In our daily meditations, we are examining how the Holy Spirit brings revival to His Church. It begins with individuals who then share their personal revival with others, as the Spirit leads them. Here’s what the Apostle Paul commanded the Ephesian church:
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
Charles Finney (1792-1875), the renowned evangelist who, by all accounts, led over a million people to Christ, shared his personal story about being powerfully filled with the Spirit. Here’s part of his story:
Charles Finney’s Baptism of the Holy Spirit
“I returned to the front office and found that the fire I had built with large logs was nearly burned out. But as I turned, about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any expectation of it, without ever having thought there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the word mentioned by anyone in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul.
Like a wave of electricity, I could feel the impression going through me. Indeed, it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love, for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I distinctly recollect that it seemed to fan me like immense wings. No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart.
I wept aloud with joy and love, and I do not know, but I should say I bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. These waves came over me, one after the other, until I recollect that I cried out, 'I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me.' I said, 'Lord, I cannot bear any more,' yet I had no fear of death.
How long I remained in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over and through me, I do not know. But I know it was late in the evening when a member of my choir — for I was the choir leader — came into the office to see me. He was a member of the church. He found me in this state of loud weeping and asked, 'Mr. Finney, what ails you?' I could not answer for some time. He then asked, 'Are you in pain?' I gathered myself as best I could and replied, 'No, but so happy that I cannot live.'” [1]
What Happens When the Holy Spirit Takes Control?
Finney’s experience was deeply powerful, and it shaped the way he served the Lord with courage, devotion, and self-sacrificing love. Each of us has a story of how God has met us, and no two stories are exactly alike.
Yet when the Spirit of God takes His rightful place at the center of a person’s life, everything begins to change. The heart becomes tender toward what once went unnoticed, and compassion begins to rise for people and needs that may not have stirred us before.
I remember experiencing this kind of inner change soon after I came to Christ. As I walked through the streets of my hometown, I found myself looking at the people around me with new compassion. Looking back, I recognize this as the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in my heart. In those early days of walking with Christ, my greatest desire was to share the Gospel with others. I wanted to speak with anyone who would listen—not only friends, but also strangers who were open to spiritual things.
From Personal Revival to Active Ministry
That desire eventually led me to London, where I preached the Gospel at the famous Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park. I also traveled with my wife, Sandy, through France, Spain, and Portugal, alongside teams of other young people. Together, we spoke publicly, performed drama skits, sang songs, and used every creative means we could to gather people and share Christ's message.
Within four years, my wife and I began church planting with a few friends by multiplying small groups in my hometown. The marijuana and drug habits that had bound me in my teenage years were completely broken. A new power was at work within me, enabling me to overcome old habits and bring discipline and self-control into areas of my life I had never been able to master before. Keith Thomas
How to Apply This to Your Life
Experiencing the filling of the Holy Spirit isn't just a historical event for people like Charles Finney; it is a daily promise for you. Here is how you can apply these truths today:
Shift from Willpower to Surrender: If you are struggling with old habits or destructive cycles, stop trying to fight them purely in your own strength. As the testimony shared about breaking drug habits shows, true victory is a byproduct of being filled with God's presence. Daily surrender your weaknesses to Him.
Pray for Spiritual Compassion: Finney and Keith both experienced an immediate shift in how they viewed people. This week, during your daily routine or commute, intentionally look at the people around you and pray: "Lord, give me Your eyes and Your heart of compassion for them."
Take One Small Step of Faith: You don't have to move across the world to make an impact. Start right where you are by being open to a spiritual conversation with a neighbor, joining a small group, or sharing what God has done in your life with a friend.
May the Lord awaken in each of us a deeper hunger for His presence, a greater sensitivity to His Spirit, and a renewed compassion for those who do not yet know Him.
Taken from the series, On Fire with the Spirit. More of Charles Finney’s story is found in God Uses Ordinary Believers.