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The History of Revivals of Religion: Revival Library
The History of Revivals of Religion: Revival Library
William Allen
Email: librarian@revival-library.org
Copyright Information
This booklet is NOT in the public domain. To reproduce any of its
contents, in whole or in part, permission must be secured from Mr.
William Allen, Revival Publishing Company, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. It is
used here with his kind permission.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
FOREWORD
NOTE
CHAPTER I - The History of Revivals of Religion
Part I.
Early Church Revivals The Early British Church
Waldenses Revival John Wickcliffe Savonarola The Reformation
John Calvin John KnoxUlster Revival 1625.
Part II. German Pietism Moravian Revival Jonathan Edwards
The Great Awakening.
Part III. Brainerds RevivalThe PuritansThe Quaker Revival
Revivals in WalesThe Methodist PentecostCambuslang Revival
Missions the Result of RevivalsEarly American Methodist Revivals
Finneys RevivalsRevivals in Kilsyth and AberdeenAmerican Revival
1857-58.
Part IV. 59 Revival in Ireland59 Revival in Wales, England, and
ScotlandThe Salvation ArmyD. L. MoodyThe China Inland
MissionChristian Endeavour Revival.
Part V. C. H. SpurgeonWorld Student RevivalGeorge Muller
Billy BraySam Jones.
Part VI. Revival in UgandaPandita Ramabais RevivalThe Welsh
Revival 1904Revivals in China, Korea, and ManchuriaBilly Sunday
TorreyChapmanAlexanderPraying HydeRuanda Revivals
Youth for ChristBilly GrahamRevival in Korea 1950 Remarks.
Introduction
This book completes the "Revival Series." The following is a short account
of the ground of this work.
In 1936 God called me to devote my life to the evangelization of the
world. Since that time I have continually experienced the teaching of the
Holy Spirit as He led me to study the great revival movements of the
past, especially the life and writings of Charles G. Finney.
The idea of the Revival Series was an inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
which led to the founding of the Revival Publishing Co., in April, 1948.
The vision of this work is to provide keen Christians and young converts
everywhere with a course of instruction that will lead them naturally into
a life of efficient service in the cause of Revival and World
Evangelization.
God has set His seal upon this work. Ministers, evangelists, missionaries,
and Christians in many countries, have testified to definite blessing
received through the booklets.
Revival is the key to world evangelisation. If the Christians in every
country were revived, the world would be evangelised in a few years.
The world is before us. Nations are calling for the Gospel. Let us each one
begin today to take part in this holy war.
W. E. Allen.
February, 1951
Foreword
The greatest need of the world and the Church today is a mighty
manifestation of the Spirit of God. Before the days of the Finney revivals
there were only 200,000 church members in the United States. When
Finney ended his ministry, over three million had joined the churches.
The greatest days of the Church have been the days of revival. Nothing
can take its place. The best that man can do does not meet the need. Only
as God comes upon the scene in revival power are the problems solved.
I know of only one or two Bible Schools where a course of study is
offered on the History of Evangelism and Revival, and nothing is more
needed. Moreover, there are hardly any text books on the subject. I am
glad, therefore, that Mr. Allen has attempted to meet this need.
I sincerely pray that this new book on the history of revivals will stir and
awaken the Church throughout the world, and lead to the greatest
outpouring of the Spirit we have yet seen. There is nothing more
important for our day and generation and I heartily commend it.
OSWALD J. SMITH.
The Peoples Church, Toronto, Canada.
Note
The Revival Publishing Co. has been founded in order to publish vital
revival literature, and thus to raise up and train a worldwide army of soul
winners who will learn how to promote true evangelical revivals of
religion in every country.
How can this be accomplished? By the formation of Revival prayer and
witness groups, where these booklets will be studied and their
instructions carried out. God has set His seal upon the ministry of these
booklets in the raising up of groups of soul winners in different countries.
The greatest revivals in history started in a similar manner. Will you help
to form a Revival group in your district?
There are seven booklets in this series. All who study each booklet
thoroughly can take the Revival Series Examination. Those who pass this
examination will be given a Certificate. All details concerning this will be
sent on request.
Already some of the Revival Series booklets have been taken up for
translation into other languages, and we will be glad to hear from other
Missions or persons who desire to translate any or all of the Revival
Series booklets into foreign languages.
All gifts to this work, and profits from sales, will be used only in the
cause of revival.
We also invite Christians who are burdened for revival to join with us in
the circulation of these booklets. If the profits are used in the Lords work,
we are willing to supply any Christian with these booklets at Trade Price.
Chapter One.
History of Revivals
PART I
EARLY CHURCH REVIVALS
Page 7
TERTULLIAN writing about 200 A.D., vindicating the Christian religion,
said: Though we are strangers of no long standing, yet we have filled
all places of your dominions, cities, islands, corporations, councils,
armies, tribes, the senate, the palace, the courts of judicature. If the
Christians had a mind to revenge themselves, their numbers are
abundant, for they have a party, not in this or that province only, but in
all quarters of the world.
In 110 Ignatius spoke of bishops being settled in the ends of the world.
Before 180 Christianity had spread rapidly in Asia Minor and Egypt; we
also read of churches in North Africa, Gaul, Germany, Thrace, and
Thessaly. But the great increase in the number of Christians came in the
years 260-303. Of this period Eusebius writes, Who could describe those
vast collections of men that flocked to the religion of Christ, and the
illustrious concourse in the houses of worship? On whose account, not
content with the ancient buildings, they erected spacious churches in all
the cities.
Harnack estimated that in 303 the Christian population in Asia Minor
was nearly one-half of the whole, and that scattered throughout the
Empire they were a considerable minority. But the greatest proof of the
growth and strength of Christianity was that the Emperor Constantine
embraced the faith, and gave peace, wealth and power to the Church.
Scotland. It was also a learned Church; it had its own version of the Bible
and its own ritual.
St. Patrick (395-493) became the Apostle of Ireland. He said, I was reformed by the Lord, and He hath fitted me for being at this day what was
once far enough from me, that I should concern myself for the salvation
of others, when I used not to think even of my own. For about thirty
years St. Patrick preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, and established
churches, monasteries, and schools from which missionaries were sent
forth for four centuries after his death. A few lines from his famous
Breastplate hymnwhich he composed at Tara on the eve of his
historic interview with King Leogairereveal the spirit of the man and
the Gospel he preached.
Christ as a light, illumine and guide me!
Christ as a shield, oershadow and cover me!
Christ be under me, Christ be over me!
Christ be beside me on the left hand and right!
Christ be before me, behind me, about me!
Christ this day be within and without me!
Salvation dwells with the Lord, with Christ the omnipotent Word,
From generation to generationgrant us, O Lord, Thy grace and salvation.
From Ireland Columba went to lona and established a church and
monastery. During the following years he and his associates founded
churches, monasteries, and schools from the Orkneys and Hebrides south
to the Humber.
The mission of Augustin and his successors in the sees of Canterbury and
York so limited the field of the Irish and Scotch missionaries at home, that
they swarmed like bees into the dark places of heathen Europe. Ireland
was called the Isle of Saints,
Page 9
the University of the West. Copies of the Bible marked with
commentaries in Irish to the Teutonic, Scandinavian, and Italian peoples
are still extant.
Some of the leading Missionaries to Europe were: Columbanus, St. Gall,
BOHEMIAN REVIVAL
In 1315 it was reckoned that there were 80,000 true Christians in Bohemia
alone. This remarkable
Page 10
spiritual revival was partly the result of the labours of three reformers,
Conrad of Waldhausen, Milic of Moravia, and Matthias of Janow; it
prepared the way for the movement that was led by John Huss.
In 1467 some Bohemians, Waldenses, and Moravians united in what was
known as the Unitas Fratrum Church. When the Reformation dawned
they had four hundred churches, and were circulating their own
Bohemian Bible. This persecuted remnant of the followers of Huss
continued until 1715 when Christian David led a company of them into
Saxon Silesia where they settled on the estate of Count Zinzendorf.
JOHN WICKCLIFFE
In the 14th century Wickliffe reopened the Bible, and began to expose the
errors of the Roman Church. Many were converted through his preaching
and writings. He also founded an association of preachers called Lollards,
and sent them to preach up and down the country.
Wickcliffe was a man of prayer, and the reforms he advocated were the
result of his own spiritual enlightenment through reading the Bible. He
declared, The sacred Scriptures are the property of the people, and one
which no one should be allowed to wrest from them. Christ and His
apostles converted the world by making known the Scriptures, and I pray
with all my heart that through doing the things contained in this book,
we may all together come to the everlasting life.
John Huss embraced the doctrines of Wickliffe, and after exerting a
mighty influence for the Gospel inBohemia, he was martyred in 1415.
SAVONAROLA
After listening to a sermon from an Augustinian friar, Savonarola at the
age of twenty-three decided to adopt the monastic life. He became
famous as a preacher in the Lent of 1489, and shortly afterwards he was
elected Prior of St. Marks Convent, Florence.
Villari says, Wonderful was the effect of
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THE REFORMATION
Under the Roman Church millions of souls lived in continual fear of the
wrath to come. No doubt their cry came up before God and He came
down to deliver them.
Through bitter experience Martin Luther knew the spiritual agonies of the
people, and the failure of any good works to give assurance of salvation.
Then he began to read the Bible, and slowly the truth of Justification by
Faith dawned upon his soul.
It is wonderful to follow the growth of Luthers work. The Reformation
burned in his heart. He was possessed with divine strength and wisdom,
as he met each difficult situation.
Luther prayed hours every day. Once a spy followed him to a hotel. The
next day he told his employer that Luther had prayed nearly all night,
and that he could never conquer one who prayed like that.
Page 12
One day Luther was told that Melancthon was dying. He hurried to see
him, and aroused him from his stupor. Melancthon looked at him and
said, O Luther, is this you? Why dont you let me depart in peace? We
can't spare you yet, Philip, replied Luther; and turning round, he went
upon his knees, and wrestled with God for his recovery. From that time
Melancthon recovered. Luther said, God gave me back my brother
Melancthon in direct answer to prayer.
Luther knew what it was to travail in prayer, to wrestle with the powers
of darkness that engulfed the whole world. Listen to him in an agony of
prayer in the morning of the day when he had to make his defence before
the Diet of Worms. O Almighty and Everlasting God! How terrible is
this world! How weak is the flesh, and how powerful is Satan! O God! O
God! O God! Do Thou help me against all the wisdom of the world! For
this is not my work, but Thine. The cause is Thine, and it is a righteous
and eternal cause. O Lord! Help me! Faithful and unchangeable God!
Thou hast chosen me for this work. I know it well! Act, then, O God,
stand at my side, for the sake of Thy well-beloved Jesus Christ. Amen.
God answered this prayer immediately, and filled Luther with such
strength and wisdom that he won that day the greatest victory in the
history of the Reformation.
The Reformation soon spread over Germany, France, Switzerland,
Holland, Denmark, Poland, Sweden, and the British Isles. But behind this
mighty movement we must remember there were the agonising prayers
of millions of hearts; much preaching of the Gospel doctrines; and
through the invention of printing, a wide distribution of the Scriptures.
JOHN CALVIN
Through reading the Bible John Calvin became a wholehearted follower
of the Reformed faith, and before long he was a leader of the Protestants
in
Page 13
JOHN KNOX
John Knox the Scottish Reformer was a mighty man of prayer. Here is an
example of how he prayed, O Lord, give me Scotland, or I die ! After a
time of stillness, again the cry, O Lord, give me Scotland, or I die ! Once
more deep silence. Then again the cry with more intense pathos, O Lord,
give me Scotland, or I die. God gave him Scotland.
If ever the man and the hour struck together it was when John Knox
landed in Scotland in 1559, and commenced his history-changing tour
preaching root and branch reform. His trumpet-like call sounded over
mountain and moor, and within a few weeks the chief centres of Scotland
were won for the Protestant faith.
STEWARTON REVIVAL
This revival began in 1625, and continued for some years. Closely
following was the revival at Kirk of Shotts in June, 1630. Here a large
number of godly persons gathered for several days of prayer, and
conference. At least one whole night was spent in prayer, and when John
Livingstone preached, about five hundred persons were converted.
PART II.
GERMAN PIETISM.
In 1666 this movement began in the Lutheran Church under the ministry
of Spener. He was moved to oppose the dead orthodoxy that was
prevalent in many of the churches, and to work for a revival of true
religion. The pietists sought to promote Bible study, the development of a
lay ministry and practical Christian living. They believed that a blameless
life should be an indispensable qualification for the ministry, and that
preaching should be simple and direct. Riggenbach says, In less than
half a century pietism spread its influence through all the spheres of life,
and through all classes of society.
Spener and Franke also had an active part in the founding of the DanishHalle Mission, and in the training of such men as Count Zinzendorf, and
the missionaries Ziegenblag and Schwartz.
MORAVIAN REVIVAL
Page 15
This revival began in 1727. Previous to this the settlers at Herrnhut could
not live together in peace. Finally Count Zinzendorf gave tall his time to
work for a settlement of their differences.
On the 12th of May, 1727, they all, with great joy, gave themselves afresh
to God, and promised to bury their disputes for ever.
The following account of the revival is taken from the History of the
Moravians by A. Bost. From that time there was a wonderful effusion
of the Spirit on this happy church, until August the 13th when the
measure of Divine grace seemed absolutely overflowing.
Every day brought some new blessing. The Count applied himself to the
visiting of the brethren. This was the beginning of those little associations
which were afterwards called bands. These consisted of two or three
persons, who met together privately, to converse on their spiritual state,
over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of God were
seen in His sanctuary, Gods day was a delight, and His tabernacles were
amiable.
The new converts were fervent in spirit. They thirsted for the salvation
of souls. Unexampled efforts. were immediately employed for the spread
of the Gospel. Some went from house to house in their respective
neighbourhoods warning every man and teaching every man, and
exhorting all to turn to the Lord. Pious ministers were stirred to unusual
exertion, and old Christians renewed their youth. The Lord gave the
word; great was the company of them that published it.
They had deep convictions of the evil of sin, and of the peril of a
rebellious state. The love of God in Christ overpowered their souls. Their
views of the solemn realities of another world were vivid and heartaffecting. Their earnest appeals made the stout hearted tremble, awed
many a reprobate into silence, and wrung tears from daring and
hardened offenders. Tens of thousands bowed before the majesty of truth.
Some of the most powerful preachers emigrated to other States; and
wherever they went, the floods of blessing poured over the land.
PART 3
BRAINERDS REVIVAL
Page 19
After some years of difficult and almost fruitless work among the North
American Indians, David Brainerd saw a powerful revival commence in
July, 1745. It was in answer to agonizing prayer.
Brainerd wrote, July 26th. In the evening, God was pleased to help me in
prayer, beyond what I have experienced for some time. My soul was
especially drawn out for the enlargement of Christs kingdom; and for the
conversion of my poor people; and I relied on God for the
accomplishment of that great work.
My soul, my very soul longed for the ingathering of the poor heathen;
and I cried to God for them most willingly and heartily, and yet because I
could not but cry. I longed that the remaining part of my life might be
filled up with more fervency and activity in things of God.
August 2nd. In the evening I retired, and my soul was drawn out in
prayer to God, especially for my poor people, to whom I had sent word
that they might gather together, that I might preach to them the next day.
I was much enlarged in praying for their saving conversion, and scarcely
ever found my desires for anything of this nature so sensibly and clearly
disinterested, and free from selfish views.
It seemed to me, I had no care, or hardly any desire to be the instrument
of so glorious a work, as I wished and prayed for among the Indians; if
the blessed work might be accomplished to the honour of God, and the
enlargement of the dear Redeemers kingdom, this was all my desire and
care; and for this mercy I hoped, but with trembling. My rising hopes,
respecting the conversion of the Indians, have been so
Page 20
often dashed, that my spirit is as it were broken, and courage wasted, and
I hardly dare hope.
August 3rd. Having visited the Indians in these parts in June last, and
tarried with them some considerable time preaching almost daily, I now
found them serious, and a number of them under deep concern for an
interest in Christ. I preached to them this. day, Whosoever will, let him
take the water of life freely.
The Lord, I am persuaded, enabled me, in a manner somewhat
uncommon, to set before them the Lord Jesus Christ as kind and
compassionate Saviour, inviting distressed and perishing sinners to
accept everlasting mercy, and a surprising concern soon became apparent
among them. There were about 20 adult persons together, and not above
two that I could see with dry eyes.
August 6th. In the morning I discoursed to the Indians at the house
where we lodged. Many of them were tenderly affected, so that a few
words about their souls would cause the tears to flow freely, and produce
many sobs and groans.
In the afternoon I again discoursed to them. They seemed eager to hear;
but there appeared nothing very remarkable, till near the close of my
discourse; and then divine truths were attended with a surprising
influence, and produced a great concern among them. All seemed in an
agony to obtain an interest in Christ. It was surprising to see how their
hearts seemed to be pierced with the tender and melting invitations of the
Gospel, when there was not a word of terror spoken to them.
August 8th. In the afternoon I preached to about sixty-five persons, and
was favoured with uncommon freedom. There was much visible concern
among them; but when I spoke to one and another more particularly, the
power of God seemed to descend
Page 21
upon the assembly like a rushing mighty wind, and with an astonishing
energy bore down all before it.
I stood amazed at the influence which seized the audience: old men and
women, and some children, as well as persons of middle age.
and women who were adrift from the Church of England. They were
seeking for the truth, and were like sheep without a shepherd. In addition
to Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists, we read of Sabbatarians,
Seekers, Traskites, Millenaries, Familists, Etheringtonians, Fifth
Monarchy men, Muggletonians and many others.
George Fox was born in 1624. He was brought up in a Puritan home, and
could say, When I came to eleven years of age, I knew pureness and
righteousness. The Lord taught me to be faithful inwardly to God, and
outwardly to man. But in spite of his good life Fox was not at peace; he
went through years of spiritual darkness and conflict until one day he
seemed to hear a voice say to him, There is one, even Christ Jesus, that
can speak to thy condition. He said, My heart did leap for joy. My
desires after the Lord grew stronger. Though I read the Scriptures that
spoke of Christ and of God, yet I knew Him not but by revelation, as He
who hath the key did open, and as the Father of Life drew me to His Son
by His Spirit. In this way God prepared Fox to be His messenger to
seeking souls all over the land.
He obeyed Gods call and he said, I was glad that I was commanded to
turn people to that inward light, spirit, and grace, by which all might
know their salvation and their way to God; even that Divine Spirit which
would lead them into all truth. With and by this divine power and Spirit
of God, and the light of Jesus, I was to bring people off from all their own
ways, to Christ, the new and living Way, and to know the Spirit of Truth
in the inward parts, and to be led thereby.
William Penn wrote of Fox, He had an extraordinary gift in opening the
Scriptures. But above all he excelled in prayer. The most living, reverent
frame I ever beheld, was his in prayer. His
Page 23
personality radiated the holiness, and majesty, and love of God. Sinners
were afraid and often trembled in his presence.
Fox said that the Lord told him, If but one man or woman were raised
up by His power to stand and live in the same spirit the apostles and
prophets were in, he or she should shake all the country for ten miles
around. This is how the Quakers lived. When the people came to see
Friends honesty and truthfulness, and their lives and conversations did
preach and reach to the witness of God in all people, all the enquiry was;
where was a draper or shop-keeper or any other tradesman that was a
Quaker; in so much that Friends had double the trade beyond any of their
neighbours, and if there was any trading they had it. Then the cry was, If
we let these people alone they will take the trading of the nation out of
our hands.
The founding of the State of Pennsylvania is a glorious chapter in Church
history. Listen to William Penn making the Treaty with the Indians. The
Great Spirit who made you and me and all men, knows that I and my
children wish to live in peace and friendship with the Indians. The
children of Onus and the Indians should be brothers to each other; all
paths should be free and open; the doors of the white men should be
open to the Indians, and the doors of the Indians to the white men, and
they should make each welcome as friends. This league and chain of
friendship should grow stronger and stronger, and be kept bright and
clean, without rust or spot, while the waters run down the creeks and
rivers, and while the sun and moon and stars endure.
There were between fifty, and sixty thousand Quakers in England at the
end of the, first forty years of the Quaker revival. They were more
numerous than the Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Independents, and
Baptists combined. In proportion to the population they were even more
numerous in America, where they had founded two colonies, and where
they included
Page 24
more than half the inhabitants in several other important districts. These
statistics are taken from, A Short History of Quakerism, by E. B.
Emmott.
REVIVALS IN WALES.
Previous to the Evangelical Revival the moral and religious conditions in
Wales were even worse than in England. The first Welsh revivalist was
Griffith Jones, and his preaching up and down the country produced
lasting results. He was followed by Howell Harris, who was a powerful
preacher. Writing in his diary he says, I continued to go on exhorting the
poor people, and they flocked to hear me every Sunday evening. I soon
became the public talk of the country. The Word was attended with such
power that many on the spot cried out to God for the pardon of their
sins.
Harris was helped, at times, in his evangelistic labours, by Whitfield.
Daniel Rowlands was another Welsh revivalist, and he lived at the same
time. It is estimated that no less than seven revivals took place during his
ministry. He was a man of prayer. William Williams, of Pantycelyn, was
another of the Welsh revivalists of this period, but it was through his
hymns that his greatest work was done. These men were the leaders of
the Evangelical Revival in Wales, and the churches they founded were
called the Calvinistic Methodist Church.
Wales has been blessed with many local revivals. The story that follows is
very interesting. In a remote corner of Montgomeryshire the religious
friends of the place had heard so much about revivals elsewhere, that
they felt a deep longing for the same in their own locality, and they
resolved to hold meetings for prayer. One night they heard some
beautiful singing that seemed to come from the sky. The next night at
the opening of the service the Holy Ghost descended mightily upon them.
This proved to be the dawn of a great revival in the neighbourhood.
Lord.
This revival period continued for many years, and powerful revivals
prevailed in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky,
Tennessee, the Carolionas, and Georgia.
Harlan Page writes of a revival in New York, The Lord appears now to
be coming down on all parts of this great city, to arouse His children and
to awaken sinners. Thousands of Christians here are praying as they
never prayed before. Conversions are occurring in all parts of the city.
Churches are daily crowded to overflowing, and a most fixed and solemn
attention is given to the dispensation of the truth.
Christians at that time believed that, The Church is the Bride of Christ,
and the mother of his children. And that, No soul is ever converted
except as some believer has painfully travailed in birth for that soul.
During this period of American revivals, the Christians began to feel their
obligation to send the Gospel to the heathen. All the first foreign
missionaries were the fruit of the revivals : Hall, Newell, Mills, Judson,
Nott, Rice, Bingham, King, Thurston, and others. The American Board of
Page 29
Foreign Missions, the American Bible Society, the United Foreign
Missionary Society, and other missionary movements, were formed at
this time as a direct result of the revivals.
During these years many colleges were blessed with revivals. Dr. Tyler
wrote of Yale College having thirteen special revivals in a period of
twenty-five years.
The first missionary party, consisting of over thirty persons, sailed down
the Thames in the ship Duff on the 10th August, 1796, singing, Jesus at
Thy command we launch into the deep. This society sent forth many
great missionary pioneers and founders.
Robert Morrison worked for twenty seven years in China. He translated
the Scriptures, and compiled a dictionary and grammar. John Williams
gave himself to work in the South Seas. He discovered Raratonga, and
from Raiatea as a centre he carried the Gospel to many islands until he
was martyred in 1839. Through William Ellis much of Madagascar was
brought to Christ.
Robert and Mary Moffat spread the Gospel from Kuruman over much of
South Africa. David Livingstone died on his knees after thirty years in
Central Africa. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, and on the stone in
the nave are the words, His life was spent in an unwearied effort to
evangelise the native races. Thus was introduced the great missionary
period in the history of the Protestant churches.
EARLY AMERICAN METHODIST REVIVALS
Page 30
The following article is taken from the New History of Methodism, Vol.
II., p. 106. The early years of American Methodism witnessed an almost
continuous revival. Scarcely a society was formed which did not grow
out of a revival. The denomination grew because its preachers were
endowed with holy energy and an unction from on high. The revival in
Virginia was only one of many remarkable manifestations of divine grace
in the very earliest years of our history.
American Methodism grew after this manner, in no period of the early
history were revivals more general than during the years from 1784 to
1808. At one time all Maryland was ablaze with revivals. Similar signs
and wonders were seen in Virginia. In New England revival followed
revival, some of them or great power. In 1800 one of the most remarkable
spiritual movements of American history began in Kentucky, and spread
through Tennessee and Ohio with the amazing swiftness of a prairie fire.
FINNEYS REVIVALS
Charles Grandison Finney testified, I was powerfully converted on the
morning of the 10th of October, 1821. In the evening of the same day, and
on the morning of the following day, I received overwhelming baptisms
of the Holy Ghost, that went through me, as it seemed to me, body and
soul. I immediately found myself endued with such power from on high
that a few words dropped here and there to individuals, were the means
of their immediate conversion. My word seemed to fasten like barbed
arrows in the souls of men. They cut like a sword. They broke the heart
like a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this.
Sometimes I would find myself, in a great measure, empty of this power.
I would go out and visit, and find that I had made no saving impression. I
would exhort and pray with the same result. I would then set apart a day
for private fasting and prayer,
Page 31
fearing that this power had departed from me, and would enquire
anxiously after the reason of this apparent emptiness. After humbling
myself, and crying out for help, the power would return upon me with all
its freshness. This has been the experience of my life.
For ten years: from 1824-1834, Finney laboured continually in powerful
revivals. In 1834 he came to a great crisis in his life: his health was broken
through his labours in preaching and praying; also at that time the subject
of slavery was calling so much attention that revivals of religion were
beginning to decline. In the month of July, 1834, as he was on a voyage,
the burden became unbearable. The spirit of prayer was upon him, and
he spent one whole day in prayer, until he prevailed with God. After a
day of unspeakable wrestling and agony in my soul, just at night, the
subject cleared up to my mind. The Spirit led me to believe that all would
come out right, and that God had yet a work for me to do; that I might be
at rest; that the Lord would go forward with His work, and give me
strength to take any part in it that He desired.
In the Autumn of that year he delivered his famous Lectures on Revivals
of Religion. The reading of these lectures has resulted in hundreds of
them. There was a great pressure of the Holy Spirit upon, the minds of
Christians; and they seemed to bear about with them the burden of
immortal souls.
Those who have studied the statistics involved, state that only thirty per
cent of the converts of the best evangelists stand, but they further state
that eighty-five per cent of those converted in Finneys
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revivals proved by their subsequent lives that they were soundly
converted. The reason for this was that Finney was honest and thorough
in his treatment of sinners and young converts.
PART 4
1859 REVIVAL IN IRELAND
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This movement originated in the work of the Rev. J. H. Moore in Connor,
Co. Antrim. For years he preached the Gospel faithfully, but with little
outcome. News of revival in America stirred him to seek to promote a
revival among his own people. He often preached on, this subject, and
read accounts of great revivals of the past, to his congregation. The idea
of having a revival began to grip the people and it became the subject of
much prayer.
In 1857 the Sunday School teachers began to hold a weekly prayer
meeting, and as a result they soon noticed a marked increase of attention
and seriousness among the children.
After some months, four of the young men who were connected with this
prayer meeting began a secret prayer and fellowship meeting to pray for
revival. Rev. W. Gibson records, For a few months they had to walk by
faith. They wrestled on. They prevailed. The first conversion in answer
to their prayers occurred in December, 1857. From that time on, Humble,
grateful, loving, joyous converts multiplied. The prayer meetings began
to be thronged. This work of grace continued quietly for some months. It
was a time when the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer was convicting and
converting sinners. The process was a purely spiritual one, the Spirit of
God acting through the medium of the truth upon the spirit of man.
Prayer meetings began to multiply. The new converts, with other
Christians whose hearts the Lord stirred, engaged in the work of prayer
and exhortation with unquenchable zeal. At these meetings many
convictions have taken place. From one up to ten and twelve have been
arrested by the Spirit of God through the word and prayer of these
brethren. Even strong men have staggered and fallen down under the
wounds of their conscience.
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The Rev. J. H. Moore of Connor, where the revival broke out, reported
that they had, A network of prayer meetings over the whole district.
From here the revival spread in mighty power all over the north of
Ireland. There was no human leader in this movement; the Holy Spirit
was the leader.
From first to last the revival was a record of answered prayer. Never
was there such a time of secret and public prayer. In all directions prayer
meetings have sprung up, and that without number. They are conducted
in a manner of deepest solemnity, and with a burning earnestness for the
outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and for the conversion of souls. These
meetings have been signally honoured of the Lord. The Spirit has
descended in power.
THE 59 REVIVAL IN WALES
The news of the American revival created in many Welsh Christians a
longing for revival. Many churches held a day of prayer for revival on the
first Sunday of August, 1858.
In September of that year the Rev. H. R. Jones returned from America full
of the spirit of prayer and revival. The Rev. David Morgan came in
contact with him, and soon they were talking of seeking to promote a
revival.
I believe, said Mr. Morgan, that it would be no harm, and say the
least, if we did our best to arouse the country, and conduct prayer
meetings, even if after all none but man were in the whole thing. No, it
would not, replied Mr. Jones, but you try it,and it will not be long ere
God will be there with you.
Soon they were conducting prayer meetings. They literally drew prayer
out of the people. David Morgan received a remarkable enduement of
power, and from that time he became the leader of the revival.
By August, 1859, most of the churches in the southern counties of Wales
were crowded on Sundays
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and week days. Prayer meetings, morning and evening, were held
everywhere. God soon heard the cry of His people, and showers of
blessing descended upon them.
David Morgan visited the counties, towns, and villages preaching in the
power of the Holy Spirit, and a mighty harvest of souls was the result. It
is estimated that there were a hundred thousand converts in this revival.
Page 39
congregation. His cause was like a stagnant pool. The news of the
revival going on in other parts of the country had reached him. One day
he suddenly decided to abandon the preparation of his sermon, and to,
devote himself to prayer. He pleaded earnestly and passionately for five
hours.
The next day was Sunday. On entering the pulpit the conviction seized
him that something remarkable was about to happen. The people Were
unusually attentive. Their faces betokened solemnity and awe. When the
service came to an end several persons were broken down under the
Spirits influence. That service proved to be the beginning of a genuine
and permanent revival.
At this time England and Scotland were blessed with the ministry of a
number of remarkable evangelists. lncluded among them were, Reginald
Radcliffe, Brownlow North, Richard Weaver, Robert Aitken, William
Haslam, H. M. Grant, and Duncan Matheson.
D. L. MOODY
D. L. Moody was privileged to have as his mother one of those noble
high-minded women whose influence on their children has been such a
blessing to the world. He was born on February 5th, 1837, in Northfield,
Connecticut, U.S.A.
Moody was converted when he was seventeen. He afterwards testified, I
remember the morning after I had first trusted Christ. It seemed I was in
love with all creation. I was ready to take all men to my heart.
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By nature Moody was a man of great energy and impulse, and this
experience could only result in service to God.
The first Christian work he undertook was to rent some pews in the
church he attended, and he filled them each Sunday with young men
from the street corners and saloons. Then he turned his attention to
Sunday School work. He began to work in a Sunday School that had only
twelve children attending, and in a few years he was running a Sunday
School with an attendance of between 12,000 and 15,000 children. He
loved the children from his heart and they knew it.
This work continued to grow, and Moody knew that God was calling him
to give all his time to His service. He was enabled to obey this call
because of the blessing he received through seeing a whole class of girls
converted through their dying teacher. He said, God kindled a fire in my
soul that has never gone out. From that time he engaged in regular
evangelistic work.
In the year 1871 a great hunger and thirst for spiritual power took
possession of Moody. He said, I was crying all the time that God would
fill me with His Spirit. Well, one day, in the city of New York, God
revealed Himself to me, and I had such an experience of His love that I
had to ask Him to stay His hand. I went to preaching again. The sermons
were not different; I did not present any new truths; and yet hundreds
were converted.
The year 1872 contained an illustration of the power of prayer that had a
great influence on Moody. An invalid in North London prayed for God to
send Moody to London and through him to revive her church. Without
knowing anything about this Moody visited England, and preached in
that church for ten days. There was such a revival that 400 were
converted and joined the church. Moody could not understand it. He
knew that he had not prevailed in prayer for this blessing, but when he
met the invalid lady it all became plain.
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In June, 1873, Moody, and Ira D. Sankey, began their first extended
missions in some of the cities in the North of England. God blessed these
labours, and the work grew steadily. In November of the same year they
were invited to Scotland. The campaigns in the Scottish cities called the
attention of the whole country to spiritual things, and a wave of revival
spread over the land.
This was the effect of Moodys campaigns all over the British Isles and in
America.
Moodys ministry was unusually wide. In addition to his evangelistic
work, he founded the Schools and Colleges at Northfield, and the Bible
Institute in Chicago with its publishing department. He raised a
tremendous amount of money to help extend the work of the Y.M.C.A.
The Conferences he conducted for ministers, and students, and Christian
workers, were also an important part of his work.
All this work and worldwide influence was the natural result of Moodys
spiritual life; he loved Jesus; he lived with eternal Values in view; he had
a passion and burden for souls; he believed in prayer; and when he
preached he expected the Holy Spirit to convict and convert sinners.
Page 43
After a day of prayer and fasting he tells of one meeting. The Chief (Mr.
Govan) was speaking, while I sat behind praying, when suddenly the
Holy Ghost fell, and His power laid hold of the whole congregation. It
was a holy and awful time, and scores of men and women were
confessing sin and hindrance. Glory be to Him, our Lord was there to
heal as well !
Mr. Govan and the Pilgrims established Prayer Unions and
Conferences for the converts of the missions. Later on a Training Home
was opened in Edinburgh, Scotland; a similar work is being carried on in
Canada, and in South Africa. Scattered all over the world scores of
missionaries, evangelists, and Christian workers can be found who were
raised up by God through the instrumentality of the Faith Mission.
connection with the Chinese Evangelisation Society. For about six years
he was a keen and energetic missionary, but he was invalided home in
1860.
Mr Taylor made use of every minute of his enforced stay in England. But
in the year 1865 a new burden came into his life, it was a burden for
unevangelised inland China. He wrote, A million a month were dying in
that land, dying without God. This was burned into my very soul. For
two or three months the conflict was intense. I scarcely slept night or day
more than an hour at a time, and feared I should lose my reason. Yet I did
not give in.
The need was vast and Mr. Taylor shrunk from taking such a
responsibility upon his shoulders. He felt he could not do it, but at the
same time he knew too that he could not stand the burden he had for
these souls while nothing was being done for them. Worn out and really
ill with the burden he went to Brighton, and on Sunday, June 25th, as he
was walking by the seaside, God, by His Spirit, made known to his heart
that if he obeyed His call to commence a work for inland China, He
would carry all the responsibility. Thou, Lord, he cried with relief that
was unutterable, Thou shalt have all the burden ! There and then he
asked the Lord for twenty-four missionaries for inland China, and on
June 27th, he put 10 in the bank for the China Inland Mission. He had
prevailed with God; he was a new man physically and spiritually.
The C.I.M. has continued to grow, and has now about 1,100 missionaries,
and 4,400 Chinese workers. The history of how God has supplied the
financial needs down the years has been an inspiration to all Missions.
The success and blessing that has been enjoyed by this mission, in great
measure, is the result of the fact that Hudson Taylor, like Jacob, as a
prince had power with God and men, and prevailed.
We have not room in this book to outline the history of other foreign
missions. The history of the
Page 45
foundation of each mission is essentially the same; in each case there was
a burden for souls; there was travail in prayer until God came and called
out missionaries, and moved Christians to give money, and to pray for
the evangelisation, of the world.
PART 5
C. H. SPURGEON
Page 46
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born in Kelvedon, Essex, on the 19th June,
1834. At the age of sixteen he was converted through hearing a Primitive
Methodist preaching on the text, Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the
ends of the earth. Spurgeon said, I looked to Him; He looked on me;
and we were one for ever.
Soon after his conversion he joined the Baptist community in Cambridge,
and became a lay preacher. His fame as a preacher began to grow, and at
the age of seventeen he became pastor of the Waterbeach Church. In
those days he worked hard, and gave a great deal of attention to the
writings of the leading Puritans.
In 1854 he was called to be pastor of New Park Street Chapel, London,
and very soon people all over the country were talking, of the wonderful
Boy Preacher. His sermons began to be printed and were read all over
the world. For forty years he preached to immense audiences, and won
tens of thousands of souls to Christ.
In his Autobiography Spurgeon reveals the secret of his amazing
ministry. When I came to New Park Street Chapel, it was but a mere
handful of people to whom I first preached; yet I can never forget how
earnestly they prayed. Sometimes they seemed to plead as though they
could really see the Angel of the covenant, present with them, and as if
they must have a blessing from Him more than once, we were all so awestruck with the solemnity of the meeting, that we sat silent for some
moments while the Lords power appeared to overshadow us; and all I
could do was to pronounce the Benediction, and say Dear friends, we
have had the Spirit of God here very manifestly tonight; let us go home
and take care not to lose His gracious influences.
Page 47
Then down came the blessing; the house was filled with hearers, and
many souls were saved. I always give all the glory to God, but I forget
Thus was founded The Student Volunteer Movement which had as its
Membership Declaration, It is my purpose, God permitting, to become a
foreign missionary. This Movement spread to many countries and
through its influence it is estimated that over 15,000 young people went
to the Mission Field.
The Worlds Student Christian Federation was founded in 1895.
Commencing with five national Movements, the Federation grew until it
comprised over twenty, representing about 300,000 members. Each
student group carries on a Gospel witness, prayer meetings, Bible Study,
and a study of Missions. The history of the Movement presents a
challenge and inspiration to all members to work for revival in this
generation.
GEORGE MLLER
Mr. W. H. Bergin wrote, In the year 1836, George Muller started out to
give proof in an unbelieving world, and amidst divided Christians, that
God is still the living God, and now, as well as thousands of years ago,
He listens to the prayers of His children, and helps those who trust in
Him. Looking round for some method of demonstrating this fact, he
chose the care of destitute orphan children.
In order that it might be quite plain that God was helping His servant,
he determined to abstain from any appeals to man for financial
assistance. God honoured his faith, and so blessed and prospered his
dependent servant, that, from a small beginning in a hired house, he went
on and expanded the work until he had built five large Orphan Houses,
with accommodation for 2,050 children.
Page 49
God enabled him to continue in this service for sixty-two years, until at
the age of ninety-two years, the Lord called him Home. Up to that time,
9,725 children had entered the Homes, and 988,829 had been received
for the Orphans, as the result of prayer to God alone.
In addition to this Mr. Muller received 392,341 for his work in
BILLY BRAY
From his conversion Billy Bray was filled with a holy rapture of soul
which nothing could restrain. His words, his tones, his looks, had a
magnetic power. He could no more help speaking of Christ and His
salvation than the sun can help shining, or the trees in the spring can help
budding and blossoming into beauty and life.
This little Cornish miner was on fire for God, and for the rest of his life he
preached the Gospel faithfully, inspired the Christians, visited the sick,
and with his own hands built churches. The story of his life has been a
blessing to thousands; it is a revelation of how God can take up the weak
things and use them for His glory.
SAM JONES
After being saved from the depths of sin Sam Jones said of the Lord Jesus,
There is music in His name, a charm in His presence, and life in His
touch. In 1872 he entered the ministry and soon he was recognised as a
man who possessed the eloquence of
Page 50
earnestness and action, the fire of glow and passion, the surprises of
thought, the wit, humour, ridicule, irony, sarcasm, invective, pathos,
sympathy, love, humanity, and faith which made him the most
sensational preacher in the American pulpit.
But he was also endued with power from on high. Wherever he went the
PART 6
REVIVAL IN UGANDA
This revival was led by Pilkington in 1893. Hundreds were converted,
and a blessed influence extended far and wide. Pilkington wrote, A
hundred thousand souls brought into close contact with the Gospel; two
hundred buildings raised by native Christians in which to worship God;
two hundred native evangelists and teachers entirely supported by the
native Church; the power of God shown by changed lives; and all this in
the centre of the thickest spiritual darkness in the world.
In 1899 there were over four hundred churches, more than seventeen
thousand baptised members, and nearly nine hundred native workers.
The secret of this movement was that the leaders realised their absolute
powerlessness to meet the need of the people and yielded themselves to
the Holy Spirit.
The revival meetings took the form of the spontaneous prayer meetings.
The Holy Spirit was the great Leader of the meetings, and the people
became amazingly sensitive to His guidance. The revival was also
powerful in many places that Evan Roberts did not visit.
The meetings were full of the spirit of prayer. Evan Roberts was often in
an agony of prayer, and he drew floods of prayer out of the people, He
observed that the success of a meeting in saving souls, was in proportion
to the amount of fervent prayer in that meeting.
that he did not receive any extraordinary personal blessing, apart from
the spiritual preparation already mentioned. The Holy Spirit began to
work quietly.
At this time there was a wonderful revival in Korea, and Goforth was
invited to visit that country. He said, The Korean movement was of
incalculable significance in my life, because it showed me at first hand the
boundless possibilities of the revival method. Korea made me feel, as it
did many others, that this was Gods plan for setting the world aflame.
The Korean revival was preceded by months of prayer. Of one group
Goforth says, Those missionaries were just ordinary people. I did not
notice any outstanding figure among them. They seemed to live and
work and act like other missionaries. It was in prayer that they were
different. Those missionaries seemed to carry us right up to the very
Throne of God.
Page 55
After this Goforth told the story of the Korean revival to missionaries in
China. In this way a prayer movement for revival was started which
prepared the way for Goforths revival ministry in China and Manchuria.
BILLY SUNDAY
Billy Sunday was a typical American from the middle-west. As a boy he
learned many lessons in the school of poverty and toil. At the age of
twenty he became a professional base ball player, and for some years he
went along in the way of the world, until one Sunday afternoon in the fall
of 1887, after listening to an open air service, he left his friends, saying,
Im through. I am going to Jesus Christ. On his knees he staggered out
of sin into the arms of the Saviour.
From the first, Sunday was out and out for God. He soon became a
Y.M.C.A. secretary, and later. he was a helper in some of the great
Chapman-Alexander campaigns. After Dr. Chapman retired from
evangelistic work, Sunday was invited to conduct meetings in the small
town of Garner, Iowa, and from that time his services were in constant
TORREYCHAPMANALEXANDER.
Mr. George T. B. Davies says, It was nothing less than a great volume of
prayer that sent Dr. R. A. Torrey and Mr. C. M. Alexander sweeping
round the world like a gale from heaven. Their meetings in Melbourne,
Australia, were preceded by I,700 cottage prayer meetings. No wonder
multitudes were saved. For three years they held meetings in Great
Britain and again the cities were shaken by the power of God as in the
days of Moody and Sankey. The very atmosphere of heaven was in the
meetings.
And what was the secret of it all? Dr. Torrey told me that during their
three years of meetings 20,000 people were banded together in Prayer
Groups praying for their meetings.
From 1908 the Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D.D., and Mr. Alexander worked
together in similar worldwide campaigns. Multitudes of souls were saved
and tens of thousands of Christians were wonderfully revived. Prayer
was always given first place. Dr. Chapman said, Revivals are born in
prayer. Whole nights of prayer have always been succeeded by whole
days of soul-winning.
PRAYING HYDE
John Hyde was brought up in a godly home at Carthage, Illinois, U.S.A.
As a young man he went
Page 57
as a missionary to India, and his wonderful ministry of prayer was
started in the early days when he was driven into the secret place with
God to seek for victory over sin in his own life.
Soon he began to share the sufferings of Gods heart over sin. Often he
broke out into tears over the sins of the world, and of professing
Christians. He pleaded for them with sobsdry choking sobsFather,
give me these souls or I die.
The revival blessing experienced at the Sialkot Conventions from 19041910 was the direct result of the fervent prayers of Hyde and a group of
his friends who spent days and nights in the special prayer room. During
those years Hyde was led, first of all, to pray for one soul each day, until
he was seeing two, three, and four souls saved each day in direct answer
to prayer. The burdens he carried in prayer cost him his life, but he being
dead yet speaketh.
The following story illustrates how his example inspired other Christians.
A lady missionary had worked hard for many years in her district, and
none of the work was bearing real fruit. She read of Mr. Hydes prayer
life, and resolved to devote the best hours of her time to prayer and
waiting on God.
In less than a year what a change! New life everywherethe wilderness
being transformed into a garden. Fifteen were baptised at first, and one
hundred and twenty-five adults during the first half of the following
year.
Another year passed and she wrote: The spirit of enquiry is increasing in
the villages and there is every promise of a greater movement in the
future than we have ever yet had. Our Christians now number six
hundred in contrast with one sixth of that number two years ago.
W. P. NICHOLSON
In 1921 the Rev. W. P. Nicholson said, The revival which ought, to come
is a revival that will make the preachers weep in their pulpits. Lord, let it
come!
Page 58
Let it strike Ireland, though it blow the French and classic music out of
our choirs and the feathers out of our bonnets. Let us cry to God night
and day for this.
About a year later Mr. Nicholson was conducting great revival campaigns
which stirred the whole country, and resulted in the conversion of
thousands of men and women. The Christian Workers Unions which
were established in many towns, and the number of converts who
became ministers, missionaries, and leaders in all branches of Christian
work, are evidence of the great blessing experienced in those days of
revival.
GEORGE AND STEPHEN JEFFREYS
George Jeffreys was converted in the revival of 1904 when the power of
God swept through the Welsh valleys. The Rev. W. G. Jones of the
Congregational Church, Maesteg, said, At the open-air revival services I
always found George Jeffreys at my side. I knew he was a chosen vessel.
In 1912 Mr. Jeffreys began to prepare for the ministry, and in the years
that followed he gained fame as an evangelist who was able to pack the
largest halls in the British Isles with eager listeners.
There were Ten thousand decisions for Christ in ten weeks in
Birmingham. Fourteen hundred conversions in venerable York. Fifteen
hundred in Brighton, in Dundee, in Glasgow. Twelve hundred in
Nottingham. Two thousand in Leeds. Three thousand in Cardiff. Twelve
thousand in Switzerland during five weeks in 1935. Mr. Jeffreys brother
Stephen conducted similar notable campaigns in the British Isles and
other countries.
RUANDA REVIVALS
In 1922 some C.M.S. missionaries began to work in Ruanda, and for years
the work seemed most successful until in 1927 some of the leading
Christians began to fall back into sin.
Page 59
One of the missionaries, Jack Warren, being deeply concerned, asked for a
Week of Prayer to be held at home and on the field. During this week
many pleaded with God for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit From that
time great crowds began to attend the services. The Spirit of God was
Working on the hearts of the people, and this experience made the
missionaries believe in the possibility of a true revival even among the
uninstructed heathen.
In 1932 another revival began in the Gahini Hospital. In 1933 great
blessing was experienced at one of the African Conventions. This resulted
in a new evangelistic zeal among the native Christian.
Of this period Dr. Stanley Smith in Road to Revival writes, Let no one
imagine that a work in which the Spirit of God is manifesting His power
is going to be easy or comfortable. Within, it is a story of many prayers
The Bishop of the Lutheran church said to me, Brother Stewart, I wish
to thank you for bringing revival to the Lutheran church of Hungary, as
well as other Protestant churches. I replied, Brother, you are wrong,
revival came to your church, and hundreds of your vicars have been
saved, and tens of thousands of your people have been saved, because of
the agonising spirit of one woman.
Many times in Europe, when I came into the theatre, or the cathedral, or
the ice skating rink where our meetings are being held, all I can hear are
sobs from the people of God burdened for the salvation of loved ones.
During the time of revival in Latvia, which lasted six years, again and
again, the choir of 200 voices could not sing the invitation hymn. They
were so burdened for the souls of men.
BILLY GRAHAM
The Christian world has been stirred by the news of the great evangelistic
campaigns which are being conducted by Dr. Billy Graham in America.
This movement started in Los Angeles, and Dr. Graham reveals the secret
of it. He says, The Los Angeles campaign has humbled me and driven
me to my knees as never before. The success of the campaign is due to
three things:
(1) The prayer of Gods people. It was the people who prayed who made
the difference. What power there is in prayer! Ive never realised it before
in all my life and ministry. It has given me a tremendous blessing in my
own heart. (2) The power of the Holy Spirit. I have never in all my life
seen men and women under such conviction of sin. (3) The power of the
Word of God. How God blessed the plain and simple Word of God in this
campaign.
laymen in the North of Ireland met in Belfast for the Inaugural Meeting of
the Worldwide Revival Movement.
This Movement has grown out of the work of the Revival Publishing Co.,
and aims to promote revival in every denomination through the
Revival Series books, Revival Conferences, and Prayer Groups. Any
Christians who wish to become members should write to: The Secretary,
Worldwide Revival Movement, 15, Slemish Way, Lisburn, N. Ireland.
RECENT NEWS
Summing up the present position in America, Horace F. Dean writes,
Great masses of people are coming under the sound of the Gospel as
never before in our generation. Revival fires are burning in scores of
individual churches. A sweeping continent-wide evangelistic movement
is on. God-anointed evangelists are reaping a harvest in every part of the
U.S.A. and Canada. The masses are being stirred.
The tides are rising! News of revival blessing is coming from many
countries. Evangelists are conducting successful campaigns all over the
British Isles. Almost one hundred years ago the English speaking
countries experienced one of the greatest revivals in history. Let us pray
that God will visit the whole world with an even greater revival in this
century.
REMARKS
Page 64
We have seen a little of the tremendous blessing that revivals have been
to the world. They always bring new life and power into the Church;
produce a new generation of soul winning ministers, missionaries, and
Christian workers; and extend a blessed influence far and wide. The
obligation of Christians to promote revivals is equal to the tremendous
amount of good they produce.
This short history of revivals illustrates three things:
meetings would be a thousand times more effective if at least the first half
of the prayer time were given up to silent prayer.
After a stirring address Christians feel the love of souls and their faith in
God warm and strong and they feel like praying. Let them pray silently.
Let there be perfect silence and each soul will forget everyone else, and
will deal alone with God.
Keen Christians will love such prayer times, and great work will be done
in the spiritual realm. We are living in a time when life is one mad rush.
Let us give Christians a chance to be alone with God in the prayer
meeting, and they will love it and will begin to make more time for such
blessed communion with God.
Certainly the latter part of the meeting should be open for audible prayer.
But Centre members would do well to make a vow never to allow the
devil to use cranky, egotistic, or verbose people, to spoil their prayer
meetings. Such persons should be firmly and kindly dealt with. Persons
coming in late also spoil a prayer meeting. It is important to stop these
things in the beginning.
Such a prayer meeting can result in continuous revival in a church, and
this is its object. If it is carried on in the right spirit, it will have the
support of the whole church.
Page 67
The remainder of this chapter outlines how members can work to
promote revival, but unless all this work is backed up with effectual
prevailing prayer; unless it is all carried out in the spirit of prayer, it will
not promote revival.
2. Evangelism. The aim of each Revival Centre is to evangelize in revival
power for every creature in the district, and to win and train for service
all the young people connected with the church.
The task of winning and training young people calls for deep love for
them, and a clear understanding of their surging energies, feelings, and
ambitions. The most powerful factor in winning young people is a leader
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The greatest need to-day is to reach the masses outside the Church. First
of all, the children. Tens of thousands of children in our country never
attend a Sunday School. Sunday is a wild holiday for them. This is a
GOSPEL SERVICES.
All over the country there is a great need for Gospel Services to be held.
Here Christians have a Home Mission Field, and if they are
understanding and sympathetic, people everywhere will be glad of their
services. Premises for these meetings can be obtained, even if they must
be conducted in the homes of the people.
Young Christian, you love Jesus, you love souls, and you are the very one
to help these people who are without God and without hope in the world.
Dare you sit in ease and comfort among other Christians while these
millions are going to hell?
WOMENS MEETINGS.
If a Revival Centre has some lady members with sympathetic and
understanding hearts, they could do a wonderful work in giving some of
their time to visit the homes in the district and conducting womens
meetings. There is a vast need for this type of work, and if you win a
mother, she can win her children and the father will soon come in too.
These meetings can be held in the homes of the people. Christian
womenthousands of mothers in sin, darkness and misery look now to
you to brighten their lives
PERSONAL WORK.
The best personal worker is the Christian who is recognized by all who
know him as steady and consistent. Here I would add that one of the
most effective forms of personal work is to give a person a gift of a New
Testament, on the condition that he will read a portion every day.
VISITATION EVANGELISTS.
This type of work is being done in many places with great success. Two
workers visit the homes of the people when the husband and the wife are
at home. They conduct a little service and invite the people to attend local
meetings.
MISSIONS.
In addition to what has been said in the previous booklets I would add
the following:
Instructions on the way of salvation should be included in every sermon.
Persons should be encouraged to decide for Christ at any time or in any
place, on the understanding that they will report to the evangelist, and
publicly witness to this on the following night by sitting with other new
converts in seats specially kept for them in the church or hall where the
mission is being conducted. When a sinner is truly anxious about his soul,
it is often too much of a strain and distraction for him to be expected to
deal alone in his heart with God, and at the same time to make a public
decision.
FOLLOW UP WORK.
This is as important as the mission in the salvation of souls. See that each
convert joins a live church, and begins at once to have regular times of
Bible reading and private devotion. Encourage them to join the Revival
Centre. Make each feel that you are a true personal friend.
PURITY WITNESS.
In 1885 the Salvation Army began rescue work among fallen women and
girls. The revelations of how even very young girls were being ruined,
body and soul, caused a stir which called the attention of all England.
There is a terrible need for a clear Purity Witness
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all over the world to-day. In the cause of a true revival of religion,
Christians must make a firm stand in this matter, and expose with a clear
voice, not only the sins of adultery and fornication, but also the sins that
lead to them: seeing sensual picture shows, dancing, reading low novels,
indulgence in flirting and petting. Every Christian should be a living
testimony against these sins, and should rebuke openly those who
indulge in them.
Chapter III.
Revival and World Evangelisation
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OUR Lords command to the Church is still Go ye into all the world,
and preach the Gospel to every creature. This chapter outlines how each
Revival Centre can contribute to the cause of world evangelisation in the
widest sense.
It is going to cost to complete this task. It will mean much agonizing
prayer, continual sacrifice, tears, sweat, and blood; but it is our privilege
and duty to engage in this holy war.
The Gospel is now being preached in almost every country in the world;
there are thousands of young Christians who are willing to be trained to
complete the evangelisation of the world; a tremendous amount of wealth
is in the hands of Christians. This is a day of opportunity. But we need to
remind ourselves that men have preached the possibility of evangelizing
the world before, and it has not been accomplished. There are more
heathen in the world to-day than there were fifty years ago.
This task can only be completed by men who live and work in the spirit
of St. Paul. I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus
Christ, and Him crucified. And my speech and my preaching was not
with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit
and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but
in the power of God. And He said unto me, My strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
In order to evangelize the world an adequate number of missionaries and
evangelists must be called out
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by God. How will this be done? Jesus said, Pray ye the Lord of the
Harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His Harvest. To ensure
that men of God will go forth in His power, they must be called by God in
answer to prayer.
To support such an army, Christians must give their money regularly and
intelligently. It is Gods money and should be given where it will
accomplish most in saving souls.
But above all else, what is most needed by missionaries to-day, and will
be most needled in the future, is an effectual prayer backing. We need
Christians who will pray like this man spoken of by Finney, Said a good
man to me, Oh, I am dying for the want of strength to pray. My body is
crushed, the world is on me, and how can I forbear praying? I have
known that man to go to bed absolutely sick, for weakness and faintness,
under the pressure. And I have known him pray as if he would do
violence to Heaven, and then have seen the blessing come as plainly in
answer to his prayer, as if it were revealed, so that no person would
doubt it any more than if God had spoken from heaven.
Shall I tell you how he died? He prayed more and more; he used to take
the map of the world before him, and pray, and look over the different
countries and pray for them, till he absolutely expired in his room,
praying. Blessed man! He was a prevailing prince in prayer.
THE CALL.
To promote revivals of religion at home is the aim of every Centre, and
this is the first and greatest contribution that can be made to world
evangelisation. When young people experience revival blessing you soon
find them expressing a desire to enter training for the home ministry or
the mission field. Here they begin to wonder what it is like to be called
by God.
The first step to a real call is to be definitely surrendered
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to God; to be willing to do His will whatever it is; God is perfectly free to
call any Christian who is surrendered to Him in this way.
In many cases men grow into their calling. A young man begins to take
occasional meetings, God blesses these efforts and souls are saved. He
next becomes a local preacher, God continues to use him, and he enters
the regular ministry of some denomination. In this way God raised up the
early Methodist ministers, the early Salvation Army officers were
provided in the same way, and the same thing has happened in nearly
every denomination; it is going on all the time.
Some calls come in the form of an impression. From childhood Hudson
Taylor had the impression that he was called to China. From the day of
his conversion Finney had the impression that he was called to preach the
Gospel. This call is something deep down in a persons consciousness.
Many people have had sudden calls, sometimes to a certain work, or to a
certain place. In some cases it may take the form of a revelation of the
future. Many Christians have experienced God speaking to them as they
have read some passage of Scripture. Others have been called by
receiving a burden for souls in a certain place.
There is one essential element in every real call, and that is a sincere
desire to win souls. Young people with a real call, may have mixed
thoughts and ambitions; but if they love the Lord Jesus and lost souls,
they can become wonderful channels for God. A call, however clear, is no
guarantee of success. Many have had wonderful calls and have shown
great promise, yet they have failed. Obedience to God must be continual
or failure is certain.
SUPPORT OF STUDENTS.
When a young Christian is called, the question of financial support
naturally arises. In many denominations
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this is done in a systematic and honourable way. In other cases Go to a
railway station and you will see a company of people around someone.
Go nearer, and you will see a young woman with tears in her eyes saying
goodbye, to her parents and friends. What is she doing? She is going
into training for the mission field sacrificing the comfort and securities of
home for the sake of God and souls.
There are men in the group. Are they going, too? No fear! They are going
back to a warm home to sit in a cushioned chair. Will they support that
girl? No! They say,
God has called her, and He will look after her.
The same is true of many missionaries. They sacrifice the comforts of
home and climate, and risk their health and life for the sake of souls, and
behold, on top of this many Christians think that they should be willing
to live without any guaranteed support.
In the Old Testament we see Gods detailed care for the support of the
Levites. In the New Testament we have the plain declaration, They
which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
The following plan should be used. It is based on the usual system of
Christians giving the tenth of their income to the Lords work.
If a Christians tenth amounts to ten shillings per week, of this six
shillings should go each week to the support of a missionary student, or
regularly to a foreign mission. This leaves him four shillings each week
that can be given to his church or local Christian work.
When a young Centre member is called to go into training, he should
inform the secretary of his Centre, and the members will consider his
case, and if they are satisfied with his spiritual history, and work in
connection with the Centre, and that he is called, then let them agree to
support him.
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The benefits of this system will be that the supporters will all know the
student, and there will be a bond of fellowship and love; they will also
pray for him with more feeling and interest. This will be a most important
part of the work of the Centres to choose out suitable students. If
members are not satisfied with an applicant, let them put him on
probation, and prove him.
It should be mentioned that there are some evangelical churches which
support a large missionary work of their own, and whose members give
the whole tenth of their income to the church, knowing that it will be
used to spread the gospel at home and abroad.
HOME MISSIONS.
During recent years it has become increasingly clear to missionary leaders
that the time has come, in most parts of the world, for missionaries to put
the burden of evangelisation on the naitive Christians, and to train them
for this work. "The native with his bundle on his back marches into the
town attracting no attention, and preaches Christ and Him crucified; men
and women are born again and a church is brought into being. He knows
the language and customs, as well as the difficulties and mentality of his
own people, better than the missionary can ever hope to.
In view of this situation a new type of missionary is needed, and this
should be kept in mind by young people in training. The time seems to be
ripe for Foreign Missions to develop Home Mission branches, in order to
prove the ability of men and women to win souls, and to train others to
be soul-winners, before they are sent forth.
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Conferences like these will draw together the living members of the
Church, and under the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be
strengthened and inspired to live in revival blessing. These Conferences
can be a mighty force in local revival, and world evangelisation.
THE POSSIBILITIES.
When Jeroboam became king of Israel he made two golden calves and led
the nation to the worship of idols. Listen to Gods judgement on him and
the nation, The Lord shall smite Israel, and He shall root up Israel out of
this good land, and shall scatter them. And He shall give Israel up
because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to
sin.
This king had power to lead nation into sin. Jehoshaphat a king of Judah
was a reformer, and he led the people back to God. Every leader of men
has a tremendous influence. Few men are in a position to exert such an
influence for God as ministers and preachers generally. If, all over the
world, these men would use their influence aright they could turn
millions of people to God. If they do not, God will require it at their
hands.
Listen to Finney speaking solemnly to ministers and preachers.
Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality
prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay
of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks
moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the Church is
degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses
its interest in religion; if Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is
responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact my dear brethren; but let us
lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to
the morals of this nation.
Not only preachers, but every editor of a religious paper, every church
officer, every Sunday School teacher, every Christian worker, and every
individual
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Christian has a degree of influence that he is responsible to use for the
glory of God and the salvation of souls.
INVITATION TO ALL.
In order to promote this work of raising up an army of soul-winners for
world evangelisation and revival, we invite EVERY CHRISTIAN and
YOUNG CONVERT to become Agents for the Revival Series booklets,
so that they may be circulated as widely as possible in every country.
Write to us for details and free literature. Join us in sowing these seeds of
revival.
PERSONAL MESSAGE.
In a revival Christians come nearest to knowing thoughts and feelings of
the Holy Spirit. What are His thoughts? They are thoughts of the awful
guilt and danger of sinners. What are His feelings? They are feelings of
agonizing desire for sinners to repent and be saved.
In this hour let us stand firm with the Holy Spirit, and never allow
ourselves to be side-tracked into giving a moments attention to any
subject that does not further this great work.
Let us spread the burden of world evangelisation on the shoulders of
every living member of the Church; let us harness the energies of every
convert, Christian, and preacher of the Gospel in the campaign of soulwinning. Then the Church will be, Fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible to all wickedness, as an army with banners.