Hebrides 1949: Another Viewpoint

The Lewis 1949 revival Q & A

“Who started the Hebrides 1949 revival?”

“That one is easy: It was God of course!”

“I heard it was two sisters who prayed for years for revival”

“No: Poor old blind Peggy and her sister Christine, plagued with arthritis found it hard enough to start the fire in the morning, never mind start a revival.”

“Come on now: So why did God do it and in such a remote location?”

“Not a clue: God is God and He does what he wills: Many times He half-hides His acts”

“But you must have some ideas why He did it there?

“Well it could have been to show just a small touch of the Shekinah glory, a taste of millennial times when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea”

“But where do the two sisters come in? I heard that only for them there would never have been a revival and if only others did the same today we would have revival again”

“How could anyone do the same again unless they were able to make decisions for God as to who He would call to such prayer. Look God planned it: He knew how He wanted it carried out and in His wisdom He decided to speak initially to Peggy and Christine, two elderly ladies who had one great advantage over everyone else on that whole island"

“What advantage? Had they mighty gifts of the Holy Spirit? What degrees or diplomas had they? Did they at least know the bible from cover to cover? "

“The strange thing is that most folk on that island knew the bible very well. Prayed morning and night and read scriptures daily. But like young Samuel of old they did not as yet know Him!

“Don’t follow you: Isn’t that what knowing Him is: Read your bible: Say your prayers: Got to church? You’re not making any sense at all: What did you mean by saying they did not know Him?”

“Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and I know them … you can read the bible cover to cover: Have degrees and diplomas wallpapering your bedroom walls and still have no idea who he is.”

“Well if what you say is true then all these islanders who knew scripture and prayed daily must have been thirsty for this deeper voice and presence of God. People like that would know if the Holy Spirit was not present at meetings and gatherings”

“Meetings without Christ are very common and very comfortable. Everyone knows the formula: What will happen: When it will happen: No crazy stuff: No embarrassing revelations: People love the status quo and are comfortable with meetings about God so long as He doesn’t turn up in person”

“But what you say is that a wedding where the groom fails to show is normal?”

“Normal in 2018 but plain silly, to be honest! However once it happens over and over again people get accustomed to it and they are happy and relaxed with it: They fill the gaping emptiness of Christ's absence with noise and music and stories and technical stuff. Today's church is so terribly busy but no amount of activity in the name of the King can make up for the frightening absence of the king”

“You are putting me off being a Christian at all.I never hear His voice like that. Most christians I know never did: Isn't that the job of the preacher or the priest? ”

“He who has the son has life: (1 John 5:12:Romans 8:9b)  The son (Christ) speaks to us either as the Logos (Written Word) becoming a living Rhema or He speaks in ordinary everyday language (tidings, picture, impression, song) that lingers in your spirit does not contradict scripture. Its not a matter running here or there, doing a million things for God when God never asked anyone to do anything for him: As far as our old self is concerned we are considered dead men walking: Jesus after offering one sacrifice for sin for ever SAT DOWN: Tetelestai.. Finished! Paid in full! 

“OK! OK! Enough of all this high theological stuff! Can we get back to Peggy and Christine in the Isle of Lewis please in 1948 please : What was this gift they had that was so special”

 "The great gift they had was they were accustomed to recognising God’s voice when He spoke and the reverence to obey exactly and in simplicity what He told them"

"This is exciting: God spoke to them. What did He tell them do?"

"He impressed on them the need for a new presence of God on the island. A presence that would invade every heart and every gathering: A presence that would disrupt all human normality and replace it with HIM. A presence that would destroy sin apart from He called them to seek him in prayer and that they did. Every Tuesday and Thursday night from 10 pm  for 5 hours.

(to be continued)