THIN SPACE
This week, Prayer Hour continues the theme of REVIVAL.
We’re going to be checking out revivals from as early as 1727 to revivals that are still going strong in 2020!
Today… it’s all about the GREAT BRITISH AWAKENING.
Before 1738
While known as the Great British Awakening in the United States, the movement is referred to as the Evangelical Revival in Britain. The Evangelical Revival first broke out in Wales. In 1735, Howell Harris and Daniel Rowland experienced a religious conversion and began preaching to large crowds throughout South Wales. Their preaching initiated the Welsh Methodist revival.
By 1736, thousands had been converted and communities were changed. Harris started forming 'societies' of new converts.
In 1735, aboard a ship to Georgia, John Wesley meets some Moravian immigrants and is impressed by their meekness and humility and incredible calm whilst a storm threatens to shipwreck them. "Wesley asked one of them afterwards: “Were you not afraid?” The Moravian answered, “I thank God, no" - "But were not your women and children afraid?” He replied mildly: “No, our women and children are not afraid to die.”
In England, 1738 after John Wesley’s brief and frustrating missionary career, the Wesley brothers were challenged by the Moravian missionary Peter Bohler. Despite being a Christian missionary Wesley felt convinced of unbelief, "wanting faith whereby alone we are saved".
Later that year John Wesley visited the Moravian community at Herrnhut. He admired their zeal and love for the Lord, and he prayed that their kind of Christianity, full of the Holy Spirit, would spread through the earth.
Back in England he preached evangelically, gathered converts into religious societies (which were nicknamed Methodists because of their methodical procedures), and continued to relate warmly with the Moravians. Evangelical revival fires began to stir in England and burst into flame throughout the following years.
The Results
The founding of The Global Methodist Church, The Salvation Army, The Message Trust and 24/7 Prayer.
More independence & unity in Churches for Women and African Americans, occasionally preaching and acquiring leadership roles (never really seen in other Western Churches).
Many churches accept pietism - (placing less emphasis on traditional doctrinal divisions between churches but focusing rather on religious experiences, encounters with God.
Churches from all denominations gather together to pray for God's spirit to move powerfully across the world.
Prayer
Come fill us Holy Ghost, convict us of our sins. Like John Wesley, may we desire and seek a faith in you that consoles us to extraordinary peace. Peace because we are convinced of our forgiveness, salvation and eternal future. Bring revival and let it start with me!
In Jesus our saviour's mighty name we pray.
Amen
Worship
Holy Spirit Rain Down - CLICK HERE
Stir A Passion - CLICK HERE