Matthew 5:13-16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
As I close this PLUS series on Jeremiah Lanphier and the Prayer Meeting Revival of 1857, I provide the following October 1858 assessment of the meeting from Pastor Talbot Chambers who had a front-row seat to the meetings from their outset at the North Dutch Church on Fulton Street in New York City:
“It was a bold and novel undertaking to attempt to establish a Daily Meeting for Prayer at Noon in the very midst of the business portion of this great city; and doubtless under other circumstances, such an attempt would have signally failed. But there was a preparation for it in the public mind made by the providence of God. Instead of coming to an untimely end, as many even of the wise and good feared, it grew and flourished. The Lord gave it favour, and ere long it became the most popular and sought after of all meetings. Spiritual influence radiated out from it. Souls were converted through its instrumentality. Its example was followed in other cities and towns, until a line of Noon Meetings stretched from the sea-board to beyond the Mississippi. The original one still holds on its quiet peaceful way, and at the end of the first year of its existence, is as well supported and as much blessed as at any former period.”
Lanphier’s meetings provided an avenue for God’s light to illuminate and brighten a dark and dreary world. It was a powerful flame on the top of a tall candlestick that gave light to the world and glory to the Lord. God prepared the public mind for these meetings, and gave them favor. Spiritual influence radiated out from them, and souls were converted through their instrumentality.
As the calendar changes to 2022, may American Christians seek to have our lives and our ministries provide an avenue for God’s light to illuminate and brighten our dark and dreary world. May we be a powerful flame on the top of a tall candlestick that gives light to the world and glory to the Lord. As God prepares the public mind in His own way and seeks to give favor to the faithful, may spiritual influence radiate out from our lives and may souls be converted through our human instrumentality.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN AMERICA IN 2022 WHILE ALLOWING SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE TO RADIATE OUT FROM OUR LIVES!
ADMIN: The quote above comes from the Talbot Chambers book “The New York City Noon Prayer Meeting: A Simple Gathering That Changed The World”.
