THE POSTURE OF REVIVAL
SPRING 2025 ISSUE | 5 minute read
Charles Grandison Finney was one of the greatest evangelists the world has ever seen. On October 10, 1821, in a patch of woods near his home in Adams, New York, Finney had a spiritual experience that forever changed his life. He said of the encounter, "The Holy Spirit…seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed, it seemed to come in waves of liquid love, for I could not express it in any other way.”
Finney resigned from practicing law and began to evangelize. His ministry in the 1800s changed the spiritual landscape across America. Every church and minister felt the impact of his ministry. He was a key catalyst of the Second Great Awakening.
In fact, some historians call Finney the “father of modern revivalism.” His ministry is said to have influenced and paved the way for great revivalists and evangelists like Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham. It is estimated that over 500,000 people responded to the invitation to come to Christ under Finney’s ministry.
Finney kept his personal affairs private. However, a newspaper reporter wanted to know why he was so persuasive and the secret to his power. It wasn’t long until the reporter found the secret. He realized the source of Finney’s power was the hours Finney spent in prayer.
It is also worth noting that when Finney was invited to speak, a friend named Daniel Nash would travel to the city three to four weeks ahead of him. Father Nash, as he became known, would find a suitable dwelling and begin to pray. After settling into a new town, Father Nash would try to gather a few others from the town who would agonize and intercede for God to move among the people. It was even discovered that Nash rarely attended the revival services; he stayed hidden away, seeking God to touch the hearts of the people while Finney ministered. Nash traveled with Finney for seven years, and it is recorded that the ministry of Finney had its greatest impact on society during the seven years while Father Nash interceded for him.
Upon Father Nash’s death, Finney said of him, “He was the reproach of the ungodly, and of carnal unbelieving professors; but he was the favorite of Heaven, and a prevailing prince of prayer.”
A.T. Pierson, a magnificent missionary and theologian, made this observation:
“From the day of Pentecost, there has not been one great spiritual awakening in any land which has not begun in a union of prayer, though only among two or three; no such outward, upward movement has continued after such prayer meetings have declined.”
The posture of revival is on our knees, asking God to once again pour His spirit out upon our lives and upon our land. May we join with the psalmist in Psalm 85:6 and once again seek God for revival by offering this prayer: Will you not wake us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Bishop Travis Gore
State Ministries Director
Virginia Church of God State Office