PRAY for Revival & Conversion, in our Nation, Media, State & Federal Governments,& Judiciary Day 106

World-Wide Revival Born Out Of A New York Prayer Meeting Selected Stories & Teachings From The History Of Revival

The mid-19th century revival winged forward on prayer. Above men and women on their knees in front of the minister in the Jane St. M.E. Church in New York City.

SOMETIMES IT IS DURING THE DAYS OF HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR THAT REVIVAL COMES TO A PEOPLE! So it was in the middle of the nineteenth century. In the United States, it was a spiritual, political, and economic low point. Many people had become disillusioned with spiritual things because of preachers who had repeatedly and falsely predicted the end of the world in the 1840's. Agitation over the slavery issue had bred much political unrest, and civil war seemed imminent. A financial panic hit in 1857. Banks failed, railroads were bankrupt, factories closed, unemployment increased. Many Christians realized the need for prayer in such dire situations, and prayer-meetings began to spread around the country.

Ferment from Fulton street In the lower Manhattan section of New York, a Dutch Reformed church had been steadily losing members; they hired missionary Jeremiah Lamphier to reverse the trend with an active visitation program. However, he had little success in awakening church members by his visits, so in September, 1857, he rented a hall on Fulton street in New York City and advertised its availability for prayer meetings. Six men assembled for that first prayer meeting on September 23. Two days later the Bank of Philadelphia failed. In October the men began praying together daily; on October 10 the stock market crashed. The financial panic triggered a religious awakening, and people flocked to the prayer meetings. Within six months 10,000 people were gathering daily for prayer in New York City alone.

The movement explodes Other cities also were experiencing a renewed interest in prayer. In Chicago, the Metropolitan Theater was filled every day with 2000 people assembling for prayer. In Louisville, several thousand came to the Masonic Temple for prayer each morning. Two thousand assembled for daily prayer in Cleveland, and the St. Louis churches were filled for months at a time. The newly formed Y.M.C.A. also played an important role in holding prayer meetings and spreading the revival throughout the country.

When media actually helped In February, 1858, Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald gave extensive coverage to the prayer meeting revival. Not to be outdone, the New York Tribune devoted an entire issue in April, 1858 to news of the revival. News of the revival quickly travelled westward by telegraph. This was the first revival in which the media played an important role in spreading the revival.

Prayer everywhere The prayer meetings were organized in the cities by lay people and were interdenominational. Unlike earlier awakenings, prayer rather than preaching was the main instrument of revival. Tents were often set up as places where people could gather for prayer, introducing a custom followed by later revivalists. The meetings themselves were very informal - any person might pray, exhort, lead in a song, or give a word of testimony, with a five minute limit placed on each speaker. In spite of the less structured nature of the prayer meetings, they lacked the extreme emotionalism which some had criticized in earlier revivals.

The revival of 1859 had a similar effect in the North and the South, preparing many Americans for the horrors of civil war. The awakening continued into the Civil War period, a great revival occurring in the Southern armies in 1863-64.

America's good gift This was the first revival beginning in America with a worldwide impact. Even ships coming into British ports told of the revival in America. Ireland soon began to experience a prayer meeting revival as well, with crowds becoming so large they had to meet in the open air. When John Cairns preached in Belfast in May, 1859, he had never before seen such eagerness to hear the gospel or lives which had been so transformed by the revival. He said: "Nature does not contain any epidemic so like to Christian conversion."

Thirst for the Spirit in Scotland When Andrew Bonar heard of the work in Ireland, he increased his prayer for a revival in Scotland. In his diary of July 3, 1859, he wrote, "Again this night in sorrow of heart over the terrible carelessness, indifference, deadness of this 'valley of dry bones.' O my God, come over to Scotland and help us!"

Within two months Andrew Bonar found himself in the midst of revival in Scotland. On September 10th he wrote in his diary, "This has been a remarkable week: every day I have heard of some soul saved among us..." All classes became interested in salvation, backsliders returned, conversions increased, and Christians desired a deeper instruction in spiritual truths. Families established daily devotions, and entire communities underwent a noticeable change in morals.

Not celebrities but people praying Similar changes were noted as the revival spread to Wales, England, and beyond. There was an absence of great names connected with the revival; lay people in prayer were the prime instruments used by God in awakening the people. The preaching, which in many areas had become too intellectual and lifeless, now concentrated on the truths of the gospel of Christ and His cross.

The results of the revival of 1859 in the areas of evangelism, missions, and social action continued for decades. Many who became Christian leaders during the second half of the nineteenth century were greatly affected by the revival-- such as D.L. Moody, William Booth, C.H. Spurgeon, and A.B. Simpson. As James Buchanan of Scotland summarized, it was a time when "new spiritual life was imparted to the dead, and new spiritual health imparted to the living." (GLIMPSES ISSUE #41)

Father God, As You have led me, I believe, to switch the focus of the prayer thread a bit to what truly ails this nation, so I gladly hearken to the call.

In 1857-1858 You touched the heart of one man, Jeremiah Lamphier, with concern for the people of New York City. Similar to the time we are now in, the nation was deeply divided. The economy was in shambles. Banks were failing as was morality. People seldom had time for You or for reading their Bibles. The church was being corrupted by European liberalism. There was no fear of You in the eyes of many. Our nation and the world needed to hear from You. And so it did.

You swept through the streets of New York and it has been said that as many as 1,000,000 were drawn to salvation in Christ in about an eighteen month period. If the same percentage were applied, many millions would come to know You.

And so we sit here. Unaware of our own history and the history of revivals in the church. Dismayed by what we see in our federal government and in many cases on the state and local levels. Our society is in many ways far worse than the time of the Layman's prayer revival; and yet, You are the same God!

Lord, we know, at least in part, our need. We need You. We are miserable sinners, even the best of us, and we need Your presence in our lives in such a way that we forsake those things which cause our ruin and turn to the things that lead to life. We need to stop playing games with You, playing at religion, and fully surrender to You - and by we, I include me.

Lord, what our nation needs is revival of the church and spiritual awakening for the rest. If this nation would but turn to You and abandon its idols, how much different would things be!

And so Lord, in order that we may see You receive the glory You deserve and in order to heal this nation, I pray that You would touch America. I leave it up to Your sovereignty how You do this. But, if our money keeps us from You, remove it from us. You will still meet our needs; but, if our wants are in the way, strip us of our need for them. If our security leaves us feelng that we are not in need of You - then show us our vulnerability. If in using our freedom we forget the One who gave us that freedom, give us a little taste of what it is like not to have it. Lord, this is a hard prayer to pray - but if there are things which stand in the way between You and us, I pray that You would use the gentlest means possible to get our priorities straight; but, regardless what it is, I pray that we would know You and love You. For if we gain back our freedom, our money, our "American way of life" and lose the soul of this nation, we have lost it all. So, I pray that You would convict of sin. And help us to set our lives in order lest in Your anger we no longer be able to stand.

I pray for spiritual awakening in this land as well. I pray for the conversion of our leaders, President Obama,Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, Speaker Pelosi, Majority leader Reid and others of both parties whose god is personal ambition and power. I pray that there would be weeping in Washington, not over some tragic occurence in the United States, but over sin.

I pray that the abortion clinics would have to close because women have realized the sanctity of life and of sex.

I pray that those who hold to immoral lifestyles whether they are sexual or not, that hearts would break over sin and that repentance would be the change brought to this land.

I pray for the conversion of those of false religions in this land. Introduce them to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And may that which Satan intends for evil turn to great good.

I pray all of these things Lord with a heart knowing that if You do not move, our nation is lost; and worse than that, many many souls will be lost with it.

Scoffers may say it is too late and criticize the prayer. But, I am foolish enough to believe it may not be too late. Yes, the signs don't look good, but they didn't look good in 1857 either - until You came down and changed it all.

Change America, Lord. Change her for the better. Make her the beacon of light to the nations- used to further Your glory.

For it is in that matchless name of Christ Jesus my Lord that I pray these things, Amen.

Lord, on this day of resting in You, I second Blogger’s prayer.

AS it was preached today at the church I attend, with the Scriptures read being in Exodus chapter 7, specifically verses 3-5, where You foretold to Moses what your plans was and how Pharaoh’s heart would be hardened by You so that Egypt would know that You are The Lord, because You are the only one who can change a person’s heart, so it appears this country has hardened it’s heart against You.

But you have won the victory, Lord, and I need to be obedient to your will, so I pray for the nation, its leaders in all areas to glorify Christ.

When Judas came with the soldiers for Jesus, and when He asked them “who is it you want?”, it is written in John 18:5-6 “Jesus of Nazareth”, they replied.
“I Am he,” Jesus said, (and Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.”

Lord, the very mention of your name “I Am” caused the soldiers to bow down in worship even though they opposed you, and so let this nation return to You, either by Your changing our hearts to you, or by your hardening hearts and thereby bringing Your wrath upon this nation.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.

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