Fire
"Fire" by Steve Fowler
The Welsh revival of 1904-1905 was a presence-driven revival that transformed the lives 100,000 men and women in less than one year as they confessed sin, repented, and became followers of Jesus. Society was so dramatically transformed that the judicial system shut down due to a lack of criminal cases. One woman described a worship service in those days saying, “At times a wave of power, without any human instrumentality, or anything external to cause it, would sweep over the mass of the people, and spontaneously almost the whole company would pray aloud, no one heeding the other, and without the slightest confusion. Everyone was absorbed with God.
As the people gathered, the prayers and hymns burst forth – no one led but the Spirit Himself. One and another entered the place, knelt down, and in a few minutes an intense prayer, or an intense chorus or verse of a hymn was sung. Then a text of Scripture or chapter was read – but all in the most perfect harmony and intensity.”
In an unnerving moment during the revival a well-known skeptic in the town interrupted the revivalist, Evan Roberts, as he preached. “I want to ask a question,” he shouted. Roberts ignored him. “I want to ask a question,” he yelled angrily again. “If you do not answer me, I will come to the pulpit to ask my question.” Everyone ignored him, so he began to make his way to the pulpit to confront Roberts. An eyewitness to the event described what happened next:
“As in the case of Saul of Tarsus, on the Damascus Road, the Holy Spirit overpowered this man – he would have collapsed on the stairs had not the people upheld him – constraining him to cry out for mercy and pardon. What a scene followed! When the people realized the full import of what had happened, the shout went up, ‘He has been saved! He has been saved!”
How did this presence-driven revival happen? Prayer. For 13 years, Evan Roberts begged God to pour out His Spirit. Roberts once said, “I have only to wait for the fire. I have built the altar, and laid the wood in order, and have prepared the offering; I only have to wait for the fire.”
Wondering how to pray for the fire to fall again? Consider praying this prayer:
Your throne, O Lord, is like a fiery flame, and you are the God that answers by fire. Lord, release your fire and burn up the works of darkness. Purify my life with your fire. Baptize me with the Holy Ghost and fire. Let your fire be in my hands to heal the sick and cast out demons. Let your fire burn in my eyes, my heart, my belly, my mouth, and my feet. Let your fire be in my tongue to preach, lead worship, counsel, evangelize, and prophesy. I receive tongues of fire. Let the fire of your presence be released in my life, and let your Word be preached with fire. Make me a minister of fire.
May it be so.
Author: Steve Fowler - May 2023