Sodom Had No Bible

by Leonard Ravenhill

Sodom Had No Bible is a classic by one of America's foremost voices for revival. The book is a call for America to trust God for heaven sent revival. Ravenhill adds biographical sketches of great revialists, including Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Richard Baxter, John Wesley and many more.

Genres: Faith, Spirituality, Christianity, Christian Living, Theology

Paperback

First published March 1, 1979

About the author

Very little biographical information is available for Leonard Ravenhill. He rarely spoke of himself which is likely a reflection of his belief in exalting Christ and not self. Most of what we know about Ravenhill is from sources that knew him and the details he provided in sermons. He was an evangelist born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England in 1907 and was used by God in revivals in Great Brittan before moving to American in 1950. Leonard Ravenhill was known for his focus on revival and his writing on the subject including the popular title, Why Revival Tarries.
Ravenhill preached in churches of many denominations, but was not ordained by any. His preaching is marked by calling sinners to repentance, insisting Christians live lives marked by holiness, and encouraging deeper prayer lives. Ravenhill claims to have been saved at age 14, but says he was baptized by the Holy Spirit at age 18 indicating belief in a Pentecostal system. However, Ravenhill also said he never spoke in tongues and said that baptism of the Holy Spirit is the same thing Wesley called sanctification and also said the only evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is holy living. He rejected Christian Perfection, but preached a Wesleyan-Holiness higher Christian life theology. Ravenhill speaks of John Wesley frequently and wrote a biographical sketch of him. Wesley’s influence on Ravenhill is apparent.
Leonard Ravenhill was a mentor to Keith Green of Last Days Ministries based in Texas. Later in his life, Leonard moved to Texas close to Last Day Ministries where he led a weekly prayer meeting and taught classes before dying in November of 1994.

Reviews

[KP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I started to read it, I knew what to expect. When I started actually to read the first chapters, I couldn't put it down. When I finished it, this is all I can say: This is an alarming book; it will lead you to your knees.

[Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cualquier libro de este autor es difícil de leer. Hiere la sensibilidad cristiana. Te desafía hasta la médula. Enciende (en vez de apagar) al Espíritu Santo que está dentro.
En la misma tónica de "Why Revival Tarries?" (¿porqué no llega el avivamiento?), el autor nos habla claramente sobre lo difícil, sacrificado pero al mismo tiempo, gratificante de la vida cristiana. El cristianismo no es y nunca será un juego.

¿Porque el título? Si Sodoma, que no tenia iglesias, cristianos, seminarios ni Biblia, pereció bajo el fuego de Dios, ¿qué le puede esperar a una nación perversa que tiene todo estos elementos? Un juicio aún peor. Y no solo aplica a naciones, puede aplicar a cualquier entorno social (colonia, ciudad, etc.)

Quisiera animar a todo cristiano a que lo leyera. Pero la verdad, es difícil de leer (¿por algo será que otro de sus libros se llama "meat for men"?). Este libro NO es leche espiritual, es comida de la más fuerte y poderosa que puede existir.

Leonard Ravenhill era un profeta (me recuerda a los profetas menores). En todas las épocas, necesitamos profetas, y a través de sus libros, podemos seguir escuchando su voz profética.

Lástima que no habrá edición en español. Este tipo de libros muy rara vez son populares.

¿Quién desea avivamiento? ¿Qué estamos dispuestos a sacrificar por que llegue uno a nuestras vidas?

[Lance Towers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Sodom Had No Bible," Leonard Ravenhill contends that the Church needs another Pentecost. "We need God to send another cauldron of fire upon another upper room to another moribund band of believers." Asking God to fulfill His promise of a widespread outpouring of the Spirit is what Ravenhill gave his life for. This book stirs its readers to also claim the promises of God through prayer.

[Shaune Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so convicting...

[George Hunger · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Ravenhill's earlier writings (1971), Sodom Had No Bible is a plea for passionate pursuit of Christ in the midst of a morally and spiritually degrading society. It is certainly not as good as Why Revival Tarries, however, it has the same potential to stir the soul for those "who have ears to hear." This book is just as relevant today as it was in 1971....maybe even more so. Overall, a book worthy of investigation by any serious minded Christian.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book!

[Troy Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Written by a very powerful man. I got bored at the end with the autobiographies of certain early 19th-20th century preachers.

[Waking Eutychus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Ravenhill is always convicting

[Ramesh]

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[Agnel]

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[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books, and one I have read more than once. Its hard to put down, and would have it finished within a couple of days.

[Fraser · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was a bit dry. Enjoyed reading about past preachers...very interesting and inspiring.

[Christian Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and convicting book that calls Christians to live with boldness and to live in the Spirit. This books main goal is to show that the mission before the church to make disciples can only be accomplished by the power of the Spirit. Ravenhill gives many examples of how men have failed and how men have taken up the mantle to bring about revival via the Spirit of God. A timeless book that many could benefit from reading today. A lay person could benefit from this, but it is specifically written to the Pastor as there are many tips for preaching with unction this book.

[Jeff Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories at the end were challenging but I found Ravenhill’s own words a challenge. Always he brings fire and preaches through the pages of this book. If Sodom had no Bible, what excuse will we have on the day of judgment?

[Alex Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leonard Ravenhill is my favorite author and preacher. He never held back, he was a John the Baptist of his time. In this book he calls America to repentance in a way you won't hear anyone else put it. He was full of the Holy Ghost and you can still sense the anointing on his messages.

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for Christians. It did get a little less interesting at the end, but I am not much of a biography person. Most of this book deals w/ what we are looking at today years after this book was first written.

[Jacob Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Convicting!

[Danny Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book because I was both encouraged and challenged as a leader. I

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes we get so theologically obese, we forget the things of the Spirit. Ravenhill was full of knowledge, well-read, well-versed, knew his history, his culture. But this man knew how to stoke the flames and bring a cold saint to life again. His exhortation to prayer, to power, to passion makes you want to stop arguing over 500 year old mysteries, and remember that if Christ isn't present, the church is powerless to do anything with the doctrines we hold to, right or wrong.

These chapters are more essays on the spiritual condition of the times, and the remedy needed. Charles Finney once said you can print a sermon, but you can't print the fire. I disagree with Ravenhill - you can sense the unction by which he wrote as words birthed in a prayer closet.

I can't even begin to describe how necessary books like this are to anyone needing a reviving of their spiritual walk with the Lord. At the end of the book, he gives half a dozen or so mini-biographies of revivalists such as George Whitfield, Francis Asbury, John Wesley, and many I hadn't heard of that I thoroughly enjoyed and was inspired by how God used them.

Get this book, read it, highlight, make notes, and return to it time and again to be reminded that apart from the power of God, we labor in vain.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.