Theology of Revival

Hello. My name is John Earp. I have been an avid student of revival history for several years (can't recall precisely how many, but at least 20). I am an ordained minister with the Church of God (HQ in Cleveland, TN). I am currently an associate minister. I formerly was senior pastor of a small rural congregation, and am hoping to get back into the pastoral ministry full time soon. My wife and I welcomed our first child, Chloe, into the world this past Feb. 12th. Really amazing and hard to describe how wonderful becoming a father has been for me. It's hard to imagine, though I know it's true, that God the Father could love us more than I love my beautiful baby daughter. Anyway...As a result of my study of revival history, I began a website devoted to Revival Theology -- http://revivaltheology.net Greg Gordon contacted me a few months back, and I was thrilled to be able to place links to some of the classic revival sermons he has placed here. Some of my personal favorites here are: Ravenill, Reidhead, Wilkerson, Duncan Campbell, and Ray Comfort.I also lead a discussion group I founded last fall:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Revival_Theology/Our group is devoted to the doctrine and practice of the Great Awakenings of the 1700s and 1800s, with special attention paid to the work of Wesley, Finney, Edwards, and Whitefield. We are currently discussing the doctrine of the atonement of Christ as it relates to revival.Anyway, I hope to be able to visit here often, as I am able. I don't know of any subject I would rather discuss than revival.God bless,John Earp

Welcome!Congratulations on the recent addition to your family! May the Lord keep you and your family in His presence where there is fullness of joy! I can hardly express what a blessing this site has been to me. I have been challeged, convicted, exhorted and encouraged. It has opened up a whole new world to me as the wisdom of God that has been preserved from great men of the recent past now speak once again. Revival is something that I have barely begun to become aquainted with, in it's truest form. It appears to be a needed necessity in this day and age for a world gone mad. I can only pray that the Holy Spirit would come and pour out the needed power to do what, in the words of Mr. Ravenhill, "Brethren, if we will do God's work in God's way, at God's time, with God's power, we shall have God's blessing (and the devil's curses.) Being such a web rat for the Lord, I will be sure to run over to your site as well. I have also been blessed by the links that generous souls have recommended in these forums. Some you may be already familiar with, but for the sake of others, here are but a few;http://www.watchword.orghttp://www.ravenhill.orghttp://www.lastdaysministries.orghttp://www.meatindueseason.orghttp://www.puritansermons.comhttp://www.passtheword.org Surely the Lord is in our midst and I pray that He will use this all for His glory!_/crsschk\\_P.S. Any relation to the other famous Earp? Sorry, I am sure nobody's ever asked you that before :-) Show your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You Psalm 17: 7

Thank you for your kind words. As to Wyatt, my father researched our geneaology several years ago, and found that all of us are descended from one John Earp who imigrated from England around 1700. The branch that Wyatt descended from is pretty far removed from ours, but nevertheless we did both descend from this first "American" Earp. (Our branch of Earps tended to be roughly an equal distribution of old-time Methodists and drunkards). When my grandfather (one of the drunkards) felt drawn to a little Pentecostal storefront mission in Abilene, Texas back in the 1930s, he found God and was gloriously saved. So our family's spiritual roots have tended to be very much in the revival and holiness tradition.Probably more information than you wanted, but... :-) God bless

Probably more information than you wanted, but...Not in the least! I love it, will never tire of hearing anybody's background and testimonys.Also, went by your site, great info! Ended up at Winkie Pratney's (I love that name!) site who's name I had seen pop up in these forums on occasions, great stuff there as well. For everybody else, go to : http://revivaltheology.net/index.htmlThe link to Winkie Pratney's site is there.Thanks again,_/crsschk\\_

If you haven't heard Winkie Pratney, you should. Winkie lived in east Texas and knew Keith Green and Bro Ravenhill when they were alive. I see him every summer at a conference for youth leaders here in south Louisiana. He's always got some new insights on modern pop culture and I always learn something interesting from him everytime I hear him. I believe Greg has a few of his messages here on this site.

Winkie Pratney has been one of the most influential teachers in my life over the past few years. My perspective on God, sin, self, and moral responsibility have been revolutionized in large part through Winkie's online teaching ministry. He's one of the absolute best, IMO.

I've heard Winkie say that the charismatic movement is absolutely in desperate need of a coherent biblical theology. Perhaps that is why Winkie feels free to associate with a lot of questionable ministries. (By the way, I agree with you about a lot of the charismatic movement having questionable teachings at best, heretical at worst). Hopefully Winkie will be able to have a positive effect on them. I know that is one of the main reasons I still associate with charismatics and Pentecostals, besides the fact that my roots are Pentecostal. I hope to by all means save some.

One thing I can say from experience is that those who are caught up in the Word of Faith movement are usually very sincere, however misguided they truly may be. It is not usually very easy to help them see the error of their doctrine. I have been trying the following approach:2 Tim 2:24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,26 and they may come to their senses {and escape} from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.