W.J. Seaton

My Dear Brethren,

With all the high-powered evangelism that we have seen over the past years, we find that the country in general, and the Church in particular have both been – when all is said and done – little affected. This is not to decry the work of this type of high-powered evangelism, even where on feels that it leaves a lot to be desired, but simply to state that what the Church needs is more than one or two gigantic spectaculars in order to get men and women and young people signing decision cards.

What the Church needs is a breath of what has been termed in the history of the Church as “Revival”. Now, this is never to be confused with “Evangelistic Effort”. Evangelism is organised by men; revival is given by God through His Holy Spirit enveloping the Church, and even the community in which the “visited” Church witnesses.

There is plenty of evangelism today, but little revival. Why is this? Well, let me speak here purely and simply from the human side, and say that the reason that we see so much Evangelistic effort in our day and so little in the way of revival is because of the apparent worldliness of the average believer. To get “involved” in the whirl of an evangelistic effort undeniably caters for the “cult of busy-ness” that undermines much of the work of the Church today; while the steady seeking of God’s face in self-abasing prayer, and often in the quiet of your own heart and home, which leads – on the human side – to revival, doesn’t appear half so attractive. You see, it’s one thing to get caught up in the excitement of a special effort and get carried along on some kind of a bubble of enthusiasm for a couple of weeks, and quite another to “prevail with God” in prayer, determined not to let Him go until He has blessed thee. But, let me assure you, my brethren, that it’s this latter spirit that is going to have the long-term effect on the work of Christ in Scotland, and anywhere else. With regard to the gimmick s that come and go in our Church life, we may well sing:

“Change and decay in all around I see”

And at the end of the day we are driven to cry …

“O Thou, who changest not, abide with me”.

Every Revival of the true heart-religion begins and ends in the “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God”, and it is almost impossible to trace the human source which God chooses to use in such a manifestation of His power. Nevertheless, we are usually able to see some of the links of this golden chain which binds Satan for a short season and ushers many of the Redeemed into their inheritance in Christ. And make no mistake, the human agent is always one embedded in determined, unwavering prayer.

Evan Roberts, who was so mightily used in the Welsh Revival at the beginning of last century, tells us how he was led to pray, AND KEEP ON PRAYING FOR REVIVAL. … … “This is the way I was led to pray”, he tells us. “William Davies, the deacon, said one night in the Society: ‘Remember to be faithful. What if the Spirit descended and you were absent? Remember Thomas! What a loss he had.’ ‘… And through every kind of weather, and in spite of all the difficulties’, Evan Roberts tells us, ‘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. I said to myself: “Remember your resolve”, and on I went. I went faithfully to the meetings for prayer throughout the TEN OR ELEVEN YEARS (capitals ours) I prayed for a Revival”.

And then came that memorable evening in one of those meetings when Roberts slumped over the pew under the weight of the power of God’s Spirit, and his cry echoed through that little Welsh Chapel. “O Lord, bend me! Bend me!”

“Ten or eleven years” is a long time to pray; and perhaps it’s a spirit of worldliness that would make us to dissatisfied to wait long, especially when we can take on the appearance of doing the Lord’s Will. But, remember, God revives His people “in the midst of the years”, in His appointed time. Until that time of refreshing comes, His word to us is plain.” “…I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them”.

Yes we may get involved as much as we like, but remember, the churches are emptier than ever, the effect of the Church is less felt than ever, the believers know less about their faith than they ever knew, and they are more caught up in the world than they have ever been. Yes, we may get involved, but surely our God is saying: “And yet, I show you a more excellent way”. “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; THEN will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”.

W.J. Seaton, courtesy of Wicket Gate.