David Brainerd: A Man Mightily Used of God

Introduction

I have titled this message “A Man Mightily Used of God.” As I was considering what to share with you, I couldn’t help but share with you, some thoughts that God has been placing in my own heart. I recently read a biography a man named David Brainerd. I was so touched by this biography, that I wanted to share with you about this man, and a few lessons that I think are appropriate for this group from his life. So today, is a bit a biography on the life of this man that was mightily used by God. He has largely become famous throughout history because the great Jonathan Edwards published his diaries after he died at the young age of 30 years old. And those diaries are full of a soul’s reflections on the wonder and the glory of God. I highly recommend every man in this room read the diaries of David Brainard.

Lesson 1: Mighty Christian Men Test the Authenticity of their Faith Often

New England Culture: Three centuries ago (in those decades leading up to the Revolutionary War), what is now New England was largely untouched wild land. The people who lived there were the American Indians. While there were indeed many beautiful aspects of Native American culture, there were also many horrifying aspects of it. The Native Americans were steeped in paganism, worship of false gods, very strange superstition, and demonic activity, very similar to what we see today in some of the tribal African nations. Their war practices were quite barbaric, many tribes were known for scalping and torturing their enemies. If we use the Bible as a standard to measure a culture, we can confidently say that much of the Native American culture of New England at that time was backwards and broken, and in great need of Christ.

How NA Were Treated: While the early Pilgrims and Puritans of New England had fought to live peaceably and nobly among their Native American neighbors, successive generations had been less Christian in their behavior. Native Americans were often made deals for land that they did not understand, and much land was stolen. Alcohol was introduced, and many of the Native Americans succumbed to incredible lows of alcoholism. Furing this time, tyhe general tenor of how many, not all but many, of the New England colonies and citizens of the new world, treated the Native Americans was with contempt, doing everything they could to keep at an arms length.

Brainerd Sick: Into that scene, David Brainerd was born. David Brainerd was born in 1718, and he only lived thirty years. A young life, and a very sickly life. His body was wracked with tuberculosis, and the signs of that became to really come out in his mid twenties.

Brainerd a Puritan: He was raised in a Puritan household. Now, that term today “Puritan” has become a bit of negative word to describe an old fuddy-duddy. And I think that is one of the great tricks the devil has played. Because it has kept so many men of our generation from reading deeply of the Puritan writings. The Puritans were a people, both in England and America, who fought for a pure Christian faith. They wanted to squeeze every ounce of godliness out of every breath they had. Their lives were marked by devotion to God, investing their hearts into their churches and their communities. They loved their wives, and fought to raise up godly children. And, it is the Puritans who frankly built society as we know it today. There’s was a courageous Christianity. They believed God was actively building his kingdom through their hands, and so they boldly established schools and universities, and hospitals all in Christ’s name.

Age of 20: At the age of 20, Brainerd was a very serious and studious young man. He loved God deeply, and lived a highly reflective life. By today’s standards he would have been considered a religious fanatic. He spent much of his time reading and discussing God’s Word. He loved engaging in discussion and reflecting on his day, whether or not he had pleased God in all of his activities.

Now you might look at this young man in his twenties and say, “What a Christian man he was!” But actually, here we come across our first lesson of David Brainerd’s life, that we must apply to our own. In late 1738, Brainerd began wrestling with the depth of his sin, something he had never fully done before. He writes this of one night as he wrestled with God.

“One night, I remember in particular, when I was walking solitarily abroad, I had opened to me such a view of my sin, that I feared the ground would cleave asunder under my feet, and become my grave; and would send my soul quick into hell, before I could get home. Though I was forced to go to bed, lest my distress should be discovered by others, which I much feared, yet I scarcely durst sleep at all, for I thought it would be a great wonder if I should be out of hell in the morning.”

David was in angst for some time over the reality of his sin, and how much an affront his wicked thoughts and lustful heart were in the face of the glory of God. He fell into despair. And it was in that place of despair, in the summer of 1739, that God permitted the true Gospel to be applied to his soul. He became convinced that salvation with God was completely beyond his own power. He thought he knew this before, but it wasn’t until he saw the depth of his sin, and realized the weight of hell that hung over his life, that suddenly one day the light of the Gospel hit him in an entirely fresh way. The grace of Jesus Christ is free! Christ has done it all, despite our our sin!

“As I was walking in a dark thick grove, “unspeakable glory” seemed to open to the view and apprehension of my soul . . . It was a new inward apprehension or view that I had of God; such as I never had before, nor anything that I had the least remembrance of it. So that I stood still and wondered and admired . . . And my soul “rejoiced with joy unspeakable” to see such a God, such a glorious divine being, and I was inwardly pleased and satisfied that he should be God over all forever and ever. My soul was so captivated and delighted with the excellency, the loveliness and the greatness and other perfections of God that I was even swallowed up in him, at least to that degree that I had no thought, as I remember at first, about my own salvation or scarce that there was such a creature as I… ”

This is what he considers the moment of his conversion. Though he thought he was a Christian before, and others would have agreed. The true peace of the gospel only hit him at this moment, when he truly wrestled with his sin.

Lesson 1: Test Yourselves: Let me pause us here. There is a verse that has come to mean a lot to me over the last few years. It has actually become a centerpiece of my teaching and preaching.

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?

Not everyone’s story is going to be as intense as David Brainerd’s. There are unfortunately many deceived men and women, who have received a very shallow version of the Gospel that has really not changed them at all. When you believe the Gospel it changes everything about you. There are two test that I offer, that I believe Brainerd exemplifies.

1st Test - Sin: First, do you as a born-again believer had a hatred of sin. When you see lust and pride and greed well up in your own heart, is there a genuine disdain for such an affront to the glory of God. With men, I often speak of about this in regards to pornography, because its such a simple sin to discuss. A man stuck in a battle with pornography who hates that sin, and brings it before God with a broken spirit, that’s good. But a man who knows its sin, just continues with no real desire to change, and no real disgust over.

2nd Test - Gratefulness for Grace: The second test is this. Is there a regular gratefulness for the grace of Jesus Christ in your life. Do you find yourself regularly drawing away, to just be alone with God, and thank him for the blood of Jesus Christ, and all of his grace in your life.

Today is the Day of Salvation:

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Lesson 2: Mighty Christian Men Live with a Divine Purpose

The next season of Brainerd’s life would be quite difficult. He applied to Yale, which (believe it or not) at that time was a Christian University. He desired to go into the ministry. He was a very bright young scholar. University for him was a season tremendous growth, where he would often slip away from class to walk with God in the woods. He writes often of his “unspeakable sweetness and delight in God.” He records in his journal,

“My soul was carreid forth in love to God, and had a lively sense of God’s love to me.”

Dismissed from Yale: Yet, in his final year at Yale, things took a strange and unexpected turn. The famous preacher, George Whitefield came into town. George Whitefield was a revivalist preacher who God used to preach to much of the known world in his day. As Whitefield preached at Yale, a genuine revival began to break out. Brainerd was amazed at the movement of God. But there were some professors at Yale who disliked George Whitefield, and forbid students from attending his revival meetings. On one occasion, after a revival meeting, Brainerd made foolish remark about one of these professors. Commenting on the way the professor prayed, he said, “He has no more grace than this chari” (pointing to a chair nearby). The comment made its way to the Dean. And when the Dean discovered not only that brainerd was attending the meetings, but that he insulted a professor, Brainerd was dismissed from Yale. His soul was crushed, and frankly there was a level of embarrassment that he felt. He tried to reconcile with the University on numerous occasions, but they wouldn’t have it. What htis meant for him was that he was unable to become a Pastor.

Brief Lesson: God will often take away that thing from us that we thought was most crucial and central to our life, in order to focus us on that which he has called us to. These seasons are so hard, Brainerd felt like his career was truly over. But God wasn’t done with him. He was just getting started.

Exposure to the Indians: It was shortly after this time, he had moved in with a friend, Mr. Mills. There, he began to have increased exposure to the Native Americans living in the woodlands around him. God began to place a peculiar angst in his heart, to see those Native Americans come to know Christ. He wrote in his journal,

"Rode about 17 miles westward, over a hideous mountain, to a number of Indians. Got together near 30 of 'em: Preached to 'em in the evenings nd lodged among them. Was weak, and felts something disconsolate: Yet could have no freedom in the thought of any other circumstances or business in life: All my desire was the conversion of the heathen, and all my hope was in God."

He began to agonize in prayer for them. It reminds me of great men like John Knox who famously prayed to God, “Give me Scotland lest I die!” At times he would pray so fervently for their conversion that he would become wet with perspiration. It was here in those prayers, that he committed whatever remained of his life to the one single purpose, the evangelism of the Indians. From this moment on, David would experience hardships many of us could never imagine. But he not only withstood them, but embraced them, because he was driven by an all consuming purpose for his life.

“Oh, that I might be a flaming fire in the service of the Lord. Here I am, Lord send me; send me to the ends of the earth . . . send me from all that is called earthly comfort; send me even to death itself if it be but in Thy service and to promote Thy Kingdom.”

Lesson 2: Discover Your Purpose: Every man has to know his purpose. A man without an angst in his heart, a zeal in his will, fervor in his blood to live and die for something, is a man who is not fully living. What are you willing to die for? If you don’t the answer to that question, you have some serious reflection to get after. Men, you are made by God as a warrior. You have a warrior spirit in you. And that energy, and passion, and will must be trained and focused in the right direction. Not everybody is going to have an overwhelming vocational purpose like David Brainerd. But let me give you a few purposes to put some fire in your belly.

1 Live Uttlerly for God: First, live utterly for God,

Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Make this your plea, “God that I might live for you. God that I you might remove all worldliness from me!”

2 Love Your Wives & Your Children Like Christ Loves His Church: Second, Find a beautiful woman, get married, have as many kids as you can, and love them every day like your family is the pace setter for how all culture ought to behave.

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”

Men, if your married and if you have kids, this is your purpose. Invest in them. Be present. Love them joyfully. Care for them tenderly. Defend their honor. By the way, you know this has become your purpose as a Christian, when you find yourself laboring in prayer, pleading with God for growth and impact.

3 Find a Kingdom Passion: Third, find a kingdom passion. For David Brainerd, it was the Native Americans. For you, it might be the children in your Church. If God has assigned you quite a lot of authority, it might be bringing Christ boldly into secular spaces. Maybe its creating spaces where men can come to know Jesus on his terms. Find your passion. Find what God has assigned you. Then live and die for it. Plead with God over it. See what he does!

III Mighty Christian Men Persevere Valiantly

After his Brainerd began his work among the Native Americans, and he very quickly realized how difficult it was going to be. He began going by horseback to tribes that were scattered and spotted throughout the land. These were often 20 or 30 mile trips, that took a heavy toll on his body. He would preach the word of God with his Bible open. In one entry of his diary writes of living conditions and the meager food he had, before describing his work,

My work is exceeding hard and difficult: I travel on foot a mile and a half, the worst of ways, almost daily, and back again; or i live so far from my Indians. I have not seen an English person this month. These, and many other circumstances, equally uncomfrtable atten me, and yet my spiritual conflicts and distresses so far exceed all these, that I sacrce think of them, or hardly observe that I am not entertained in the most sumptuous manner. The Lord grant that I may learn to endure hardness, as a good soldier of Christ.”

It was in this time that he wrote a letter to his brother where he describes his increasing detachment from this world and from worldly pleasures. He writes,

“Worldly plasures, such as flow from greatness, riches, honors, and sensual gratifications, are infinitely worse than none. May the Lord deliver us more and more from these vanities… I find nothing more conducive to a life of Christianity, than a diligent, industrious, and faithful improvement of precious time. Let us then faithfully perform that business, which is allotted to us by divine Providence, to the utmost of our bodily strength and mental vigour. Why should we sink and grow discouraed with any particular trials and perplexities we are called to encounter in this world? Death and Eternity are just before us; a few tossing billows more will waft us into the world of spirits, and we hope, through infinite grace, into endles spleasure, and uninterrupted rest and peace.”

The Mission Continues: For a number of years, Brainerd’s mission continued. He studied furiously the Native languages in order that he might preach to them. Sometimes he would preach and the entire village would laught at him. He would lament at the souls that could not see their own blindness. Other times he would preach and he would see curiosity in his listeners ears. And he knew that maybe God was opening a door. But, consider this. Because he knew that the advancement of the Gospel among the Indians was not totally upon his shoulders, it was upon God’s, he simply continued faithfully forward and left the fruit to God.

“Spent the morning in reading several parts of the holy Scripture, and in fervent prayer for my Indians, that God would set up his kingdom among them, and bring them into his church.”

August 7, 1744: After two years, he had failed to make one single convert. He began to grow weary and to believe that was of no help in missionary work. Then, on August 7, 1744, something happened. As always, Brainerd traveled to an Indian village. He preached on the love of God and the grace of Jesus Christ, and suddenly his audience was not just curious, but he heard sobs and groans from his audience as they wrestled with the offer forgiveness through Jesus christ. One biographer writes of this moment.

“On August 7, many were affected bodily by the arrows of the Almighty. So distressed were some that they fell upon the ground like the wounded in battle, crying incessantly for mercy. People who journeyed from remote places were seized with concern as soon as they came to the meetings.”

What was happening? After two years of no fruit bearing in his calling. Of hardship, of sickness. The Holy Spirit suddenly breathed into his labor, and Kingdom fruit was born. Brainerd himself described one such moment this way,

“The power of God seemed to descend upon the assembly like a rushing mighty wind and with an astonishing energy bore down all before it… Almost all persons of all ages were bowed down with concern together, and scarce one was able to withstand the shock of this surprising operation. Old mena and owmen who had been drunken wretches for many years and some little children not more than six or seven years of age, appeared in distress for their souls, as well as persons of middle age… The most stubborn hearts were now obliged to bow.”

These experiences continued to happen. On another occasion he wrote,

“To see those, who very lately were savage pagas and idolaters, “having no hope, and without God in the world,” now filled with a sense of divine love and grace, and worshipping the Father in spirit and intruth was not a little affecting.”

Be Strong & Courageous: One of the greatest qualities a man can have is perseverance. Nothing in this life comes easy. But men, have been assigned the responsibility to lead. I love how Paul writes this in 1 Corinthians,

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

To stand firm, is to be immovable. It’s to be a rock. It’s to have all of culture bearing down on you, telling you’re foolish for your hope in Christ, and to not waver an inch. This same word that Paul uses for like “act like men” is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament in Joshua 1:9, a favorite verse of mine,

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous [andrizomai]. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Men - We are in the midst of a cultural war. Put the politics aside for a second. There is exactly one target that our current culture hates. It’s all about one thing. The Bible. They hate the Bible because Western civilization largely was rooted on the meta-narrative of the Scriptures. And so if they truly want to deconstruct our society, they’ve got do away with the Bible. And so, those who confidently stand on God’s Word, boldly, unapologetically, will experience exactly what Jesus said they would. They’ll be slandered, labeled, and maybe worse. Onward Christian Soldier!

Conclusion

David Brainerd passed away at the age of 30 years old. He had fallen in love with the great Jonathan Edwards young daughter Jeshura. She was captivated by his love of Christ. Though they never married, she committed her self to caring for him in his final days as his body began to fully break down. In what is perhaps one of the more impactful statements from his diaries we read this as he approached his death,

“I do not go to heaven to be advanced, but to give honor to God. It is not matter where I shall be stationed in heaven, whether I hav a high or low seat there; but to love, and please, and glorify God is all. Had I a thousnd souls, if they were worth any thing, I would give them all to God; but I have nothing to give, when all is done… It is impossible for any rational creature to be happy without acting all for God; God himself could not make him happy any other way. I long to be in heaven, glorifying God with the holy angels; all my desire is to glorify God.”

Men, foster this kind of love of God in your life. Your families, your communities, they will follow you. God is worthy of every part of our existence. Hold nothing back. What a life!