George Whitefield – Great Preacher of The Great Awakening
In 2017 on a broadcast of Believer’s Voice of Victory with Gloria Copeland, I taught on “The Great Awakening” out of which the United States of America was born.
The greatest preacher of “The Great Awakening” was George Whitfield from England. He crossed the Atlantic 13 times with the burning message of salvation by grace alone. And he traversed for years up and down the 13 colonies with that message and with the firm conviction that the 13 colonies should be “one nation under God.”
Unto a Good Land, by David Edwin Harrell, Jr. and a team of historians concludes, “To be sure, Whitefield did not do it alone, though it is worth noting that the first individual to bring some degree of unity to the colonies was not a politician but a preacher.
I taught during that week of BVOV broadcasts on the amazing life of this man of God. And then on a certain day I shall never forget, I read aloud on the broadcast the details of his last sermon in Exeter, NH and the details of his dying and death that night and the next morning.
The people of Exeter begged for a sermon that Saturday morning of 1770, which happened to be Yom Kippur. He was very sick. Someone observing him on the ride to Exeter said:
‘ Sir, you are more fit to go to bed than to preach.’ Whitefield’s
reply was, ‘True, sir;’ but turning aside, he clasped
his hands together, and looking up, said, ‘Lord Jesus,
I am weary in thy work, but not of thy work. If I
have not yet finished my course, let me go and speak
for thee once more in the fields, seal thy truth, and
come home and die.’
I read the dramatic details of all this from my book, First of All and The Awakening. I read how he began to preach in the open air to the thousands gathered. How he began so very weakly, but grew stronger and stronger, reaching a crescendo with his God-given voice supernaturally equipped to be heard by thousands. An eyewitness gave this account:
…his appearance alone was a powerful sermon. The thinness of his
visage, the paleness of his countenance, the evident
struggling of the heavenly spark in a decayed body
for utterance, were all deeply interesting; the spirit
was willing, but the flesh was dying. In this situation
he remained several minutes, unable to speak; he then
said, ‘I will wait for the gracious assistance of God,
for he will, I am certain, assist me once more to speak
in his name.’ He then delivered perhaps one of his
best sermons, for the light generally burns most splendidly
when about to expire. The subject was a contrast
of the present with the future, a part of this
sermon I read to a popular and learned clergyman in
New York, who could not refrain from weeping when
I repeated the following: ‘I go, I go to rest prepared;
my sun has arisen, and by aid from heaven, given
light to many;’ it is now about to set for—no, it cannot
be! ‘t is to rise to the zenith of immortal glory; I
have outlived many on earth, but they cannot outlive
me in heaven. Many shall live when this body is no
more, but then—Oh, thought divine!—I shall be in a
world where time, age, pain, and sorrow are unknown.
My body fails, my spirit expands; how willingly
would I live for ever to preach Christ! but I
die to be with him. How brief, comparatively brief,
has been my life, compared with the vast labors I see
before me yet to be accomplished; but if I leave now,
… the God of peace will surely visit you.’
I read aloud on the program how he then rode to Newburyport, Mass. with his friend Reverend Jonathan Parsons. And I read on the broadcast of the drama of the night and morning and how he ascended to His Lord on September 30, 1770, exactly 30 years to the day he had arrived to first preach the gospel in this city.
I shall never forget it. A Presence came over all of us on the set. Gloria’s eyes filled with tears. My eyes filled with tears. We wept. Silently. But we wept. The camera crew wept. The Presence we experienced seemed the Lord’s tribute to this great life.
Today
Today, October 4, 2021, I stood in those very places. I stood where he preached what is recognized as his last message in Exeter. I was in the Old South Meeting House (First Presbyterian Church in Newburyport) for more than two hours where an able historian guided us and imparted so much about this church Whitefield founded and preached in, and where he is buried. He took us up narrow ancient steps to the top of the bell tower where the bell cast by Paul Revere still sounds. (I climbed them, almost effortlessly for an almost 83-year-old with supernatural help.) He took us to the lowest level where we stood before the crypt where Whitefield is buried. And we looked upon a cast of his actual skull.
Just three doors down from the church, this dear Christian brother spoke to us in front of the house from which Whitefield departed this life. He pointed out the dining room window where he took a light supper. Quite ill he went up the stairs to retire early. Just today I learned that people outside the house cried for a word from his lips. He opened a window facing outward from the staircase landing and with a candle in his hand he spoke to the crowd gathered. Finally going to bed, he spent a restless night and ascended to His Lord at 6 am.
My thanks to God for this wonderful day. And for his faithful servants Pastors Thomas and Carolyn Peetz for arranging it. They had invited me to speak at their church Word of Life Christian Fellowship in Concord, N.H. where we had a wonderful time looking into the Book of Daniel and God’s calendar for these end of days.
As a student at Ulpan Akiva in Israel, our choir learned a Hebrew song entitled, Azza Yom! What a Day!!!!!!!
David Hardin, Shelli’s husband, recorded this wonderful day on camera. Pictures and videos are attached.
Billye Brim
P.S. Come join us as we pray for America at our Annual Autumn Assembly of Prayer Meeting Oct. 13-18
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Oh! Thank you for sharing this! Walking in the footsteps….I love it!
Can we remind God of past victory/revivals
I am watching the autumn assembly online I had several abortions/@emic they talk about how it is wrong/the church had to stop funding the industry/wake up there are abortionist/pro’chioce in the church
I remember the BVOV broadcast very well. Thank you for your continued faithfulness Dr. Brim! I pray for you and sister Gloria each day as I am sitting in my seat of authority with our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
loved this….i listened to the broadcast u mentioned on Bvov….and was trully moved…..
Thank you for posting these. It is good to be reminded of the selfless resolve of those that laid such a Godly foundation for this nation.
How crucial to know our nation’s fathers of faith. Your First Of All book should be read by us and to our children. So thankful for your courage and determination to minister to all of us.
Thank you, Miss Billye. A deserving tribute to a wonderful, faithful servant of God.
Mmmmm…What a profound blessing not only in the content but also in watching God’s servant Billye Brim walk out her faith and fire at 83 and in my life time! 🙏💖
Thank you for teaching us so we can grow in the wisdom of the Lord. You are so loved. Have an exciting trip. God bless. And Shalom!
Thank you for inviting us along this awesome journey! What a beautiful and anointed life to celebrate! Shalom!
Thank you Dr.Billye. I pray for you. I love you and miss you.
I am so thankful God chose you to be a witness- I am able to go places with you; see places with you, that are such a blessing . This was truly special.
God Bless you Ms. Billye!
Thank you Dr Billye Brim.
Sister Billye, thank you so much for sharing this. I remember the TV show with sister Gloria (I have kept perhaps all since 2003) and I too cried with you all, and bought First of All… The Lord always uses you in so many ways to confirm things to me. Thank you for sharing also about the Hebrew song, The Lord just spoke to me through through that phrase.
Can’t wait to pray with you & brother Max tomorrow morning.
PS You & Shellie look beautiful.
I love you both.
It was because of the faithfulness of these men (and women) of God to live in obedience generation after generation that our foundation is so strong. Let us be faithful to do our part and carry it on in Jesus’ name.
What a blessing! Thank you for sharing with us.
Dear Dr Billye
Thank you for sharing your story. You are by far my most favourite story teller. Listening to all your teachings has made me wise. I love you
Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for sharing
Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for visiting NH and visiting our church! God truly blessed us and I am very grateful! We love you!!!!!!
Fascinating!! I love it! Thank you sister Billye!!
Thank you dear billye.i felt the anointing of the Lord Jesus as you were speaking thank you.Shelli was glowing.What a beautiful lady.love you and your family..xxxx betty..
Thank you you are a wonderful inspiration to everyone.
Love Lisa🙏🙌
Indeed my favorite story teller and Shelly is a close second. I’m now on an area with poor radio reception and miss you very much. I eagerly waited to hear your broadcast on Oasis network out of Canton Ohio for over twenty years while driving my mail route. You are such an inspiration to me and many others as well. Be richly blessed.
When you taught about Brother Whitefield I bought the book on his life and was so blessed. Thank you for all I have learned from you.
I Thank You so much for sharing your God journey with us. It is awesome to hear and see the places and works the Lord did through our forefathers. Even in seeing and hear I sense the anointing on what is shared. Thank You So Much, God Bless
Billye, I am strengthened so much by this testimony. What a servant of the Lord. He toughed it out IJN. I’m 81 and preaching and I do have some Sundays of warfare but I’m lifted up every time . The USA needs massive healing. I’m in Australia where we are facing great trials . But those who speak in His name have a heavenly crown waiting. Bless you for your faithful ministry. Kefa.
How Powerful & How Beautiful! I could sense the Mighty Power of the Holy Spirit from the very second I clicked into the Blog. Such a tender hushed silence as I read every word. The Clip itself was so Powerful & Anointed as well. I could even hear the sound of the Bell Ringing so soft yet clear as if from a great distance. Thank you so very much for this blog dearest Billye. In Christ nigh 50 yrs. now & filled up with Joy! Thank you for always adding to it. Terry (One of your Dedicated Prayers) for many years.
Hi Dr Billie and Shelli
Thankyou for sending these wonderful pictures and knowledge into the Nations
How privileged we are to receive here in Ireland
Wentworth Cheswill. What an interesting man.
Thank you !!!
Thank you for sharing this on Brother Whitefield! The Blood of Jesus is on America and nothing can change that. 2 Peter 1:2 (ESV), “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
I love watching on Victory Channel – always love seeing you and your beautiful daughter -Shelli Brim!
Shalom,
Anna K. – Virginia
Praying for NYC and all the evangelists that are involved in the end time revivals (The Great Awakening) that our nation needs. God bless everyone!
Thank you for sharing this as I was not aware of this godly man!! Shalom
Dear wonderful sister teacher model Dr Billye Brim,
I am so thankful to the Lord for you! I’ve been searching for a while and longing for the Word and fellowship you provide for so many years! My church back in Brasil would gather every night for worship, prayer, and study of the Word (with exception of Fridays, when each family had service in their homes) and operated in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was so wonderful have tongues, interpretation, revelations, visions, dreams, thru which our Lord would speak to us, comfort us, guide us. We there in the church – just like you teach – consulted each gift to confirm if came from our Lord or not. Then we moved – my daughter and I. The Lord continued to guide us and provide all we need – but oh how we long for fellowship and revealed Word like you provide! So rare to be found! We visited so many churches! Unfortunately way too many churches nowadays departed from the Word – to preach men’s philosophy! Not even mention that rare the church that is opened to the gifts of the Holy Spirit! So I just want to thank you thank you thank you! I’m praising my Lord and Savior Jesus for the instrument you are in His Hands🙏🏻Love, In Christ. Peace of the Lord!
Suely B E
Shalom mary and Norman from Ireland left a comment 2 days ago
Thank you for sharing this thrilling and touching post! You are a world-class sharer of things that you’ve learned; it must be so pleasing to the Lord and is so very much appreciated by all of us. I’m so glad you, Shelli and her husband had this marvelous pilgrimage together. Love and blessings to you, dear Billye.
Thank you for this teaching ❤️What a blessing to learn and grow in our faith with teachers like yourself.
Thank you!!!!
Loved this! Thank you so much. Your ministry is precious and important, and I thank the Lord for you (and thank the Lord and you for it).
So many Gifts unwrapping Now to show us His Glory the Time and His Power!, Thank You for all the Sacrifices you have made and the priceless nuggets you share day by day. Enjoy your Blog so much!!
This was very special to see and read. I recently saw David Barton teaching on Whitfield and his life is an amazing testimony. He have us “One nation under God” I believe at the Lord’s instruction
I saw the broadcast in 2017 on BVOV. I sobbed. God let me see His sovereign plan in founding this nation. Is there any way to get a copy of that broadcast? I have looked for it on their web site but could not find it.