What Happens When God's Spirit Moves Through Towns and Cities?

In our July daily meditations at groupbiblestudy.com, we are exploring the Holy Spirit’s work in revitalizing and empowering the Church. What can happen when people become filled with the Spirit of God and listen to and obey His promptings? Let’s discover how Charles Finney's (1792-1875) life was impacted after he was touched by the Spirit (see yesterday’s meditation). After his salvation and being filled with the Holy Spirit, he decided to give up his law practice and began reaching out to those who did not know God. The Spirit of God seemed to remain with him powerfully as he traveled from village to village, preaching the Word of God. When he spoke about Christ, people often fell to the ground under deep conviction, crying out for God’s mercy. There appeared to be a special presence of God over the areas where he preached. He describes one such occasion:

"The state of things in the village and the surrounding area was such that no one could enter the town without feeling awestruck, with the impression that God was present in a peculiar way. As an example, I will recount a specific incident. The sheriff of the county lived in Utica. There were two courthouses in the county, one in Rome and the other in Utica (New York State).

Consequently, the sheriff, Bryant by name, often visited Rome. He later told me he had heard about the situation in Rome, and he and many others in Utica had laughed a lot about it. One day, it was necessary for him to go to Rome. He said he was glad to have business there because he wanted to see for himself what things were really like. He was driving his one-horse sleigh, without any particular impressions at first, until he crossed what was called the old canal, a place about a mile from the town. As soon as he passed the canal, he said a strange feeling came over him, so deep that he couldn’t shake it. He felt as if God filled the whole atmosphere. He said this feeling grew stronger all the way until he reached the village.

Bryant stopped at Mr. Franklin's hotel, and the stableman came and took his horse. He noticed that the stableman looked just like he felt—afraid to speak. Finney entered the hotel and found the gentleman with whom he had some business. He said they were both so clearly shaken that they could hardly focus on their work. Finney mentioned that several times during his short stay, he had to get up suddenly from the table, go to the window, and look away, trying to divert his attention so he wouldn’t start weeping. He saw that everyone else seemed to feel just as he did. The sense of awe, solemnness, and seriousness was something he had never imagined before. He quickly finished his business and returned to Utica—but (as he later said) he would never speak lightly of the Spirit's work in Rome again. A few weeks later, in Utica, he was converted when Finney traveled to that town."^[1]

In this testimony, we learn how the Holy Spirit came to a man, convicting him of sin and cleansing him before using him significantly for the salvation of many lives. God hasn't changed; He desires to do the same today. The Holy Spirit filled Finney in a way that many do not experience; that is His right. The Spirit of God will come in different ways to different people. He will not ask or require the same from everyone, just that they repent, believe the gospel, and follow Christ. We need this same power of the Holy Spirit more than ever these days. When our hearts overflow with the presence of Christ, others around us will see God's power and become spiritually hungry. When we hunger and thirst for God Himself, it sparks a chain reaction in those around us. This special presence of God is what revival is all about. God is seeking people who are committed and open to the Spirit of God working among them. Keith Thomas

Taken from the series, On Fire with the Spirit. This study is If My People Who Are Called.

^[1] Autobiography of Charles G. Finney, published by Fleming H. Revel Company.