In Defense of Finney:

The Challenge of a Lifetime

(Part 1)

 

 

If you have never read any Charles G. Finney:

• you are in for a big treat.

If you have been prejudiced against Finney:

• you are in for a big challenge.

 

 

Chances are Good that:

• You’ve never heard of Charles G.Finney, or

• You’ve only heard bad news about Finney, and that

• You’ve never read any Finney personally,

 

As a result:

• Many are ignorant of Finney, and

• Many are prejudiced against Finney,

 

Chances are Few that, You have read:

1. Finney’s outstanding “Autobiography” [a.k.a. Memoirs…]

2. Finney’s Life-changing “Lectures on Revival”

3. Finney’s Simple Convicting Sermons, or

4. Finney’s Volumes on Theology

[All of which are freely available online …]

 

Thankfully, it is not too late for you to discover how one man’s faith in action, and spiritual labors, transformed city after city (both in the USA, England and Scotland), by simply preaching an uncompromised Gospel Message, and laboring diligently around the clock: in prayer, and personal devotion, and personal one on one evangelism and discipleship, as well as group training and daily open door preaching, in hotel rooms, and school houses, and bar rooms, and country, churches, and Metropolitan cathedrals,. This ministry that God empowered Fenny to do transformed the lives from the lowest to the highest in society–in the great majority of His Hearers.

 

NOW: In order to be successful, Finney had to overcome tremendous:

• Deeply seated Jealousy & Ignorance

• Faulty and poisonous  “Christianized Superstitions”

• Spiritual Arrogance (caused by many false teachers)

• Religious Prejudice (caused by many false doctrines)

 

[note: These are the same obstacles that Jesus, the apostles, and all of his disciples had to face and overcome in order to be successful in their own ministries, each in their own generation. There has never been a time when preaching the true gospel did not come with strong opposition. In fact, if you are not now facing strong opposition, chances are good you’re not preaching and ministering the full, true, original gospel of Jesus Christ. HOW DO I KNOW THIS? BECAUSE JESUS SAID: IF YOU KNOW, LOVE, FOLLOW, AND OBEY ME … YOU WILL BE PERSECUTED. There is simply no getting around this primary spiritual principle.]

 

Finney simply rejected many of the false premises that hamstrung a large majority of his contemporary preachers.

 

As such, Finney viewed the Gospel as a Sharp and Peircing Sword:

 

Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)

For the Word of God is:

• quick, and

• powerful, and

  • sharper than any two-edged sword,

  • piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

    • • and of the joints and marrow,

And is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

(“And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.”
–Ephesians 6:17)

 

In Ministry: Finney intended to use the full strength and effectiveness of the Word of God to transform His Nation, just as it transformed Finney’s own Life and Spirit. Finney felt that was his Spiritual Duty to His HEAVENLY FATHER & SAVIOR, and that it could not be denied.

 

Matthew 10:32-33 (KJV)

32 Whosoever therefore shall:

• Confess me before men

• him will I confess also before my Father

— which is in heaven.

33 But Whosoever shall:

• Deny me before men

• him will I also deny before my Father

— which is in heaven.

 

As a lawyer: Finney approached the Teaching of the Gospel, as if arguing God’s Case, before God’s People–and the courtroom of public opinion, through the preaching of God’s Word, EVERYWHERE HE WENT. Finney took his work as seriously as presenting His Case before the Supreme Court in Heaven: every time he entered the pulpit.

 

As an Influencer: Finney has become a hero, mentor, role model, and inspiration to some of the most effective and prominent preachers, teachers, evangelists, missionaries, and pastors in his day, and continues to be that to many today.

 

 

Finney employed simple logic, common sense, and the principes of common law familiar to all people, that drove home the cutting/piercing powerfully ignited Word of God. That Word exposed the lies people believed, and forced them to confront the simple Truth and …

ThePurpose of the Gospel:

• to Save every man,

• woman, and

• child, from the Wrath of God to come,

Regardless of race, creed, gender, or social status.

 

Finney had no prejudices that hamstrung him, nor caused him to fear the most ignorant, nor the most elitely educated.

 

Finney rejected all religious training and traditions that hindered the Gospel:
from having its full Power released on every soul that he encountered.

 

Finney was fearless when dealing with “Christian Sins” [apathy, double-mindedness, fake religion, lack of character, religious and intellectual hypocrisy, complacency, spiritual laziness, worldly entertainment, lust, greed, selfishness, pet doctrines, and selfish pleasures] that kept men IGNORANT from acknowledging, the Wrath of God promised to come upon the ungodly.

 

Finney stripped away many lies, excuses, self justifications, and the religious robes that men liked to wear to insulate them from the raw Truth of God.

 

In many ways, Finney modeled his ministry after the Apostle Paul. Upon entering a new town, Finney began to prayerfully seek out the spiritual leaders of that town. Finney began calling them to prayer and fasting, and repentance. He called them to come to meetings of: evangeism, teaching, preaching, enquiry, prayer, and discipeship, to make them efficient workers in the kingdom of God.

Finney preached: “all out” Gospel Convicting messages that would cut to the heart, every soul, and deal with many specifically entrenched sins imbedded in each particular community — that hindered them from making a full and complete commitment to Christ alone.

 

When it came to dealing with sin, Finney was ruthless. He simply would not take ‘NO’ for an answer — not if people wanted to claim they had a right relationship with God. Finney demanded: 1) immediate, 2) compete, and 3) permanent repentance. Finney preached that as the true model of the true gospel.

 

In that regard, Charles G Finney wasrelentless, and initially spiritually hated. But once the work of God had begun, and souls had been eternally transformed, Finney became the most beloved and honored citizen in the villages, towns, and cities where he brought the Spirit and the Word of God to the people, without prejudice, without arrogance, and without religiosity, and without greed, or selfish interest (pride or any personal advantage). And contrary to many of his critics today, and then:

–Finney hated emotionalism. He saw it as a great hindrance to the work of God.

 

Finney’s soul [sole] intention was to deliver people from the wrath of God to come, and hyper emotionalism, greatly hindered that work in the ministry.

 

But still today, many people falsely accuse Finney of using emotional hype and such nonsense, to get “decisions for Christ.” Finney did not preach a “Decision-ism Gospel.” Many falsely accuse Charles G Finney of emotional manipulation.

 

Sadly, I believe the majority of these false accusers have only learned secondhand what other people have told them, and have never truly studied, read, nor attempted to learn what Charles Finney actually did teach, and how Finney actually did conduct his ministry from the very beginning of his work to the very end. It’s the same with people that take alittle bit of scripture in the Bible, but never read the whole thing. Then create doctrines that are not in line with the totality of scripture. 

 

Matthew 5:11-12 (KJV)

Blessed are ye:

• when men shall revile you, and

• persecute you, and

• shall say all manner of evil against you falsely,

— for my sake.

 

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:

• for great is your reward in heaven:

• for so persecuted they the prophets

— which were before you.

 

Initially, many of Finney’s most aggressive, vindictive, jealous, and spiritually confused rivals, (you could say enemies) a.k.a. opponents of the faith — became some of his most loyal, faithful, and beloved supporters in the faith and Ministry of the gospel.

 

It is significant to know, that Charles Finney, never endeavored to speak out against those who criticized him. He allowed men to criticize him constantly, without retaliation of any kind. He realized that certain men had poison in their systems. The minds of otherwise godly men, and had turned them against him from false premises. Finney knew that he was not to speak out against those who spoke out against him. He was convicted by the Spirit of God to remain silent. And also, he was far too busy with his hands full of the work of preaching the gospel, making disciples, mending suicidal evils, and community splits, and every kind of hindrance that would come against the gospel having its full work in the communities that he lived and served in.

 

As an evangelist, Finney did not come into town with a big fanfare, a big band, a big stage, etc. He did not preach 2 to 5 sermons, and then claim large number of salvation’s, and leave to the next town. No. Finney labored from morning till evening, praying & soul winning, from house to house, from school house to barn house, from to hotel bar to church pulpit. Finney labored in prayer, labored in preaching, labored in discipleship, and daily soul winning. And that was his joy and crown. Finney did not do it for money. Not for fame. Not for community approval. Finney worked and labored for the glory of God. His reward was not from men, so he labored to the point of exhaustion, regularly.

 

Finney personally met with: farmers, laborers, doctors, hotel owners, lawyers, businessmen, city officials, married couples, children, single parents, traveling salesman, sheriffs, mill workers, lumberjacks, and pastors, and gave them his time, his care, his concerns, and the gospel. He wanted to see every person he met, saved, set free from sin, following Christ, and loving Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

 

Many national and local pastors initially spoke vehementy, venomously, and viciously against Charles G Finney, and his doctrines, as well as, his methods of confronting sin and selfishness (in order to generate a truly clean, and full separation from sin, lies and deception). Initially these pastors simply hated Finney.

 

For many are called,
but few are chosen.

Matthew 22:14 (KJV)

 

But the majority — After they saw the results: They were humbled, because they realized they had been duped. They had listened to, believed, and received false reports, and accusations against Finney. Eventually, these same pastors had to admit that the work of God was being done through Finney’s ministry. Later, they eagerly wanted that work to be done, not only in their own congregations, but in their own lives. Many pastors eventually confessed that they never knew the gospel.

 

 

These same Pastors: that pubically denounced Finney, many have since openly and publicly admitted that they never knew or preached the true gospel of God, that is until, they were confronted by Finney’s Gospel Message and Ministry: and they were transformed from the inside out.

 

Today, as men and women of faith, we need to have spiritual discernment about whom we receive the Gospel’s Spiritual Counsel, as well as biblical teaching, and how we will reject spiritual compromise, spiritual laziness — even deception and corruption — coming from the pulpit (as well as from Anti-Christ Universities, Media, Entertainers, schools programs, Government Agencies, Megachurch ministries, and the like).

 

When it comes to living and fulfilling the Gospel Message and Work in our own Lives, we should leave no stone unturned. Leave no lie left unexposed. Leave no worldly idol on the altar of our hearts.

 

We need to root out every carnal inclination, and strip away every evil temptation, every personal fantasy, so that we may obtain the pure heart, and pure mind of God, with an undefiled faith, and heavenly relationship purchased for us at the Cross.

 

In other words, we need to make sure that we do not follow the broad road of religous compromise, that is infecting the whole world, all around us, not only out in the world, but also at the core of many modern church ministries.

 

Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate:

[Note: that is a command, not a suggestion.]

For wide is the gate, and

• broad is the way,

• that leadeth to destruction, and

— many there be which go in thereat:

 

14 Because strait is the gate, and

• narrow is the way,

• which leadeth unto life, and

— few there be that find it.

 

We must enter the strait gate. That is a direct commandment straight from the lips of our savior and Lord.

 

We must return to the first century gospel.

We need our same lives transformed through the same faith and obedience, same as that of just a few disciples (without money, without power, without education, degrees, positions of authority, or relying on any human efforts, etc.) — that turned the whole world upside down.

 

Acts 17:5-10 (KJV)

These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

That was the mission and vision of Finney. What is our mission and vision? Should it not be the exact same as the are early apostles and disciples?

 

Should we not use the exact same tools, the exact same methods, the exact same message following the exact same Spirit, to get the exact same or similar results? What is stopping us? What would it mean for your family, your church Fellowship, your community, and yourself personally, if you had the same or similar results in your ministry, as Charles G Finney had in his ministry. Charles Finney was not at all egocentric. He cared nothing about people, honoring him, promoting him, even liking him. He knew beforehand, that he would go into places and situations where people hated him, and heard all kinds of evil against him. And he went there for well, knowing there would be great opposition. But he chose to do that because god had told him to. For Finney it was that simple. “You go, where God leads, and do what God says,” and anyone can do that.

 

 

 That is what revival is all about. It is reviving souls to return to the original gospel, that Jesus presented, and passed on to his disciples, who passed it on to their disciples, and they passed it on to us. Those early witnesses are the ones who have gone before us and blazed a trial in which we are called to follow if we dare:

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Nothing in this world will give us more Joy in our Inner Man, than Doing the Will of God from our hearts.

 

Charles Gunnison Finney discoverd this joy. And immediately, he knew he could not be so selfish, so as to just keep it for himself. He knew others must hear, receive, believe and be transformed by the Gospel, even as he had been. As a result, Finney called thousands of individuals into the ministry of the gospel. He did so in every town, village, small city, and huge metropolis. He started in his own town, then went to nearby towns, then to bigger and bigger cities, and then across Atlantic to Great Britain. He basically did the same thing everywhere he went he shared the gospel of repentance, and the salvation from the wrath of God to come.

 

Those who oppose Finney I’m pretty sure, have never studied him, with any sort of unprejudice viewpoint.

 

Finney Renewed his Revival Experience every time he shared this message, it continued to feed his spirit, and give him more joy, revealing that he was indeed walking with God Himself: the Ruler of the Universe, and the Creator and Sustainer of All Life, as well as, the Final Judge with whom we have to do.

(In other words, we will all stand before God and give an account of how we did, or did not share the gospel of his kingdom — in a spirit of obedience to the Holy Spirit, given to the body of Christ to bring the world covered in darkness into the light of God’s gift of repentance, forgiveness, and obedience unto salvation.)

 

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment: 

 

Finney knew He could have no higher fellowship, no warmer friendship, no greater work, no greater reward than simply and consistently, and relentlessly to Serve The Lamb of God, who was Slain for the Sins of the Whole World. And Finney understood the Gospel that: Many are called, but few are chosen. Therefore Finney endeavored to teach men how they could ensure that they themselves would be chosen, by picking up their cross, and following after HIM.

 

Finney lived in a constant Revival because Finney brought Revival in His Spirit to every place the Holy Ghost of God would send him. Just as the Apostle Paul did in his day, and many are still doing here in our day.

 

Psalms 138:7-8 (KJV)

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

• thou wilt revive me:

Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies,and

• thy right hand shall save me.

8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me … 

There are always pockets of revival happening all around the globe–in every generation. Why? Because God in the Holy Spirit, is constantly FAITHFUL, to fulfill ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD, to those who will remain devotedly faithful to HIM.

 

There are individuals, small groups, and even mighty congregations, that from time to time will rise up and say:

Here am I, Lord, Send Me. (Isaiah 6:8)

Charles G Finney was just one of their tribe.

Revelation 5:12-13 (KJV)

Worthy is the Lamb that was Slain to receive:

• Power, and

• Riches, and

• Wisdom, and

• Strength, and

• Honour, and

• Glory, and

• Blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying:

• Blessing, and

• Honour, and

• Glory, and

• Power,

Be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb for ever and ever…

Four big questions remain: 

• Will you or I, become earnest and active laborers, skilled and developed, disciplined disciples, effectively witnessing,  in the great harvest of God? (Like the first son …)

• Or will we remain lack luster examples: spiritually dead, incompetent, lethargic, complacent, self-centered, self interested, egocentric, self satisfied, inactive, ineffective, and continually absent witnesses for God, for Christ,  for repentance, for forgiveness, for obedience to the gospel, and for eternal salvation? (Like the second son …)

• Will you and I build up the house of God, doing our part to restore the altar, clean out the garbage, serve the bread, and the wine, and restore the presence of God into the ministry of the Word?

• Or will we just continue to play religious games, hold religious meetings, do religious studies, join religious institutions, and never actually know what it means to love God, with all your heart, mine, soul, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself? Thus, not even attaining to the first and second most important commandments given by our Lord and Savior to those who would claim to follow him.

 

Now believe me when I say: I get it. This world has a stronghold and a stranglehold over those both inside, and outside of our church buildings. But a true disciple must make a choice at some point in his life to stop serving himself, serving the world, serving his culture, serving his religion, and begin to serve Christ alone.

The reality is God says: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

For this reason, I believe, for every one of us, it will take a specific concerted effort, to break out of the mold of our own culture, our own religion, and our own choking religious man-made traditions.

 

That is why I believe, that every true, honest, dedicated, devoted, and earnest disciple of Christ, owes it to himself, his family, his church and community, and to his eternal destiny to take the time to listen to, study, and follow the example of a man who lived by the gospel that Jesus gave to the church, and that man is Charles G Finney (and of course there are many others). I dare say there are some pastors in America, who live by the same convictions, the same calling, the same earnest effort, and the same single-minded devotion,  to doing the will of God, but they may be hard to find, and may be few in number.

 

It appears to me that the great majority of pastors, leaders, and followers of Christ, are simply doing their own thing, just getting by, just hoping that something good might happen, but so many really don’t know their message. They really don’t know their tools, nor their trade, nor really have the skills, nor the heart, nor the Close Relationship to pull off being a truly transformed first century, Holy Ghost filled, Heavenly Empowered, and Earthyly Humble, son of God, that bears 100 fold fruit promise— freely prophesied in the parable the Messiah taught (Matthew 13).

 

What we need more than anything in this world are truly and fully dedicated living examples of the apostle Paul in church leadership today.

 

I believe you will discover at some point while reading the testimony, and teachings, and works of Charles G Finney that he came close to being like Paul the apostle in America in the 19th century, as Paul was in the Roman Empire in the first century.

 

Both of these men, stand before us today as witnesses of the great goodness and authority of God to redeem the lies of lost souls and bring them in to the kingdom of God with all perseverance and genuine faith.

 

They both learned early in the Walk with Jesus: How to will throw off the entanglements, and deceptions of this world, and how to put on the full armor of God, and how to take up their Cross, and enter their their rank, entering into the army of the Lord of hosts, carrying the Gospel to the lost, deceived, spiritually dead, and dying, lost souls all over the Earth.

I tend to believe, both Finney and Paul lived closely to this promise:

John 14:12-14 (KJV)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it..

One Promise we have from God is sure: Our father in heaven, will definitely supply the needs and the tools (the spiritual weapons, the physical support, and the necessary companionships) that we need to get the job done. But we first need to commit ourselves to the work. Everything else happens after we make that 1st, Number One, unwavering commitment, unshakable commitment–to follow and obey Him with ALL of our Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength.

Why is that? God doesn’t give his gifts to those who are not ready for them.

 

Philippians 4:19 (KJV)

But my God shall supply all your need:

According to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

There would be no reason to supply all of the treasures of heaven, to the soul who has no real godly interest in them: Nor to the One who desires to use them according to God’s Will.

And why would God His Heavenly Treasures to those who don’t  even believe in them?

 

In the military, giving a weapon of mass destruction, to one who is not mature, or who may use such of device for evil—Would be beyond Stupid, Right? Why would that be any different in the Kingdom of God? Why would the Father give a gift to his son, that he is not mature enough to handle.

 

Many people believe and teach that God is not in the business of doing miracles anymore: According to some, God is not giving his people:

• the supernatural answers to Prayer, and Divine Guidance

• the gifts of healing,

• the gifts of signs and wonders,

• the gifts of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues

• the gifts of prophecy

• the gifts of the discerning of spirits

• the gifts of blind eyes seeing, deaf ears hearing, mute tongues speaking, lepers cleansed, demons cast out, lame men walking, withered hands restored:

These are just some of the Messiah promises given to his church, and we see them in action in the Gospels, in Acts, in the Epistles, and continuing in the Book of Revelation. 

 

[For those who fully believe the Bible Teaches us That God is no longer giving His Gifts to the Body of Christ: I have this Challenge.  

There’s more than 50+ specific promises and workings, of God giving Heavenly Gifts to His Children throughout the OT, The Gospels, the Epistles, and Revelation. Please show me where in God’s Word, that God’s Promises are removed. Please note: Chapter and Verse. And then compare what you beleive, about your idea to the fullness of God’s Word. Typically, I hear individuals quote one or two verses, and then, say: “See here, that means the gifts are done away with.”

One thing for sure: You can quickly create a false or weak doctrine, when you cherry pick a couple obscure verse interpretations, that fly in the face of the Bulk of God’s Word.]

 

Many of these gifts or workings were at work in the Life of Paul the Apostle, and some of these gifts were at work in the ministry of Finney. As you will soon discover. Those who teach That God is no longer in the business of using his supernatural power, grace, influence and Healing, will not doubt, possibly be offended at first, when they come across such testimonies in the Memoirs of Finney. These might be the bulk of those who feel it their spiritual duty to attack Finney.

 

.

nor grown up into maturing and shown that he can handle, the little things (like temptation, persecution, physcial, mental, and emotional attack, not to mention torture, and worse)and God’s Design. In fact, the gifts of God could do more damage to the Kingdom God than Good. to use them to bring glory back to God, the father.

 

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