“Oh, Syd,” he said to his best friend, Sydney Evans, “we are going to see the mightiest revival that Wales has ever known – the Holy Spirit is coming just now.” In great anticipation, he added, “We must get ready. We must get a little band together and go all over the country preaching.” Suddenly Roberts stopped, looked at Sydney, and said, “Do you believe that God can give us a hundred thousand?” – Excerpt from an article written by Dr. Alvin L. Reid
The conversation between Evan Roberts and Sydney Evans took place in Wales, late in the year of 1904. During the six months which followed more than a hundred thousand souls were saved. This was the Welsh Revival.
What Is Revival?
There have been many revivals recorded in the history of the church. The first taking place after Peter preached to the crowds of Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Acts ii. tells us three thousand souls were added to the church that day. The revivals that have followed occurred in all sorts of places, were sparked through the words of numerous Christians, and resulted in varying numbers of converts. But some factors always remained the same:
A revival is always a work of God, accomplishing what men can not. It is always ushered in by the prayers of Christians — men and woman who were led to ask for revival persistently for days, months, even years beforehand. True revival is always marked by the turning of sinner’s hearts to the Lord and the turning of the church back to faith and obedience.
By definition, revival is “a return to life, consciousness, strength or condition. A renewal. A restoration to importance.” When the church is revived, it returns to Christ who is its life. Sinners are made conscious of God and the work He did on their behalf. The body of Christ is strengthened and brought back to it proper condition. It is renewed. The church is restored to importance – in the eye of both the saved and the unsaved- and can bring change to the society around it because God and His will have been restored to a place of importance in the church.
Evan Roberts Desired Revival
Evan Roberts’ heart was burning with a desire to have revival. He wanted a revival in his own soul and then in the church as a whole. For thirteen years he prayed for the Holy Spirit.
When giving his testimony Roberts himself said it this way: “I said then to myself: ‘I will have the Spirit.’ And through all weather, and in spite of all difficulties, I went to the meetings. Many times, on seeing other boys with the boats on the tide, I was tempted to turn back and join them. But, no. Then I said to myself: ‘Remember your resolve to be faithful,’ and on I went. Prayer meeting Monday evening at the chapel; prayer meeting Tuesday evening at Pisgah (Sunday School branch); Church meeting Wednesday evening; Band of Hope Thursday; class Friday evening-to these I went faithfully throughout the years. For ten or eleven years I have prayed for a revival. I could sit up all night to read or talk about revivals. It was the Spirit that moved me to think about a revival.”
It was not his uncompromising attendance at the meetings that made Evan ready for revival. But rather the position of his heart. He was in search of the Spirit of God. His faithfulness in going to the meetings was simply evidence of that desire. If understanding of his Lord might be found in a place, or the Holy Spirit gained there, Evan Roberts was determined to be there to receive it. The Spirit of God was moving him and he chose to obey. Evan Roberts desired revival.
Do You?
For thirteen years Evan asked God for an outpouring of His Spirit. He prayed for revival specifically for eleven years. Have we even begun to ask for these things?
Leonard Ravenhill said, “The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it!”
The only difference between Evan Roberts and us is his unwillingness to live without revival. He sought God not only for himself but for more than a hundred thousand souls besides. God used Evan Roberts, He can use us as well.
The question is: Are you willing to be used? Are you wanting Him to use you?
“I believe the world is upon the threshold of a great religious revival, and I pray that I may be allowed to help bring this about. I beseech all those who confess Christ to ask Him today, upon their knees, if He has not some work for them to do now. He will lead them all as He has led us. He will make them pillars of smoke by day and pillars of fire by night to guide all men to Him.” – Evan Roberts
In Christ
Quiana