David Brainard

i really dont know what to say except im reading the diary and lifo of him now, and its amazing that a man several 100 years ago, writes down exactly how my soul feels now 300 years later, its just amazing, ive heard much about him in sermons and so on, but reading the book just takes me to another level of christianity, what a book! of course no book is greater then "the book" but still, im not done whit it yet but its a book EVERYONE should read atleast a couple of times....

ohh God have mercy on me, im undone

It was very disheartening when I heard that Jonathan Edwards unknowningly burned a big part of his diaries... There's a very good chapter in 'Sodom Had No Bible,' By Leonard Ravenhill about David Brainerd, and I think he may appear in Revival Praying or Why Revival Tarries also... anyways, good stuff!

One of the things that Leonard always made sure to mention was that even though David B was quite unsucessful in his outreach to the native Americans, his contribution to Christian literature inspired men that went out and brought millions into the kingdom. You can count how many seeds are in an apple, but you can't count how many apples that are in a seed!

Leonard always made sure to mention was that even though David B was quite unsucessful in his outreach to the native Americans

Ravenhill said that Brainerd efforts were quite [i]unsuccessful[/i]? Where does this come from? Have you ever heard of the Susquehana Revival? I propose that David Brainerd's missionary efforts are the quintessential examples of how utterly [i]successful[/i] one burdened, travailing and persevering man's labors with God can be! The fruit of his outreaches were incalcuable! I mean, true Holy Spirit revival broke out amidst the very heathen savages he labored so profusely for - and while he was still alive! He saw the Indian savages break down in tears, repenting and wailing...and he baptized them. These were the same savages that once persecuted him, mocked him, threatened him. I'd have to say that Brainerd's outreach was totally successful!

Brother Paul

I heard that Jonathan Edwards unknowningly burned a big part of his diaries

Really? I heard brainard requested his former diaries be burned.

Quote:
I heard that Jonathan Edwards unknowningly burned a big part of his diaries

Really? I heard brainard requested his former diaries be burned.

Brainerd was at first very reluctant to having any part of his diary published after his death. He then settled on having his papers put in the hands of his good friend Jonathan Edwards to do with as he saw would be most for God's glory and the interest of religion.

"But a few days before his death, he ordered some part of his diary to be destroyed, which renders the account of his life the less complete" - Jonathan Edwards.

I'm just getting underway with The Life and Diary of David Brainerd as well.

Had just listened again to this message from [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=3145]John Piper[/url] on the life of David Brainerd last weekend. A quick search turns up a handful of others.

His health began to fail, and his mind acquired the habit of contemplating death as a relief from his trials of body and soul. But he says: "God scarce ever lets these thoughts be attended with terror and melancholy: they are attended frequently with great joy."

The interesting part of this was that I had a sermon from John MacArthur just following it where, amongst other things he was discussing;

Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

It has been really penetrating the thoughts all week. In the ultimate sense, that no longer will that possibility exist, nor the actuality of the thing we hate, to sin against the Lord. [i]Freed[/i].

Here is another great resource;
[url=http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/ibrainerd.html]David Brainerd[/url]

For whatever it is worth...David Brainard was betrothed to Jonathan Edwards daughter. I thought he was Edwards son-in-law but I googled David Brainard and all I could find was he was betrothed.

ginnyrose

Leonard Ravenhill was a expert on church history, I'm not, so I take his words at face value. In his sermons and books Leonard Ravenhill always implied that Brainerd's success was in death rather than in life! That he was a disciple of prayer rather than a powerful preacher.

He of course said that David Brainerd was sold out for the Indians, that he had gone out and prayed an entire day in the snow for them, by the time night had come all the snow had melted around him at a distance of three feet on either side so that he could not even touch the snow from where he was (this is one of Len's favorite stories to recall...)

However he would always follow up this story by saying that David Brainerd would go back to the camp to find that the indians were still practicing their same paganism and drunkness. Len implied that he was a giant in prayer, but a failure in evangelism.

But then Len would always follow up with a huge list of names of men who saved millions through their evangelistic works, who attributed their entire ministry to the work of David Brainerd in spirit!

Here's a chapter from Meat for Men where Len does this more subtly:

http://www.ravenhill.org/meat4menb.htm

As to Brainerd's success\\'failure' rate ...

There is no reason to have this be a matter at all brothers. It is both depending on the perspective, how many under Ravenhill? Dead or alive?

I do find it a bit interesting that the equation has to come up in the first place. How many under Jesus ... alive, prior to the Crucifixion?

If he was a failure in evangelism, thank God for it. Surveying the landscape out there in our day, could but wish for more sacrificial failures. Perhaps the church would be all the better for it.
Look at what all this 'success' has wrought ...

So many things that are striking about his life. That he was often despondent and depressed. That he longed for true brothers to fellowship with and often was left disappointed.

It just dawned on me again coming off the heel's of the success business... Who is determining this, our effectiveness? And by what manner? Real time quantitative results? More by death than life? If so, shouldn't we therefore be praying for our death that the multitudes might be ushered in? It is a very serious question, am not in the least being flippant here.

Perhaps here is not a good place to try and work out what has been heavily on the thoughts of late. Luk 14:26. Rom 6:7. 1Pe_4:1

Brianerds life comes back as a perfect antidote to one's own personal circumstances. Yesterday not an coincidental example having been stirred up in the natural once again with an assortment of frustrations, a berating from the enemy and stirring of all sorts of evil imaginations, notions, seeing them clearly enough for what they are and yet still caught up in the whirlwind of turmoil... Then to come home and think again, re-read parts of [i]this[/i] life by way of comparison, humbling it is. His honesty and endurance despite everything.

Neil,
I do not mind you saying what you understand to be the truth. What I posted was what I found on the web. Obviously, one of us is wrong and at this point I do not know which one is and it really does not matter...it is no salvation issue!

Blessings,
ginnyrose

Len implied that he was a giant in prayer, but a failure in evangelism.

Knowing how Ravenhill valued prayer above all other activities...I find it hard to believe he would have couched Brainered as a failure. If so I pray the church would see more failures like brother David.

Let's remember Noah, when we consider what is at stake in evangelism. Is it our salvation or God's Glory? When our hearts settle this question we might measure decisions for Christ differently. We might even see our churches grow smaller...but God's kindgom established faithfully in more men.

Even now, as some churches in this country are exploding in numbers, I fear they are filled with patrons who are much like those who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved....

Blessings,

MC

Saints, the following is an account I posted here on SI awhile back, an account of the Susquehana Revival, a remarkable outpouring of Holy Ghost repentance through David Brainerd's missionary efforts. Brainerd himself witnessed the revival. An evangelistic effort that culminates in genuine revival, is, in my estimation, quite successful. This account of what has come to be known as the "Susquehana Revival" wil bless and encourage you. After reading, I am confident that the word "failure" will not be anywhere in your thoughts, but rather the earnest exhortation of "go and do likewise."

Brother Paul

"About the time of the awakening in New England there was a remarkable revival among the American Indians, under the leadership of David Brainerd, the apostle to the Indians. It was one of the notable spiritual awakenings in the history of the Christian Church. When Brainerd first began his work among the Indians, he had little success. His health became impaired. He retired from the work for a time. He was offered a pastorate among "wealthy and kindly people," and his heart went out in love toward the daughter of Jonathan Edwards. But day-by-day he heard in his soul the pitiful cries of the poor lost Indians who were so degraded and steeped in sin.

He made the great decision. He deliberately gave up a life of ease and comfort, and went back into the wilderness to proclaim the gospel to "his poor Indians." With dauntless heroism he went from place to place preaching to various Indian tribes. His tours among the tribes covered "more than three thousand miles, through forests, over dangerous mountains, in fierce rains, and freezing cold."

As time went on Brainerd realized more and more, that it was only through the mighty power of God, and the fire falling from heaven, that the hardened hearts of the stolid Indians could be changed. He decided to give himself unreservedly to intercessory prayer. It is said "whole nights were spent in agonizing prayer in the dark woods, his clothes drenched with the sweat of his travail." As the result of such intense fervent intercession it is little wonder that the windows of heaven were opened and the fire fell. Mr. Shearer tells the thrilling story:

"Suddenly, the Spirit was outpoured upon the whole region of the Susquehanna. His first audience there had consisted of four women and a few children. Now there came streaming in upon him from all sides a host of men and women, who pressed upon him, and grasping the bridle of his horse, besought him with intense earnestness to tell them the way of salvation. In a great, glad wonder he looked upon them, and the text that leaped to his lips was, 'Herein is love.'

"Men fell at his feet in anguish of soul. These were men who could bear the most acute torture without flinching. But God's arrow had now pierced them; their pain could not be concealed and they cried out in their distress, 'have mercy upon me.' What impressed Brainerd most deeply was that though these people came to him in a multitude, each one was mourning apart. The prophecy of Zechariah was fulfilled before his eyes. The woods were filled with the sound of a great mourning, and beneath the Cross every man fell as if he and the Savior God alone were there. Gradually as the missionary spoke, there came to them, one by one, the peace and comfort of the Gospel.

"As the days passed he had full proof that a heaven-sent revival had come. A passion for righteousness possessed the converts. The wretched victims of the 'fire-water' were delivered, and the Indian camps were cleansed at once from their physical and moral filthiness. The love of Christ expelled every unlovely thing. As one poor woman expressed it, 'Me to be Him for all,' became the motto of their lives. They became themselves ardent missionaries of the Cross. The light spread through all that dark region, and a strong Indian Church was established."

well, even if David Brainard only won one single soul for Christ, then i belive it still was worth all sufferings and pains. I belive God can take a man throw him into a consentrationcamp for 30 years, or he may even kill us as stephen got stoned, and from his death the apostle paul came forth, are we willing to do that? just to reach one single soul whit the gospel, the question isent always will there be revival, the more important question are we willing to go where God wants to send us?