There is reason to fear that the cause of God and truth is standing still in many places. There was a significant move forward in the 1960s and 1970s. But that recovery of the Reformation testimony has evidently lost some of its early momentum. The longed-for revival has not come. Early zeal has here and there grown cold. How are we to seek a fresh vitality? Above all, what may we do to have the work of God again advanced?

Today's Challenge⤒🔗

Lovers of the doctrines of grace today are well aware that in many respects the present position is very much better than it was in the 1940s and 1950s. Numbers of faithful and able men have risen up to preach the truth. Great quantities of the best books have been reprinted. Publishing houses committed to the orthodox evangelical faith have sprung up in several countries in a most encouraging way. Conferences and fraternals have formed where before there had been nothing comparable for decades. Truth has been sown in churches and in missionary situations. Many believers have embraced the Reformed Faith in this period. There has grown up a realisation of the importance of theology, of church history, of sound ministerial preparation, of powerful preaching and of religious revival. This, and more, we have witnessed.

It would therefore be absurdly untrue to suggest that in every sense the work of God is standing still in this generation. For every gleam of fresh light and for every step of spiritual progress we desire to give abundant thanks to God. Furthermore, we wish to speak in tones of the most hearty and sincere appreciation as we review the labours of all, past and present, who have thrown their influence, time and talents into advancing the gospel during this period of our history. All honour and respect is due from us to the pioneers of this post-war recovery of the grand old truths of pure Christianity. Those who are now 'asleep in Jesus' among them we acclaim in love. Every one of them whom God has graciously kept alive among us still we value 'as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus' (Galatians4:14).

Important questions, however, need to be faced up to by those of us who have been privileged to enter into this goodly heritage. Have we been radically and fundamentally changed by these great truths which have again come to light? Have we been faithful to the heavenly vision which they have set before us of eminent spirituality and high-toned service to Christ? Has our delight in the doctrines of grace been an enduring experience of the soul or has it merely been a passing intellectual excitement? Has it been a fad which can be taken up till its novelty no longer fascinates us and we lay it down again to go off in search of new excitement elsewhere? Or is it our meat and drink and more vital to us than the very air we breathe?

These questions are not put in order to depress or to crush the sensitive spirit. But it seems to us that they are issues which need to be honestly wrestled with. The fact remains that we are far from seeing our vision realised of Reformed churches burgeoning with a steady influx of worshippers, of a strong network of new congregations forming across our respective lands, of society convicted of its sin and of a new age of irresistible gospel power in pulpits where the truth is preached.

The point we draw attention to in these lines is simply this. Something more is needed. And it is needed as a matter of urgency. What we have seen so far is 'wonderful in our eyes'. But it is now the great challenge of the hour to hope in God for more. We must now surely search for a right way from God to go forward from a recovery of gospel truth in private, as it were, to a rediscovery of it in public — that is to say, by the 'man in the street'. A transition is now needed so that the truths we find so thrilling on the printed page may become, through God, equally engrossing to the larger society all around us. Unless we are much mistaken, this is the task we must face and this is the call which sounds loudly in our ears at this juncture of our history.

Towards a Solution←⤒🔗

We accept it, of course, as the first principle of all our thought that revival is something that only God can give. Our theology forbids us to follow Finney's theory that revival is 'something that man can do' or to suppose with him that revival can be brought about by 'the right use of the appropriate means'. However, have we overreacted to Finney? Have we perhaps allowed the doctrine of God's sovereignty to become, all unwittingly, a pillow for our complacency? In a technical sense, no doubt, we see and shun the extreme which is generally known as Hyper-Calvinism. But there is not only a Hyper-Calvinism of the pulpit, there is also a Hyper-Calvinism of the soul and of the secret place.

The truth that only God can give us revival must not lead us to a state of mind in which we mark time. Marching on the spot may be good exercise for those who are preparing for earthly battles, but it is no part of a Christian soldier's discipline. If God alone can give revival, then to him we must go in downright earnest to beg, sue and beseech him for it.

The way in which the Word of God expresses this whole subject is in these terms: 'As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children' (Isaiah 66:8). That surely is the emphasis that is supremely needed at this hour of the kingdom of God. The truth has been graciously given back to us by God. Now our duty is to 'travail' in soul so that many children may be born to God through the truth.

Travail of Soul←⤒🔗

There are various elements in prayer which are important, but we venture to say that the most vital of them all is this one of 'travailing'. It is referred to by Paul, writing to the Romans, when he speaks of the effects of the Spirit in the soul. When the Spirit comes to our assistance, he induces within us 'groanings which cannot be uttered' (Romans 8:26). There is no doubt that this refers to a conscious experience in the believer as he prays in the Spirit. One cannot 'groan' and not be aware of it.

O what might not be done if only lovers of the doctrines of grace would everywhere pray with new travail of soul and with these unutterable groanings! Let us believe that God's gracious promises to hear our prayers are as fresh and green as ever they were in patriarchal or in apostolic or in Reformation days. Let us be so bold as to think God ready to hear and answer when men of faith cast themselves down on his threshold and knock at his door day and night.

Those who are content to ask for nothing must expect to be content when they receive it. But men of faith are not content to receive nothing from God. Faith makes the soul terrible in its persistence. Recall Abraham, who embarked on a train of importunity with God which came close (had it been possible) to saving even Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23). Recall Jacob, who wrestled with the angel 'until the breaking of the day' (Genesis 32:24) and was so bold as to say to Jehovah, 'I will not let thee go, except thou bless me' (Genesis 32:36). Nor did he wrestle in vain, but received this commendation from the angel: 'As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed' (Genesis 32:28).

You may say almost anything to God provided you love him and aim, when you pray, at his glory. Such is the goodness of the Almighty to his children that he allows them, as it were, to bind his hands by their entreaties (Genesis 19:22). He lets himself even be 'commanded' by them (Isaiah 45:11). More still, our Mediator confesses to us that there is that in his Bride which has 'ravished his heart' (Song of Solomon 4:9). Could words embolden us more then to take him by the sleeve of promise and to implore him for his pity's sake to yield to our tears of entreaty and to visit us again in his power?

May One Dream?←⤒🔗

May one, like Martin Luther King, say, 'I have dreamed a dream'? Is it possible to believe and to hope that men and women of faith will everywhere hear the call to regular, disciplined, intercessory prayer that God will carry us all forward into a new day of gospel blessing?

Dare one dream that those who love the doctrines and relish the books will feel also a new and holy constraint everywhere to pray in secret and in public for the blessed Holy Spirit to visit us in a new and glorious way? But how are we to pray? What is it to intercede with one's soul in travail? Can one stir up oneself to this work or must we do nothing till God helps us?

It is our conviction that our want of power in prayer is our own fault and cannot be brushed of as merely a matter of divine sovereignty. As in so many other aspects of the life of grace, there is mystery here. But the truth appears to be that as we stir up ourselves to employ God's means of grace, so we experience the dew of his blessing coming down upon us. Spread the sail and the wind will many times fill it. According to your faith so will it be done.

In the dream which we dream, we think we see many thousands of truth-loving believers making conscience of keeping frequent times of exceptional prayer. Though alone in their own homes or studies, yet they are 'together' world-wide at the throne of grace saying:

O God, we have come almost to a standstill. So much thou hast done in our day. But now, O Lord, it is time for thee to put forth thine arm with fresh power. Thou hast planted truth in the earth. Now, O Lord, cause it to grow up and to fill the lands, till Israel and all the nations shall take their rest under the shadow of it. We have wrought no deliverance. We have as it were brought forth wind. But now, O our God, show what thou canst do. Look in thy mercy upon thy Zion in her travail.

It is scarcely possible for us to believe that our covenant God will disdain the world-wide cry of his children when they so agonise in spiritual prayer for the blessing. The tear-stained face that is turned up to heaven, the sighing saint, the burdened believer at his bedside — these, if we have learnt aright from Jesus, will never be scorned by the Father who dwells in heaven.

The promise beckons to us. Let us go to it and move forward as heaven is pleased to grant fresh grace for a world which deeply needs our message.