"So instead of rehashing covered ground, in what ways do you see the similarities between him and Leonard Ravenhill?"
Ok. Since he was "taught" prayer (and it seems fathered in the Sprit) by Ravenhill, this is a good place to start. Hill has that "no-nonsense", rugged type of attitude and demeanor, like Ravenhill. He is how I might image Ravenhill at his age (which we don't see on this site). He is zealous and serious about the things of God.
He writes and reads poems. Here's an example for you taken from "Turn it Up!: Intense Heat from White Hot Revival"
"Everybody wants their name written down in glory. Everybody wants their name written down in heaven. Friend I do to. I want to go to heaven. But I want to tell you what I'm determined more than ever before in these days. I want my name somewhere else. I want my name on a list that really matters. I want my name on a list that causes all hell to look up. I want my name friend... Leonard Ravenhill used to say to us over and over again, he said 'Steve, I don't care if you're known from coast to coast. I don't care if they know you from England to Scotland, to China, to LA, Canada to Mexico. It makes no difference if you're headline news across the country. All that matters, Steve, is are you known in hell?..." (then Steve elaborates some more on this and then recites his poem below...)
[b]Lucifer's List[/b] There's a list, my friend, Hear it well. That's penned in red in the pits of Hell. It contains the names of the chosen few, "Jesus I know, but who are you?"
This list of names is a horror, you see, To the demons of darkness, they have to flee From those who are written down in this book They run so fast, not a second look.
These people are classified all by name, It all began when to Christ they came. Came to the Cross, looked at His face, Repented of sins, received His grace.
It all began to make sense that day, Convicted of sin, somthing's in the way Between God and man, great distance be, Who will close the gap for you and me?
His Son was sent, His Blood was shed, For without the Blood, the Bible said, There would be no pardon for mortal man. A life must be given. It was God's plan.
On that fateful day, the die was cast, The Lamb of God would be the last, The last to bleed upon the ground, For the sins of man, it would be sound.
The Blood, it dripped; the drops were heard In the corridors of hell, not a word. They trembled, they shook, as a cry came out. "Forgive them, Father." Then came the shout,
"Eli, Eli, Lama, Sabacthani!" He pierced the heavens with that fateful cry. "My God! My God! You've forsaken me!" Were the words of Jesus hanging on the tree.
Those words rang out for all to hear, The Son of God, He loved so dear. Sin separates, divides, keeps us from Him, But now the gap was closing in.
The demons shook; what they feared the most Was now reality to that cringing host. The Lamb of God had opened the way For you and me on that blessed day.
He died, was carried to the tomb, But He only borrowd that vacant room. For in three days, He would arise, As the King, with the keys of Hell, fire in His eyes.
Time went by and a man named Saul Was struck by God in the sight of all. He cried out, "What do I do?" That's all that mattered, his life was through.
Now he played a different part, A man of God, Christ in his heart. He blazed a trail, leading men to God. Hell took notes while the road he trod.
There came a day when Sceva's seven sons Were playing games with the Holy One. They used His name like a wind-up key, Hoping to score, win the victory.
The demons laughed, they roared in hell At those foolish men, they knew them well. Not as men of God, soldiers of the cross, But as fools who played with the name of God.
Yes, there's a list, my friend; hear it well, That's penned in red in the pits of hell. It contains the names of the chosen few, "Jesus I know, but who are you?"
Be a part, my friend, of this famous book, The one down there, please take a look. Are you written down? Better know it well. It Lucifer's list; are you known in hell? __________________________________________________
If you like the words, do yourself a favor and listen to him recite it.
Doesn't this poem sound like something Ravenhill might write? At least the content is a sure match.
As far as I can tell they are very similar doctrinally, etc. They hold similar views.
Steve is a big collector of books. He preaches a fiery, repentance-based message. He was close to Ravenhill until his death and constantly refers to him.
So there's a start. |