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2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then
will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.
The thought for this message came about when a minister commented
to me and said that "revival is dead in West Virginia. They
are good people but they are going to go about doing what they are
going to do." At first it offended me but as I considered the
statement I began to ponder the very fact: "IS REVIVAL IN THE
MODERN DAY LOCAL CHURCH POSSIBLE?" As I considered the overwhelming
reports of heaven sent revivals from the past and compared them
to what I witness today in our churches I want to again freshly
look as the prospect of revival in our day. It is my humble desire
to witness and be in the middle of a fire
that falls from heaven.
CONSIDER WITH ME THE FOLLOWING:
"When the Fire Fell" By George T.B. Davis,
1945
When the Fire Fell from Heaven
On rare and memorable occasions, in Old Testament times, the
fire fell from heaven.
One of these significant events occurred in the life of David.
King David had sinned in numbering the people, and judgment was
being poured out upon Israel. David earnestly confessed his sin
and prayed. God heard his prayer. Judgment was stayed. Then, in
obedience to God's command, David built an altar and offered sacrifices.
And God "answered him from heaven
by fire
upon the altar of burnt offering" (I Chronicles 21:26).
Again the fire fell from heaven when Solomon dedicated the Temple.
The falling fire signified the divine acceptance of the confession
and prayer of his servant Solomon:
"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the
fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering
and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house."
At this marvelous manifestation of God's power the assembled multitude
of the children of Israel bowed themselves in worship: "And
when all the children of Israel saw how the
fire came down, and the glory of
the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces
to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the
LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever"
(II Chronicles 7:3).
Later, Israel departed from the Lord in following Baal and worshipping
idols. The prophet Elijah called the prophets of Baal and the children
of Israel to Mount Carmel in a contest to let it be known which
was the true God. Elijah said: "The
God that answereth by fire,
let him be God." The prophets of Baal built an altar
and laid a bullock for sacrifice upon it. All day long they called
upon their god, but there was no response.
At the time of the evening sacrifice Elijah repaired the altar
of the LORD, and laid the bullock for the sacrifice upon it. At
the command of the prophet they filled twelve barrels with water
and poured them upon the sacrifice, until the water filled the trench
about the altar. Elijah then quietly called upon God to manifest
His power in order to bring the people back to Him: "Then
the fire of the Lord fell,
and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones, and
the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when
all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said,
The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God." (I
Kings 18:38, 39.)
In New Testament times "the
sound of a rushing mighty wind," and "cloven
tongues like as of fire" marked the descent of the Holy
Ghost on the "birthday" of the Christian Church. This
occurred after 120 faithful disciples had spent ten days, between
Christ's ascension and the day of Pentecost, "with
one accord in prayer and supplication."
Then the "cloven tongues" appeared, and they were all
filled with the Holy Ghost. They became flaming witnesses for Christ.
Former cowards were transformed into men of boldness and courage.
In one day 3000 souls were born again; and on another day, a little
later, 5000 souls were saved.
Throughout the centuries since that memorable day of Pentecost
God has sent the "fire from heaven"
again and again to revive his children, and to lead multitudes of
precious souls into the light of the gospel. These heaven-sent visitations
of the Spirit have been like enkindling flames--warming, reviving,
convicting, converting, empowering, men and women.
Again and again throughout the centuries of the Christian era,
the fire of God has fallen from
heaven with untold blessing. In Scotland, in the year 1630,
a young minister named John Livingston was invited to preach to
a great assembly of people in the open air. Realizing the importance
of the meeting, groups of earnest Christians formed themselves into
little companies and spent the night in earnest supplication for
God's blessing upon the gathering. The young minister himself, John
Livingston, was a member of one of the companies of all-night intercessors.
As the hour of the meeting drew near, the young man felt himself
utterly unworthy to preach to such a great gathering of people.
He felt himself so insufficient for the task that he was preparing
to steal away into the fields. However, his friends gathered about
him and constrained him to remain. As the young man spoke, the Spirit
of God came upon him in great power. His text was Ezekiel 36:25,
26: "Then will I sprinkle clean water
upon you, and ye shall be clean. A new heart also will I give you,
and a new spirit will I put within you."
For two hours and a half the young man spoke with burning lips
to the great audience. The heavenly "fire"
fell upon the multitude and the scene was like another Pentecost.
Rev. John Shearer in his book "Old Time Revivals" tells
the story of what happened:
"The Spirit filled the speaker with a fullness that must
be outpoured. The people seemed rooted to the ground in a great
stillness. Five hundred men and women, some from the high ranks
of society, some poor wastrels and beggars; were converted where
they stood, and lived from that day as those who had indeed received
a new heart and a new spirit. The memory of that day has never
died, and the very telling of the story has proved a fount of
revival."
In the early days of the American colonies, the
fire of God again fell from heaven in a great spiritual awakening,
under the leadership of Jonathan Edwards. During the early part
of Jonathan Edwards' ministry in New England we are told "there
was a marked decline in the religious life of the community. Among
the young people the bands of morality had sadly relaxed. Frolics
continued far into the night, and became the handmaid of vice.
With such conditions about him Jonathan Edwards gave himself to
prayer and the ministry of the Word for eight years. Then
suddenly the fire fell. Mr. Shearer gives a graphic picture
of the scenes that were witnessed as the Spirit of God came down
upon the people of the whole community. Suddenly, "conversions
began to take place throughout the town. One of the first was that
of a frivolous young woman, a leader in the 'frolics.' She became
in very truth 'a new creature' so humble, pure, and gracious, so
utterly transformed, that she was an object of wonder and amazement.
The news of this conversion 'acted like a flash of lightning upon
the hearts of the young people'; and as it flew from lip to lip
the convicting Spirit seemed to pierce every heart that heard it.
Indeed, throughout this revival, probably the most potent awakening
agency was the simple news of another's conversion. A hunger for
the same blessing was at once aroused in the hearer's heart.
"In the early months of 1735 the people pressed into the
church daily, and for a time Northampton was literally filled
with the presence of God. In almost every house parents were rejoicing
over their children, and in the sanctuary the tears of penitence,
of newfound joy, and deep compassion flowed freely. The whole
congregation became like a heavenly choir, and praise was a sweet
and holy sacrifice.
"The Bible was a new book. Texts that had been read a thousand
times appeared with such fresh and novel interest that even old
saints were tempted to think they had never seen them before,
and regarded them with a strange wonder. Young converts read their
Bibles with such eager intensity that their eyes became dimmed
and they could not distinguish the letters. The tavern was emptied,
and in the streets men paused to speak to one another of the beauty
and matchless love of Christ.
Here in America, before the middle of the last century,
there was a man of God who believed that prevailing prayer would
open the windows of heaven and bring down the
heavenly fire in the form of a mighty revivals He was Charles
G. Finney, a Spirit-filled lawyer. He and "Father Nash,"
and Abel Cleary and others, prevailed in prayer.
For many years Charles G. Finney and his associates went up and
down the land conducting revival meetings. Great multitudes were
saved, and Christians were quickened in their faith. Prayer was
the keynote and cornerstone of Finney's work. In speaking of the
spirit of prayer that came upon the people in connection with his
meetings, Finney said: "The spirit of prayer that prevailed
in those revivals was a very marked feature of them. It was common
for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer.
"Not only were prayer meetings greatly multiplied and fully
attended, not only was there great solemnity in those meetings,
but there was a mighty spirit of secret prayer. Christians prayed
a great deal--many of them would spend hours in private prayer.
It was also the case that two or more would take the promise: 'If
two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall
ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven,'
and make some particular person a subject of prayer; and it was
wonderful to what an extent they prevailed. Answers to prayer were
so manifestly multiplied on every side, that no one could escape
the conviction that God was daily and hourly answering prayer.
Finney further said: "If anything occurred to threaten to
hurt the work, if there was an appearance of any root of bitterness
springing up, or any tendency to fanaticism or disorder, Christians
would take the alarm, and give themselves to prayer that God would
direct and control all things, and it was surprising to see to what
extent, and by what means, God would remove obstacles out of the
way in answer to prayer.
"Prayer is an essential link in the chain of causes that
lead to a revival just as much as truth is. Some have zealously
used truth to convert men, and laid very little stress upon prayer.
They have preached, and talked, and distributed tracts with great
zeal and then wondered why they had so little success. And the
reason was that they had forgotten to use the other branch of
the means, EFFECTUAL PRAYER. They overlooked the fact that truth
by itself will never produce the effect, without the Spirit of
God, and that, the Spirit is given in answer to earnest prayer."
On one occasion Finney went to Rochester, New York, to hold a series
of revival meetings. Abel Cleary went to Rochester also, but not
to attend the meetings. He rented a room, and while Finney preached
Abel Cleary prayed. He interceded with God in an agony for souls.
The Spirit of God was poured out mightily upon that city. Practically
every lawyer in Rochester was converted. And the revival fires swept
east and west and north and south throughout the land.
The climax of the great awakening was reached in 1857.
Ministers called upon their people to pray earnestly for revival
to meet the onslaught of evil that was sweeping over the land. Prayer
meetings to intercede for an outpouring of God's Spirit and for
the salvation of souls sprang up everywhere.
Mr. Shearer tells how the fire fell from
heaven and of the glorious results that followed:
"In answer to the Church's united cry, ascending from all
parts of the land, the Spirit of God, in a very quiet way, and
suddenly, throughout the whole extent of the United States, renewed
the Church's life, and awakened in the community around it a great
thirst for God. When the Church awoke to the full consciousness
of the miracle, it found that from east to west, and from north
to south, the whole land was alive with daily prayer meetings.
And it was in these daily-united prayer meetings that the great
majority of these conversions, of all ages and classes, took place.
"The divine fire appeared
in the most unlikely quarters. A large number of the aged were
gathered in. White-haired penitents knelt with little children
at the Throne of Grace. Whole families of Jews were brought to
their Messiah. Deaf mutes were reached by the glad tidings, and
though their tongues were still, their faces so shone that they
became effective messengers of the gospel. The most hardened infidels
were melted, some being led to Christ by the hand of a little
child.
"Nor was the blessing confined to the land. The Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters, and a multitude of seamen
saw a great light. It was as if a vast cloud of blessing hovered
over the land and sea. And ships, as they drew near the American
ports, came within the zone of heavenly influence. Ship after
ship arrived with the same tale of sudden conviction and conversion.
It was wonderful beyond words! In one ship a captain and the entire
crew of thirty men found Christ out at sea and entered the harbour
rejoicing.
Dr. Frank G. Beardsley in his History of American Revivals speaks
of the numerical results of the revival of 1857: "For a period
of six to eight weeks, when the revival was at its height, it was
estimated that fifty thousand persons were converted weekly throughout
the country, and as the revival lasted for more than a year, it
becomes evident that the sum total of conversions reached a figure
that was enormous. Conservative judges have placed the number of
converts, in this great spiritual awakening, at five hundred thousand."
When the Fire Fell in Wales
The results of the revival in Ireland were long and lasting. Ministers
and laymen looked back with profound gratitude to God for the glorious
awakening of '59.
After a period of forty-five years the fire again fell from heaven--this
time in Wales. Once more there was a mighty outpouring of God's
Spirit. Vast multitudes were saved, and the Christians of the land
were wondrously quickened in the faith.
For the time being Wales became the spiritual center of Christendom.
Visitors from many lands flocked to Wales to witness the revival
meetings, hoping, if possible, to carry back some of the revival
fire to their own countries. Revival was the chief topic of conversation.
The Welsh newspapers devoted columns to the movement each day; and
occasionally special Revival Editions were issued.
Here is a vivid description of the revival in Wales that appeared
in a religious paper in Chicago at the time of the great awakening:
"A wonderful revival is sweeping over Wales. The whole country,
from the city to the colliery underground, is aflame with gospel
glory. Police courts are hardly necessary, public houses are being
deserted, old debts are being paid to satisfy awakened consciences,
and definite and unmistakable answers to prayer are recorded.
In Cardiff, police reports show that drunkenness has diminished
over 60 per cent, whilst on Saturday last the Mayor was presented
by the Chief Constable with a pair of white gloves, there being
no case at all on the charge sheet--an unprecedented fact for the
last day of the year.
"The same thing happened at the Swansea County Court on the
previous Saturday, and the magistrate said, 'In all the years I've
been sitting here I've, never seen anything like it, and I attribute
this happy state of things entirely to the revival.'
"The streets of Aberdare on Christmas Eve were almost entirely
free from drunkenness, and on Christmas Day there were no prisoners
at all in the cells. At Abercarn Police Court, responsible for a
population of 21,000, there was not a single summons on Thursday--a
thing unknown since the court was formed fourteen years ago--and
here, too, was enacted the ceremony of the white gloves.
A Personal Visit to the "Fire Zone"
"I have just returned from a two days visit to the storm center
of the great Welsh revival which is sweeping over Wales like a cyclone,
lifting people into an ecstasy of spiritual fervor. Already over
34,000 converts have been made, and the great awakening shows no
sign of waning. All observers agree that the movement is fully as
remarkable as the memorable revival of I859-60. It is sweeping over
hundreds of hamlets and cities, emptying saloons, theatres, and
dance halls, and filling the churches night after night with praying
multitudes. The policemen are almost idle; in many cases the magistrates
have few trials on hand; debts are being paid; and the character
of entire communities is being transformed almost in a day. Wales
is studded with coalmines, and it is a common occurrence to have
prayer meetings held a thousand feet under ground amid the tinkle
of the horses' bells and the weird twinkle of the miners' lamps.
"The leader of the revival is Mr. Evan Roberts, a young man
only twenty-six years of age, who was a collier, and was later apprenticed
to become a blacksmith. Then he felt a call to the ministry, and
was a student in a preparatory school when the Spirit came upon
him in such power that he felt impelled to return to his native
village of Loughor and tell the people of God's love for them. He
did so, and, as he spoke, the fire fell from heaven upon the community.
The people were so stirred that they crowded into church after church,
and remained until four o'clock in the morning. The flame spread
from district to district throughout South Wales with almost incredible
swiftness, and soon scores of towns were being shaken by the power
of God.
"At noon on Tuesday I wired one of the leading Welsh newspapers,
asking where Mr. Roberts would speak that evening. The reply came
back that he would be at Swansea for the next two days. At 2 p.m.
I left Liverpool with an American friend, and we arrived at Swansea
at 9:30 p.m. Hastening to a hotel we found it filled with visitors,
who had come to 'catch the fire' of the revival. A second place
we found in a similar condition, but at the third place we secured
accommodations, and then hastened to the church, which was fortunately
situated in the downtown district. It was 9:45 when we reached the
place, and even at that hour there were some scores of people in
the street seeking admission. But the gates were closed and guarded
by policemen, for the church was already packed to the doors.
"Going up to one of the policemen I whispered that I was
an American journalist, and that my friend and I were from Chicago.
These words acted like a magic charm, for he at once asked us to
come to another gate, where we were speedily admitted and ushered
into the building. My first impression! How am I to describe it?
As we entered the door I beheld a room, meant to seat about 700
people, crowded to suffocation with about 1,500. But this was not
the chief thing that attracted us. Up in the gallery a young lady
was standing, praying with such fervor as I had rarely if ever heard
before. One hand was upraised, and her tones were full of agonized
pleading, and though it was in Welsh, so that I could not understand
a word she uttered, yet it sent a strange thrill through me. Then
a young man arose, and with rapt upraised face prayed as though
he were in the presence of the Almighty. The entire atmosphere of
the room was white-hot with spiritual emotion, and my chief thought
was: 'This is a picture of what must have occurred in the early
church in the first century of the Christian era.'
"To my surprise the meeting terminated at 10:30. The reason
for this, it was explained, is that Swansea is a city of nearly
100,000 population, and the people must go to their work early in
the morning. "The afternoon and evening meetings we attended
were very largely like the first one. The meeting had been announced
to begin at 2 p.m., but before 12 the building was packed, although
it was at the, edge of the city. It was with the utmost difficulty,
aided by the police, that my friend and I squeezed ourselves in
at the rear door, and then we stood near the pulpit scarcely able
to move an arm. The air was stifling, but the people minded this
not a whit. They had forgotten the things of earth, and stood in
the presence of God. The meeting began about noon, and went on at
white heat for two hours before Mr. Roberts arrived, and ended at
4:30 p.m.
"The true origin of the movement is probably to be found in
the prayer circles which have honeycombed Wales for the last eighteen
months.
The people who had banded them selves together were crying out
mightily for a revival, and God at length graciously answered the
prayers of His saints. It is interesting to Americans to know how
the prayer circles were started. A lady living in Australia read
a book by Dr. R. A. Torrey, in which he reiterated the statement
that we must 'pray through' for revival. At that time Dr. Torrey
and Mr. Charles M. Alexander, noted American evangelists, were conducting
their great revival in Melbourne, the success of which was largely
due to the 2,000 prayer circles, which were held throughout the
city.
Shortly afterward the lady, who had been so stirred by Dr. Torrey's
book, came to England. She became the means of starting thousands
of prayer circles throughout the British Isles, the object of which
was to pray for a worldwide revival. The answer to those prayers
has come in part in the Welsh awakening, and may God speed the day
when the revival fires will spread all over Britain and America,
and throughout the entire world!"
Can the Heavenly Fire Fall Again?
After reading these thrilling and true stories of revival, I believe
that most of us are convinced that revivals come in answer to earnest,
intercessory prayer.
Is God's arm shortened in our generation? Can
the fire again fall from heaven?
Yes, we can certainly have another great spiritual awakening if
we will pay the price in revailing prayer. God's arm is indeed not
shortened. It is our lack of faith that prevents the fire from falling
in our own day and generation. We are too busy "doing things"
to take time to "pray through" for another great outpouring
of God's Spirit. And all our "doing" accomplishes so little
without the mighty empowering of the Holy Spirit.
Not long after our fair young republic was started, the forces
of evil came in like a flood to destroy it. In his "History
of American Revivals" Dr. Frank G. Beardsley tells of the conditions
that prevailed in our land at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
He says: "It was a time of beginnings in the life of the nation,
a time moreover when the religious character of our country was
suspended in the balances and the destinies thereof were to be decided
for generations to come. For a while the overthrow of Christianity
seemed to be complete. Churches were declining. Revivals were few.
The educated and influential almost universally regarded Christianity
with indifference, if not with open contempt. Infidelity was rife
and was increasing alarmingly on every hand. In fact, all indications
seemed to point to a decline in that faith which had animated the
Pilgrim Fathers and inspired the hopes of the early settlers of
our country."
But godly people determined to pray earnestly and fervently day
by day to prevent the destruction of the young republic. Mr. Beardsley
says: "Christians entered into a solemn covenant to spend a
definite portion of their time in prayer for an outpouring of the
Spirit of God for the salvation of men."
The result was the great revival of 1800. In estimating the influence
of this awakening on the life of our nation, Mr. Beardsley says:
"All the Christian activities of the land throbbed with
the pulsations of a new life. Every condition of society was reached
from the cultured classes of staid New England to the untutored
settlers on the frontier of what then constituted the remote West.
Infidelity became a vanishing force, while the religious character
of the United States was assured for generations to come.
If multitudes of God's children will forsake every known sin, and
covenant with themselves and with God that they will spend some
portion of time daily in intercessory prayer for revival, then the
windows of heaven will once more be opened, and we shall certainly
witness another great spiritual awakening in our land.
2005 was the 100th anniversary of the Welsh Revival and the people
and churches of Wales are once again petitioning the God of heaven
to send the fire upon them once again.
Is it to much for us to ask God to once again send the fire of
heaven upon our land of America? This year, 2006 is the 100th anniversary
of the Azusa Street outpouring of God's Spirit. Can we join together
in petitioning God to once again pour out His Spirit in these latter
days and that the fire of God would fall from heaven.
Why Did The Fire Fall In 1857?
Edited & Compiled by David Smithers
Two Thousand Miles of Prayer
The climax of the awakening came in 1857. Noonday prayer meetings
were started in New York, Philadelphia and other cities. Then the
movement spread with lightning-like speed throughout the land. In
Philadelphia it is said that three thousand people attended the
noonday prayer meetings, and in Chicago some two thousand were in
attendance day by day. In one of Mr. Finney's meetings in Boston
a man arose and said: I am from Omaha, in Nebraska. On my journey
East I have found a continuous prayer meeting all the way. We call
it two thousand miles from Omaha to Boston; and here was a prayer
meeting about two thousand miles in extent." The entire country
was stirred by these noonday prayer meetings.
Continuous Prayer
C. H. Spurgeon commenting on this great move of the Spirit said:
"In the City of New York at this present moment, there is not,
I believe one single hour of the day where Christians are not gathered
together for prayer. One church opens its doors from 5 o'clock till
six for prayer; another church opens from six to seven and summons
its praying men to offer the sacrifice of supplication. Six o'clock
is past, and men are gone to their labor . Another class find it
then convenient - such as those, perhaps, who go to business at
eight or nine - and from seven to eight there is another prayer
meeting. From eight to nine there is another, in another part of
the city, and what is most marvelous, at high noon, from twelve
to one, in the midst of the city of New York, there is held a prayer
meeting in a large room, which is crammed to the doors every day,
with hundreds standing outside. This prayer meeting is made up of
merchants of the city, who can spare a quarter of an hour to go
in and say word of prayer and then leave again; and then a fresh
company come in to fill up the ranks, so that it is supposed that
many hundreds assemble in that one place for prayer during the appointed
hour. This is the explanation of the revival!"
Prayer: A Divine Attraction
Samuel Prime in his book "The Power of Prayer" described
the effects the revival had upon New York City, "The prayer-meeting
became one of the institutions of the city. Christians in distant
parts of the country heard of them. They prayed for the prayer-meetings.
When they visited the city, the prayer-meeting was the place to
which they resorted. The museum or theatre had no such attractions.
Returning, they set up similar meetings at home. The Spirit followed,
and the same displays of grace were seen in other cities, and in
the country, that were so marvelous in New York. So the work spread,
until the year has become remarkable in the history of the Church.
This revival is to be remembered through all coming ages as simply
an answer to prayer."
Why Did They Pray?
Again we quote from Samuel Prime's book "The Power of Prayer",
he explains to some extent the motivation behind such a miraculous
move of prayer. He wrote, "As a nation, we were becoming rapidly
demoralized by our worldliness, our ambition, our vanity, and our
vices. The true, the great end for which, we believe, this nation
was raised up, was being lost sight of . The very foundations were
moving. We needed this 'great awakening' to bring us to our senses,
to rouse up the national conscience, to arrest the national decay,
and bring us back to a high tone of moral health. Nothing but the
influence of a deep and all-pervading earnest piety can save this
nation from the fate of all past republics. The tide of corruption
must be rolled backward. This was felt; everywhere felt. The place
of prayer was the place to get the help we needed. Men rushed to
the place of prayer with high resolves, and with weighty demands
to ask great things of God. And men rejoiced with unbounded joy
when they saw what God was doing. Why should not a holy enthusiasm
be enkindled? It was kindled, and God be praised."
Azusa Street: The Fire That Could Not
Die
Over the last two millenniums the church has experienced many revivals,
renewals, and reformation movements. Each has added a wealth of
experience and understanding to the ways in which the Holy Spirit
moves to reveal Jesus to His church, and to those in darkness. Almost
every one of these movements has been progressive in the restoration
of biblical truth to the church, truth that was either lost or was
neglected during the Middle Ages. Without question, one of the most
significant of all of these movements has been the Pentecostal Revival
of the twentieth century.
If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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