Revival and Reformation Ministries

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Home About Us Contact Us Our Vision Our Mission Our Activities History of Revivals Seminar Publications Photo Gallery Medical Mission Youth & Campus Revival Issues Notice Board	HISTORY OF REVIVALS To appreciate what revival is, the enormity its magnitude the complexity of its pattern of operation, the varied nature of its presentation and the results of what God can do, through its occurrences it is necessary to give a bird’s eye view of history and operation of revivals since the apostolic era. Nigerians will thus be encouraged and determined to seek and pray for revival no matter how long it takes to come because that supernatural phenomena is the only answer to our problems-spiritual, political, economic; administrative and industrial. In the first century after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Apostles and disciples spread the gospel. In AD 110 Ignatius spoke of bishops being settled in the ends of the world. By AD 180 Christianity had spread rapidly in Asia Minor and Egypt, North African France and Germany Early church missionary work and revivals. In about 200 A.D Tertulian wrote vindicating the Christian religion “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 260 – 303 AD there occurred such a great increase in the population of Christians that Eusebius wrote “who cloud describes those vast collections of men who 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 in 303 estimated that Christians in Asia Minor were about one half of the whole population. But the greatest proof of the growth and strength of Christianity was that Emperor Constantine after his victory in war with the emblem “Christ Reigns” embraced the Christian faith and gave peace, wealth and power to the church. Not every success is true success in the real sense. The declaration of Christianity as the state religion by Constantine marked the beginning of nominalism in Christianity. The Early British Church From 395-493. St. Patrick became the Apostle of Ireland. He said “I was reformed by the Lord and He had fitted me for being at this day what was once far from me that I should concern myself for the salvation of others when I used not to think even of my own”. For over thirty years St. Patrick preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, and established churches, monasteries and school from which missionaries sent forth for over four centuries after his death. From Ireland Columba went to Iona and established a church ad monastery. During the following years, he and his associates founded churches. Monasteries and schools from Orkneys and Hebrides South the Humber. Gildas the, a Welsh Monk, writing about 500 AD said, “The church is spread over the nation. It had spread also into Ireland, and Scotland. The mission of Augustine and his successors in the sees of Canterbury and York so limited the field of the Irish and Scottish missionaries at home that they “Swarmed like bees into the dark places of heathen Europe”. Ireland was called the University of the Wes” some of the leading missionaries to Europe were Columbanus, St. Gall, Kilian, Virgilius, Fridolin, and Willbrord. Thirteen monasteries were founded by the Irish in Scotland, twelve in England, seven in France, twelve in Birthany, seven in Lorraine, ten in Alsatia, sixteen in Bararia, fiteen in Khetia, Helvetia and Allemania; also many in Thuringia and on lower Rhine and six in Italy. This purely British church maintained its independence until 1172 when the synod of cashel bound it to Romanized church in England. Waldeness Revival 1184 The first recorded revival in church history was the unique story of faithfulness endurance and heroism of the Waldenses down the centuries. That movement which was led by Peter Waldo was so remarkable that where they live “there is not a rock that is not a monument, not a meadow that has not seen execution, not a village that does not register its martyrs”. In the twelfth century they experienced such a great revival which resulted in great evangelistic activity that they preached in houses, streets and market places. “The sect spread with extra ordinary rapidity and extended from Aragon to Pomerania and Bohemia, though most numerous in the south of France, Alsace and in the mountain districts of Savoy, Switzerland and Northern Italy”. Bohemia Revival It was estimated that 1315 about 80,000 true Christians were in Bohemia alone. This remarkable spiritual revival was partially the result of labours of the three reformers- Conrad of Waldhausen, Milic of Moravia and Matthias of Janow and it prepared the way for the movement that was led by John Huss. Unitas Fratrum Church was formed in 1467 by union of Bohemians, Waldeneses and Moravians and had four hundred churches and were circulating their own Bohemian Bible. They were severely persecuted until 1715 when Christian David led a company of them into Saxon Silesia where they settled on the Estate of Count Zinzendorf. John Wickcliffe and John Huss In the 14th century an important historical figure emerged. Wickcliffe reopened the Bible and exposed the errors of Roman Catholic Church. His preaching and teaching converted many. He founded an association of preachers called Lollards and sent them to preach in every nook and cranny of the country. He was highly spiritual and a great man of prayer. He regarded “the sacred scriptures as property of the people which no one can 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 the book, we may all together come to everlasting life”. John Huss embraced the doctrines of Wickcliffe and after exerting a mighty influence on the Gospel in Bohemia, he was martyred in 1415. The Reformation The reformation is another important landmark in the history of the church. Under the Roman Catholic Church millions of souls lived in continual fear of the wrath to come. Undoubtedly their cry came up before God and He came down to deliver them. Though bitter experience Martin Luther knew the spiritual agonies of the people and the failure of any good works to give assurance of salvation He began to read the Bible and slowly the truth of justification by faith dawned on his soul. The reformation burned in his heart. He was possessed with divine strength as he met each difficult situation. Luther prayed for hours everyday. He knew what it was to travail in prayer and wrestle with the powers of darkness that engulfed the whole world. In agony of prayer in the morning of the day he had to make his defense before the Diet of worms he said “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. Know it well! Act then, O God 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 Reformation which soon spread over Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Poland, Sweden and the British Isles. But behind this mighty movement were agonizing prayers of millions of saints. John Calvin And Reformation Following Martin Luther, John Calvin led the reformation in Paris. In 1536 he published “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” which was first complete outline and vindication of Protestantism. His success in Paris made citizens of Geneva invite him to come and help. For over twenty years he laboured to make Geneva a city of God. The taverns and haunts of sins vanished. Good education became available to all. The churches were crowded and Geneva became a fountain head of revival in Europe. John Knox and Reformation in Scotland John Knox the Scottish reformer landed in Scotland in 1559 and commenced his history-changing tour. He was a man fervent in prayer and prayed thus “O Lord, give me Scotland or I die”, after an intervening period of silence, again he cried O Lord, give me Scotland or I die, then silence followed another shout with even greater emotion, “O Lord, give me Scotland or I die”. God gave him Scotland. Ulster Revival 1625 The Ulster revival was promoted by a band of faithful ministers who started with intense prayers and faithful preaching. They went forth in companies to evangelize the land and God used them mightily. “Preaching and praying were so pleasant and hearers so eager and greedy, that no day was long enough, nor any room large enough to answer their strong desires and large expectations”. Revival in the Lutheran Church. In 1666 a movement began in the Lutheran church under the ministry of Spener opposing dead orthodoxy and promoting Bible reading. This developed into a revival producing “a practical Christian living and a lay ministry”. They believed that a blameless life should be an indispensable qualification for the ministry. “In less than half a century this German Pietism spread its influence through all the spheres of life and through all classes of society”. Moravian Revival Before 1727 settlers in Herrnhut could not live together in peace. But count Zinzendor gave all his time to work for settlement of their differences. On 12th May 1727, they all with great joy gave themselves afresh to God and promised to bury the disputes for ever. History of the Moravians by A Bost puts it thus: “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 sate to exhort, and reprove and pray for each other”. On the 22nd of July 1727 some brethren agreed to repair at stated times to a hill near Hernhut, in order to pour out their souls to God in prayer and singing. On the same day the count set out for Silesia. Before his departure several of the brethren engaged to devote themselves to the advancement of the revival”. “On the Lord’s day the 10th August, the minster Rothe was seized, in the midst of assembly, with an unusual impulse. He threw himself upon his knees before God and the whole assembly prostrated themselves with him under the same emotions. As uninterrupted course of singing and prayer, weeping and supplication, continued till midnight. All hearts were united in love”. The brethren held a communion service on Friday 13th. It was full of deep spiritual power and emotion. “The whole assembly united in prayer to God and they sang “my soul before Thee prostrate lies”, amidst tears and sobs, so that it could hardly be distinguished whether they were weeping or singing. The scene was so moving that the pastor could hardly tell what he saw or heard. “Few days after, a remarkable revival took place among the children at Herrnhut and Bertholdsdorf. On the 18th of August all the children at boarding school were seized with an extra ordinary impulse of the spirit and passed the whole night in prayer. From this time a constant work of God was going on in the minds of the children in both places. No words can express the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit upon these children”. On 25th August the brethren began the ministry of continual prayer which continued for over a hundred years. “They considered that as in the ancient Temple the fire on the alter never cease to burn so in the church which is now the Temple of God, the prayers of the saints ought always to ascend to the Lord”. In January 172, the brethren held their first missionary meeting. “This meeting was celebrated by meditations on the different portions of the Holy Scripture, and fervent prayers: in the midst of which the church experienced a remarkable enjoyment of the presence of the spirit”. Jonathan Edwards Revival In the towns of Northampton “there was scarcely any person both old and young who was left unconcerned about the great things of the world”. On the evening of the day preceding the out break of the revival, some Christians met and spent the whole night in prayer. The work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more; souls did as it wee come by flocks to Jesus Christ. This work of God soon made a glorious alteration in the towns so that I the spring and summer following the town seemed to be full of the presence of God. It was never so full of love, nor joy and yet so full of distress as it was then. “There were remarkable tokens of God’s presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought unto them; husbands rejoicing over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of God were seen in His sanctuary, God was a delight and His tabernacles were amiable”. The Great Awakening Jonathan Edward’s revival was the beginning of this great awakening, which started in 1735 in America and continued for about twenty-five years. From Northampton the revival spread to South Hadley, Suffield, Sunderland, Green River, West Springfield, Long Meadow, Enfield and Northfield. From these towns as a center it spread throughout New England and Middle States. The leaders in this revival were Jonathan Edwards, the Tennents, Davenport and Whitefield. The preaching of Whitefield stirred the whole country. Of this period William Conant writes. “The preaching of the Gospel was attended with the most wonderful power, in every part of the New England and revivals gave new life and multiplied numbers of the churches in a large number of towns throughout New England and Middle states”. “At least 50,000 souls were added to the churches of New England out of a population of 250,000. A fact sufficient to revolutionize as indeed it did, the religious and moral character, and to determine the destinies of the country. “Not less than 150 new congregational churches were established in twenty years. The increase of Baptist churches in the last half of the century, was still more wonderful, rising from 9 to upwards of 400 in number, with a total of thirty thousand members”. There was a similar growth in the Presbyterian and other churches. “The new converts were fervent in spirit. They thirsted for salvation of souls. They were warning every man and teaching every man and teaching every man to turn to the Lord. Pious minster stirred to unusual exertion and old Christians renewed their youth”. “They had deep convictions of the evil of sin and of the period of a rebellious state. The love of God in Christ overpowered their souls. Tens of thousands bowed before the majesty of truth. Some of the most powerful preachers emigrated to other states, and whenever they went, the floods of blessing poured over the land”. Brainerd’s Revival: 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. He wrote on 26th July 1745 in the evening God was pleased to help me in prayer beyond what I have experienced for some time. “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 cry. I longed that the remaining part of my life might be filled up with more fervency and activity in the things of God. “In the evening of August 2nd I retired and my soul was drown out in prayer to God. On 3rd August, having visited the Indians in these parts 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, enable me, in a manner some what uncommon, to set before them the Lord Jesus Christ as a kind and compassionate savior, inviting distressed and perishing sinners to accept everlasting mercy, and a surprising concern soon became apparent among them. There were about 20 adults and not about two that I could see with dry eyes. “By 8th August I preached to about sixty-five Indians and was favoured with uncommon freedom. There was much visible concern among them; the power of God seemed to descend 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 middle aged persons. I never saw a day like it in all respects; it was a day wherein I am persuaded the Lord did much to destroy the kingdom of darkness among this people”. This revival among Indians continued for some years and produced lasting results. The Puritan Revival The name Puritan designated those in the Anglican Church who “sought a simpler faith and form of service”. This movement grew out of the widespread reading of Bible. These puritans were the salt of English society in their day. They stood for liberty and toleration and were the champion of the rights of the people. They gave the world some of the best evangelical literatures such as the Pilgrim’s Progress. Prominent among them were Owen Bunyan, Baxter, Milton, Leighton, Filavel and others. Puritan movement eventually branched into different church organizations. Many immigrated to America. The Quaker Revival In the middle of seventeenth century there were thousands of men and women who were adrift from the Church of England. They were seeking for the truth and were like sheep without shepherd. In addition t Presbyterians, independents, and Baptists, Sabbatarians, Seekers, Familist, Monarchy men and others George Fox was born in 1624, 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 desire 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 God’s 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”. Williams Penn wrote of Fox, “He had an extraordinary gift in opening the scriptures. But above all he excelled in prayer. His personality radiated the holiness, the majesty and the love of God. Sinners were afraid and often trembled in his presence. Founding a state of Pennsylvania is a glorious chapter in church history, Williams Penn in making a treaty with the Indians said “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 Onas and 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 Indians to the white men and they should make each other welcome as friends. This league and chain of friendship should grow stronger and be kept bright and clean without rust of spot”. 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. They were even more numerous in America where they founded two colonies. Similarly the foundations of most states in America were laid on Revival. Revival in Wales Before Evangelical revival in Wales, moral and religious conditions were even worse than in England. The first Welsh revivalist was Griffith Jones followed by Howell Harris a powerful preacher who was later helped in his campaigns by Whitfield and churches founded by them were called the Calvinistic Methodist Church. Wales had been blessed with many local revivals. In a remote corner of Montgomery shire the religious friends of 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 neighborhood. The Methodist Pentecost: The Methodist Revival was born in the power of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley records. “January 1739 M Hall, Kin chin, Ingham, Whitefield, Hutchins and my brother Charles, were present at our love feast in fetter lane, with about sixty of our brethren. About three in the morning as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, in so much that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe of amazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one voice “We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.” Whitefield and Wesley were the arrow heads of the Methodist Revival. Of the love feast Whitefield said “it was a Pentecostal season indeed sometimes whole nights were spent in prayer. Often I have seen them overwhelmed with the Divine presence, and cry out ‘will God indeed dwell with men upon the earth?” when Whitefield left for America, Wesley carried on the work. In about 1742 Clambuslang Revival broke out under the ministry of Rev. W Mccullock. The congregation on the hill side increased to nine or ten thousand. Ministers from far and near came to help in the work and Whitefield also helped in this revival. Missions: The Result of Revivals In about 1790 in England, Hannah More, Bishop Partens, Drs Rogue, Andrew Fuller, Burder Rowland Hill, along with many others were engaged in promoting a strong evangelical movement. Simultaneously Robert and James Haldane were engaged in revival work in Scotland. As a direct result of blessings experienced in these revivals many missionary societies were formed such as The Religious Tract Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society. The London Missionary society, the Church Missionary Society (CMS), which brought the Gospel to Nigeria in 1799. The Baptist Foreign Missionary Society was the first society formed in 1790 for the evangelization of the heathen about 1200 years after receiving the Gospel. In 1791 William Carey preached his famous sermon “Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God”. The London Missionary Society: As a result of these revivals and inspired by the example of William Carey going to India, Dr. Bogue an independent ministry, the “Evangelical Magazine” appealed to all Christians to support at least twenty or thirty missionaries among the heathen”. As a result, a group of Non conformist ministries founded the London Missionary Society in September 1795, the first missionary party consisting of over thirty persons sited down the Thames on 26th August 1796 singing “Jesus at thy command we launch into deep”. This society sent forth many missionary pioneers and founders. Robert Morrison worked for twenty seven years in China. He translated the scriptures and complied a dictionary and grammar in local language. John Williams gave himself to work in the South Seas. He discovered Raratonga and from Riatea as a center 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 evangelize the native races”. American Revivals And Mission A new era of revivals broke out in United State of America in 1790. Morality and religious activity had declined. Unitarianism had gained much ground and infidel philosophy was poisoning the minds of people. At that time there were no Bible societies, tract societies, no education societies at home there was religious indifference, abroad, the thick darkness of death over the heathen world. In 1790 there were extensive revivals in Pennsylvania and Virginia. In about 5 years one hundred and fifty churches were blessed with revivals. The revival period continued for many years spreading to New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, the Carolina and Georgia Harlan Page writing of revivals in New York “The Lord appears now to be coming down on all parts of this great city to arouse His children and awaken sinners. Thousands of Christians here are praying as they never prayed before. Conversations are occurring in all parts of the city. Churches are daily crowded to overflowing”. During this period of American revivals, Christians began to feel obligation to send the Gospel to foreign lands. All foreign missionaries were the fruit of the revivals such as Hall, Newell, Mills, Judson, Nott Rice, King, Thurston and others. The American Bible Society, the United Foreign Missionary Society and other missionary movement were formed at this time as a direct result of these revivals. Early American Methodist Revivals After Methodist was planted in America from Britain it witnessed an almost continuous revival. No society was formed which did not grow out of revival. Methodism grew because its preachers were endowed with Holy energy and unction from on high. Revival in Virginia was a remarkable manifestation of Divine Grace. These revivals continued from 1784 to 1808. Finney’s Revivals Charles Grandison Finney, a lawyer by profession testified- “I was powerfully converted in the morning of 10th October1821. 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 words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like sword and broke like hammer.” “Sometimes I would find myself empty of this I would go out and visit and found 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, fearing that this power had departed from me, and would enquire anxiously after the reason of this emptiness. After humbling my self and crying out for help the power would return upon me with all its freshness” For 10 years, from 1824-1834 Finney labored continually in powerful revivals until by 1834 his health started failing him. In atom same year he delivered his famous “Lectures on Revivals of Religion”. The publication and reading of these lectures has resulted in hundreds of revivals in America and other countries. Finney, in 1835 although a lawyer became Professor of Theology in Oberlin where he later became president. About twenty thousand students came under his influence while he was at Oberlin. While at that University he conducted many revival meetings both in America and England. Finney emphasized that young converts should be trained to labor for Christ just as carefully as young recruits in an army are trained and how to converse with people about their souls, how to deal with enquires and how to save souls. He had the view that when the whole church will realize that they are here on earth as a body of missionaries and shall live and labor accordingly, then will the day of man’s redemption draw nigh”. The secret of Finney’s power was the baptism of Holy Spirit and a life of prayer. He wrote “In regard to my own experience, I will say that unless I had the spirit of grace and supplication, I found myself unable to preach with power and efficiency or to win souls by personal conversation.” It is very necessary for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer. Finney died in July 1875 after a great ministry in which Rivers of Living Water literally flowed to multitudes of souls. His revival ministry has been a tremendous blessing and challenge to the Christian church. He emphasized that any group of Christians can have a revival if they will fulfill the necessary conditions of agonizing prayer and a balanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel. Revival in Rochester USA in 1830 There was widespread need for revival in Rochester. Finney felt that three Presbyterian Churches had the greatest need. After he began to preach there was a remarkable improvement of the spiritual state of those churches. He wrote “The spirit of prayer was poured out powerfully so much so that some persons stayed away from public services to pray” American Revival 1857-58 This winter of 1857-58 will be remembered as the time when a great revival prevailed throughout all Northern states. It swept over the land with such power that it was estimated that for a time not less than fifty thousand conversions occurred in a single week. There had been a daily prayer-meeting observed in Boston for several years soon there was a great out burst of prayer-meeting throughout the length and breath of the northern states. A divine influence seemed to parade the whole land. It was estimated that during this revival not less than 500,000 souls were converted. It was evident that in answer to prayer to prayers the windows of heaven were opened and the spirit of God poured out like a flood. One journal at that time wrote “Such a time as the present was never known since the time of the Apostles, for revivals. Revivals now cover our land, land sweeping all before them, exciting the earnest cry from thousands ‘what shall we do to be saved’ Ministers seemed baptized with the Holy Ghost, and preach with new power and earnestness. Revival in Kilsyth and Dundee, Scotland On 23rd July 1839 William C. Burns preached a sermon to a great crowd of people, and as he retold the story of revival in Kirk of Shotts the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon the people “They broke forth simultaneously in weeping and wailing, tears and groans. Some were screaming out in agony, others-among these, strong men-fell to the ground as if they were dead”. Burns continued preaching powerfully for some days and the awakening spread. In August he returned to Dundee and at the close of a prayer meeting told the story of the revival in Kilsyth. As he spoke the power of God descended on the people and all were bathed in tears. From that evening meeting were held every day for weeks. The whole town was moved and dozens of prayer meeting sprang into existence. Burns spent many days and nights praying, meditating before God and from such preparation he went forth to preach. Revival in Ireland For years Rev. J.H. Moore preached the gospel faithfully in Cannor, but with little result. News of revival in America stirred him to seek to promote revival among his own people. He often preached on the subject of revival and read accounts of great revivals to his congregation. The idea of 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. Four young men soon began secret prayer meeting to pray for revival. They prevailed and soon their meeting was thronged. From that time on humble, grateful, loving, joyous converts multiplied. It was convicting and converting sinners. Prayer meetings began to multiply and soon there was a net work of these prayer meetings and from there revival spread all over Ireland. There was no human leader. The leader was the Holy Spirit. Revival in Wales in 1859 Moral and religious conditions in Wales sank very low, below the surrounding areas of Britain. Griffith Jones and later Howell Harris were the vessels used by God. Rev. Griffith Jones returned from America full of spirit of prayer and revival. He conducted prayer meetings. David Morgan received a remarkable endowment of power, and from that time he became the leader of the revival. By August the churches in the southern countries of Wales were crowded on Sundays and weekdays and soon a mighty harvest of souls was the result. It was estimated that there were a hundred thousand converts in that revival. The 1859 Revival in England and Scotland The news of the American and Irish revivals caused Christians in England and Scotland to seek God in prayer for a similar blessing. Prayer meetings multiplied but the revival remained local in nature. But the mighty spirit of prevailing prayer was lacking. However Christians continued praying in earnest. Soon revival spread in Aberdeen and Glasgow and many preachers preached under the Spirit’s influence and many were broken and convicted. Salvation Army Born in 1829 William Booth was converted at the age of fifteen and soon became a local preacher and his burden was how best to win the masses to Christ. He once said “What I wanted to see was an organization with the salvation of the world as its supreme ambition and object, worked upon the simple earnest principles which I had myself embraced and which, youth as I was, I had already seen carried into successful practice”. Booth was on fire for God and souls, and in five months of evangelistic work he won over 2000 souls for Christ. His worldwide ministry of the Salvation Army is a revival of religion. D. L. Moody and Revival D. L. Moody was born on 5th February 1837 in Northfield, Connecticut USA by a noble high-minded woman who had immense influence on her children. He was converted at seventeen and testified afterwards. “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”. This experience resulted to 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 street corners and saloons. He began Sunday school work with only twelve children and in a few years he was running a Sunday School with attendance of about 1,500 children. From that time he engaged in regular evangelist work. In 1871 a great hunger and thirst for spiritual power took possession of Moody and he said “I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit.” He did. In 1873 Moody and Sankey started their first extended missions in some of the cities in the North of England. God blessed their labor and the work grew steadily and later the same year they were invited to Scotland. The campaigns in the Scottish called the attention of the whole country to spiritual things and the wave of revival spread over the land. Moody labored in Britain and America. In addition to evangelistic work he founded the schools and colleges at Northfield and the Bible Institute at Chicago with its publishing department. He raised funds to help extend the work of YMCA and conducted conferences for ministers, students and Christians workers. 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. The China Inland Mission Dedicated to God before his birth James Hudson Taylor was born on May 21st 1832 and at the early age of 5 years he was expressing a desire to be a missionary in China. This ideal took hold of him and by seventeen he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He surrendered his being and future to God. Through the years that followed, he prepared himself for missionary work in China and when he was twenty-one he set sail for China. He moved God in prayer and had burden for millions dying in China without God. He worked with Chinese Evangelization Society for six years but was invalided in 1860. But in 1865 a new burden came into his life. It was a burden for unevangelized inland China. He wrote “A million a month were dying in that land, dying without God.” He continued to wrestle with God in prayer until he prevailed. He was new man physically and spiritually. The Chinese Inland Mission continued to grow until there were about 1,100 missionaries and 4,400 Chinese workers. The success and blessing of this mission was as a result of the fact that Hudson Taylor prevailed in prayer until God came and called out missionaries and moved Christians to give money and to pray for evangelization of the world. Charles Haddon Spurgeon Charles 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, ”Looked to Him; He looked on me, and we were on for ever.” After his conversion his fame as a lay preacher began to grow and at the age of seventeen he became pastor of Water beach church. In 1854 he was called to be pastor of New Park Street Chapel London and he became popular as wonderful “Boy Preacher”. Members of his church prayed earnestly for him and the Lord’s power overshadowed everyone. The house was filled with hearers and many souls were saved in that revival. Revival in Uganda The first recorded revival in Africa was led by Philkington in 1893 in Uganda. Hundreds were converted and a blessed influence extended far and wide. Philkington wrote “A hundred thousand soul’s 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 native church, the power of God shown by changed lives, and all this in the center of the thickest spiritual darkness in the world.” In 1899 there were over four hundred churches, more than seventeen thousand baptized members, and nine hundred native workers. The secret of this amazing movement was that the leaders realized their absolute powerlessness to meet the need of the people and so they yielded themselves completely to the Holy Spirit in prayer. India – Pandita Ramabai’s Revival In 1901 Pandita Ramabai’s work at Mukti India was enjoying much blessing from God. Twelve hundred converts were baptized in two months but some of the workers continued to cry to God for greater blessings. News of the Welsh Revivals in 1904 stirred Ramabai and she started daily prayer meetings for revival in India. One day one of the girls received the Holy Spirit and was so transformed that soon all the girls in the premises were on their knees weeping. Writing about this revival Helen Dyer said “The next evening, while Ramabai was preaching on John 8, the Holy Spirit descended with power and all the girls began to pray aloud so that she had to cease talking. Little children, middle-sized girls, and young women wept bitterly, and confessed their sins. Some few saw visions and experienced the power of God, and things too deep to describe. Two little girls had spirit of prayer poured on them in such torrents that they continued to pray for hours. They were transformed with heavenly light turning on their faces, “Such repentance, such heart searching, such agony over sin, and tears, as they cried for pardon and cleansing and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, then they seemed to have their eyes opened to see the body of sin in themselves. Then came a strong realization of Christ’s work upon the cross, then peace followed by intense joy. It often took soul hours to pass through all these experiences. The publication and reading of these lectures has resulted in hundreds of revivals in America and other countries. Finney, in 1835 although a lawyer became Professor of Theology in Oberlin where he later became president. About twenty thousand students came under his influence while he was at Oberlin. While at that University he conducted many revival meetings both in America and England. Finney emphasized that young converts should be trained to labor for Christ just as carefully as young recruits in an army are trained and how to converse with people about their souls, how to deal with enquires and how to save souls. He had the view that when the whole church will realize that they are here on earth as a body of missionaries and shall live and labor accordingly, then will the day of man’s redemption draw nigh”. The secret of Finney’s power was the baptism of Holy Spirit and a life of prayer. He wrote “In regard to my own experience, I will say that unless I had the spirit of grace and supplication, I found myself unable to preach with power and efficiency or to win souls by personal conversation.” It is very necessary for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer. Finney died in July 1875 after a great ministry in which Rivers of Living Water literally flowed to multitudes of souls. His revival ministry has been a tremendous blessing and challenge to the Christian church. He emphasized that any group of Christians can have a revival if they will fulfill the necessary conditions of agonizing prayer and a balanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel. Revival in Rochester USA in 1830 There was widespread need for revival in Rochester. Finney felt that three Presbyterian Churches had the greatest need. After he began to preach there was a remarkable improvement of the spiritual state of those churches. He wrote “The spirit of prayer was poured out powerfully so much so that some persons stayed away from public services to pray” American Revival 1857-58 This winter of 1857-58 will be remembered as the time when a great revival prevailed throughout all Northern states. It swept over the land with such power that it was estimated that for a time not less than fifty thousand conversions occurred in a single week. There had been a daily prayer-meeting observed in Boston for several years soon there was a great out burst of prayer-meeting throughout the length and breath of the northern states. A divine influence seemed to parade the whole land. It was estimated that during this revival not less than 500,000 souls were converted. It was evident that in answer to prayer to prayers the windows of heaven were opened and the spirit of God poured out like a flood. One journal at that time wrote “Such a time as the present was never known since the time of the Apostles, for revivals. Revivals now cover our land, land sweeping all before them, exciting the earnest cry from thousands ‘what shall we do to be saved’ Ministers seemed baptized with the Holy Ghost, and preach with new power and earnestness. Revival in Kilsyth and Dundee, Scotland On 23rd July 1839 William C. Burns preached a sermon to a great crowd of people, and as he retold the story of revival in Kirk of Shotts the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon the people “They broke forth simultaneously in weeping and wailing, tears and groans. Some were screaming out in agony, others-among these, strong men-fell to the ground as if they were dead”. Burns continued preaching powerfully for some days and the awakening spread. In August he returned to Dundee and at the close of a prayer meeting told the story of the revival in Kilsyth. As he spoke the power of God descended on the people and all were bathed in tears. From that evening meeting were held every day for weeks. The whole town was moved and dozens of prayer meeting sprang into existence. Burns spent many days and nights praying, meditating before God and from such preparation he went forth to preach. Revival in Ireland For years Rev. J.H. Moore preached the gospel faithfully in Cannor, but with little result. News of revival in America stirred him to seek to promote revival among his own people. He often preached on the subject of revival and read accounts of great revivals to his congregation. The idea of 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. Four young men soon began secret prayer meeting to pray for revival. They prevailed and soon their meeting was thronged. From that time on humble, grateful, loving, joyous converts multiplied. It was convicting and converting sinners. Prayer meetings began to multiply and soon there was a net work of these prayer meetings and from there revival spread all over Ireland. There was no human leader. The leader was the Holy Spirit. Revival in Wales in 1859 Moral and religious conditions in Wales sank very low, below the surrounding areas of Britain. Griffith Jones and later Howell Harris were the vessels used by God. Rev. Griffith Jones returned from America full of spirit of prayer and revival. He conducted prayer meetings. David Morgan received a remarkable endowment of power, and from that time he became the leader of the revival. By August the churches in the southern countries of Wales were crowded on Sundays and weekdays and soon a mighty harvest of souls was the result. It was estimated that there were a hundred thousand converts in that revival. The 1859 Revival in England and Scotland The news of the American and Irish revivals caused Christians in England and Scotland to seek God in prayer for a similar blessing. Prayer meetings multiplied but the revival remained local in nature. But the mighty spirit of prevailing prayer was lacking. However Christians continued praying in earnest. Soon revival spread in Aberdeen and Glasgow and many preachers preached under the Spirit’s influence and many were broken and convicted. Salvation Army Born in 1829 William Booth was converted at the age of fifteen and soon became a local preacher and his burden was how best to win the masses to Christ. He once said “What I wanted to see was an organization with the salvation of the world as its supreme ambition and object, worked upon the simple earnest principles which I had myself embraced and which, youth as I was, I had already seen carried into successful practice”. Booth was on fire for God and souls, and in five months of evangelistic work he won over 2000 souls for Christ. His worldwide ministry of the Salvation Army is a revival of religion. D. L. Moody and Revival D. L. Moody was born on 5th February 1837 in Northfield, Connecticut USA by a noble high-minded woman who had immense influence on her children. He was converted at seventeen and testified afterwards. “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”. This experience resulted to 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 street corners and saloons. He began Sunday school work with only twelve children and in a few years he was running a Sunday School with attendance of about 1,500 children. From that time he engaged in regular evangelist work. In 1871 a great hunger and thirst for spiritual power took possession of Moody and he said “I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit.” He did. In 1873 Moody and Sankey started their first extended missions in some of the cities in the North of England. God blessed their labor and the work grew steadily and later the same year they were invited to Scotland. The campaigns in the Scottish called the attention of the whole country to spiritual things and the wave of revival spread over the land. Moody labored in Britain and America. In addition to evangelistic work he founded the schools and colleges at Northfield and the Bible Institute at Chicago with its publishing department. He raised funds to help extend the work of YMCA and conducted conferences for ministers, students and Christians workers. 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. The China Inland Mission Dedicated to God before his birth James Hudson Taylor was born on May 21st 1832 and at the early age of 5 years he was expressing a desire to be a missionary in China. This ideal took hold of him and by seventeen he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He surrendered his being and future to God. Through the years that followed, he prepared himself for missionary work in China and when he was twenty-one he set sail for China. He moved God in prayer and had burden for millions dying in China without God. He worked with Chinese Evangelization Society for six years but was invalided in 1860. But in 1865 a new burden came into his life. It was a burden for unevangelized inland China. He wrote “A million a month were dying in that land, dying without God.” He continued to wrestle with God in prayer until he prevailed. He was new man physically and spiritually. The Chinese Inland Mission continued to grow until there were about 1,100 missionaries and 4,400 Chinese workers. The success and blessing of this mission was as a result of the fact that Hudson Taylor prevailed in prayer until God came and called out missionaries and moved Christians to give money and to pray for evangelization of the world. Charles Haddon Spurgeon Charles 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, ”Looked to Him; He looked on me, and we were on for ever.” After his conversion his fame as a lay preacher began to grow and at the age of seventeen he became pastor of Water beach church. In 1854 he was called to be pastor of New Park Street Chapel London and he became popular as wonderful “Boy Preacher”. Members of his church prayed earnestly for him and the Lord’s power overshadowed everyone. The house was filled with hearers and many souls were saved in that revival. Welsh Revival in 1904 The revival, which started in Wales in 1904 and swept through the countryside started with formation of spontaneous groups for prayer meetings where to take part. Each person obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit. One would read a portion of the bible, another would pray, another would give out hymn, another would give a testimony. These meetings sometimes lasted for two to three hours without any one becoming tired. While these meetings were going on Evan Roberts was in College preparing for the ministry. But when the burden for souls was upon him to the extent that he was unable to continue with his studies, he said “something drew me irresistibly to think of the lost world”. He began to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God gave him a mighty experience, which transformed him to a new man. He was quickened physically and his spiritual life became full of power and stability and he was on fire with the idea of going through Wales with a Revival party. He began praying for 100,000 converts and he becomes the arrowhead of the revival meetings in his home church. The meetings were full of prayers for souls. During the first week there was visible beginning of revival. The fame of the revival caused a stir all over Wales and people who were blessed came to their own churches and prepared the way for Evans Robert and his revival party. Tens of thousands of souls were converted. The Holy Spirit was the great leader of the revival meetings and even in many places where they did not visit, powerful revival occurred. Azusa Street Revival 1904 In about 1904 a revival broke out in Azusa Street California in United States of America. William Seymore was the person whom God used to bring about that revival. He was a Black American and at that time racism was at its peaks. He was a one-eyed man and used to stand at the window outside the church to listen to what is going on. One-day a black woman started a prayer meeting. He decided to join them. As he was leading in prayer some people started speaking in tongues and healing started taking place. Healing became children’s food. Initially they suffered a lot of persecution from other Christians, but soon it become clear that some supernatural manifestation were taking and revival talking and revival had started. Revivals in China, Korea And Manchuria The Welsh revival of 1904 was a great Inspiration to Jonathan Goforth who was moved to promote revival in China. He said “slowly the realization began to dawn upon me that I had tapped a mine of infinite possibility”. He became obsessed with this subject and spent so much time in prayer that his wife began top fear that his mind could not stand it. During this period Goforth began to read the life and writings of Charles G. Finney who emphasized that the company of Christians can have a revival if they will fulfill the necessary laws. Goforth said, “If Finney is right I am going to find out what it costs”. In 1906 there came evidence of the beginning of Goforth’s revival ministry. At this same time there was wonderful revival going on in Korea and he 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 revival method. Korea made me feel, as it did many others, that this was God’s plan for setting the world aflame”. Korean revival was preceded by months of prayer. Revival in Korea South Korea populated with about 37 million people has been blessed with a revival. The story of out pouring of Holy Spirit started around 1953, when communists were persecuting many Christians in North Korea. Thousands prayed for deliverance. Even in one prayer meeting about 12000 Christians were on their knees praying. But persecution continued. Chinese communists crucified many Korean Christians and they hung on crosses until they died in torment. Faithful preachers who would not cease spreading the Gospel message had their tongues cut out. Streams of refuges moved from North to South Korea. Korea received a great number of refuges. Daily they prayed “Oh, God, save Korea”. The living churches thriving in Korea now have grown up from the ground stained with blood of martyrs and wet with tears of suffering Christians. During Korean Revival, in one week of campaign 10 million persons attended the meetings and out of this number about 1 million stayed behind each evening for all night prayer meeting. As a result of this revival over 3000 churches sprang up in the city of Seoul alone. Today in Korea we have a church with the largest congregation in the whole world. Revival in Nigeria Although Christianity came into Nigeria since 1846 there has never been a nationwide revival as experienced in Europe, America and Eastern countries. But between 1927 and 1937 there was spontaneous spiritual experience by Christians of Faith Tabernacle background in Western Nigeria led by Joseph Babalola which gave rise to the formation of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C). They were given to prayer and holiness. Healing, miracles and prophesying resulted. But members were not taught the Bible and also this experience died off. Again soon after the Nigerian civil war 1967-70 there spread a revival in the Eastern States of Nigeria 1970-1975. Many of the evangelists and pastors now spreading the gospel in the country were converted at time. This revival did not grow probably because it was not supported by prayer of the saints. This is why we are asking God to send a true revival to this country to convict and convert sinners and bring sanity, order and progress to every aspect of life in our country. Lessons and Results of Revivals Revivals have been tremendous blessing 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. This short history of revivals illustrates three things: Revival always stars in answer to the effectual fervent prayers of spiritually, revived Christians, who see sin and world’s needs as God sees it and who feel the same hatred for sin, and love and compassion for sinners as God feels Preaching the word of God is the only way sinners are convicted. Therefore, preachers should make a balanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel to the unsaved. This can only be effectively done in the power of the Holy Spirit. All evangelists are united on one point and that is God’s to save and change lives of men through the Gospel. This is what we desire for our country Nigeria and, nay, Africa! As revival always starts with prayer, it is noted in the foregoing history that the prayer meetings always started in groups quietly as seen in Finney’s revival meetings, in the 1859, revival in Ireland as initiated by prayer groups formed by M Quiken, Meneely, Wallace and Carlisle. The Methodist revivalists used prayer groups and Lay preachers. Charles Finney once said “Brethren our preaching will bear its legitimate fruit. If immorality prevails, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it”. From the above history of revivals we learn that the words of Jesus Christ in John 16:7-9 are fulfilled “Nevertheless I will tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come He will reprove the world of sin, and righteousness and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me.” Disbelief in Jesus Christ is sin. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to convict a sinner of his sins and make him very conscious of his sins and the need for repentance. So God in his supernatural way releases His Holy Spirit in an area in such abundance that He convicts sinners in that area and marked them repentant. That is revival. From history of revivals, we observe that the precipitating factor is prayer in groups of twos, threes, or multiples of these, in offices, at leisure, in market places, in schools, legislature, in fellowships and churches, until the whole area is full of presence of God as shown by presence of inexplicable love for one another, inexplicable joy, desire to forgive one another, and consciousness of sin. These signs of presence of God are indications to intensify prayers, not to relent in praying for we are looking forward to a revival that will transform our country and place her in God’s end time programme, a revival that will send revivals to other lands, a revival that will last until Jesus comes. In the next chapter where the Holy Spirit is treated in details, it is shown that the Holy Spirit is a gentle spirit, who can be grieved, whose activity can be reduced by untoward actions of the believer, or even quenched entirely. This shows that His effectiveness can be reduced but as shown in the bible His presence and effectiveness can be increased with fasting and prayer. It may then mean that if we obeyed the bible there may in fact be no need for revival if we pray for Holy Spirit baptism for every believer and increase His presence and effectiveness by not grieving Him, by fasting and praying regularly. This issue would be treated in the next chapter and the chapter on reformation of the church. Apostle Uzodike and Wife

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HISTORY OF REVIVALS

To appreciate what revival is, the enormity its magnitude the complexity of its pattern of operation, the varied nature of its presentation and the results of what God can do, through its occurrences it is necessary to give a bird’s eye view of history and operation of revivals since the apostolic era. Nigerians will thus be encouraged and determined to seek and pray for revival no matter how long it takes to come because that supernatural phenomena is the only answer to our problems-spiritual, political, economic; administrative and industrial.

In the first century after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the Apostles and disciples spread the gospel. In AD 110 Ignatius spoke of bishops being settled in the ends of the world.
By AD 180 Christianity had spread rapidly in Asia Minor and Egypt, North African France and Germany

Early church missionary work and revivals.
In about 200 A.D Tertulian wrote vindicating the Christian religion “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 260 – 303 AD there occurred such a great increase in the population of Christians that Eusebius wrote “who cloud describes those vast collections of men who 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 in 303 estimated that Christians in Asia Minor were about one half of the whole population. But the greatest proof of the growth and strength of Christianity was that Emperor Constantine after his victory in war with the emblem “Christ Reigns” embraced the Christian faith and gave peace, wealth and power to the church. Not every success is true success in the real sense. The declaration of Christianity as the state religion by Constantine marked the beginning of nominalism in Christianity.

The Early British Church
From 395-493. St. Patrick became the Apostle of Ireland. He said “I was reformed by the Lord and He had fitted me for being at this day what was once far from me that I should concern myself for the salvation of others when I used not to think even of my own”. For over thirty years St. Patrick preached the Gospel throughout Ireland, and established churches, monasteries and school from which missionaries sent forth for over four centuries after his death.
From Ireland Columba went to Iona and established a church ad monastery. During the following years, he and his associates founded churches. Monasteries and schools from Orkneys and Hebrides South the Humber. Gildas the, a Welsh Monk, writing about 500 AD said, “The church is spread over the nation. It had spread also into Ireland, and Scotland.
The mission of Augustine and his successors in the sees of Canterbury and York so limited the field of the Irish and Scottish missionaries at home that they “Swarmed like bees into the dark places of heathen Europe”. Ireland was called the University of the Wes” some of the leading missionaries to Europe were Columbanus, St. Gall, Kilian, Virgilius, Fridolin, and Willbrord. Thirteen monasteries were founded by the Irish in Scotland, twelve in England, seven in France, twelve in Birthany, seven in Lorraine, ten in Alsatia, sixteen in Bararia, fiteen in Khetia, Helvetia and Allemania; also many in Thuringia and on lower Rhine and six in Italy. This purely British church maintained its independence until 1172 when the synod of cashel bound it to Romanized church in England.

Waldeness Revival 1184
The first recorded revival in church history was the unique story of faithfulness endurance and heroism of the Waldenses down the centuries. That movement which was led by Peter Waldo was so remarkable that where they live “there is not a rock that is not a monument, not a meadow that has not seen execution, not a village that does not register its martyrs”. In the twelfth century they experienced such a great revival which resulted in great evangelistic activity that they preached in houses, streets and market places. “The sect spread with extra ordinary rapidity and extended from Aragon to Pomerania and Bohemia, though most numerous in the south of France, Alsace and in the mountain districts of Savoy, Switzerland and Northern Italy”.

Bohemia Revival
It was estimated that 1315 about 80,000 true Christians were in Bohemia alone. This remarkable spiritual revival was partially the result of labours of the three reformers- Conrad of Waldhausen, Milic of Moravia and Matthias of Janow and it prepared the way for the movement that was led by John Huss.
Unitas Fratrum Church was formed in 1467 by union of Bohemians, Waldeneses and Moravians and had four hundred churches and were circulating their own Bohemian Bible. They were severely persecuted until 1715 when Christian David led a company of them into Saxon Silesia where they settled on the Estate of Count Zinzendorf.

John Wickcliffe and John Huss
In the 14th century an important historical figure emerged. Wickcliffe reopened the Bible and exposed the errors of Roman Catholic Church. His preaching and teaching converted many. He founded an association of preachers called Lollards and sent them to preach in every nook and cranny of the country. He was highly spiritual and a great man of prayer.
He regarded “the sacred scriptures as property of the people which no one can 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 the book, we may all together come to everlasting life”.
John Huss embraced the doctrines of Wickcliffe and after exerting a mighty influence on the Gospel in Bohemia, he was martyred in 1415.

The Reformation
The reformation is another important landmark in the history of the church. Under the Roman Catholic Church millions of souls lived in continual fear of the wrath to come. Undoubtedly their cry came up before God and He came down to deliver them.
Though bitter experience Martin Luther knew the spiritual agonies of the people and the failure of any good works to give assurance of salvation He began to read the Bible and slowly the truth of justification by faith dawned on his soul. The reformation burned in his heart. He was possessed with divine strength as he met each difficult situation. Luther prayed for hours everyday. He knew what it was to travail in prayer and wrestle with the powers of darkness that engulfed the whole world.
In agony of prayer in the morning of the day he had to make his defense before the Diet of worms he said “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. Know it well! Act then, O God 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 Reformation which soon spread over Germany, France, Switzerland, Holland, Poland, Sweden and the British Isles. But behind this mighty movement were agonizing prayers of millions of saints.

John Calvin And Reformation
Following Martin Luther, John Calvin led the reformation in Paris. In 1536 he published “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” which was first complete outline and vindication of Protestantism. His success in Paris made citizens of Geneva invite him to come and help. For over twenty years he laboured to make Geneva a city of God. The taverns and haunts of sins vanished. Good education became available to all. The churches were crowded and Geneva became a fountain head of revival in Europe.

John Knox and Reformation in Scotland
John Knox the Scottish reformer landed in Scotland in 1559 and commenced his history-changing tour. He was a man fervent in prayer and prayed thus “O Lord, give me Scotland or I die”, after an intervening period of silence, again he cried O Lord, give me Scotland or I die, then silence followed another shout with even greater emotion, “O Lord, give me Scotland or I die”. God gave him Scotland.

Ulster Revival 1625
The Ulster revival was promoted by a band of faithful ministers who started with intense prayers and faithful preaching. They went forth in companies to evangelize the land and God used them mightily. “Preaching and praying were so pleasant and hearers so eager and greedy, that no day was long enough, nor any room large enough to answer their strong desires and large expectations”.

Revival in the Lutheran Church.
In 1666 a movement began in the Lutheran church under the ministry of Spener opposing dead orthodoxy and promoting Bible reading. This developed into a revival producing “a practical Christian living and a lay ministry”. They believed that a blameless life should be an indispensable qualification for the ministry. “In less than half a century this German Pietism spread its influence through all the spheres of life and through all classes of society”.

Moravian Revival
Before 1727 settlers in Herrnhut could not live together in peace. But count Zinzendor gave all his time to work for settlement of their differences. On 12th May 1727, they all with great joy gave themselves afresh to God and promised to bury the disputes for ever.
History of the Moravians by A Bost puts it thus: “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 sate to exhort, and reprove and pray for each other”.
On the 22nd of July 1727 some brethren agreed to repair at stated times to a hill near Hernhut, in order to pour out their souls to God in prayer and singing. On the same day the count set out for Silesia. Before his departure several of the brethren engaged to devote themselves to the advancement of the revival”.
“On the Lord’s day the 10th August, the minster Rothe was seized, in the midst of assembly, with an unusual impulse. He threw himself upon his knees before God and the whole assembly prostrated themselves with him under the same emotions. As uninterrupted course of singing and prayer, weeping and supplication, continued till midnight. All hearts were united in love”.
The brethren held a communion service on Friday 13th. It was full of deep spiritual power and emotion. “The whole assembly united in prayer to God and they sang “my soul before Thee prostrate lies”, amidst tears and sobs, so that it could hardly be distinguished whether they were weeping or singing. The scene was so moving that the pastor could hardly tell what he saw or heard. “Few days after, a remarkable revival took place among the children at Herrnhut and Bertholdsdorf. On the 18th of August all the children at boarding school were seized with an extra ordinary impulse of the spirit and passed the whole night in prayer. From this time a constant work of God was going on in the minds of the children in both places. No words can express the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit upon these children”.
On 25th August the brethren began the ministry of continual prayer which continued for over a hundred years. “They considered that as in the ancient Temple the fire on the alter never cease to burn so in the church which is now the Temple of God, the prayers of the saints ought always to ascend to the Lord”.
In January 172, the brethren held their first missionary meeting. “This meeting was celebrated by meditations on the different portions of the Holy Scripture, and fervent prayers: in the midst of which the church experienced a remarkable enjoyment of the presence of the spirit”.

Jonathan Edwards Revival
In the towns of Northampton “there was scarcely any person both old and young who was left unconcerned about the great things of the world”.
On the evening of the day preceding the out break of the revival, some Christians met and spent the whole night in prayer. The work of conversion was carried on in a most astonishing manner, and increased more and more; souls did as it wee come by flocks to Jesus Christ. This work of God soon made a glorious alteration in the towns so that I the spring and summer following the town seemed to be full of the presence of God. It was never so full of love, nor joy and yet so full of distress as it was then.
“There were remarkable tokens of God’s presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families on account of salvation being brought unto them; husbands rejoicing over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of God were seen in His sanctuary, God was a delight and His tabernacles were amiable”.

The Great Awakening
Jonathan Edward’s revival was the beginning of this great awakening, which started in 1735 in America and continued for about twenty-five years. From Northampton the revival spread to South Hadley, Suffield, Sunderland, Green River, West Springfield, Long Meadow, Enfield and Northfield. From these towns as a center it spread throughout New England and Middle States. The leaders in this revival were Jonathan Edwards, the Tennents, Davenport and Whitefield. The preaching of Whitefield stirred the whole country. Of this period William Conant writes. “The preaching of the Gospel was attended with the most wonderful power, in every part of the New England and revivals gave new life and multiplied numbers of the churches in a large number of towns throughout New England and Middle states”. “At least 50,000 souls were added to the churches of New England out of a population of 250,000. A fact sufficient to revolutionize as indeed it did, the religious and moral character, and to determine the destinies of the country.
“Not less than 150 new congregational churches were established in twenty years. The increase of Baptist churches in the last half of the century, was still more wonderful, rising from 9 to upwards of 400 in number, with a total of thirty thousand members”. There was a similar growth in the Presbyterian and other churches.
“The new converts were fervent in spirit. They thirsted for salvation of souls. They were warning every man and teaching every man and teaching every man to turn to the Lord. Pious minster stirred to unusual exertion and old Christians renewed their youth”.
“They had deep convictions of the evil of sin and of the period of a rebellious state. The love of God in Christ overpowered their souls. Tens of thousands bowed before the majesty of truth. Some of the most powerful preachers emigrated to other states, and whenever they went, the floods of blessing poured over the land”.

Brainerd’s Revival:
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. He wrote on 26th July 1745 in the evening God was pleased to help me in prayer beyond what I have experienced for some time.
“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 cry. I longed that the remaining part of my life might be filled up with more fervency and activity in the things of God.
“In the evening of August 2nd I retired and my soul was drown out in prayer to God. On 3rd August, having visited the Indians in these parts 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, enable me, in a manner some what uncommon, to set before them the Lord Jesus Christ as a kind and compassionate savior, inviting distressed and perishing sinners to accept everlasting mercy, and a surprising concern soon became apparent among them. There were about 20 adults and not about two that I could see with dry eyes.
“By 8th August I preached to about sixty-five Indians and was favoured with uncommon freedom. There was much visible concern among them; the power of God seemed to descend 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 middle aged persons. I never saw a day like it in all respects; it was a day wherein I am persuaded the Lord did much to destroy the kingdom of darkness among this people”. This revival among Indians continued for some years and produced lasting results.

The Puritan Revival
The name Puritan designated those in the Anglican Church who “sought a simpler faith and form of service”. This movement grew out of the widespread reading of Bible.
These puritans were the salt of English society in their day. They stood for liberty and toleration and were the champion of the rights of the people. They gave the world some of the best evangelical literatures such as the Pilgrim’s Progress. Prominent among them were Owen Bunyan, Baxter, Milton, Leighton, Filavel and others.
Puritan movement eventually branched into different church organizations. Many immigrated to America.

The Quaker Revival
In the middle of seventeenth century there were thousands of men and women who were adrift from the Church of England. They were seeking for the truth and were like sheep without shepherd. In addition t Presbyterians, independents, and Baptists, Sabbatarians, Seekers, Familist, Monarchy men and others George Fox was born in 1624, 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 desire 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 God’s 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”.
Williams Penn wrote of Fox, “He had an extraordinary gift in opening the scriptures. But above all he excelled in prayer. His personality radiated the holiness, the majesty and the love of God. Sinners were afraid and often trembled in his presence.
Founding a state of Pennsylvania is a glorious chapter in church history, Williams Penn in making a treaty with the Indians said “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 Onas and 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 Indians to the white men and they should make each other welcome as friends. This league and chain of friendship should grow stronger and be kept bright and clean without rust of spot”. 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. They were even more numerous in America where they founded two colonies. Similarly the foundations of most states in America were laid on Revival.

Revival in Wales
Before Evangelical revival in Wales, moral and religious conditions were even worse than in England. The first Welsh revivalist was Griffith Jones followed by Howell Harris a powerful preacher who was later helped in his campaigns by Whitfield and churches founded by them were called the Calvinistic Methodist Church. Wales had been blessed with many local revivals. In a remote corner of Montgomery shire the religious friends of 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 neighborhood.

The Methodist Pentecost:
The Methodist Revival was born in the power of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley records. “January 1739 M Hall, Kin chin, Ingham, Whitefield, Hutchins and my brother Charles, were present at our love feast in fetter lane, with about sixty of our brethren. About three in the morning as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, in so much that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we were recovered a little from that awe of amazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one voice “We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.”
Whitefield and Wesley were the arrow heads of the Methodist Revival. Of the love feast Whitefield said “it was a Pentecostal season indeed sometimes whole nights were spent in prayer. Often I have seen them overwhelmed with the Divine presence, and cry out ‘will God indeed dwell with men upon the earth?” when Whitefield left for America, Wesley carried on the work.
In about 1742 Clambuslang Revival broke out under the ministry of Rev. W Mccullock. The congregation on the hill side increased to nine or ten thousand. Ministers from far and near came to help in the work and Whitefield also helped in this revival.

Missions: The Result of Revivals
In about 1790 in England, Hannah More, Bishop Partens, Drs Rogue, Andrew Fuller, Burder Rowland Hill, along with many others were engaged in promoting a strong evangelical movement. Simultaneously Robert and James Haldane were engaged in revival work in Scotland. As a direct result of blessings experienced in these revivals many missionary societies were formed such as The Religious Tract Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society. The London Missionary society, the Church Missionary Society (CMS), which brought the Gospel to Nigeria in 1799. The Baptist Foreign Missionary Society was the first society formed in 1790 for the evangelization of the heathen about 1200 years after receiving the Gospel. In 1791 William Carey preached his famous sermon “Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God”.

The London Missionary Society:
As a result of these revivals and inspired by the example of William Carey going to India, Dr. Bogue an independent ministry, the “Evangelical Magazine” appealed to all Christians to support at least twenty or thirty missionaries among the heathen”. As a result, a group of Non conformist ministries founded the London Missionary Society in September 1795, the first missionary party consisting of over thirty persons sited down the Thames on 26th August 1796 singing “Jesus at thy command we launch into deep”. This society sent forth many missionary pioneers and founders. Robert Morrison worked for twenty seven years in China. He translated the scriptures and complied a dictionary and grammar in local language. John Williams gave himself to work in the South Seas. He discovered Raratonga and from Riatea as a center 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 evangelize the native races”.

American Revivals And Mission
A new era of revivals broke out in United State of America in 1790. Morality and religious activity had declined. Unitarianism had gained much ground and infidel philosophy was poisoning the minds of people. At that time there were no Bible societies, tract societies, no education societies at home there was religious indifference, abroad, the thick darkness of death over the heathen world.
In 1790 there were extensive revivals in Pennsylvania and Virginia. In about 5 years one hundred and fifty churches were blessed with revivals. The revival period continued for many years spreading to New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, the Carolina and Georgia
Harlan Page writing of revivals in New York “The Lord appears now to be coming down on all parts of this great city to arouse His children and awaken sinners. Thousands of Christians here are praying as they never prayed before. Conversations are occurring in all parts of the city. Churches are daily crowded to overflowing”. During this period of American revivals, Christians began to feel obligation to send the Gospel to foreign lands. All foreign missionaries were the fruit of the revivals such as Hall, Newell, Mills, Judson, Nott Rice, King, Thurston and others. The American Bible Society, the United Foreign Missionary Society and other missionary movement were formed at this time as a direct result of these revivals.

Early American Methodist Revivals
After Methodist was planted in America from Britain it witnessed an almost continuous revival. No society was formed which did not grow out of revival. Methodism grew because its preachers were endowed with Holy energy and unction from on high. Revival in Virginia was a remarkable manifestation of Divine Grace. These revivals continued from 1784 to 1808.

Finney’s Revivals
Charles Grandison Finney, a lawyer by profession testified- “I was powerfully converted in the morning of 10th October1821. 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 words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men. They cut like sword and broke like hammer.”
“Sometimes I would find myself empty of this I would go out and visit and found 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, fearing that this power had departed from me, and would enquire anxiously after the reason of this emptiness. After humbling my self and crying out for help the power would return upon me with all its freshness”
For 10 years, from 1824-1834 Finney labored continually in powerful revivals until by 1834 his health started failing him. In atom same year he delivered his famous “Lectures on Revivals of Religion”.
The publication and reading of these lectures has resulted in hundreds of revivals in America and other countries.
Finney, in 1835 although a lawyer became Professor of Theology in Oberlin where he later became president. About twenty thousand students came under his influence while he was at Oberlin. While at that University he conducted many revival meetings both in America and England. Finney emphasized that young converts should be trained to labor for Christ just as carefully as young recruits in an army are trained and how to converse with people about their souls, how to deal with enquires and how to save souls. He had the view that when the whole church will realize that they are here on earth as a body of missionaries and shall live and labor accordingly, then will the day of man’s redemption draw nigh”.
The secret of Finney’s power was the baptism of Holy Spirit and a life of prayer. He wrote “In regard to my own experience, I will say that unless I had the spirit of grace and supplication, I found myself unable to preach with power and efficiency or to win souls by personal conversation.” It is very necessary for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer.
Finney died in July 1875 after a great ministry in which Rivers of Living Water literally flowed to multitudes of souls. His revival ministry has been a tremendous blessing and challenge to the Christian church. He emphasized that any group of Christians can have a revival if they will fulfill the necessary conditions of agonizing prayer and a balanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel.

Revival in Rochester USA in 1830
There was widespread need for revival in Rochester. Finney felt that three Presbyterian Churches had the greatest need. After he began to preach there was a remarkable improvement of the spiritual state of those churches. He wrote “The spirit of prayer was poured out powerfully so much so that some persons stayed away from public services to pray”

American Revival 1857-58
This winter of 1857-58 will be remembered as the time when a great revival prevailed throughout all Northern states. It swept over the land with such power that it was estimated that for a time not less than fifty thousand conversions occurred in a single week. There had been a daily prayer-meeting observed in Boston for several years soon there was a great out burst of prayer-meeting throughout the length and breath of the northern states. A divine influence seemed to parade the whole land. It was estimated that during this revival not less than 500,000 souls were converted. It was evident that in answer to prayer to prayers the windows of heaven were opened and the spirit of God poured out like a flood. One journal at that time wrote “Such a time as the present was never known since the time of the Apostles, for revivals. Revivals now cover our land, land sweeping all before them, exciting the earnest cry from thousands ‘what shall we do to be saved’ Ministers seemed baptized with the Holy Ghost, and preach with new power and earnestness.

Revival in Kilsyth and Dundee, Scotland
On 23rd July 1839 William C. Burns preached a sermon to a great crowd of people, and as he retold the story of revival in Kirk of Shotts the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon the people “They broke forth simultaneously in weeping and wailing, tears and groans. Some were screaming out in agony, others-among these, strong men-fell to the ground as if they were dead”. Burns continued preaching powerfully for some days and the awakening spread. In August he returned to Dundee and at the close of a prayer meeting told the story of the revival in Kilsyth. As he spoke the power of God descended on the people and all were bathed in tears. From that evening meeting were held every day for weeks. The whole town was moved and dozens of prayer meeting sprang into existence. Burns spent many days and nights praying, meditating before God and from such preparation he went forth to preach.

Revival in Ireland
For years Rev. J.H. Moore preached the gospel faithfully in Cannor, but with little result. News of revival in America stirred him to seek to promote revival among his own people. He often preached on the subject of revival and read accounts of great revivals to his congregation. The idea of 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. Four young men soon began secret prayer meeting to pray for revival. They prevailed and soon their meeting was thronged. From that time on humble, grateful, loving, joyous converts multiplied. It was convicting and converting sinners.
Prayer meetings began to multiply and soon there was a net work of these prayer meetings and from there revival spread all over Ireland. There was no human leader. The leader was the Holy Spirit.

Revival in Wales in 1859
Moral and religious conditions in Wales sank very low, below the surrounding areas of Britain. Griffith Jones and later Howell Harris were the vessels used by God. Rev. Griffith Jones returned from America full of spirit of prayer and revival. He conducted prayer meetings. David Morgan received a remarkable endowment of power, and from that time he became the leader of the revival. By August the churches in the southern countries of Wales were crowded on Sundays and weekdays and soon a mighty harvest of souls was the result. It was estimated that there were a hundred thousand converts in that revival.

The 1859 Revival in England and Scotland
The news of the American and Irish revivals caused Christians in England and Scotland to seek God in prayer for a similar blessing. Prayer meetings multiplied but the revival remained local in nature. But the mighty spirit of prevailing prayer was lacking. However Christians continued praying in earnest. Soon revival spread in Aberdeen and Glasgow and many preachers preached under the Spirit’s influence and many were broken and convicted.

Salvation Army
Born in 1829 William Booth was converted at the age of fifteen and soon became a local preacher and his burden was how best to win the masses to Christ. He once said “What I wanted to see was an organization with the salvation of the world as its supreme ambition and object, worked upon the simple earnest principles which I had myself embraced and which, youth as I was, I had already seen carried into successful practice”. Booth was on fire for God and souls, and in five months of evangelistic work he won over 2000 souls for Christ. His worldwide ministry of the Salvation Army is a revival of religion.

D. L. Moody and Revival
D. L. Moody was born on 5th February 1837 in Northfield, Connecticut USA by a noble high-minded woman who had immense influence on her children. He was converted at seventeen and testified afterwards. “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”. This experience resulted to 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 street corners and saloons. He began Sunday school work with only twelve children and in a few years he was running a Sunday School with attendance of about 1,500 children. From that time he engaged in regular evangelist work. In 1871 a great hunger and thirst for spiritual power took possession of Moody and he said “I was crying all the time that God would fill me with His Spirit.” He did. In 1873 Moody and Sankey started their first extended missions in some of the cities in the North of England. God blessed their labor and the work grew steadily and later the same year they were invited to Scotland. The campaigns in the Scottish called the attention of the whole country to spiritual things and the wave of revival spread over the land. Moody labored in Britain and America. In addition to evangelistic work he founded the schools and colleges at Northfield and the Bible Institute at Chicago with its publishing department. He raised funds to help extend the work of YMCA and conducted conferences for ministers, students and Christians workers. 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.

The China Inland Mission
Dedicated to God before his birth James Hudson Taylor was born on May 21st 1832 and at the early age of 5 years he was expressing a desire to be a missionary in China. This ideal took hold of him and by seventeen he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He surrendered his being and future to God. Through the years that followed, he prepared himself for missionary work in China and when he was twenty-one he set sail for China. He moved God in prayer and had burden for millions dying in China without God. He worked with Chinese Evangelization Society for six years but was invalided in 1860. But in 1865 a new burden came into his life. It was a burden for unevangelized inland China. He wrote “A million a month were dying in that land, dying without God.” He continued to wrestle with God in prayer until he prevailed. He was new man physically and spiritually.
The Chinese Inland Mission continued to grow until there were about 1,100 missionaries and 4,400 Chinese workers. The success and blessing of this mission was as a result of the fact that Hudson Taylor prevailed in prayer until God came and called out missionaries and moved Christians to give money and to pray for evangelization of the world.

India – Pandita Ramabai’s Revival
In 1901 Pandita Ramabai’s work at Mukti India was enjoying much blessing from God. Twelve hundred converts were baptized in two months but some of the workers continued to cry to God for greater blessings.
News of the Welsh Revivals in 1904 stirred Ramabai and she started daily prayer meetings for revival in India. One day one of the girls received the Holy Spirit and was so transformed that soon all the girls in the premises were on their knees weeping.
Writing about this revival Helen Dyer said “The next evening, while Ramabai was preaching on John 8, the Holy Spirit descended with power and all the girls began to pray aloud so that she had to cease talking. Little children, middle-sized girls, and young women wept bitterly, and confessed their sins. Some few saw visions and experienced the power of God, and things too deep to describe. Two little girls had spirit of prayer poured on them in such torrents that they continued to pray for hours. They were transformed with heavenly light turning on their faces, “Such repentance, such heart searching, such agony over sin, and tears, as they cried for pardon and cleansing and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, then they seemed to have their eyes opened to see the body of sin in themselves. Then came a strong realization of Christ’s work upon the cross, then peace followed by intense joy. It often took soul hours to pass through all these experiences.

The publication and reading of these lectures has resulted in hundreds of revivals in America and other countries.
Finney, in 1835 although a lawyer became Professor of Theology in Oberlin where he later became president. About twenty thousand students came under his influence while he was at Oberlin. While at that University he conducted many revival meetings both in America and England. Finney emphasized that young converts should be trained to labor for Christ just as carefully as young recruits in an army are trained and how to converse with people about their souls, how to deal with enquires and how to save souls. He had the view that when the whole church will realize that they are here on earth as a body of missionaries and shall live and labor accordingly, then will the day of man’s redemption draw nigh”.
The secret of Finney’s power was the baptism of Holy Spirit and a life of prayer. He wrote “In regard to my own experience, I will say that unless I had the spirit of grace and supplication, I found myself unable to preach with power and efficiency or to win souls by personal conversation.” It is very necessary for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer.
Finney died in July 1875 after a great ministry in which Rivers of Living Water literally flowed to multitudes of souls. His revival ministry has been a tremendous blessing and challenge to the Christian church. He emphasized that any group of Christians can have a revival if they will fulfill the necessary conditions of agonizing prayer and a balanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Charles 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, ”Looked to Him; He looked on me, and we were on for ever.” After his conversion his fame as a lay preacher began to grow and at the age of seventeen he became pastor of Water beach church. In 1854 he was called to be pastor of New Park Street Chapel London and he became popular as wonderful “Boy Preacher”. Members of his church prayed earnestly for him and the Lord’s power overshadowed everyone. The house was filled with hearers and many souls were saved in that revival.

Welsh Revival in 1904
The revival, which started in Wales in 1904 and swept through the countryside started with formation of spontaneous groups for prayer meetings where to take part. Each person obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit. One would read a portion of the bible, another would pray, another would give out hymn, another would give a testimony. These meetings sometimes lasted for two to three hours without any one becoming tired.
While these meetings were going on Evan Roberts was in College preparing for the ministry. But when the burden for souls was upon him to the extent that he was unable to continue with his studies, he said “something drew me irresistibly to think of the lost world”.
He began to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. God gave him a mighty experience, which transformed him to a new man. He was quickened physically and his spiritual life became full of power and stability and he was on fire with the idea of going through Wales with a Revival party.
He began praying for 100,000 converts and he becomes the arrowhead of the revival meetings in his home church. The meetings were full of prayers for souls. During the first week there was visible beginning of revival. The fame of the revival caused a stir all over Wales and people who were blessed came to their own churches and prepared the way for Evans Robert and his revival party. Tens of thousands of souls were converted. The Holy Spirit was the great leader of the revival meetings and even in many places where they did not visit, powerful revival occurred.

Azusa Street Revival 1904
In about 1904 a revival broke out in Azusa Street California in United States of America. William Seymore was the person whom God used to bring about that revival. He was a Black American and at that time racism was at its peaks. He was a one-eyed man and used to stand at the window outside the church to listen to what is going on. One-day a black woman started a prayer meeting. He decided to join them. As he was leading in prayer some people started speaking in tongues and healing started taking place. Healing became children’s food. Initially they suffered a lot of persecution from other Christians, but soon it become clear that some supernatural manifestation were taking and revival talking and revival had started.

Revivals in China, Korea And Manchuria
The Welsh revival of 1904 was a great Inspiration to Jonathan Goforth who was moved to promote revival in China. He said “slowly the realization began to dawn upon me that I had tapped a mine of infinite possibility”. He became obsessed with this subject and spent so much time in prayer that his wife began top fear that his mind could not stand it.
During this period Goforth began to read the life and writings of Charles G. Finney who emphasized that the company of Christians can have a revival if they will fulfill the necessary laws. Goforth said, “If Finney is right I am going to find out what it costs”. In 1906 there came evidence of the beginning of Goforth’s revival ministry. At this same time there was wonderful revival going on in Korea and he 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 revival method. Korea made me feel, as it did many others, that this was God’s plan for setting the world aflame”. Korean revival was preceded by months of prayer.

Revival in Korea
South Korea populated with about 37 million people has been blessed with a revival. The story of out pouring of Holy Spirit started around 1953, when communists were persecuting many Christians in North Korea. Thousands prayed for deliverance. Even in one prayer meeting about 12000 Christians were on their knees praying. But persecution continued. Chinese communists crucified many Korean Christians and they hung on crosses until they died in torment. Faithful preachers who would not cease spreading the Gospel message had their tongues cut out. Streams of refuges moved from North to South Korea. Korea received a great number of refuges. Daily they prayed “Oh, God, save Korea”. The living churches thriving in Korea now have grown up from the ground stained with blood of martyrs and wet with tears of suffering Christians. During Korean Revival, in one week of campaign 10 million persons attended the meetings and out of this number about 1 million stayed behind each evening for all night prayer meeting. As a result of this revival over 3000 churches sprang up in the city of Seoul alone. Today in Korea we have a church with the largest congregation in the whole world.

Revival in Nigeria
Although Christianity came into Nigeria since 1846 there has never been a nationwide revival as experienced in Europe, America and Eastern countries. But between 1927 and 1937 there was spontaneous spiritual experience by Christians of Faith Tabernacle background in Western Nigeria led by Joseph Babalola which gave rise to the formation of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C). They were given to prayer and holiness. Healing, miracles and prophesying resulted.
But members were not taught the Bible and also this experience died off. Again soon after the Nigerian civil war 1967-70 there spread a revival in the Eastern States of Nigeria 1970-1975. Many of the evangelists and pastors now spreading the gospel in the country were converted at time. This revival did not grow probably because it was not supported by prayer of the saints. This is why we are asking God to send a true revival to this country to convict and convert sinners and bring sanity, order and progress to every aspect of life in our country.
Lessons and Results of Revivals
Revivals have been tremendous blessing 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.
This short history of revivals illustrates three things:

Revival always stars in answer to the effectual fervent prayers of spiritually, revived Christians, who see sin and world’s needs as God sees it and who feel the same hatred for sin, and love and compassion for sinners as God feels
Preaching the word of God is the only way sinners are convicted. Therefore, preachers should make a balanced presentation of the truths of the Gospel to the unsaved. This can only be effectively done in the power of the Holy Spirit.
All evangelists are united on one point and that is God’s to save and change lives of men through the Gospel.

This is what we desire for our country Nigeria and, nay, Africa! As revival always starts with prayer, it is noted in the foregoing history that the prayer meetings always started in groups quietly as seen in Finney’s revival meetings, in the 1859, revival in Ireland as initiated by prayer groups formed by M Quiken, Meneely, Wallace and Carlisle. The Methodist revivalists used prayer groups and Lay preachers.
Charles Finney once said “Brethren our preaching will bear its legitimate fruit. If immorality prevails, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it”.
From the above history of revivals we learn that the words of Jesus Christ in John 16:7-9 are fulfilled “Nevertheless I will tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come He will reprove the world of sin, and righteousness and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me.” Disbelief in Jesus Christ is sin. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to convict a sinner of his sins and make him very conscious of his sins and the need for repentance. So God in his supernatural way releases His Holy Spirit in an area in such abundance that He convicts sinners in that area and marked them repentant. That is revival. From history of revivals, we observe that the precipitating factor is prayer in groups of twos, threes, or multiples of these, in offices, at leisure, in market places, in schools, legislature, in fellowships and churches, until the whole area is full of presence of God as shown by presence of inexplicable love for one another, inexplicable joy, desire to forgive one another, and consciousness of sin. These signs of presence of God are indications to intensify prayers, not to relent in praying for we are looking forward to a revival that will transform our country and place her in God’s end time programme, a revival that will send revivals to other lands, a revival that will last until Jesus comes.
In the next chapter where the Holy Spirit is treated in details, it is shown that the Holy Spirit is a gentle spirit, who can be grieved, whose activity can be reduced by untoward actions of the believer, or even quenched entirely. This shows that His effectiveness can be reduced but as shown in the bible His presence and effectiveness can be increased with fasting and prayer. It may then mean that if we obeyed the bible there may in fact be no need for revival if we pray for Holy Spirit baptism for every believer and increase His presence and effectiveness by not grieving Him, by fasting and praying regularly. This issue would be treated in the next chapter and the chapter on reformation of the church.

Apostle Uzodike & Wife

Apostle Uzodike and Wife

(C) Revival and Reformation Ministries