In the move of God that was experienced in Wales in 1904, God used a simple prayer to do a big work.
If someone prays that God should send the Holy Spirit today we would all agree that the Holy Spirit is already here and that the prayer needs to be modified.
But God knows the heart! He doesn’t only consider the words. I believe the Lord will eventually correct us when we use the wrong words but we don’t need to worry too much about words when we really want the glory of God with all our spirit soul and body.
Here is what happened in the first week of the move of God in Wales!
The first week of revival under Evan Roberts culminated in a powerful Sunday evening service. Here is Roberts’ description of the events.
By midnight the whole congregation was “overwhelmed with tears…Then the people came down from the gallery, and sat close to one another. ‘Now,’ said I, ‘we must believe that the Spirit will come; not think He will come; not hope He will come; but firmly believe that He will come.’
Then I read the promises of God, and pointed out how definite they were. (Remember, I am doing all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and praise be to him.)
After this, the Spirit said that everyone was to pray. Pray now, not confess, not sing, not give experience, but pray and believe, and wait. And this is the prayer, ‘Send the Spirit now, for Jesus Christ’s sake.’ “The people were sitting, and only closed their eyes. The prayer began with me.
Then it went from seat to seat—boys and girls—young men and maidens. Some asking in silence, some aloud, some coldly, some with warmth, some formally, some in tears, some with difficulty, some adding to it, boys and girls, strong voices, then tender voices.
Oh, wonderful! I never thought of such an effect. I felt the place beginning to be filled, and before the prayer had gone half way through the chapel, I could hear some brother weeping, sobbing, and saying, ‘Oh, dear! dear! well! well!’ ‘Oh, dear! dear!’ On went the prayer, the feeling becoming more intense; the place being filled more and more (with the Spirit’s presence).”
The sixty or more remaining at this time now gathered around the revivalist, many almost overcome with awe. Some called out, “No more, Lord Jesus, or I die!” Others cried for mercy, weeping, singing, praising, and lying prostrate on the floor in agony of conviction for their sin. Eventually they closed the meeting, and Roberts got to bed at 3:15 A.M.
By now simultaneous revival had also come to Gorseinon, with praying, weeping, and singing such as people had never known before.
Revival Fire, Pg 190 – Wesley Duewel
When they asked the Holy Spirit to come, they wanted the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and He manifested with great convictions!
Let’s continue to pray for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit as we interact with people daily, at our Discovery Groups, at our workplaces and our church meetings! Let’s ask in faith!