The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-06-21
How to Secure A Revival.
Welsh, La, June II, 1912.

1t has recently been asked, Nv hat
is a genuine revival OF true and I'M
defiled religion?" Some consider
ations have been presented indicating
the imperative need just now, Of such
a work of grace in all the land as will
lift up a standard against the inroads
of unbelief and immortality in social
and business life. Business men are
deeply interested in business pros
peritv. But that is a matter Of small
Importance in comparison with the
need Of q widespread return to God,
on the part of all christian people
This being true, we are confronted
with the question, how can we secure
such a revival OF Gods work as viii
erect affairs Of prayer in tens OF
thousands of Christians homes, in
which the prayers life has gone to
decay and the morning paper has
taken the place Of tue word of God?
How can it be done? There is way
to accomplish what ought to be done;
God has not set his ministers and
people to making brick without straw
1t will be recognized by those who
are waiting on God and seeking the
revival of His church that the first
important step is to know what we
need.
The man who is preparing to erect
a home for himself first nscertains
what he wants. We lAust know what
We need in every true revival. 1t is
not merely the enlargement Of the
church roll. Siuners cannot be re-
vived. They can be regenerated and
made alive. But the work of God be-
gins back Of that, commences with
those who have life, which has hec0me
enfeehled and inefficient They must
be revived, az has already been said.
We want a live church, Il church OF
praying men and women, who have
separated themselves from the world;
a church that is walking with God,
that knows how to take hold OF God
and get answers to prayer. This type
of Christian life must ALWAYS precede
a genuine awakening OF the impeni-
tent
Let US therefore have Intelligent
scriptural understanding Of what We
need. TO secure correct views WE
must have preaching that will give
our churches perfect understanding
Of what is needed, preaching that vii
"show our people their transgresslon
and the house of Jacob their sins. !
Moral lectures do not move in tina
direction, scientific disQuisitions dc
not trouble the consciences of back
slidden people The work must Otter
begin with the backslidden preache
before we can hope for the revival o
sleeping church. The time is rip
in many pulplts for bringing forth tn
old fashioned and life giving doctrin
of sin, repentance toward God an
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believing and importunate praye
therefore lies at the beginning OF an
work of grace. Someone. somewhere
Il in every congregation must take hol
of the arm of God. DR.. Duffeld ono
said that q most precious revive
Q of Gods work came upon his churc
Q almost unexpectedly; but in visitin
e his parish he discovered that an II
+ valid member of his church had bee
D pleading with God for weeks for tn
awakening Of his church. The answe
z had come. Much more should "
realize that the united, believir
!, prayer of the church can not possib
8 fail to bring the blessing. Ye sha
70 seek, and find Inc when We sha
search for me with oil vour hear
- der. 29:l3.)
F.. The great revival that swept OF
country in the middle OF the la
. century began in the PRAYER meetin
}, The older ministers Of today have n
forgotten how God began a nigh
"A work in answer to the prayers OF
e few chosen souls, in the Fulton Sire
X prayer meeting of New York.
n answer to the prayers OF that chos'
n company God kindled the spirit
PRAYER in all the cities OF our Ian
81 and in the towns and villages, uni
"a hundreds of thousands Of souls we
b convicted for their sins and regene
3 ated bv the power OF the Holy Spir
s It is remembered that in many plac
4 the work of God was carried forwa
n with great power, almost wltho
n preaching. God never falls to wo
q when his people CRY unto him.
ono ncnasian that comes under