The World Aflame: The Welsh Revival Lessons for Our Times

176 Pages·1993·2.07 MB·English

by  Rick Joyner

The World Aflame: The Welsh Revival And Its Lessons
For Our Time
© 1993 by Rick Joyner
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Published by MorningStar Publications, 16000 Lancaster Hwy.,
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
International Standard Book Number 1-878327-31-3
Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are taken from The New
American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973,
1974, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of
the Bible.
Table of Contents
Introduction 6
Part I—A Foundation For Revival
1 - The Fire Begins 10
Grace Comes To The Humble 12
You Do Not Have To Advertise A Fire 13
2 - The Plan Was Not To Plan 15
Seek The Wine, Not The Wineskin 18
3 - No Superstars 20
To Speak Or Not To Speak 21
The Children Enter The Kingdom 22
A New Song 23
4 - The Power Of Prayer 26
They Saved Souls 28
They Knew How To Carry The Ark 29
5 - Unlikely Origins, Unlikely Heroes 32
A Testimony Lights The Fire 34
The Light Shined In The Darkness 36
The Revelation 38
They Obeyed Him 40
6 - The Course Is Set 42
The Four Tenets 42
The Test 45
They Received His Messengers 46
The Presence Comes 50
7 - Spontaneous Combustion 52
The Meetings In Aberdare 54
The Revival Spreads 55
8 - The Silent Week 58
Four More Principles 59
A Prophetic Sign 61
9 - God Uses Men 64
The Common Denominator 65
10 - They Took Up The Cross 77
The Cross Was The Center 80
11 - Can A Nation Be Born Again? 83
How the Revival Affected The Church 84
The Fire Spreads 86
He Is Still Born In Stables 87
Sparks Fly 89
PART II—Lessons From The Welsh Revival
12 - Why The Fire Falls 93
Revival Precedes Judgment 95
The Beginning 96
The Ultimate Spiritual Desperation 97
Pride—The Death of Spiritual Advancement 98
Summary 99
13 - Renewal vs. Restoration 101
The Problem Of Time 102
The Dry Bones Principle 103
Baptized By Those Who Prepare The Way 106
Orthodoxy vs. The Scriptures 106
14 - Can Intercession Bring Revival? 109
False Spiritual Pregnancies 110
Keeping Our First Love 112
To Change The Lord's Mind 113
Summary 113
15 - Idealism vs. Revelation 117
Emotions vs. the Will 123
16 - Organization vs. Freedom 125
17 - Unity Is Required 128
We Will Be Perfected In Unity 129
God Does Not Anoint Division 130
18 - The Control Spirit, Intolerance And Pharisaism 133
The Nature Of Obedience 136
Worship In Spirit 137
His Sheep Know His Voice 139
The Modern Pharisees 141
False Brethren 143
Each Must Gather His Own Manna 146
Hermeneutical Problems 147
19 - The Highest Form Of Unity 150
Summary 154
PART III—The Coming Harvest
20 - God Will Do It Again 157
Prepare Or Perish 159
21 - A Vision Off The Harvest 161
Part I 163
Part II 167
Part III 170
Part IV 173
Introduction
T
his is a three part study of what was almost certainly,
for the short period of time that it lasted, the world's
greatest revival—The Welsh Revival. There is no other
example in either Biblical or church history in which a
region was so quickly or radically transformed for
righteousness, or the world so impacted, as happened
during this revival. The fire of this move of God was so
intense that when letters or newspaper stories about the
revival were read in other parts of the world, revival would
break out there. Today, almost a century after it happened,
those who just read or hear the story are still impacted with
both profound conviction, and hope.
The inevitable question for us is: Will God do it again?
Yes! That is the purpose of this study. It is exciting and
inspiring to hear about the great things that God has done,
but the purpose for the excitement and inspiration is so that
He can do it again—with us. The Scriptures declare that the
greatest move of God of all time will occur at the end of
this age. The Welsh Revival, as great as it was, was but a
foretaste of something much greater that is coming.
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Introduction 7
One of the most important questions that any believer,
church or ministry can ask today is how to get ready for the
great harvest that is the end of this age. With the exception
of the advents of Christ, this harvest will unquestionably be
the greatest event in the history of the world. The greatest
proportion of Bible prophecy focuses on this period, and
the significant events in church history are in preparation
for it. The church is not here to be an observer—we are
here to light the world on fire! The fire that is about to be
lit will burn until every bit of wood, hay, and stubble is
consumed—and the gold, silver and precious stones are
purified.
There are prophetic parallels found in the history of the
Welsh Revival that can help to guide us in the necessary
preparation for these times. The church in Wales, and the
community of Wales, were remarkable parallels of the
church today, and the condition of society. We can see in
this history an accurate map that can show us where we
have been, where we are now, and where we are going.
Understanding how the spiritual foundation was laid for
this great revival can help us to understand the foundation
that the Lord is today laying in His church to prepare for
the harvest. Understanding what was done correctly can
help us to do the right things. Likewise, honestly looking at
the mistakes can help us to avoid making the same ones—
as a wise man once stated: "Those who do not know history
are doomed to repeat it."
There are many aspects of this great revival that we
want to repeat, and there are many that we want to avoid.
The foundation of the contemporary church contains
potential for both the coming revival and the similar
catastrophic mistakes. It seems that the great interest that is
now being stirred in the church to study history is the grace
of God to help us to do it right this time. Let us not neglect
8 Introduction
so great a grace.
PART I
A Foundation For
Part I—
Revival
Chapter One
The Fire Begins
1 -
I
n 1904 one of the greatest revivals in history broke out
in Wales, a small principality of the British Isles. There
have been a few spiritual awakenings in history to span the
globe and touch millions, but it can be argued that none had
as much concentrated power and impact as the Welsh
Revival. It seems that the Lord looked down upon Wales
and said, "I am going to show the church and the world
what I can do with just a handful of faithful saints who will
yield themselves to Me." The results of that demonstration
still send shock waves of conviction and hope to all who
hear the story.
Evan Roberts was the most popular evangelist of the
Welsh Revival. He is also one of the more enigmatic
figures in church history. Roberts was not a dynamic leader
of people. He did not come with new doctrines, nor was he
even considered a good preacher. He came as a great
example of a dynamic follower of the Lord, encouraging
the church to be a proper host to the Holy Spirit. As both
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