p. 34 | A Spiritual Revival in Progress

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jan 8, 1914

A Spiritual Revival in Progress

By Arthur G. Daniells

With the psalmist we can say, “God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” Ps. 74:12. A deep religious revival and reformation are in progress among our people. Sin is being made to appear exceeding sinful, and in the name of the Lord it is being renounced. Hearts are being given a hunger and a thirst for the righteousness of God, and it is being laid hold of by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A full surrender of the whole life—heart, body, time, talents, and means—is being made to God for the finishing of his work in the earth.

It is difficult to tell just when and how this revival began; but it is here, and there is great rejoicing over the glorious results it is producing. It seems to have begun in the very earnest appeals of the spirit of prophecy during 1909 in behalf of the millions of lost souls in the great cities.

In response to these appeals a convention of our city workers in the East was held in New York City in July, 1910. Our study, in this convention, of the city problem revealed to us that we were utterly unprepared for the great work to which we were called. This led to the appointment of a day of fasting and prayer for help from God. It also led to the decision to hold a ministerial institute for the workers in the Atlantic and Columbia Union Conferences. From this came the ministerial institute movement that has been going on during the last three years.

These institutes have been far more to our ministers and Bible workers than conventions for the study of our message and of the most successful methods of work. They have been attended by deep conviction of the sinfulness of sin, by deep repentance, by the renunciation of sin, and by the surrender of the life to God. In these institutes ministers and other gospel workers have not hesitated to do exactly what they teach all sinners they must do to get right with the Lord. In this they have found pardon, cleansing, righteousness, peace, and power.

And now this experience is being extended to the teachers and students in our academies and colleges and to our dear people in the churches. A revival is in progress. A new vision of things is being given to many. A new life and a new experience are coming to men and women who fear God. The latter rain is falling upon those who are earnestly praying for the showers of blessing.

Here are a few statements from some who are receiving help. A physician in one of our sanitariums writes:—

We have had a most wonderful week of prayer here. Some of us who felt that we were really enjoying the blessing and favor of the Lord were especially led to take longer strides and do deeper work, and the Lord has not disappointed us. As a family, I believe we have never had a week like it, so many have come out with real victory, and somehow we all feel that this is different from any previous experience, that it really is an evidence that the Lord is doing a special work for his people now, that his work may be finished quickly. I can assure you that my heart is in this work until it is finished, and my faith in the message and all that that involves grows brighter every day.

The president of the Atlantic Union Conference says:—

The Lord has certainly gone before us, and I have never witnessed anything like it before. We have arisen at four-thirty nearly every morning in order to call together for study and prayer all members of the sanitarium faculty, and often we have not been able to close these meetings until well toward noon. Besides this, several meetings have been held each day with the family, and between times we have done personal work and prayed for the sick, and they are being healed. Then, in the evening, we have scattered out to meet with the different churches and companies in and around Boston. Our meetings with the sanitarium faculty have been seasons that will not soon

be forgotten. One by one, we got a vision of ourselves according to Rev. 3:14-22. Deep repentance and heart-broken confessions followed. None of us had witnessed anything like it before. We must be in the times to which we have looked forward so long.

One peculiar feature of the meetings is the absence of emotionalism. Our experiences are best described in the chapter on the “Shaking Time,” in “Early Writings.” A most solemn conviction seems to be resting on every one who is earnestly seeking God that we have now come to the finishing of the work, and that the message calls for an entire consecration of ourselves to God and his work.

The movement that began with the institute and union conference is genuine. It is not merely a revival, but it is a reformation, and it has in it all the features and elements of a sane and solid work, such as is foretold in the Scriptures and in the spirit of prophecy.

I haven’t a doubt but that a great wave of spiritual power and blessing is sweeping over the East and that what we are witnessing is the beginning of the great outpouring of the Spirit in the latter rain for the speedy finishing of the work.

A minister writes:—

The Spirit of God is calling upon us all to die a greater death to self, to surrender self for a complete crucifixion, to get off the last shred of self-righteousness, pride of opinion, and self-justification in all its forms, which leads to severe criticism of others, and receive in our hearts, instead, warm, deep love for God and our brethren. We do not feel like thinking of past mistakes and failures now, nor of knowing any man after the flesh. We have new men in our midst, newly inspired and newly anointed for their work. The sword of the Spirit has a new edge to it, and I wish you were here to share with us and know by experience what I am writing.

The Spirit of God seems to be emphasizing the fact that the coming of the Lord is drawing very near, and that now is the time to arouse and finish the work. The word finish sounds wonderfully sweet in our ears. We have long worked at the work and in the work, but now to feel the inspiration of “finishing” the work is a new and precious experience. . . . Wonderful victories are being won over inherited and cultivated tendencies to sin. The same power to deliver from sin that attended the first proclamation of righteousness by faith is attending it now. Men and women are shouting victory over the breaking of chains that have long held them in cruel bondage. O, I wish you could hear the shout of the King in our camp!

The institute just held in Graysville for the workers of the Southeastern Union Conference was a great meeting. On our arrival we found a remarkable movement in progress among the students of the academy. Some idea of this glorious revival can be gathered from the report given by Elder L. A. Hoopes on another page. It should be read by all. Words cannot express the value of such a spiritual awakening and transformation as are now taking place in the hearts of our young people. This change must come to all of us, it is the greatest need of the world today; nothing can take its place.

And now let all pray for a personal share in this movement. This good work must go on until all sin is renounced, and the whole life is surrendered to God. Then the Lord will fill us with his Spirit, and use us for the speedy finishing of his work. A. G. DANIELLS.