“O God, our fathers told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old” (Psalm 44.1.)
Introduction. We are too much brought up on lying stories and fables. We need to get back to telling our kids about the stories in the Bible. Abraham no doubt told children about the flood and Noah’s ark. The Israelites told their children about the Red Sea. Early Christians continued the tradition with the history of Christ, as did the Puritans, and so should we. By looking back to what God has done we are encouraged to look forward and hope in God to act mightily again.
(1) The Marvelous Stories we have Heard. We have heard that God strikes a terrible blow sometimes for the quick progress of his people. He did it in Old Testament wars and then in New Testament evangelism. He continued to surprise by the likes of Chrysostom. Then he struck the darkness of Popedom with the Reformers. And later still he sent Whitefield and Wesley to do more wonders. He will act again! Some church people believe that slow progress is the only way. They’re wrong! God’s works are sudden! Such a wonder is going on in Belfast right now (July, 1859.) With superstition, Roman Catholic priests are trying to stop it. They can’t! And the plain feature is, God uses insignificant instruments to do wonders through, so long as they have great faith. What an encouragement! God will do as he pleases. O, we must expect that he will act! And take special notice, the Spirit falls upon people that pray seriously.
(2) The Disadvantages that these Stories work upon our Minds. We are inclined not to believe that God will greatly visit us today. Times have changed. Things are different. But has God changed? Is he different? What he did once he intends to do again! We do not get great happenings because we do not expect them. Let us take the blame, then. I know, it is hard to believe a thing unless you’ve seen it. If you had lived in Whitefield’s day or had heard Grimshaw preach, you would believe anything! Please realize, these things that happened then are literal facts! And the stories you have heard ought to have an effect upon your lives!
(3) Lessons Drawn from Old Stories of God’s Mighty Deeds. Let’s praise God for the wonders he has done. Praise will lead us to pray that he would repeat himself. Observe all the unconverted souls. Shall we not pray for them? Prayers can accomplish what my preaching fails to do. Think of your many children that need to be saved from going to hell. We need revival! These large gatherings at Exeter Hall and Westminster Abbey, that’s not revival yet. But we will get it! Let’s not get over-confident just because of the multitudes. And let’s not depend on preachers great or small. Depend on the Lord! Let us be yelled at by the newspapers again, I don’t care. So long as we get God’s blessing! Wrestle in prayer for it, brethren! Ask and God will answer.
Selection from Conclusion. “Oh ye, to whom all this is an idle tale, who love not God, neither serve him, I beseech you stop and think for a moment. Oh, Spirit of God, rest on thy servant while a few sentences are uttered, and make them mighty. God has striven with some of you. You have had your times of conviction. You are trying now, perhaps, to be infidels. You are trying to say now: ‘There is no hell—there is no hereafter.’ It will not do. You know there is a hell and all the laughter of those who seek to ruin your souls cannot make you believe that there is not…Conscience tells you that God will punish you for sin…Bow the knee and lay hold of Christ and believe on him…It may be that this is the last warning you will ever have.”
