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Conditions For Revival
(Conclusion)
By J. Edwin Orr (circa 1930)

The other day I was talking to a minister about proposed revival work. He was not concerned about the need of Christians to be revived: neither was he much worried about the state of the ungodly out of Christ. All that he seemed to care about was that no one should trespass on what one might describe as purely denominational interests.

We Can thank God for the testimony of denomiinations, but we must also say that a minister's first duty is to serve God, and all other things are secondary.

When the Christians concentrate on revival with the same zeal that firemen tackle a blazing house: when they serve the Lord with brain and brawn straining every nerve: then and only then will they be rewarded with the desire of every spiritual heart-revival.

"And he shall deliver you..." God's promises are clear. If we take one of them "Prove Me now, saith the Lord, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven---" we can rejoice in the definite promise made so that there is no room for doubt, no place for misunderstanding.

In the case of the Israelites, we read next of their obedience. They put away the strange gods and served the Lord only. In so many words they did what they were told and they did what they knew to be right. "

"Obedience, faith and prayer," wrote my friend Dr. Horace Philp, "are still the only human factors that can bring about revival."

After the people of God had turned away from their idols, Samuel made the way clear before them. "Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord."

We recall that Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord, and cried : "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." He prevailed. In consequence, his name was changed from Jacob the supplanter, to Israel, a prevailer with God. We know also that Mizpeh means the "place of watchfulness"---and it was the rallying place of the tribes.

Let us read this verse, the declaration of Samuel, very literally: "Gather all the prevailers with God to the place of watchfulness, and then prayer will be fruitful."

Right and Wrong Praying

Prayer will bring revival. But it must also be united prayer. Dr. A. T. Pierson, the noted Church historian and missionary statesman, has said: "There has never been a revival in any country that has not begun in united prayer, and no revival has ever continued beyond the duration of those prayer meetings."

The idea of praying for revival in one section of the Church only is both ludicrous and profitless. We must pray unitedly for the whole household of faith. "When God intends great mercy for His people," said Matthew Henry, " He first of all sets them praying."

But prayer must be real prayer. One may say truthfully that much that goes under the name of prayer is nothing more than hot air, and it rises no higher than the roof.

I have heard people preach against each other in prayer. They quote poetry to the Lord: they tell Him unnecessary and superfluous things: they use high-falutin' language to the Almighty, as if it were an illuminated address instead of the cry of a child to its Father.

Prayer is greatly abused by both ignorant and learned

During an intense, though limited local revival in the Donegall Road City Mission, Belfast, the power-house of the movement was undoubtedly the early morning prayer meeting arranged by Mr. William Brice, a man after God's own heart.

At six o'clock in the morning, forty of us would be on our knees--and this went on for six months. The type of praying there was not eloquent in style. Instead of that, there was brief and pointed petitions in the crudest vernacular.

One morning however there came into our midst a young man who, alas, had big ideas of his knowledge of the Scriptures. He determined to show all around, including the Almighty what a profound Bible student he was. He began by praying that God would triumph in the meeting . . . that He would work his purposes out. . . . Quite a helpful thought ! ! ! But not content with that, he began to explain to the Lord how to do it. He quoted the case of Adam and Eve in the Garden. Next he flitted to Enoch. Then he dwelt upon Noah. Next came a sermonette on Abraham's obedience. Then followed a wealth of reflection about Isaac . . . and Jacob . . . and Joseph. The people had not got up out of their beds at 5.30 a.m. to listen in a cramped position to sermons. They kept shifting position. They lost interest. The prayer meeting was being killed.

I wondered what Brice would do. He had once said to me:
"When a man prays for three minutes, you pray with him.
When he prays for another three minutes, you pray for him.
And if he prays for another three minutes, you pray against him."
The "learned" and voluble brother had been praying for twenty-three minutes.
Suddenly Brice roared out:
"Open your eyes, man---you're preachin'."

The prayer died away, and we all thanked God. The man was tomfooling, not praying. Prayer will bring revival, and if ever you hear of an intensive prayer meeting, take it as a sure sign of blessing to follow.

The people of God hearkened to the advice of Samuel.
They meant business.
They prepared.
They fasted.
And they said there "We have sinned against the Lord."

True searching of heart follows the seeking of God's presence in prayer, and it invariably produces conviction of sin. They confessed their sin. I cannot imagine from the Bible narrative that these tens of thousands recited the words together: "We have sinned against the Lord." No, rather it must mean that they individually and collectively confessed their sins to God and sought His pardon.

It is the same today. Revival is impossible apart from confession of sin among believers. It must be confession to God, and it may be confession to one another. Every hindrance must go. Sin must be confessed in order that it may be cleansed. It is noticeable that Samuel "judged" Israel in Mizpeh. Judgment must begin at the house of the Lord.

The result of prayer and confession was a mighty revival and a glorious victory over the powers of evil.

We have lessons to learn from the story of the revival in Samuel's day. The conditions of revival remain unchanged. When we as Christians are willing to turn away from our idols and to prepare by united prayer for widespread blessing, then the Spirit of the Lord will convict us of our sins against God, and with the confession and cleansing of these will come a lasting revival of true religion.

God grant it.

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