The Four Points of Revival
Of the revival in Wales over 100 years ago it has been written:
“The turn of the twentieth century was marked by an unusual concern for spiritual matters. Believers throughout the world were moved to pray for revival. In November 1904, the Spirit of God began to stir in an extraordinary way in the hearts of believers throughout the Principality of Wales. What transpired over the next several months was nothing short of supernatural.
‘Bend the Church, and save the world!’ was the cry that rang out through villages and towns, in the churches, and in the hearts of men, women, children, and young people throughout all of Wales.
Evan Roberts was one human instrument that God used in this season of revival. The fire of God burned in the heart of this twenty-six-year-old coal miner who had little formal education. Everywhere he went, Evan Roberts delivered a message that was simple, straightforward, and timeless. It became known as ‘The Four Points.’ Did God’s people desire an outpouring of His Spirit? Then four conditions must be observed:
- Confess all known sin.
- Put away all doubtful things and forgive everyone.
- Obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
- Publicly confess Christ as your Savior.
One of the marked characteristics of the Welsh Revival was an inescapable sense of the presence of God. Church services that had been cold and formal began to throb with new life. Believers and unbelievers alike came under intense conviction of sin; confession and restitution—sometimes costly—became the order of the day. Churches were crowded day and night—not in response to promotion or advertising efforts or celebrity speakers—but as people were irresistibly drawn by the Spirit of God. Within five months, 100,000 new converts were added to the churches. (Five years later, 80 percent of those who had professed faith in Christ were still going on in their faith.)
The impact of the revival was felt in every nook and cranny of society—the gambling and alcohol businesses lost trade; taverns and brothels were closed; outstanding debts were paid; major sporting events were canceled or postponed due to lack of interest; judges were presented with white gloves because there were no cases to try; the illegitimate birth rate was reduced by 44 percent in two counties; mules in the mines had to be retrained because the coal miners no longer used profanity when giving orders.
As news of the revival spread, God began to move in other countries around the world. The United States experienced the ‘overflow’ of what God was doing in Wales. On January 20, 1905, the headline on the front page of the Denver Post read: ‘Entire City Pauses for Prayer Even at the High Tide of Business.’ In Portland, Oregon, 240 department stores signed a covenant agreeing to close their doors from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day while their customers and employees attended prayer meetings. In Atlantic City, ministers reported that out of a population of 50,000, only 50 adults were left unconverted.”
Let us pray, “Do it again, Lord!”
[Excerpted from Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom]
