08. The Punjab Prayer-Union
The Punjab Prayer-Union In every revival there is a divine side and a human side. In the Welsh revival the divine element comes out prominently. Evan Roberts, the leader under God, seems in a sense to have been a passive agent, mightily moved upon in the night seasons by the Holy Spirit. There was no or- ganization and very little preaching—comparatively little of the human element. The Sialkot re- vival, while just as certainly sent down from heaven, seems not so spontaneous. There was. un- der God, organization; there was a certain amount of definite planning, and there were seasons of long continued prayer.
Just here as showing where human agency avails I wish to mention the Punjab Prayer-Union. This was started about the time (1904), of the first Sialkot Convention. The principles of this uni- on are stated in the form of questions which were signed by those becoming members.
1. "Are you praying for quickening in your own life, in the life of your fellow-workers, and in the Church?
2. "Are you longing for greater power of the Holy Spirit in your own life and work, and are you convinced that you cannot go on without this power ?
3. "Will you pray that you may not be ashamed of Jesus ?
4. "Do you believe that prayer is the great means for securing this spiritual awakening?
5. "Will you set apart one-half hour each day as soon after noon as possible to pray for this awakening, and are you willing to pray till the awakening comes?"
John Hyde was associated with this prayer union from its beginning and also had a definite part in the Sialkot convention. The members of the prayer union lifted up their eyes according to Christ’s command and saw the fields,—white to the harvest. In the Book they read the immut- able promises of God. They saw the one method of obtaining this spiritual awakening, even by prayer. They set themselves deliberately, definitely, and desperately to use the means till they secured the result. The Sialkot revival was not an accident nor an unsought breeze from heav- en. Charles G. Finney says: "A revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat." In any com- munity revival can be secured from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die—or if need be to win and die!—"The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt, n : 12).