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article: your shining hourYOUR SHINING HOUR Recent years have seen a falling away from church - going and increasing signs of pluralism - ”all roads lead to God.” But there is always a faithful remnant who have stood in the gap for a restoration of God's presence to be in the land again. (Ezekiel 22:30, Romans 11:5) What difference will it make to have the presence of God tangibly with us? Stories from the Bible and from history can help us here:
Lightning from Heaven In her book 'Heaven here I come' (1974), American bible teacher, Jean Darnall, shared her amazing vision, repeated 3 times, of twinkling pockets of light on the British Isles (1961). God told her these lights were actually fires. (People meeting together, seeking His presence). She also saw lightning come from Heaven which set these fires moving like lava as an unstoppable flow of God's power. The lightning was a sovereign act of God. These people moving with God would be part of a 'great end-time revival' to Europe and beyond. The Lewis Revival 'A Covenant engagement'. That is how Duncan Campbell described the awakening in the island of Lewis in the Scottish Hebrides. (1949-52) In his book, 'The Price and Power of Revival', Campbell acknowledges that the revival there did not start with him. Yes, he was a vessel, consecrated and gifted, but there were a few on the island that had entered into a commitment to pray and hold God to His covenant promises in scripture until He came in a visitation. God did come in power and the ripples of that work are still being felt today. The question must be asked, 'Was the revival at Lewis a pattern for a future greater revival, a precursor of it? Andrew Woolsey's biography of Campbell will show the preparation of a person or persons God can use in a revival. One separated from sin and consecrated to God, fearing God and knowing the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus. Persistent intercession was a lead-up to the outpouring on Lewis. There were those who had seen their home area as 'their Jerusalem' They had seen in Isaiah 62vs6-12 and in other scriptures, that God had sworn to do certain things. They proved that if we fulfil our part of God's conditions, He will fulfil His. The Welsh Revival 'Wales was ablaze with revival. A hundred thousand people were converted within nine months... but the Revival ended as suddenly as it had begun.' So wrote John Peters in CWR's Revival World Report issue 7 in 2004. Peters believes that if the 1904-5 Welsh Revival has one lesson for today it is that, during and after revival, strong foundations should be built so that converts and those restored are not left 'floundering.' He suggests prayer, sound biblical preaching and wise counselling as the necessary foundations. Evan Roberts urged four things: to confess Christ publically, to give full obedience to the Holy Spirit, to confess known sins, and to put away all doubtful things. The strong church in S.Korea today is attributed to the fire from Wales. The power of worship and praising God was restored with this revival. The Early Church The Early Church was born on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell on 120 waiting people. (Acts 2:1-12) Christ had fulfilled the Law, and the Day of Grace began, the Church Age. The fire fell from heaven as it did at the dedication of Solomon's temple. (2 Chronicles 7:1) People spoke with new tongues and declared the marvellous works of God. Jesus had risen from the dead and instructed them for forty days. (Acts 1v3) Their subsequent action was to continue daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house with joy and singleness of heart. They continued steadfastly (1) in the apostles' doctrine, (2) in fellowship, (3) in breaking of bread and (4) In prayers. (Acts 2v42,46) These four things done and adherence to Evan Roberts 'four things' would surely help bring and sustain a revival. Azusa Street “In 1906 an earthquake nearly leveled San Francisco. That same month, a Pentecostal revival shook Los Angeles and the rumblings from Azusa St are still being felt today.” Exuberant camp meetings throughout America in the 1800's shocked some religious leaders. They moved to bring order. Order brought control. Religion became rigid and stifling and a desire for a new move built up slowly over the years. When it came it was through people that society discounted as nobodies from nowhere with nothing. William Seymour, a young, black, holiness preacher brought back the message of 'speaking in tongues' to a small mission in Los Angeles. A 'tumbledown shack' at 312 Azusa Street became a centre for Revival. Seymour rode out the persecution and became the primary leader in the Azusa outpouring. He urged people to 'lift up Jesus.' 'Don't go out of here talking in tongues; talk about Jesus', he said. Thousands came to Christ. Others were changed to influence nations. Racial segregation was done away with. Fire from Azusa spread around the world though reports given by Frank Bartleman. Unity of the brethren, and the need to be filled with the Spirit of God, and the Holy Spirit being allowed to have His way were lessons learned from the outpouring. The church of Jesus had advanced again. Hezekiah's Revival The story of Hezekiah, king of Judah, is found in 2 Chronicles 29-32. A repeated phrase is that he 'did what was right in the sight of the Lord. (2Chron 29:2, 31:20) He cleansed the House of God from idolatry and uncleanness. (29:16) He renewed Israel to her covenant with God, and restored worship and praise acceptable to God (v25-30). Also, he restored the Passover to Judah and included all Israel too. (30:5-27) (The Lord's table helps bring unity) Revival followed, and order. Idols were broken up; teaching was organised; people gave freely. He had prepared his heart and was zealous. It was doing the right thing and the good thing that inspired the people under him. Revival needs godly leadership who follow through with what God wants. The Ulster Revival of 1859 In 1855, a small prayer meeting in Connor, N.Ireland, developed as four young men were strongly bound together in the spirit of prayer. News of the 1858 Third Great Awakening in America encouraged them to cry, like Jacob, “We will not let Thee go unless Thou bless us.” (Gen 32:26) The answer was not delayed. Prayer meetings multiplied all around them. In 1859, the heavenly fire was leaping up and spreading in all directions. There was a wonderful work among the children, and in Colerine school, children cried out bitterly in prayer. Neighbours and passers-by were affected and crossing the threshold, came under the same conviction power. Every room was filled with men, women and children seeking God. That school proved to be for many the house of God and the very gate of heaven. (Gen 28:17) Through them the revival reached the capital, and Belfast became like a city of God. Don't despise small beginnings. Keep on persisting in prayer. Listen to the children and the young, these ardent soldiers for Christ might advise us today. Dundee for Revival! What do we need to do for Dundee and your city to 'be a praise in the earth' and see Revival. it is up to us, the saints, to pray always, 24/7, because our Adversary, the devil, is always active, accusing the believers day and night. Note that, according to this scripture in Revelation 12 , a 'Manchild' comes forth, help is given by Michael and the angels, and the devil is cast down. Watchman Nee and others believe this 'Manchild' is the corporate overcomers in the church. In His message to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus promises rewards to 'him that overcomes.' It is a personal thing - one-on-one with God. And how can we overcome? (Rev 2-3) Perhaps,
God's law can be written in our hearts. (Roman 8, Heb 10) God offers us the living waters, sure bread, sure mercies of David, an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. (Isa 55:1-3, 33:16, 2Sam 23:5) |
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