Peggy and Christine Smith
were elderly shut-ins that lived on the Hebrides Islands off the coast of
Scotland. Peggy (84) was legally blind. Christine (82) was riddled with
arthritis. In 1949, the Lord began to burden them to start praying for revival.
They claimed Is. 44:3 as their promise, “I will pour water on him who is
thirsty and floods on the dry ground.” These sisters told their pastor—Rev.
John Mackay—what they were doing and encouraged him to gather as many from
their church to start praying too. And so, for three nights every week for
several weeks, a group of about 30 met in a barn and started praying with Peggy
and Christine.
The story goes that the Holy Spirit poured out his revival flood at 4 AM one morning during a prayer meeting. God’s Spirit swept across the tiny island. A preacher, Duncan Hill, led meetings across the island and the revival lasted for almost 2 years from 1949-1951. Thousands were saved, the churches were packed, and the taverns were nearly bankrupted.[1]
Peggy and Christine Smith with Duncan Hill.
Revival began with two weak, homebound, elderly women who believed in the miracle-working power of an awesome God. If God did it then, He can surely do it again. In Psalm 85 we have a cry for revival. In fact, you might call this psalm, “A Roadmap to Revival,” because it succinctly lays out some basic attributes of how God brings about fresh wind and fresh fire to His people.
First, we see that revival requires repentance. “2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.” Forgiveness implies that the people have confessed their sin to God and turned from it. It has been said that “repentance is God’s exit ramp off the highway to hell.” There can be no revival without repentance and the depth of our repentance will determine the extent of our revival. Before we can rejoice in the blessing of revival, we must experience the tears of repentance.
Second, revival leads to restoration. “4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!” When true revival takes place broken people are made whole, broken relationships are reconciled, broken altars are repaired and the dwindling embers of faith are fanned into flames. Out of brokenness comes God’s breakthrough!
The story is told that before D.L. Moody became a mighty evangelist, he was known to go to the altar for prayer and confession every time the pastor gave an opportunity. Moody’s constant presence seemed to irk one churchgoer and the man asked Moody, “Why are you always going to altar? Do you just want attention?” Moody replied, “No sir. The fact is we are all leaky vessels, and we have to keep right under the fountain all the time to keep full of Christ.”[2]
Third, revival needs to be repeated. “6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” The psalmist asked for God to revive His people a second time, which implies that He had done this work once already. The truth is every generation needs revival, because no revival is permanent. We constantly need to be asking God to work in our people, churches and nation because hearts grow cold, churches grow complacent, and nations fall into sin. The fiery preacher Billy Sunday once said, “They tell me a revival is only temporary; so is a bath, but it does you good.”
Will you join me in begging God to do a new work in this generation? -DM
No comments:
Post a Comment