I thought it could be helpful to start posting some of the accounts and writings of past revivalists in centuries past. I thought it could be salutary to quote from Jonathan Edwards, a prominent figure in the First Great Awakening in America. I don't share all of Edwards' theology by any means, but there is no doubt that God used the man greatly to bring revival to America. The kinds of things which are criticised in our day took place also in his day. Here I summarize some of the points he made about what things DO NOT consitute a basis for judging a work of God.

From Jonathan Edwards:

1. The very unusual and extraordinary character of a work. What the church has been used to is NOT a rule by which we are to judge. ... What the church has been used to is not a rule by which we are to judge, because there may be new and extraordinary works of God, and He has hitherto evidently worked in an extraordinary manner. He has brought to pass new things; strange works; AND HAS WORKED IN A MANNER AS TO SURPRISE MEN AND ANGELS. AND AS GOD HAS DONE THUS IN TIMES PAST, SO WE HAVE NO REASON TO THINK BUT THAT HE WILL STIL DO SO. ... The Holy Spirit is sovereign in His operation; and we know that He uses a great variety; and we cannot tell how great a variety He may use, within the compass of the rules HE HIMSELF has fixed. We ought not to limit God where He has not limited himself.

2. HOW THE BODY IS AFFECTED

[Take note, friends]

A WORK IS NOT TO BE JUDGED BY TEARS, TREMBLING, GROANS, LOUD OUTCRIES, AGONIES OF BODY, OR THE FAILING OF BODILY STRENGTH.

The influence people are under is not to be judged of one way or the other by such effects on the body; and the reason is, because the Scripture nowhere gives us any such rule.

... So it may easily be accounted for, that a true sense of the glorious excellence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of His wonderful dying, love, and the exercise of a truly spiritual love and joy, SHOULD BE SUCH AS VERY MUCH TO OVERCOME BODILY STRENGTH.

3. A Great Deal of Noise about Religion

It is no argument that an operation on people's minds is not the work of the Spirit of God, that it occasions a great deal of noise about religion.

4. People's Imaginations are Affected

It is no argument that an operation on people's minds is not the work of the Spirit of God, that many who are subject to it have great impressions made on their imaginations. THAT PEOPLE HAVE MANY IMPRESSIONS ON THEIR IMAGINATIONS DOES NOT PROVE THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING ELSE.

5 The influence of example

It is no argument that a work is not from the Spirit of God, that EXAMPLE is a great means of it.

6. Serious Mistakes

It is no sign that a work is not from the Spirit of God, that many people who seem to be the subject of it are guilty of great imprudences and irregularities in their conduct.

... That it should be like this may be accounted for by the exceeding weakness of human nature, together with the remaining darkness and corruption of those that are the subjects of the saving influence of God's Spirit, and have a real zeal for God.

[Goes on to give examples from the Corithian church and from the apostle Peter's serious error]

7. Errors of Judgment and Delusions

Nor are many errors of judgment, and some delusions of Satan INTERMIXED with the work, any argument that the work in general is not of the Spirit of God.

[Argues that the false miracles of the Egyptians did not mean Moses' miracles were not from God]

... Indeed, the ASME PERSONS may be the subjects of much of the influences of the Spirit of God, AND YET IN SOME THINGS BE LED AWAY BY THE DELUSIONS OF SATAN, and this be no more of a paradox than .. [that] the new man and the old man subsist together in the same person; and the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil remain for a while together in the same heart.

8. Some Counterfeits

If SOME who were thought to be wrought upon fall away into gross errors, or scandalous practices, it is no argument that the work in general is not the work of the Spirit of God.

[Gives the examples of Judas Iscariot]

9. Making People aware of hell

It is no argument that a work is not from the Spirit of God, that it seems to be promoted by ministers INSISTING VERY MUCH ON THE TERRORS OF GOD'S HOLY LAW, AND THAT WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PATHOS AND EARNESTNESS.

If Jonathan Edwards, Calvinist, theologian, pastor, revival leader and author is right - are there any grounds left on which we may judge the Pensacola revival as being of the devil?

The fact is, there are hardly any scandalous cases [none that I know of] in connection with this revival. It might contradict YOUR ideas about things being done decently and in order in some points, but does it contradict GOD'S?

God is greater than 220 Volts. If a man puts his hand in a power socket, he might fall to the ground because of electric shock (on the other hand he might not). Could it be that when a man gets touched by some small portion of Almighty God's power, that that man might fall to the ground? I think it could happen.

In the Bible, this falling to the ground happened to saints and sinners alike [e.g. soldiers arresting Jesus, Saul of Tarsus, priests ministering in Solomon's temple, demonized in the presence of Jesus, Philippian Jailor [fell trembling before Paul and Silas Acts 16:29], the prophet Daniel etc. etc.

As someone once said regarding the work of God, "I'd rather have a little wild fire than NO FIRE AT ALL."

Yours for souls,

Michael Fackerell