhelmed by what he had just seen he was too fearful to move. Maybe he was too excited to leave. The incident of Peter on the mount of Transfiguration comes to mind, which suggests that Joshua didn’t want to leave. Such is an encounter with God. We won’t want to leave. Oh that we might have such an encounter!

¹²And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

¹³Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Moses prayed for God’s guidance. If only we would learn to pray such a prayer. If God is not guiding us, then we are at best unguided; at worst, misguided.

¹⁴And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

¹⁵And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

The LORD promised Moses He would be with him. Moses then says that unless God remains with him he doesn’t want to go into the promised land. Moses didn’t want the blessings or the rewards, but wanted God’s presence. So many “Christians” today are more concerned with receiving a spiritual high, blessings, money, rewards and their spiritual reputation than they are with having God with them. They live striving to receive God’s blessings and benefits without Him. Some walk around in arrogant and spiritual pride wondering why no one recognizes them as God’s gift to their church or school. Here’s why: because God is not with them, they’re only using God’s way to bolster their own Pharisaic ego. We must seek God’s presence above all benefits! Moses got it; he didn’t care about what he got out of God, he just wanted God. God’s benefits without Him are worthless. God’s presence, regardless of benefits is priceless.

¹⁶For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

What makes believers different from the rest of the world? Simply put, God’s presence and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Moses wanted all the nations of the Earth to know that Israel was different and had God. Does the world think so of us? That was God’s intention from the beginning, however, much of the Church and believers today look so close to the world, I seriously wonder if they could tell. We must be different; the world should see a stark contrast. So many of the Lord’s people have little time for being a testimony to the world because they are far too busy trying to play in it. Leonard Ravenhill asked a good question in his sermons when he would say, “Are you crucified to the world tonight or does it fascinate you?” It is a haunting question. Truly, so many of God’s people are fascinated by the very thing God desires and commands us to be separate from.

¹⁸And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Moses wanted to see God’s glory even more than ever before. Do we want to see God’s glory? I don’t think many of us do, because if we did we would either go into shock or die from the sheer awe. So many people sing and talk about wanting to see God in His glory, but do they really know what they are asking? As Isaiah found out, the closer we get to God and the clearer we see Him in His glory, the more fearful and ashamed we become–realizing our horrid uncleanness before Him. Perhaps you want to see His glory, just make sure you know what you ask for and what may happen as a result. You may be changed forever, your life never being the same again.

¹⁹And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

²⁰And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

As mentioned earlier, no mortal man can see God’s face and live to tell it. Why? Because mortal flesh cannot contain the beauty and majesty of His glory and His pure holiness. Moses asked for the impossible, but God did not utterly refuse him.

²¹And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

²²And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

²³And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

God would hide Moses in the rock and pass over him. Moses would only see the back parts. What does this mean and what does it signify? We cannot see God, but we can see where He has been and where His presence has passed by. I am not too encouraged when I hear someone say “We are going to have a revival service this week, etc.” Well, maybe you will, maybe you won’t. No one will know until afterwards. God does not automatically show up. Many quote the passage “Where two or more are gathered in my name there I am in the midst,” but many forget all about the “in my name” part. If we are not meeting in His name, with His blessing and His approval, we are wasting everyone’s time. God must be invited and His house must first be cleansed and ready for His visit. Jesus did not enter the Temple, His house, and worship immediately, first He had to get rid of the corruption and those misusing it. When Jesus comes back again He won’t cleanse the temple, he’ll cleanse the pulpits and pews.

Exodus 34

²⁸And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

Moses miraculously was sustained by God during his lengthy fast. When God is near, Earthly matters and even material needs are irrelevant.

²⁹And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.

Imagine the sight! When Moses spent that time with God, everyone knew it. He didn’t have to advertise it. So many people love to advertise their time with God and impress others with what they learned and how spiritual they are. I’m so tired of seeing people trying to impress others with their pseudo-spirituality. If they would meet God desiring to see His glory instead of their own, perhaps they would not need work so hard trying to convince others of their spirituality. Moses didn’t have to say a thing, his face shone with the glory of God. When you and I truly meet with God in secret, we won’t have to tell anyone; they will see it in our life and even our countenance.

³⁰And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

The people feared to come near him. Have you ever seen someone so close to God and just having been in a meeting with God that you were in awe and feared disturb them?

³³And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.

In stead of advertising his encounter with God, Moses had to cover his face to keep from blinding the people. Modesty and humility are always so much better than flaunting one’s own delusion of spirituality. The LORD does not need us advertising His presence; when it comes, people will know it.

³⁵And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

After we encounter God in His glory, we will be different, think different, act different, even look different. Such an encounter with God should change us. If you think you have met God and don’t change, you met someone or something else. It is impossible to see the glory of God and not be drastically effected. That’s what revival is: seeing the majesty and holiness of God, seeing our own sinfulness and corruption and responding in reverent worship and an intimate fellowshipping with Him. When this happens, we will repent of our sins, put off earthly distractions, forsake idols and serve the LORD with our whole hearts. Revival costs nothing, but requires everything. We can’t buy revival, we can’t induce it. We can only pray for it and prepare our own hearts and then be willing to change everything in our lives should God send it. That is in essence why we never see it; most people don’t want the consequences of revival. They want to enter the promised land without encountering God.

Why Revival Tarries

“Why Revival Tarries” is, I believe and so do many others, Leonard Ravenhill’s greatest work. Although brother Ravenhill has gone on to be with his Savior in 1994, his life is still touching hearts and preaching on as it were. He reminds of the passage where the dead Israelite was cast into Elisha’s grave, touched Elisha’s bones and revived. This man of God’s ministry has definetly reached beyond the grave.

Many people did not really like brother Ravenhill; they considered him too harsh, too bold, too shocking. Well, he was; but only out of his overwhelming passion to see God bend over and breath the winds of revival on America and Britain once again. Mr. Ravenhill greatest sermons include “What is Your Life?” and “Standing at the Judgment Seat.”

I can honestly say before the Lord that this book has given me more of a thirst and passion for revival than anything or one else so far. I am overwhelming humbled and challenged and I dare say changed by Rev. Ravenhill’s personal zeal for holiness, Godliness and purity in these latter days.

I hope this book blesses your heart as it has mine.

Also look for: “Revival God’s Way” and “Sodom had no Bible.”