Faith of Our Fathers - A Study on the Word "Alas" with Vance Havner (08-31-25)
Air Date: August 28, 2025 | Host: WDAC Radio Company
Featured Speaker: Vance Havner

Episode Overview

This episode features the iconic 20th-century revival preacher Vance Havner in a soul-stirring exposé about the word "alas" as it appears in Scripture. Through biblical narrative and pointed application, Havner explores themes of defeat, disobedience, lost power, crisis, and ultimate hope, moving listeners from cries of "alas" to shouts of "alleluia." Havner uses his trademark wit, deep scriptural understanding, and down-to-earth delivery to challenge modern believers and church leaders to confront sin, reclaim spiritual power, and keep their eyes fixed on eternal hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Alas" of Defeat – Joshua 7 (00:43)

• Havner begins by referencing Joshua's use of "alas" after Israel's military defeat at Ai due to hidden sin in the camp (Achan).
• Key Point: The proper response to spiritual defeat is not lament but honest confrontation of sin, both corporately and individually.
  • “We're doing everything today, beloved, but deal with sin in the church. We dare not touch it with a 40-foot pole. Achan gets away with the wedge of gold and the Ananias and Sapphira club are not rebuked.” (03:29)
• The process of sanctification is continual and vital; tomorrow brings both the unknown and unavoidable realities like death and judgment.
• Calls for the church to stop masking or ignoring sin and instead to face it, exposing and repenting to restore victory.
  • “There won't be any victory until sin is exposed and the sinners are brought to repentance.” (07:22)

Memorable Moment:

• Havner asks listeners: “Do you have an Ai in your life? A place of defeat where the Canaanites have got the better of you?” (09:02)
• Draws four ‘A’s from the chapter: Ai (defeat), Alas (desperation), Achan (the cause), Achor (the valley of confrontation and hope).

2. The "Alas" of the Disobedient Prophet – 1 Kings 13 (12:05)

• The story of the prophet who disobeyed God’s direct instruction and was deceived by an older prophet.
• Key Point: The downfall of God’s servants often begins with seemingly minor compromises, especially after spiritual triumphs, exhaustion, or social pressures.
  • “The prophet who had turned down a king let another prophet deceive him.” (12:54)
• Discusses the dangers of religious leaders descending into worldliness or overfamiliarity, losing their distinct spiritual authority.
• Cites historical preachers and writers warning about the loss of gravity and integrity in the ministry:
  • “Alexander White says to preachers, your people will not care one straw what you say from the pulpit if you sup heartily with them afterwards.” (16:35)
  • “When you get to the place that your parishioners call you by your first name, you are in trouble. You are not supposed to be one of them, you are supposed to be ahead of them.” (18:00)
• Warns that even great ministers can become warnings instead of inspirations by failing to finish well.

3. The "Alas" of Departed Power – 2 Kings 6:1-7 (21:37)

• The loss and recovery of the axe head by the sons of the prophets: a metaphor for the loss of genuine spiritual power.
• Key Point: Much ministry effort is spent “chopping with the handle”—working in human strength without the Spirit’s power.
  • “There are a lot of preachers trying to chop with the handle and chopping twice as hard to keep everybody from seeing that they don't have any axe head on the hammer.” (22:00)
• The importance is placed on recognizing exactly where and when God’s power was lost, and specifically repenting and asking for restoration.
  • “A place to get back in God's will is where you got out… Have you ever shown God the place? He knows where it is. But have you ever dealt specifically with where you lost the power?” (23:41)
• Encourages claiming restoration by faith and not mere effort—“God restores lost power. He is the God of another chance.”

4. The "Alas" of Crisis & Overwhelming Adversity – 2 Kings 6 (Syrian Army) (25:18)

• Elisha’s servant responds with “alas” when surrounded by the enemy, but Elisha remains unfazed, seeing with spiritual eyes the forces of God on their side.
• Key Point: The church is often paralyzed by fear when it should instead “count its allies,” knowing that spiritual resources far outweigh adversaries.
  • “We're too inclined to count our adversaries and discount our allies. Oh, how we need to list our assets instead of bemoaning our liabilities. The saints of the past are on our side. The saints of today are on our side. The angels are on our side. And best of all, God is with us.” (27:04)
• Havner humorously recounts denominational differences stemming from “how to heal the blind," underscoring the pettiness of methods compared to the importance of genuine spiritual sight.
• “It’s no time for an alas. It’s time for an alleluia.” (30:15)

5. From "Alas" to "Alleluia" – Revelation 18-19 (32:13)

• The repeated “alas” in the lament over fallen Babylon (Revelation 18) shifts dramatically to a fourfold “alleluia” in Revelation 19 as the faithful rejoice.
• Key Point: The world’s systems end in lament, but belonging to Christ means ending in hallelujah and eternal victory.
  • “Thank God I'm lined up in a cause that ends in an alleluia. The alleluia of a victorious Christ. The rider on the white horse. The holy city that's soon coming down.” (34:00)
• Critiques those building “new Jerusalem” in the world’s own system, warning not to merge the church with fallen structures.
• Tells of “Bud Robinson’s” prayer in New York, thankful to see the city, but even more thankful not to want anything from it—illustrates Christian detachment from “Babylon.”

Closing Reflection (36:45)

• Personal testimony: Havner recalls carving “Heaven. I hoped to win” into his childhood chimney, his father greeting him after preaching, and anticipates a homecoming in glory.
• Comforts believers with the promise of the “white city, pearly white city… I have a mansion, my heart and crown, and I'm waiting, watching, and waiting for that white city that soon, thank God, [is] coming down.” (39:54)

Notable Quotes

• “God hasn't called us to raise Lazarus. God will do that. He has called us to roll away the stone. God won't do the supernatural thing till we do the simple thing.” (06:28)
• “Many a revival begins with a solemn message and dies when the preacher gets into the homes to laugh and talk it away in a round of hilarity… When you get to the place that your parishioners call you by your first name, you are in trouble.” (17:25, 18:00)
• “If the food was poisoned, [Elisha] made it fit to eat. If the water was bitter, he made it sweet. He could recover lost axe heads and put a widow in the oil business at a good profit. He was a mighty man… Neither lost axe heads nor large armies upset his equilibrium.” (25:28)
• “Oh, I don't care how it happened, friend. If it happened, Lord, open his eyes. It's no time for an alas. It's time for an alleluia.” (30:15)
• “Thank God I'm lined up in a cause that ends in an alleluia… I'm interested in another city. My citizenship's in heaven. I'm looking for a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (34:00, 35:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:43 – Introduction to “alas” in Scripture, focus on Joshua 7
• 09:02 – Four 'A's: Ai, Alas, Achan, Achor
• 12:05 – The disobedient prophet (1 Kings 13)
• 16:35 – Warnings from historical preachers about ministerial compromise
• 21:37 – Lost axe head (2 Kings 6:1-7); metaphor for lost power
• 25:18 – Elisha and the Syrian army: “alas” of crisis
• 27:04 – Counting spiritual allies, not adversaries
• 30:15 – It’s no time for an “alas,” but for “alleluia”
• 32:13 – From “alas” to “alleluia” (Revelation 18-19)
• 34:00 – The hope of heavenly citizenship
• 39:54 – Closing hymn: “In that white city, pearly white city...”

Tone & Language

Vance Havner’s tone is earnest yet conversational, incisive, often using gentle humor, vivid illustration, and old-fashioned phrasing. His language urges sobriety about sin, enthusiasm for God’s promises, and a vision for true revival.

Summary Usefulness:
Perfect for anyone seeking biblical depth, spiritual challenge, and encouragement to persevere—with practical applications and memorable, quotable wisdom for church and personal life alike.