George Whitefield was a great English evangelist who lived in the 1700s. God used him significantly in the Great Awakening that spread through Great Britain. He was a man who was especially gifted in preaching the Word of God, and was confident in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit in his life.So what were the keys to the power and anointing that Whitefield experienced in his life and ministry? It is said that he recognized his own utter nothingness and helplessness. He realized he was nothing without God, and he could do nothing without God.
Whitefield was a man of unusual prayerfulness and he often read the Bible for extended periods of time on His knees. His devotion to God expressed his dependence on God and the fruit of his life and ministry is evidence of this.
He journeyed to America and preached extensively while here. While in America he preached 175 times in 75 days. Later in his ministry when his health deteriorated, he ONLY preached 1 time per day on weekdays and 3 times on Sunday.
The great evangelist only lived to the age of 56 but the power and anointing of God's Holy Spirit were clear in his life.
Testimonies of great men of God like this cause me to think, what would God do through us if we were to submit to Him like this?
Almighty God, Master, Lord, and King, give us a passion for you and a hunger for your Word. Fill our hearts and our minds with the truth of Christ. Empower us by your Spirit to do your work. Help us to embrace our nothingness and helplessness so we can by faith rely on your power. Help us to say, I surrender all Lord, and mean it.
