The Welsh Revival

We are in the Evangelism Awakening Revival Institutes, and if you turn in your handouts, friends, to session 11, the Welsh Revival. Well, I've been to the lovely country of Wales, and it really is the land of revival. The revival that occurred in Wales in 1904 was a truly remarkable revival whose influence was felt in many countries.

It was said of that work of grace that 100,000 souls came to Christ, and it's easy to look at a person in ministry that God is using without knowing what has taken place behind that ministry. Oftentimes, it is what happens behind the scenes in a person's private life that enables them to be used of God in the public arena. Such was the case with Evan Roberts of the Welsh Revival.

When he emerged as the figurehead of the revival, he captured the attention of a nation. People would sit on the edge of their seats, hoping he would suddenly appear at their church, which was his regular habit, but few knew the personal side of this young man who sacrificed 11 years of his life to be shut up to God in prayer, to pray for revival, to come to his country. We get a sense of this from his own words describing what had taken place.

For 13 years, I had prayed for the spirit. I said to myself, I will have the spirit, and through every kind of weather and in spite of all the difficulties, I went to the meetings many times. On seeing other boys with the boats on the tide, I was tempted to turn back and join them.

But no, I said to myself, remember your resolve, and on I went. I went faithfully to the meetings for prayer. Throughout the 10 or 11 years, I prayed for revival.

It was the spirit that moved me thus to think. Well, here was a man who lived his life on his knees before Almighty God in prayer. I remember Stephen Offord telling me about the time he went to Wales to meet Evan Roberts.

He said he was a quiet, friendly man, but who in the middle of a conversation would suddenly get up and leave to go upstairs to pray. Prayer was his main business, more important than socializing. Well, the break came in a prayer meeting in Wales where Evan Roberts began to cry out, bend me Lord, bend me.

He later described this time when God sat down on that church in his awful presence. After I was bent, a wave of peace came over me, and the audience sang. I hear the welcome voice, and as they sang, I thought about the bending at the judgment day, and I was filled with compassion for those that would have to bend on that day, and I wept.

Well, Evan Roberts was only 26 years old and completely unknown before the revival, but now famous ministers like G. Campbell Morgan and F.B. Meyer would travel from London to Wales to stand in the back of churches with their mouths open at the glory of God on this young man. The revival had begun in the hearts of God's people, yet God used Evan Roberts to fan the flame of revival that was so powerful. Local newspapers began to carry the spread of the revival.

Here are some reports of those times. Great crowds of people drawn to Lorre. Congregations stay till half past two in the morning.

A remarkable religious revival is now taking place at Lorre. For some days, a young man named Evan Roberts, a native of Lorre, has been causing great surprise at Moriah Chapel. The place has been besieged by dense crowds of people unable to obtain admission.

Such excitement has prevailed that the road on which the chapel is situated has been lined with people from end to end. Roberts, who speaks in Welsh, opens his discourse by saying that he does not know what he is going to say, but that when he is in communion with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will speak, and he will simply be the medium of his wisdom. The preacher, soon after, launches out into a fervent and at times impassioned oration.

His statements have had most stirring effects upon his listeners. Many who have disbelieved Christianity for years are again returning to the fold of their younger days. One night, so great was the enthusiasm invoked by the young revivalist, that after his sermon, which lasted two hours, the vast congregation remained praying and singing until 2.30 in the morning.

Shopkeepers are closing early in order to get a place in the chapel, and tin and steel workers throng the place in their working clothes. A newspaper report from Rhonda Valley writes, a scene which may be witnessed any morning here at 5 a.m. Scores of minors hold a service before going home. From the midnight shift, the superintendent starts a hymn, in the deep and mighty ocean, and then the pit re-echoes the song, old men fall on their knees to pray.

Another newspaper reported, an insurance agent told a reporter that at practically every house he called on at Christmas, he was met by the wife with a happy smile and these words, this is the happiest Christmas we've ever had. Their husbands had been converted, and stopped their wastage of money and gambling and drunkenness. Well, the effects of the revival were remarkable, friends.

The life of communities were completely altered. Long-standing debts were paid. Stolen goods returned.

Drinking taverns forsaken. Oaths ceased to be heard, so that it was said in the minds the horses could not understand the language of their drivers, who no longer cursed and swore at them. Political meetings had to be postponed, as members of the Houses of Parliament were found taking part in the revival meetings.

Theatrical companies made sure they did not come to Wales, as they knew that there they would go bankrupt. Magistrates were presented with white gloves in many places, to signify that there were no arrests. The prisons were empty.

People couldn't get enough of the Bible. Three times the number of Bibles were sold. Since the revival broke out, the booksellers say it's no trouble now to sell Bibles.

The trouble is to get them. Evan Roberts would constantly challenge others with the words, Is there any sin in your past that you have not confessed to God? Is there anything in your life that is doubtful? Well, the last poem of Evan Roberts sums up this giant of faith and man of prayer. Here I have built my altar.

The wood I've placed in order. The sacrifice is ready now. Send thou, O Lord, the fire.

My soul is weary, weak and lustful. But to the end, I will be faithful, though hellish hosts revile forever. I lay myself on Christ my Savior.

It's important for us friends to study how God has moved in former times, so we can recognize Him when He comes in revival. I recommend getting all the books you can on revival and poring over them, to learn how to discern the true from the false, to learn the mistakes that others have made in former revivals, so not to repeat them in the future. God is a covenant-keeping God, and He will be true to His word.

We must be diligent and proactive in our approach to understanding revival and in bringing Him glory with our lives. The psalmist cried, return. We beseech thee, O God of hosts, look down from heaven and behold and visit this vine.

This ends our session today. We will now prepare for session 12.