The Amazing Potency of God’s Word (or, That’s the last time I’ll ever make fun of George Whitefield)

Puritan preacher George Whitefield was the best-known preacher in the American colonies during the 1700s and preached an estimated 18,000 sermons in his lifetime, reaching many for Christ and in God’s providence, helping usher in the First Great Awakening.

I came across an anecdote from Whitefield’s life that shows the truth that God’s Word doesn’t return void (Isaiah 55:10-11):

George Whitefield, the great 18th-century evangelist, was hounded by a group of detractors who called themselves the ‘Hell-Fire Club’ derided his work, and mocked him. On one occasion one of them, a man named Thorpe, was mimicking Whitefield to his cronies, delivering his sermon with brilliant accuracy, perfectly imitating his tone and facial expressions, when he himself was so pierced that he sat down and was converted on the spot! Mr. Thorpe went on to become a prominent Christian leader in the city of Bristol.[1]

Not even an enemy of the gospel with malicious intent can harness the potency of the gospel which is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16)!

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

To whom can you prayerfully proclaim God’s Word to today?

[1] Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, Volume 1 by R. Kent Hughes.

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