“I would willingly go to prison or to death so that I could bring one soul from the devil’s stronghold unto the salvation which is in Christ Jesus.” George Whitfield said these words, and he lived them, devoting his life to preaching the gospel to those who had not heard, often in places of danger and in spite of fierce opposition.
George was born in England over 300 years ago. Thomas and Elizabeth Whitfield were his parents and he was the youngest of their seven children.
When George was growing up in England, the country had little interest in God’s truth. Many people lived wicked lives and spent a lot of money on alcohol. This led to much poverty and crime. But God was beginning to work in that country. One of His workers would be from an unlikely family. George’s parents did not know the Lord. How was it that George grew up to be one of the best gospel preachers ever known?
George’s father died when he was young. When he was still young, his mother wanted him to do what some in her family had done before ... study to become a minister. They were too poor to afford the schooling, but they found out that a poor student could work for a rich student as a “servitor” and in that way make enough money to go through university.
The university George went to when he was only 18 was Oxford University. People there were starting to teach that the gospel was just a fable. The students who didn’t believe in God often spent their time partying. George did not join them in their wicked lifestyles, and they made fun of him for that. But he made a new friend who was also serious about the things of God named John Wesley. To him George admitted that though he sometimes spent weeks on the floor begging God for deliverance from the evil thoughts that filled his mind, he could not find peace with God. After a year of this struggle, he left Oxford for a time and went to visit relatives. It seems that during this time he came to trust completely in the Lord Jesus alone for his salvation. What peace! What joy! He didn’t have to do anything ... God’s beloved Son had done it all for him!
George started to love reading the Word of God and spending time in prayer. He put away all his other books to focus on the Bible, and God’s Spirit taught him much from that wonderful book.
George became a popular preacher. Then, when he was only 23, in 1737, he left England and went to visit the colony of Georgia in North America, taking money to start an orphanage.
Even on the long sea journey, George worked for his Master, the Lord Jesus. The captain and crew on the ship he sailed on had no interest in hearing him preach, but George wisely worked to gain their respect.
Instead of preaching, he went around the ship caring for the sick and showing kindness to everyone he met. People quickly began to like him. Soon the captain said to Whitfield, “Well you’re a unique preacher! I never saw one before who would help the sick sailors and be kind to all like you’ve done. You’re not getting paid to do this, are you?”
“No,” George replied, “but God has called me to do anything I can to make men happier.”
The captain was impressed. Finally, he said, “I’m not usually the kind of man who changes his mind, but if you want, I’ll let you preach.” Of course, that is exactly what George wanted!
So, for the rest of the journey, he continued working to win the love of the sailors and his fellow-passengers and to lead them to Christ. When he landed in Georgia, he continued using these methods of kindness and generosity, and many people were saved. But some people didn’t like how he did things.
“It’s not dignified,” they said, “the way that he goes from house to house teaching the Scriptures. It’s strange.”
“I think the man is in earnest, and even though I don’t always agree with him, he fills my soul with love to Christ,” said another.
But his critics would not be persuaded. “When he goes home to England, he might be sorry for making himself so obnoxious by preaching the way he has here. We can reach him across the ocean, and we’ll make him feel pain there for what he has done here.”
That is exactly what happened. When George returned home to England, he found that not one preacher would allow him to preach from his pulpit. Even in Bristol, where he had been extremely popular before leaving for America, they preached against him and threatened to take their people to court if they let him pray and teach the Bible in their homes. However, God used this opposition for good.
George went to his brother for advice. He said, “If you aren’t allowed to preach in the churches, the fields are open to you. You won’t need to look far for people to preach to.”
So George began to preach outside. This was very successful from the beginning. God’s great love for the people he was preaching to flowed through him, often moving him to tears. God’s Spirit worked very strongly, and many people were saved.
Through the years, George continued making trips across the ocean to preach in America and to set up orphanages there as he did in England. At times there would be 30-40,000 people outside listening to him in England and the same became true in America. Whitfield often preached four times a day. People guess that 80% of Americans heard him preach. He had a pleasant voice to listen to, yet his voice was so strong it could be heard over a mile away! This was a good thing, because there were no microphones in those days.
What was the wonderful message he taught? To put it simply: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). God loved sinners so much that He sent His only Son to suffer on the cross for our sins and to die so that we can be saved from eternal punishment and have a home in heaven for all eternity. There is no better news than that! Won’t you accept God’s free gift right now?
George once said, “I feel sorry for those who complain about boredom! Let them only love Christ and spend their whole time in His service, and they will find few dull hours.” Did you know that even a child can serve the Lord Jesus? One thing you can do is to share what you have, like the little boy who shared his lunch (see John 6:99There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? (John 6:9)). The Lord Jesus used that lunch to feed about 5000 people! The next time you feel bored, ask the Lord what you can do for Him. You might be surprised at His answer.
Messages of God’s Love 4/13/2025