Waking Up with the Awakeners
Finding inspiration for the day in the words of the leaders of Spiritual Awakenings.
Faith Given Away, William Holland & John Wesley, London, 1738
William Holland was a commercial painter in 18th century London. His heart’s longing was to earn a place of acceptance with God. He also attended Oxford where he befriended the Wesleys and George Whitefield.
No amount of obedience to the codes and rules, however, satisfied his soul. He stumbled across a commentary on the book of Galatians. In his anguish, he searched for words of comfort in the notes of Martin Luther, written two centuries prior.
Holland and his friend Charles Wesley read together in Galatians and the comments how salvation is only through faith in Jesus. He heard the follow words read:
“What, have we then nothing to do? No! Nothing! but only accept of Him, ‘ who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,'”
Holland writes that “there came such a power over me as I cannot describe; my great burden fell off in an instant; my heart was so filled with peace and love that I burst into tears. I almost thought I saw our Savior…when afterwards (I) went into the streets, I could scarcely feel the ground I trod upon!”
His guilt and his failure to live up to all his rules dissolved in the presence of the mercy and grace of Jesus.
But, this story doesn’t end here. Charles Wesley, just one day after reading with Holland, writes that “the Spirit of God…chased away the darkness of my unbelief…I am now at peace with God, and rejoice in the hope of loving Christ.”
Still, the story doesn’t end there. Holland, filled with faith, read to John Wesley and a small group of friends at a meeting house on Aldersgate Street (likely from Galatians and Luther’s comments, although some say it was Luther and Romans.)
John Wesley didn’t want to be there but heard about “the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ.” The truth broke through and the Holy Spirit fell. Wesley recorded these quotable words:
“I felt my heart strongly warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ along for my salvation; and an assurance was given me that He has taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
William Holland stumbled across Luther’s 200-year-old comments on Galatians, shared it with Charles Wesley, then John Wesley and others, and perhaps the most pervasive revival spanning across the oceans known as the Great Awakening soon follow.
Faith and truth are best given away.