Revival
Confession Repentance and Revival
JONATHAN GOFORTH – Revivalist in China! by David Smithers
“You must go forward on your knees,” was the advice
Hudson Taylor gave to a young Canadian missionary named
Jonathan Goforth. Mr. Goforth faithfully and fervently followed this
advice throughout all has missionary endeavors in China. Yet,
after thirteen years of faithful praying and preaching, and what
most would consider a very successful ministry, Goforth became
restless and dissatisfied. It was at this time an unknown party
from England began sending pamphlets on the Welsh revival of
1904. Goforth was deeply stirred as he read these accounts. “A
new thought, a new conception seemed to come to him of God
the Holy Spirit…” He then gave himself to much more prayer
and Bible study. Goforth now found himself being driven by a
fresh vision, a vision for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Soon he began to meet daily with other missionaries to pray for
revival. These men vowed to God and to one another that they
would pray until revival came to China. In 1908 Jonathan Goforth’s
prayers and dreams began to be realized. Goforth began going to
different missionary stations and simply led his fellow missionaries
in prayer. Then suddenly earnest prayer gave way to the open
confession of sin.
It was when the Christians came clean, confessed and forsook
their secret sin, that the Holy Spirit rushed in like a mighty wind.
Truly it was this open and honest confession of sin that was the
most striking feature of the revival. Everywhere Mr. Goforth went
revival would spread, and almost always in the same way. First
prayer was encourage among the Christians, which then
spontaneously led to heart- breaking confessions of sin. And
then like a flood, the lost were brought into the kingdom by the
thousands. “Men were searched as with fire.” One after another
broken-hearted believers emptied themselves through the
uncovering of all secret sin. Mr. Goforth clearly identified
unconfessed sin among Christians as a major hindrance to
God-sent revival.
Walter Phillips describes for us one of Mr. Goforth’s revival
meetings: “At once, on entering the church one was conscious
of something unusual. The place was crowded to the door and
tense, reverent attention sat on every face. The people knelt for
prayer, silent at first, but soon one here and another there began
to pray aloud. The voices grew and gathered volume and blended
into a great wave of united supplication that swelled until it was
almost a roar. Now I understood why the floor was so wet – the
very air was electric and strange thrills coarsed up and down
ones body.”
When Mr. Goforth preached, “The cross burned like a living fire in
the heart of every address.” It was the person of Jesus Christ who
was exalted throughout the entire revival as a King and Savior
who must be reckoned with. In the midst of this great revival
Jonathan Goforth clearly saw that all of his previous sweating
and striving had reaped only frustration. He came to the firm
conviction that revival is only born through humility, faith, prayer
and the power of the Holy Ghost. Goforth writes, “If revival is
being withheld from us it is because some idol remains still
enthroned; because we still insist in placing our reliance in
human schemes; because we still refuse to face the unchange-
able truth that ‘It is not by might, but by My Spirit.'”
Great Reformation Needed
ANDREW STROM: I believe the word “Reformation” has been
hijacked by modern groups such as the NAR – similar to the way
the word ‘Revival’ has been misused and abused in modern times.
This is very sad, because if it is one thing the church desperately
needs today, it is a total and true ‘Reformation’ back to the ways
of the early church. Below, my friend Torben Sondergaard has
some very interesting things to say on this vital topic-
GREAT REFORMATION NEEDED!!
-extracts by Torben Sondergaard
The first reformation took place in the seventeenth century when
Martin Luther opposed the Catholic Church and its teaching. He
revived the very essence of the Gospel, namely justification by
faith alone. You can say that this reformation concerned theology.
The second reformation took place in the nineteenth century around
the time of the ministry of the Wesley brothers’ activities. In this
reformation personal intimacy with Christ was rediscovered.
However, once again the structure itself; the framework of the
church and the service did not change very much. It was, again,
like putting a new patch on old clothes.
If you look back throughout history, you will see that none of the
revivals of the past have seriously done anything about the church
structure. What we really need is a new and radical reformation.
The third reformation is not just about small changes here and there.
No, it is a reformation that goes so deep that it requires a complete
new start.
I know God wants something new to happen. I also know that this
reformation is necessary. Yet despite the fact that I am so
absolutely convinced about the things I am writing, I am still writing
it with great fear and trembling because I know this is not going to
be easily accepted.
Today we are all glad for the reformation Martin Luther introduced.
We forget, however, about many things. We forget that it created
a big opposition as a result of which Luther`s books were burned
and he was accused of having been sent by the devil to wage war
with God´s church. We forget that it led to violent fights in which
thousands of men, women and children were killed. We forget that
the church of that time did not want the reformation and they did
everything to fight it. You might be thinking now: Yes, but that
was the Catholic Church. Today another church denomination
will try to fight what God wants. Why do we think that it is going
to be different today?
I am not saying that we are going to see thousands killed, but
why should we think that everything will go smoothly – without
divisions and without being accused of working against God and
trying to destroy the church? The truth is we need to see this
reformation and it is not going to go smoothly! We are going to be
accused of destroying the church. We are going to be accused
of having been deceived and of being dangerous.
Why did the church turn against Martin Luther? Was it because
his words were opposed to the Word of God? No, that was not
the reason. For the church it was not a matter of what the Bible
said, but of something completely different. Martin Luther´s
teaching opposed a system based on finances, power and control.
We can say that this is also relevant today. People will oppose
it nowadays as well, not because it is unbiblical, but because it
will destroy the system they have helped to build. Finances, power
and control still matter a lot to the church today.
This is not because pastors do not want to serve God and do not
want to do the right thing. It is mostly due to the fact that they
either cannot see it or that they have much to lose, which makes
it hard for them to go in this direction. When they see others
abandoning their system, they will fight it because that is how
they lose their members – and together with them, the money that
keeps the system running.
Jesus is zealous for God´s church on earth. Do we have the same
zeal today? Jesus said there would be a price to pay if we followed
Him. Are we willing to pay that price? It will cause division and
some Christians will fight it because it seems to be something
that will destroy the church. I can honestly say on my behalf that
I have absolutely no intent of destroying God´s church. I love the
church and therefore I want to rescue it. I love God´s people and
I love God – and that is why I do what I do. The only difference is
that my view of what God´s church is, is different from that of
many other people. See here …..
The Last Outpouring
by David Wilkerson
I know some will not receive what I am about to say, yet many will. I do not believe we have yet seen the glory and fullness of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel. What we have seen are just a few sprinkles! Yes, we have had a worldwide charismatic renewal and love has brought many together. It has been an experience shared worldwide, yet it is just a foretaste.
God will permit nothing to hinder what he plans to do. The enemy is in for a surprise. Just as it appears the church will be inundated by a satanic flood, the Spirit will raise up a standard. Understand what that standard is, and you will understand what God is about to do. The standard is a holy people, pure, undefiled, delivered from the corruption that is in the world. That standard is a new breed of sanctified Christians, who will shine forth as lights in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. It will not be just a renewal of love and praise, but a restoration of holiness unto the Lord!
There will still be shouting and praise, but it will be the shout of victory over sin and compromise, fulfilling the purpose of the last outpouring: “That all who call on his name shall be delivered…” (Joel 2:32). Delivered from what? From sin! From the spirit of the world!
We will not have had the fullness of the Spirit´s outpouring until baptized people separate themselves completely from the world. We must emphasize separation and purity of heart. The purpose of the Spirit´s coming is to sanctify and prepare a people for the Lord´s return, a people without spot or wrinkle.
When the fullness of the Spirit´s outpouring comes upon all flesh, conviction for sin will be everywhere. “He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). That is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!
Tragically, too many speak with tongues, but then live like the devil. Sin was never uprooted and all they received was an experience of ecstasy. God blessed them just enough to call them into a deeper life of holiness and submission, but they stopped and went about saying, “I´ve got the Holy Ghost.”
Oh, there is so much more! I thank God for the privilege of praying in an unknown tongue; it is my way of releasing all the pent-up praises to God in a communication beyond my understanding. But you can speak with the tongues of men and even angels, and without charity, you have received nothing. But I say it goes even deeper. You are not truly baptized with the Holy Spirit until every hidden part of your soul has been exposed-and every sin confessed and forsaken.
(c) 2010, World Challenge, Inc. – www.worldchallenge.org
by David and Patricia Knowles
- What is Revival and what is NOT Revival
- How did the revivalists pray?
- Exciting accounts of events in past Revivals to thrill and inspire us today.