“Readable” is a lightly edited reading copy; “Verbatim” stays close to the spoken words. Audio is the record of what was said.
The Genesis of My Interest in Revival
My fascination with revival began in my teens, influenced by my grandparents' conversion during the 1859 revival in Ireland. Meeting figures like Evan Roberts, a key player in the Welsh revival, further fueled my interest. During World War II, while on a beach in New Guinea, I felt a divine assurance that I would survive to document God's great works. This led me to Oxford University, where I wrote about the 1858-59 revival, earning a doctorate. Since then, my research has expanded to cover awakenings from 1792 to the present.
The Nature of Revival
Revival in America would start with a movement of prayer, not through grand assemblies or promotions. Historical accounts show that revivals begin with small groups of saints praying. The Holy Spirit works at the grassroots level, unlike the devil, who prefers monolithic structures. The 1858 revival, for example, saw churches filled and prayer meetings as the main vehicle. Revival involves humbling oneself, making things right with God, and developing a concern for the lost.
The Sovereignty of God in Revival
Revival is deeply connected to God's sovereignty. As Matthew Henry noted, God sets His people praying when He intends great mercy. While we can pray and influence God's actions, it must align with His will. Individual and congregational blessings can occur anytime, but national movements require following God's plan. People often confuse revival with success, but it begins with painful experiences like repentance and restitution, leading to eventual joy.
Hindrances to Revival
National life and local church issues can hinder revival. Wickedness, violence, and immorality may lead God to withhold revival. Some argue for social justice before revival, but history shows revival often precedes social change. In churches, neglect of prayer, disobedience, and division are common barriers. The works of the flesh, like jealousy and strife, must be addressed. When the Holy Spirit moves, these issues are resolved, and unity is restored.
The Role of Individual Revival
Revival starts with individuals experiencing personal transformation. Henrietta Mears advised beginning with those ready for revival, without forming exclusive groups. Personal revival involves self-examination and repentance, as expressed in a hymn I wrote in 1936. Once individuals experience revival, they can share it with others. This personal renewal is crucial for broader spiritual awakening.
Hope for Revival in America
I am optimistic about a future revival in America, believing it will precede the return of Jesus Christ. While divine judgment may come first, the increasing number of people praying for awakening is a positive sign. Global peace might lead some to indulge in sin, but I sense a turning tide towards spiritual renewal. Despite uncertainties, I remain hopeful for a significant outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for joining me in this exploration of revival. May God bless you as we anticipate His work in our nation.
If America were to experience revival, what would happen? What would be different from what we now see? Hello, I'm Ted Seeley, and on today's Chapel of the Air, you'll hear those and related questions discussed as I talk with Dr. J. Edwin Orr, a man widely recognized as the foremost living authority on revivals and evangelical awakenings.
To begin this third and final broadcast in the series, I asked Dr. Orr how long revivals and the history of revivals had been a subject of interest and study for him. I got interested in the subject in my teens. Perhaps I had a subconscious interest before that because my grandparents on both sides of the family had experienced conversion in the 1859 revival in Ireland. I also was privileged to know people like Evan Roberts, whom God so signally used in the Welsh revival. But I could say that from the age of 17, maybe, until the present time, that's nearly 50 years, I've been interested in this subject. I've been doing more intensive research.
During World War II, I was on a beach in New Guinea after a heavy air raid, and I wondered if I was going to get home. I received an assurance, I believe, from above that not only would God spare my life, but he'd permit me to write an account of some of the great works of God. At that time, I thought of the 1858-59 revival, and I hitchhiked all the way from Tokyo to Oxford University to write the history of that movement, for which the university gave me their doctor's degree. Since that time, I've broadened my interest very considerably, and I've been writing on all the great awakenings, right from, say, 1792 to the present time. So I've been interested in all that extent.
Let's think about our country of America. If we were to experience revival, what would it be like? What would happen? The first sign would be a movement of prayer. You read in the accounts of revival that the first signs of revival were not in great assemblies, but in the multiplication of praying groups of saints. I don't believe that spiritual awakening will begin with trumpets, or with great promotion, or any such thing. I believe it's a grassroots movement, and the Holy Spirit is the only one who can work simultaneously in people's hearts. The devil seems to like monolithic structures, because through one man he can command a multitude. The Holy Spirit doesn't need monolithic structures. He can deal with individuals on the bottom level. So I believe that the first sign of revival would be a movement of prayer.
When you think of the 1858 revival, and think that practically every church was filled, and that the main vehicle of the revival is prayer meetings, then you realize what we need. Prayer then, of course, brings us to a matter of humbling and putting things right with God. Then a concern for the lost. Are you saying that the will, the decision to pray, is the initiating step? In other words, let's say here's a church, and three or four people say, we want to see revival in our church, therefore let's begin to pray. Is it possible to cause revival?
I personally believe that revival really is tied up with the sovereignty of God. As Matthew Henry said, when God intends great mercy for his people, he first of all sets them up praying. We can certainly pray, and in one sense we move the elbow of God in prayer, as it were. But I think it must be according to his will, because he may know of circumstances that we don't know about. The Holy Spirit, I'm not speaking of individual blessing, or even blessing on a single congregation. I think an individual can get right with God at any time, and his life be transformed. I think that a congregation of God's people can put things right, and would experience a measure of revival. But when it comes to one of these movements that has national impact, then I believe we have to follow his plan.
But the people need educating at this point. I was talking to one man, and I said, the country's in such a mess, don't you think we ought to pray for revival? He said, yes, but nearer the time. I said, what do you mean, nearer the time? Well, he said, we always have our revival in August. That's the way things go in Georgia. In other words, they have a revival in August. What he means is a series of meetings. It's not a revival, necessarily. Well, if people are so confused and so objective, how can they pray aright?
Another thing is, a lot of people think that revival simply means triumph. You know, there's great meetings, great success. Revival's not success. It begins with a very painful experience. It may hurt a man, for instance, to have to go back to his college and put things right about cheating. That often happens when people start putting things right. Or to go back to a place of business and pay back money that he had embezzled. Or to go and apologize to someone, or even to treat his own family right. That happens, first of all, in revival. And people are sometimes surprised, and sometimes people oppose revival, because it is a painful experience. But it's almost like the travail when the deliverance comes, and comes a great joy.
Is there something about our national life that's withholding revival? There is a great deal. In fact, if God told me his secrets, and said there will be no revival, there's going to be punishment, who could quarrel with this? With the wickedness, the violence, the immorality, the cheating, all sorts of things like that. We can't demand revival if God had decided to punish our nation. But maybe for his own purposes, he's a merciful God, and he's willing to bless. Therefore, I think a lot of things need to be put right. And although I disagree with some of my friends, I heard someone say the other day, until we have social justice, we won't see revival. History shows it to work the other way. We need revival in order to see social justice.
Reducing our conversation to the context or the scope of the local church, what are the most common hindrances in that context that prevent revival coming to a given congregation? Well, I suppose particularizing what is said generally, a neglect of prayer, a disobedience to the word of God, division and bickering. In other words, what is called in the scriptures the works of the flesh, which are not only murder and adultery, but strife and all these things, jealousy. These are all put as the works of the flesh. But when the Holy Spirit comes upon a congregation, these things are put right. And, of course, we've seen that happen many a time. You may see times of revival.
It's interesting, of course, that there are churches in the United States that are in a state of revival at the present time, like deep pools of water in the rocks when the tide is out. There are many, many churches in a state of revival. And, of course, strange things are happening. Not all my hearers will agree with me, but I feel that because of the Biblical movement that began in World War II, that the next great awakening is likely to affect large segments of the Roman Catholic Church.
Regarding this church we're talking about that is not having revival because of divisions and so on, to mention that would prompt the people to say, well, if we're going to have revival, we've got to start dealing with some of these divisions and so on and remedying the symptoms of low spiritual state. Is that a fruitful pursuit? I don't think we should deal with symptoms, but really with the root causes. And, of course, whence come wars and whence come fighting among you? Don't they come from your own lusts, your own desires? And I feel, of course, the main thing is just to get right with God. If we get right with God and we're filled with the Spirit, we'll want to do the right thing.
I don't think that, for instance, we should... It's like a doctor trying to treat, shall we say, a headache, when actually it's a tumor that's the cause of trouble. Perhaps an operation is needed. But I do believe, of course, you know, it was Father Payton, a Roman Catholic, who said the family that prays together stays together. I find when Christians pray together, they work together. That's always a helpful thing. And, of course, among Christians that have suspicion and distrust of each other, they never meet to know. They don't know these people they criticize. That's one remarkable thing about times of revival. The Christians find they all love each other. For instance, our conference here at Oxford University this present week, we have people from every Christian tradition, no friction at all. I haven't been aware of any friction. It's because we're all interested in one thing, and that is the subject of revival. And I think that's bound to happen where there are divisions.
A number of years ago you wrote the following words, O Holy Spirit, revival comes from thee. Send a revival. Start the work in me. How does someone listening see that begin? Well, the individual has to experience it in his own heart first. But I like to think of what Henrietta Mears once said. You don't have to wait for everyone to have the same experience. Begin with those that are ready, but don't make a clique out of the group that is ready. So I think the individual must simply... Perhaps I could answer by quoting the other verses of that hymn that I wrote in New Zealand in 1936. Search me, O God, and know my heart today. That's the beginning.
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray. See if there be some grieving way in me. Cleanse me from every sin and set me free. Then I pray thee, Lord, cleanse me now from sin. Fulfill thy promise, make me pure within. That's the secret. In other words, we must have individual revival, and then we can share it with others.
We've been talking about the possibility of revival in our own country of America. Are you optimistic? Do you think we're going to see this real revival, this outpouring of the Spirit of God, in the next few years? It's my conviction that we're getting near the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's also my conviction that we will see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit before he comes. He that hath this hope purifies himself. And I think there'll be a latter rain. So I'm hopeful, although it might be that God will punish us first. I don't know. We're all dreading being involved, say, in a thermonuclear war. But it might take that before people repent of their wickedness.
I think, you know, for the present time, the Soviet bloc and the Chinese and the Western allies all got together and decided they're going to have peace. Instead of causing righteousness, some people think it was an excuse. Now there's no trouble to face. And they have the time of their lives, so to speak, in sin. So I don't know what God's going to do. But I do feel that the tide has turned, and there are more people praying for a spiritual awakening today. And that's a good sign.
I want to thank you, Dr. Orr, on behalf of our founder director, John D. Jess, and our associate director, David Maines, for participating with us on these three Chapel of the Air programs. Thank you so much, and God richly bless you. And we'll look forward to having you on the program again.