Brief Biography:Leonard Ravenhill became one of the twentieth century's greatest authorities on revival. His message is drastic, fearless, and often radical. Appalled by the disparity between the New Testament Church and what passes for the Church today, Ravenhill gives a no-compromise call to the principles of biblical revival.
Leonard Ravenhill was one of Britain’s foremost outdoor evangelists of the 20th century. God used him to help bring thousands of people to Christ throughout Britain. Unlike the case with many of today’s evangelists, the conversions that Leonard helped to bring about were generally lasting conversions. That’s because he did not water down the Gospel when he preached it. Later in life, Leonard and his family moved to the United States, where he worked with Bethany House Publishers. In the 1980s, Leonard and his family moved to a home near Lindale, Texas, a short distance from Last Days Ministries. Leonard regularly taught classes at Last Days Ministries, and he was a mentor to the late Keith Green. A. W. Tozer, who was a friend of Leonard, said this about Leonard: “To such men as this the church owes a debt too heavy to pay. The curious thing is that she seldom tries to pay him while he lives. Rather, the next generation builds his sepulcher and writes his biography—as if instinctively and awkwardly to discharge an obligation the previous generation to a large extent ignored. “Those who know Leonard Ravenhill will recognize in him the religious specialist, the man sent from God not to carry on the conventional work of the church, but to beard the priests of Baal on their own mountain-top, to shame the careless priest at the altar, to face the false prophet and to warn the people who are being led astray by him. “Such a man as this is not an easy companion. He is not the professional evangelist who leaves the wrought-up meeting as soon as it is over to hurry to the most expensive restaurant to feast and crack jokes with his retainers. Such evangelists will find this man something of an embarrassment, for he cannot turn off the burden of the Holy Ghost as one would turn off a faucet. He insists upon being a Christian all the time, everywhere. And again, that marks him out as different.” I first met Leonard in 1989, when he was eighty-two years old and in frail health. At first glance, I would not have thought that God could still use this fragile, white-haired man. He walked slowly and unsteadily, and he sometimes needed help to get up and down from his chair. Yet, as soon as he opened his mouth, I immediately realized that my initial impression was wrong. At eighty-two, Leonard still spoke with fire and conviction, and it felt like his eyes were piercing right through to my soul. During the last few years of his life, Leonard moderated a prayer meeting held once a week (later once a month), which was attended primarily by pastors and evangelists. Some of these men made a four-hour round trip to attend those prayer meetings. I attended those prayer meetings from 1989 until they ended in the summer of 1994, a few months before Leonard’s death. During the years that I attended those prayer meetings, I never once left without being deeply challenged by what Leonard had said. One of Leonard’s gifts was his ability to spontaneously create insightful spiritual maxims as he spoke. These were short, memorable observations about God, the church, and the world.
Was Mr. Ravenhill a Calvinist or Arminian? This is a question that I have been curious about for some time.
Was Mr. Ravenhill a Calvinist or Arminian? This is a question that I have been curious about for some time.I would proabably put him more in an arminian side of things. Also he focused much on holiness and spirit-filled living, so he fits into many pentecostal and holiness circles. But overall his message was for the entire body of Christ and I am sure he preached in many large denominations of all types.
Above all doctrinal postitions Ravenhill wanted a heaven-sent revival, he believed it was the only option left to Christianity.I have been working on Compilations of Leonard Ravenhill, I am hoping to make enough tracks to fill a CD here are 2 so far. I am hoping they will capture this awesome man of God's passion for Christ:Ravenhill01 (compilation)Ravenhill02 (compilation)
I listened to both of these compilations, they are great!Don't get me wrong I understand his passion. I was just curious about his theological background and I thought you guys might have some insight into this.One of my favorite quotes by Mr. Ravenhill is, "No man is greater than his prayer life."
Eradicationist proponents say that the 'old nature' is dealt with at its root, hence e-radicate (Latin 'radicalis' root. A radical is someone who goes to the root of a thing, to eradicate, technically, is to remove the root. )The consequence is that an individual only has one nature at a time. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and of death. Supporters of this general view would include George Fox, John and Charles Wesley, Charles Finney, William Booth, Paget Wilkes, Campbell Morgan, Maynard James, Leonard Ravenhill, (me!) Most eradicationists would expect this experience to be the result of an added work of grace.taken from this thread:https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=310&forum=26#1579The above is an intresting thread on some parts of Ravenhill's theology possibly?One of my favorite quotes by Mr. Ravenhill is, "No man is greater than his prayer life."I think that Ravenhill has influnced me in my prayer life greatly. Also if you get a chance check out some of E.M. Bounds books, Ravenhill devoured them and you can see alot of Bounds ideas and passion in what Ravenhill says about prayer.
By this do you mean, Second Work of Grace.. As sanctification being this second work?
By this do you mean, Second Work of Grace.. As sanctification being this second work?It was Ron (phiologos) who made that statement, I was just quoting him. But yes I would think it would mean a second work of Grace, didn't wesley believe in that and wasn't it part of the theology of Methodists? I just ask that because I know Leonard Ravenhill appreciates the Methodists alot.
Okay, I see. I just wanted to make sure I understood you. And yes that was a teaching of the Methodist church that Wesley and Finney believed. Also, the Church of God of Cleveland has or had this as a part of their theology.
Okay, I see. I just wanted to make sure I understood you. And yes that was a teaching of the Methodist church that Wesley and Finney believed. Also, the Church of God of Cleveland has or had this as a part of their theology.What's your take on it? I am not totally sure what I believe on this.. I do feel that there is a deeper working of God and enduement of power that the Church can experience, but its not necessarily for salvation.for example:"The disciples were filled with the Spirit when Jesus breathed on them in the room. But they didn't go out in that revelation and walk in God. THEY NEEDED the fulness of God, an overwhelming enduement of God's power and a lostness in the purposes of God."This seems like the difference in my mind.
Well, to be honest I haven't given it much thought as of late. But at this point in my life with the limited amount of study that I have given to this topic I would have to say that I do not see sanctification as a second work of grace. I believe that sanctification is a process not a one time experience. I guess my opinion is based on how I observed this teaching being practiced in the Church of God. After a person would come to Christ the church would "pray through" with that individual until they were sanctified (received the second work of grace). As far as I know they looked at sanctification really as a one time event / instantaneous occurrence rather than a process. But this is only what I saw in my brief experience with this denomination. Maybe Wesley taught something entirely different. To keep it simple I see sanctification as a process that takes place throughout the life of a Christian. This process has to have a beginning but I don't believe that the beginning is the end of it. Also, I read the thread on Eradication vs. Counteraction and this takes the study to a whole new level. I have not been this deep with it yet but I am interested in studying the topic further.
I was just reading your posts about this, and while I don't know the theological side of any of the mentioned ideas, I was discussing the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer, with a friend yesterday. I believe that after saving grace, the more we get in line with God, the more the Holy Spirit is able to use us. That's why I think there were references to not being filled with alcohol, but with the Spirit; "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." I suppose this process could be called a second work of grace. I take all theology with a grain of salt as many of our predecessors could have been wrong on some details, and some would seem to have to be wrong, as so many within particular denominations disagreed with one another from generation to generation. I'm more interested in soulwinning, but the work God does through us after salvation brings some interesting thoughts. That's okay that we don't agree on everything. Someone told John R. Rice, "Brother Rice, when you get all the people agreeing together, then you can have revival." To which Dr. Rice replied, "No, then you've got the millenium, my brother." (Sermon: Paul Rejoices Over Enemies) Good stuff!
I have to say that LR was one of the greatest christians that ever lived in my opinion. I do not idolize the man, yet in some weird way I consider him my mentor, though we have never met. When I look at this man and hear him, I want to cry. It would have been my dream to meet him in person while he was still on this earth, although I know he probably would have landblasted me for my carelessness with the Gospel. I think this man was easily one of the greatest men of God in the 20 century. His book "Why Revival Tarries" has changed my life. I don't put it next to the Bible and compare them, but I see WRT and see that it gives more focus TO the Bible, and really propels you to give more of your heart to God. Truely, Heaven-Sent revival is the only hope of th church today...
sermonindex wrote:I have been working on Compilations of Leonard Ravenhill, I am hoping to make enough tracks to fill a CD here are 2 so far. I am hoping they will capture this awesome man of God's passion for Christ:Ravenhill01 (compilation)Ravenhill02 (compilation)Hi Greg. I don't think that these links are working properly. However, I would still very much like to receive the Compilations of Leonard Ravenhill! Thanks!
I thought I would add some bits and pieces to the Leonard Ravenhill archive.I have been reading the biography of Maynard James by Paul James (his son). Maynard James was a key 'second blessing' holiness preacher of the 20th century. He trained with Leonard Ravenhill at the famous Methodist Cliff College. They formed a team of four evangelists who 'trecked' ( pulling a hand cart) through the UK sleeping in village and church halls and evangelising. The principal of the college was Samuel Chadwick.The four men; Maynard James - the leaderLeonard RavenhillJack FordClifford Filer.were associated with the International Holiness Mission which was a very small denomination dedicated to the preaching of Wesleyan (second blessing) holiness. There is a brief description of Leonard Ravenhill as a young man in his late twenties:Leonard Ravenill was just as fiery as Maynard James and even more impetuous! He was a Yorkshire-man, being brought up in Leeds. He had a most attractive personality, and many a lady's heart missed a beat when he was around! He was on fire for the Lord... He rarely kept still when preaching, and used to stride from side to side along the whole width of the platform as he got more and more involved in his subject. He was full of pithy sayings and memorable sentences, such as: "This generation of preachers is responsible for this generation of sinners" and "a man wrapped up in himself makes a small parcel when death cuts the strings".He had an elementary school eduction, and when he left school he worked as an apprentice cutter at Montague Burton's tailoring works. He was converted somewhere around the 1920's and began attending the Holiness Church at Leeds. When Maynard James visited the assembly in 1929, Leonard received the 'second blessing', and after an experience of a trek led by Jack Ford, he too went to Cliff College. In 1931 he became an assistant pastor at the new Church at Bolton, and a couple of years later he joined Maynard James at Oldham, taking full charge when Maynard left to form the evangelistic revival team.His ministry at Oldham is remembered (this was written in 1993) to this day, for as well as being a fiery evangelist, he was also a caring pastor. Later he eventually left Britain for the United States, where his dynamic preaching and vigorous writing have had a profound influence. In the early days of the Calvary Holiness Church (see below) he provided a real dynamism to the leadership, although it soon became very clear that he was not very interested in the organisational side of the new Movement"Leonard Ravenhill was actually ordained in the International Holiness Mission. These four men were the leading evangelists in the IHM but separated from the movement over the question of 'tongues'. The IHM believed they had ceased and although the four men did not exercise the gift personally they were not prepared to say they had ceased. The young evangelists took several of the newer churches with them in their separation and became an Executive Council to legislate for a their churches. In 1935 they entitled themselves The Calvary Holiness Church. Maynard James was elected president and Jack Ford was secretary to the new denomination.The churches of the new denomination grew rapidly under the leadership of these four young men. By the end of WW2 there were over 20 churches in the denomination. They prayed for the sick in their meetings and saw evidences of God's power in healing. During the WW2 years Ravenhill took a pacifist position.Some years later the IHP was incorporated into the Church of the Nazarene. Later again Maynard James visited the USA and was impressed with the Nazarene Churches. The four men decided to join their CHC denomination to the Church of the Nazarene but the initial problem was the the Nazarenes were also opposed to 'tongues'. They received an undertaking that they would be able to continue their belief in 'tongues' if they joined and finally the CHC joined the IHM, which they had previously separated from, in the Church of the Nazarene.This was an uncomfortable compromise which later returned to trouble the initial leaders when a Nazarene president publicly denounced 'tongues'. By this time Leonard Ravenhill was looking towards the US and soon left the UK and his official involvement with the merged 'IHM/CHC/Nazarene church'. He resigned from the denomination in 1951.Maynard James continued in correspondence with Leonard Ravenhill until James' death in 1988.
Yes, I too am having trouble with the comps, and would like to download them. Thanks!
-From 1907 to 1919, the Church of the Nazarene was called the "Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene." The Nazarene General Assembly of 1919 changed the name to Church of the Nazarene..-I wish that they hadn't done that. If someone asks me, I tell them that I'm Pentecostal. I trace my beginnings back to the the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came, drew 120 people out of hiding, and made preachers out of them..-On the subject of sanctification: Our Baptist brethren refer to sanctification as a process (initial, progressive, and final?). Holiness people believe that sanctification is a one time event ("entire sanctification"), and that it is a second work of grace. However: "We believe that there is a marked distinction between a pure heart and a mature character. The former is obtained in an instant, the result of entire sanctification; the latter is the result of growth in grace" (From the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene)..-Grace to you, brethren. Keep on growing!...
The things that slip by here...Some great info Ron...A 4 month old belated thank you! 8-)
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