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PART 5

This man rose to his feet and prayed for about half and hour. (Of course, you must remember that we were in revival, and in revival time doesn't exist. Nobody was looking at the clock.) The man paused, lifted his hand toward heaven and said, "God, did You know that your honor is a stake? You gave the promise that You would pour water on the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, and You are not doing it." I wonder how many of us could approach God with words like that on our lips? Then he said, "There are five ministers in this meeting, including Mr. Campbell, and I don't know where a one of them stands in Your Presence. But if I know anything about my own heart, I think I can say that I am thirsty for a manifestation of Your power." He paused again, then cried out in aloud voice, "God, Your honor is at stake and I now challenge You to pour water on the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground." And in that moment the stone-built house literally shook like a leaf. I immediately went to the Acts of the Apostles where it is recorded that they prayed and the place where they were assembled was shaken. As soon as this dear man stopped praying, I pronounced the benediction a little after two o'clock in the morning and went out to find the whole village ablaze with God. I went into one house and found nine women on their knees in the kitchen crying out to God. One woman saved that night has written some of the finest Gaelic hymns in our Gaelic hymnal. On the following Sunday, the road was black with the people walking two miles to the church. The drinking house in that particular village closed that night and has never reopened since. This is God at work. A God sent revival is always a revival of holiness.

Conclusion

It takes the supernatural to break the bonds of the natural. You can make a community mission-conscious. You can make a community crusade-conscious. But only God can make a community God-conscious. Just think about what would happen if God came to any community in power. I believe that day is coming. May God prepare us all for it. Amen

HOW THE WORLD SEES IT...

Stornoway Gazette May 5th, 1939

(This report relates to a previous revival in 1939 of which very little has been recorded.)

Religious Revival in Lewis

On Thursday night, at the weekly prayer meeting in the Free Church, Carloway, several of the worshippers fell into a trance as has been occurring for a considerable period at revivalist services held in other parts of Lewis. This was the first occasion on which anyone was affected at a meeting in Carloway.

It is understood that a party from Carloway had visited Shader (Barvas) where the revival has been in progress for some weeks, on the previous night. On other occasions people from Carloway have visited Crossbost and even Gravir, to atend the special services being held.

Following the prayer meeting on Thursday night, it was decided to hold a special meeting in the Free Church on Friday night, and a number of the Church of Scotland congregation also attended. At this meeting a number of worshippers again fell into trances, including some of the visitors from the Church of Scotland congregation.

Special services are still being held nightly in the Point district. A resident in Shader (Point) stated that these meetings are held in private houses in the district more or less in rotation. They are joint services attended by the ministers of both congregations, and frequently the attendance is so great that worshippers have to stand round the doors and windows, unable to gain admittance.

The service generally begins at about 9pm, and continues until the small hours of the morning. When the ministers leave, the meeting is continued mainly with the singing of Psalms, and it is stated that it is during this part of the service that worshippers are generally affected physically.

The form which the revival is taking is causing a considerable amount of apprehension, both inside and outside the churches, as many people are doubtful whether the strange experiences recorded have any deep or lasting value. Those who have discussed the matter in this way do not dogmatise, but the revival has followed a course so different to the previous religious revivals in Lewis that they feel doubtful of its character.

There is also the fear that the emotional disturbance caused by the occurrences which have taken place, especially where the meetings are held night after night and for prolonged periods, may have a serious effect on those who are not too robust physically.