“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:1)
Rees Howell was a young man from Wales who had been pursuing a business career in the United States and had returned to Wales right after the revival in Wales had occurred. He had been saved and given his life over to Christ while in the U.S. and on his return he threw himself into expanding the gospel to those parts of Wales that had not yet responded to the revival. Here is his description of what had happened in Wales:
“In a short while the whole country was aflame,” he said. “Every church was stirred to its depths. Strong men were in tears of penitence, and women moved with a new fervor. People were overpowered by the Spirit as on the day of Pentecost, and were counted as drunken men. In the services they were praying, singing, and testifying. It was a church revival, turning Christians everywhere into witnesses: ‘Certainly we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’”(Acts 4:20) (Rees Howells Intercessor, by Norman Grubb, p.33)
Norman Grubb goes on to describe in detail what had happened: “The presence and power of the Holy Ghost in the church has always been a fact recognized by true believers; so it was not so much a case of asking Him to come as acknowledging His presence, and very soon realizing His power. But often they had to pray out the hindrances to blessing: disobedience and unforgiving hearts were two sins that were constantly dealt with. On the other hand, obedience to the promptings of the Spirit and open confession of Christ brought down the blessing.
Once the first hymn was given out, the meeting conducted itself. There was no leader, but the people felt an unseen control. Speakers were often interrupted by a chorus of song and prayer, but there was no sense of discord or break in the harmony. There was noise, excitement and emotion in the meetings, but it was only the effect of people being freed from bondage. When some complained, one old preacher replied that he preferred the noise of the city to the silence of the cemetery!
The Revival proved what the Holy Ghost could do through a company of believers who were of one spirit and of one mind as on the day of Pentecost. The church had seen over and over again what the Lord could do through a yielded evangelist or pastor, such as Moody or Finney, but in the Welsh Revival it was divine power manifested through the church. The Keynote was, ‘Bend the church and save the world.’” (Rees Howells Intercessor, by Norman Grubb, pp. 33-34)
Rees Howell knew that after the revival had swept the country there were still some villages that had not responded to moving of the Holy Spirit. So he, and some others, took it upon themselves to go to one of those villages to live and to show the people there just what it meant to be a spirit filled Christian. They had never seen such a sight when they entered the village. There were beer barrels out in the open and people were drinking and gambling. The name of the village was aptly named Hell-fire Row. The first house they visited was occupied by two drunkards and they became the first converts. They then opened their house for Bible study and soon many in the village came to know Christ!
I don’t know about you but I love stories about our God doing wonderful things for His people. I love the stories in the Bible, and I love stories of men and women like Rees Howell who were sold out for Jesus and lived their lives in total abandonment to His service. What can I learn from their examples? Will I be like Paul or Peter, Moses or Daniel? Will I be like Rees Howell, D.L Moody, or Billy Graham? No, I probably will not. But if I surrender myself completely to the Lord and am obedient to those things that He has called me to do, then I will have been faithful to my calling! Oh Lord help me to be faithful.
What is God calling us to do today as the body of believers we call the church? If we call ourselves Christians, He is calling us to live out our lives for Him in our everyday activities. Am I looking for the leading of the Spirit to show me where and to whom He wants me to witness for Him? Am I obedient to His voice and gentle nudging? Oh Lord, help me to be so!
Want to read more about revivals? Check out blogs: Revival in the Congo (4/11/2020), Revival in America (12/13/18), or Revival in South Africa (12/2/16)
PRAY
1. Lord, open the eyes of my heart and help me to be sensitive to the needs of those around me who don’t know who you are and need to know You.
2. Help me to be more faithful in prayer for my neighbor and others you have put into my life.
3. Keep me close to You and Your Word and help me to respond promptly to the leading of Your Spirit today.
4. Thank You for loving us so much that You would die on that old rugged cross to redeem us from sin and hell.
