Click here to buy WIND Vol.1 on Amazon, Available both in standard book form, and as Kindle eBook.
To get a feel for WIND, we have included two chapters from the book on this page.
Chapter 1 -- America and God
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Strange as it might seem, America already stands in covenant relationship with God—it isn’t even necessary to create any new document. We don’t have to strike any kind of special bargain. We don’t even have to rewrite our history or founding documents to accommodate it. We, as a nation, already have a solemn covenant with Almighty God. Truly, revival is in our hand and is ours to claim! All we have to do is live up to our end of this existing agreement with God, and He will pour out His Spirit upon us again, and heal our land. Columbus wrote in his personal diary concerning his American expedition: "It was the Lord who put it into my mind—I could feel His hand upon me. . . . There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit. . . . The fact that the Gospel must still be preached to so many lands in such a short time—this is what convinces me." As the Mayflower approached the New World, those who were about to become the first settlers wrote these words: "In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, . . . having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia." "We came into these parts of America," states the New England Confederation of 1643, "with one and the same end and aim, namely, to advance the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to enjoy the liberties of the Gospel in purity with peace." Churches served many functions for the colonists. Not only did they provide spiritual leadership, but almost all local government in the colonies was housed exclusively within their walls. The churches also served as the center of education, and for the dissemination of news throughout the colonies. For instance, when our fledgling government wanted to get the Declaration of Independence into the hands of the people, it sent copies out to the local churches. All thirteen original colonies were founded by ministers of the gospel, for the expressed purpose of "suppression of vice and encouraging of religion (Christianity) and virtue," such as is stated in the New Jersey Charter of 1664. During these early years, nearly all institutions were founded in the name of God. Documents show that 106 out of the first 108 colleges and universities started out as Christian schools. Harvard, Yale, Rutgers, William and Mary, etc., were all founded as Bible Teaching Schools. It is a simple fact that the Christian Bible was the principal textbook in all the schools throughout the land. Thomas Jefferson, the alleged father of "Separation of Church and State," himself chose the Bible (the "Jefferson Bible") as the basic reader in the New York Public School System (which was under his leadership). Jefferson wrote that religion is "deemed in other countries incompatible with good government, and yet provided by our experience to be its best support." He also maintained that "the Bible is the cornerstone of liberty; . . . students perusal of the sacred volume will make us better citizens." Again, when Jefferson was put in charge of organizing the Northwest Territory, he authorized the federal government to hire ministers of the gospel for the expressed purpose of aiding in the settlement of the new territory. George Washington, and virtually all of our early leaders, when faced with tough challenges, would frequently take the three-block walk from Independence Hall, down the street, to Christ Church. There they would spend hours, and sometimes days, in fasting and prayer. In his first inaugural address, Washington declared: "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of Providential Agency. . . . We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained." I would like to see this nation again exercise a little more of George Washington’s brand of "Providential Agency." Contrary to popular secular opinion, only one of our Founding Fathers was truly an espoused "deist." That was James Wilson (Virtually all of the others were to one degree or another professing Christians, with a few pure rationalists, such as Thomas Paine, tossed in the mix.). So, as you can see, we do not have to make a new covenant with God—our Founding Fathers have already forged one. We need only to revive it! The Bible says, "If . . . My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:13-14). Pray for revival! Better yet, earnestly seek God’s face for revival. That’s how we hold up our end of our already-existing covenant; that’s how we stop the slide, and regain our status as a "blessed nation." Accept the challenge—pray for national revival, now! |
Chapter 4 -- Chuck
(This account was paraphrased largely from a book edited by Garth M. Rosell and Richard A.G.
Dupuis, The Memoirs of Charles G. Finney. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House (1989) pp. 13ff.)Those simple, insignificant, little prayer meetings—what can they possibly amount to?
Nothing would ever come of those prayer meetings. At least that’s what most people in Adams (New York) thought. Not that many people attended the meetings in the first place. Even the pastor of the church, the Rev. Gale, did not have much confidence in them—he didn’t attend them either.
Yet, that little band of intercessors remained undaunted. They kept meeting for prayer, week after week, and month after month. They stayed on their faces before God, seeking for revival in their little town.
When they approached Chuck, their young choir director (who also served as the town’s practicing attorney) to invite him to their prayer meetings, he just laughed at them.
"How long have you been praying for revival?" Chuck asked.
"Oh, I think it’s been a year. . . . Perhaps more for some of us," replied one of the devout.
"And do you have revival?" Chuck queried, in a lawyerly fashion.
"Not yet," was the reply.
"Then why should I pray with you? It is obvious that God does not answer your prayers. You are wasting your time. Why should I waste mine?" Chuck retorted.
Nevertheless, that little group of intercessors persisted. They continued to pray for revival. And they prayed specifically for Chuck, who, even while serving as choir director, had come to be known as a "very wicked man."
Then, after nearly another year had passed, God answered the prayers of the intercessors. He sent powerful Holy Spirit conviction upon Chuck. The young man became so miserable because of his sin that he began to hate life itself.
Finally, after resisting as long as he could, Chuck ran out into a secluded forest, promising himself that he would either die there in the woods, or he would be forgiven of his sins.
Nearly a day later Chuck emerged from the forest, cleansed from head to toe. He was a new man. He was "born again."
The funny thing about it was that the intercessors at that humble little church would not believe him. They thought he was putting them on. The pastor wouldn’t believe him either. Rev. Gale was convinced that Chuck would remain a pagan forever.
Chuck, however, knew he was sincere. He asked permission to address the entire congregation during the following Sunday service. Rev. Gale reluctantly agreed. Not knowing what to expect, the pastor sat on the edge of his seat, ready to show Chuck his seat, should the situation get out of hand. Chuck did address the congregation that Sunday, and the entire congregation (the Rev. Gale included) was awestruck.
And so began the ministry of Charles (Chuck) Grandison Finney, the most powerful revivalist of the Second Great American Awakening.
Charles Finney is living evidence that there is something special and powerful about intercessory prayer meetings. There is a dynamic in them that defies explanation.
Leaders, don’t concern yourselves about what people will think. Don’t worry whether anyone will come or not. Just open up your churches for weekly, congregational prayer meetings. It is best to have them in the evenings (preferably Fridays), so working people can participate.
And don’t give up right away. If there seems to be a lack of interest and success, just remember—God is looking for obedience, not results. After all, only He can answer prayer anyway.
It’s simple—you supply the obedience, He supplies the results.
If you just do this simple, little thing, God will awaken and purify His people. He will send revival to you.
Always remember, while programs and performances may be acceptable evangelistic tools, only prayer meetings facilitate revival.
Perhaps there is another Charles Finney sitting in your congregation. Perhaps you are that second Charles Finney.
Seek God’s face. If you do, He will reveal to you exactly what your role will be in the upcoming revival.
Accept the challenge—pray for national revival, now!