Foreword: Followers Worthy to Be Followed
Down through the centuries, God has providentially raised up a long line of godly men, those whom He has mightily used at strategic moments in church history. These valiant soldiers of the cross have come from all walks of life—from the ivy-covered halls of elite schools to the dusty back rooms of tradesmen’s shops. They have arisen from all points of this world—from highly visible venues in densely populated cities to obscure hamlets in remote places. Yet despite these differences, these pivotal figures have had much in common.
Each man possessed not only an unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but more than that, each of these stalwarts of the faith held deep convictions in the God-exalting truths known as the doctrines of grace. Though they differed in secondary matters of theology, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder in championing these biblical teachings that magnify the sovereign grace of God in salvation. They upheld the foundational truth that “salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2:9; Ps. 3:8).
Any survey of church history reveals that those who have embraced these Reformed truths have been granted extraordinary confidence in their God. Far from paralyzing these spiritual giants, the doctrines of grace kindled within their hearts a reverential awe for God that humbled their souls before His throne. The truths of sovereign grace emboldened these men to rise up and advance the cause of Christ on the earth. With an enlarged vision of His saving grace, they stepped forward boldly and accomplished the work of ten, even twenty men. They arose with wings like eagles and soared over their times. The doctrines of grace empowered them to serve God in their divinely appointed hour, leaving a godly influence upon future generations.
This Long Line of Godly Men Profile series highlights key figures in the agelong procession of sovereign-grace men. The purpose of this series is to explore how these figures used their God-given gifts and abilities to impact their times and further the kingdom of heaven. Because they were courageous followers of Christ, their examples are worthy of emulation today.
This volume focuses upon the great English evangelist George Whitefield. In the eighteenth century, a day plagued by lifeless orthodoxy, Whitefield burst onto the scene with power and passion. In a day marked by great spiritual decline, Whitefield preached with a supernatural unction and intense boldness that became the primary catalyst in ushering in two major revivals simultaneously, one in the British Isles and the other in the American colonies. As the Lord empowered him, Whitefield’s clarion voice called men and women to the foot of the cross. Perhaps no gospel herald has ever been so effectively used in so many places over such an extended period of time. For these and countless more reasons, George Whitefield remains eminently worthy to be profiled in this series.
May the Lord greatly use this book to embolden a new generation of leaders so that they, like Whitefield, might leave an indelible mark on this world for God. Through this profile, may you be strengthened to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. May you be filled with Scripture and, thereby, zealous in your evangelistic endeavors for the exaltation of Christ and the advance of His kingdom.
Soli Deo gloria
—Steven J. Lawson
Series editor