On the Ulster Revival (1859)

“The revival spread out across the whole land family by family, village by village, and town by town. Within weeks 10′000 were converted. When this Revival hit Ballymena it was dramatic and sudden. One minister who was away for only two days from the town returned to find a great stir. Many families had not gone to bed for two or three days. Everything seemed at a standstill and the noise of people crying for mercy or the singing of praise came from many homes night and day. One Minister said that “The difficulty used to be to get the people into the church, but the difficulty now is to get them out.” Large open air meetings were held everywhere. God was raising up a humble army of new converts ablaze with His Spirit to witness again to Christ’s resurrection.”

What a report! Sounds like real Holy Ghost revival to me. Is it possible for such a thing to happen today? I am convinced it can be because the same God that moved then has not somehow changed and is no longer concerned about souls being saved. I believe  that we could also see a similar move of God. The question is just how much do we want to experience it?

The Ulster Revival was the result of passionate and persistent prayer that began when one man was stirred about the reality of personally knowing God. He wanted to know that he was saved and after seeking God he had a personal revival. After praying and seeking God another joined him in praying and soon there were two more. These four men began to pray every Friday for revival to come to their corner of the world. It took three months of praying for their first convert to come in but in one year’s time 100,000 people came to the Lord to be saved. The revival spread like wildfire across the region.

“The life changing and society changing results were very evident. A great blow came to the drinking houses of the land as drunkards were convicted and saved. Even whole distilleries were closed. Crime dropped by half within months as the land came under the influences of Gods workings.”

This revival moved beyond just the four walls of the church but infected and affected the entire region. What a testimony to what can take place when God’s  people get burdened for the lost and the glory of God. I for one am encouraged to not lose heart but to seek the Lord like never before. Will you join me?

Brother Jesse