When God Stepped Down From Heaven — Duncan Campbell

The Christ Life Ministries Incorporated is pleased to present the following special message.

Revival Is God's Work, Not a Human Achievement

Now before I Begin the story. I would like to say one thing and that is that I Did not bring revival to Lewis. It has grieved my heart again and again To read articles about the man that brought revival to Lewis.

Notices on church boards come and hear the man that brought revival to Lewis. My dear people, it's not true. I don't carry revival about with me in my pocket. Revival broke out in Lewis Sometime before When I thank God for the privilege of being in its midst for over three years.

I Went to at the invitation of one parish minister for 10 days. But God kept me there for three years. Now I'm thankful to God for the privilege perhaps in some small way Leading that movement. The young converts in the deep things of God.

Having said that I want to read you a few Lines from this little book. The Louie's awakening. It will give you an idea of the desperate state of This island. Prior to this gracious movement the presbytery of Lewis met to consider the terrible drift away from the ordinances of the church.

Especially the drift away from the church by the young people of the island. Now here are words Oration that was read in all the congregations. The presbytery affectionately plead with their people especially with the youth of the church to take these matters to heart and To make serious inquiry as to what must be the end.

Should there be no Repentance. My dear people take that to heart. Should there be no? repentance. And They call upon every individual asked before God To examine his or her life life in the light of that responsibility Which pertains to us all?

That happily in the divine mercy. We may be visited with the spirit of repentance and may turn again unto the Lord Whom we have so grieved with our iniquities. Especially would they warn their young people of the devil's man traps the cinema public house.

That was a declaration by the presbytery read in all the congregations and Published in the local press. You might ask me. Do you mean by revival great many views? Held by people today. As to what? Revival is so you hear men say are you going out to the revival meetings?

We are having a revival crusade. So on is the world of difference between a crusade or a special effort in the field of evangelism. My dear people that is not revival as I already said from this platform.

I thank God For every soul brought to Christ through our special efforts season of blessing at our conferences and at our Conventions we praise God for such movement. But is it not true that such movements?

General rule touch the community. The community remains more or less the same. And the masses go past us to hell. Unity suddenly becomes conscious of the movings of God In among his own people in a matter of hours not days.

In a matter of hours. She's become crowded. No intimation of any special meeting but something happening That moves men and women to the house of God fine within hours those of men and women Crying to God for mercy before they went near a church.

You've read the history of revivals the Jonathan Edward revival in America. That was what happened. The Welsh revival that is what happened the more recent Louis revival when God Stepped out and women here of God did it happen?

Prayer, Prophecy, and Preparation for Revival

This to me is an interesting story and I want to tell it in full evening an old woman 84 years of age and blind had a vision now. Don't ask me to explain this vision because I cannot but strange Things happen when God begins to move under this dear old lady in the vision saw the church of our fathers Crowded with young people with young people and she saw a strange minister in the pulpit impressed by this revelation because our revelation it was.

She sent for the minister the parish minister was a God-fearing man. Not long to see God working. He had tried ever so many things to get the use of the parish interested, but not one single teenager Attended the church.

That was a situation. Well, what to this dear old lady to say tell you what she said, I'm sure Mr. Mackay, but you're longing to see God working. What about your office bearers together? And Suggest to them that you spend two nights a week Waiting upon God in prayer.

You've tried mission. You've tried special Evangelist Mr. Mackay, have you tried. God tell you this is a wonderful old woman. Oh, he meekly obeyed And said yes, I'll call the session together. And I will suggest that we meet on Tuesday night and Friday night and We'll spend the whole night in prayer.

Tell you dear people here were men that meant business the dear old lady said well if you do that My sister and I will get on our knees at 10 o 'clock on Tuesday 10 o 'clock on Friday and we'll wait on our knees till 4 o 'clock in the morning.

I tell you This puts us to shame. Oh, they went to pray on to mention that they had but one promise from God promise they pled I Will pour water on him that he's thirsty floods upon the dry ground. That's God's promise and in their prayers According to the minister They would say again and again God you're a covenant-keeping God.

And you must be true to your covenant engagements and the meetings continued for Several months till one night a very remarkable thing happened kneeling among straw in the barn the barn of a farmhouse when suddenly One young man rose and read of Psalm 24 who shall offend the hill of God?

Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart to have not lifted up his soul to vanity nor sworn. Deceitfully he shall receive the blessing of the Lord. And he shut his Bible and then looking down at the minister and at the other men who were kneeling there.

He said this father crude words not so crude in Gaelic. But this is what he said Brethren, it seems to me just so much humbug Praying as we are praying to be waiting as we are waiting. If we come to me at the end of this meeting and ask me by men falling into a trance I cannot answer that question.

All that I know is this that when that happened in the barn. Now it happened in the Jonathan Edward revival. Remember that not peculiar by any means to Louis. It happened in America. It happened in the 59 revival in Wales.

Not the 1900 revival. But the 59 revival you can see the moment that that Happened in the barn horse let loose in Barber's that shook the whole Louis. I say shook Louis down to move among the people. The minister writing about what happened in the following morning said this.

You met God on Meadow and moorland. You met him in the homes of the people. God seemed to be everywhere anything at all organized on the basis of human endeavor. Fairness of God. So much so that works dog what was happening that people were meeting in groups.

Young men would gather in a field And begin to talk about this consciousness of God that had gripped the community after of days. I Received a letter Inviting me to the island was at that time in the midst of her very gracious movement on the island of sky.

It wasn't revival but Men and women were coming to Christ Glorified in the number Savior at that time, but it wasn't revival. I Imagine in Canada or in America. They would refer to it as a big revival.

Campbell Is Invited to Lewis

I received this invitation to come to Louis for 10 days. And I wrote back to say that It wasn't possible for me to do that because I was involved in a Holiday convention on this island the speakers were arranged and Accommodation in the different hotels for the people that were coming from all over Britain.

I cannot take time to tell you how that convention had to be canceled actually because The tourist board took the hotels over my head a special sky week that they were going to have. The minister received the letter and he went to the old lady with it and Read the letter to her.

This is what she said Mr. Mackay, that is what man is saying but God has said something else and he'll be here within a fortnight and I tell you the Convention wasn't canceled then but she knew oh My dear people listen the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.

And She knew God's secret. When I was on the island was in 10 days. Spend 10 days among the people to appear by the minister and two of his of his bearers. Just as I stepped off the boat an old elder came over to me and faced me with this question.

Mr. Campbell May I ask you this question? Are you walking with God? Oh here were men who meant business. Men were afraid that a strange hand would touch the ark. Are you walking with God? Well, I think I can say this that I fear God.

He and said well if you fear God then the minister turned sure. Mr. Campbell that you're tired. You must be longing for your supper and supper will be ready for you in the man's but I wonder if you would Address a meeting in the parish church just on the way to the man's to to show yourself to the people.

There'll be a fair congregation. I'm not seeing a great number, but oh anything between two and three hundred. You see there's a moment among us. It will interest you dear people to know that I never got that cause I didn't arrive at the man's until 20 minutes past 5 in the morning.

The First Outbreak of Supernatural Power

I went to the church. Now. This is the interesting bit. Because it deals with the outbreak in supernatural power. The God of miracle revealing himself in revival. I preached in the church to a congregation of about three hundred and I would say a good meeting a Wonderful sense of God thing that I hadn't known since the 1921 Movement in mid of Guile, but nothing really happened.

I pronounced the benediction. And I'm walking down the aisle when this young man came to me and said Nothing has broken out tonight. But God is hovering over us. He's hovering over us midday. And he'll break through any moment must be perfectly honest.

I didn't feel anything. But you see it was a man much nearer to God than I was to the secrets moving down The aisle and the congregation is moving out. Did his two hands and started to pray. You made a promise.

Staying lads up on the dry ground and you're not doing it made again. Until he fell again onto the floor in a trance standing beside him for about five minutes. And then the door of the church opened and the session Clark came in.

Mr.. Campbell something wonderful has happened. Revival has broken out. Come to the door and see the 11 o 'clock. And I went to the door and there must have been a congregation of between six and seven hundred people Gathered around the church this dear man stood at the door and Suggested that we might sing a song about some 102 when science bondage God turned back as men dreamed where we.

Then filled with laughter was our mouth and they sang and they sang. And in the midst of it I could hear the cry of the penitent and cry into God for mercy. I turned to the elder and said I Think we had better open the doors again and within a matter of minutes the church was crowded to 12.

Now where did the people come from. Who did they know that a meeting was in progress in the church? Well, I cannot tell you, but I know this that people came. You to ask some of them today, what was it that moved you.

They couldn't tell you. I don't know that they could not explain was that progress that night. Oh this young man was praying in the aisle moved into back down 100 often from a place to get up into the pulpit.

I found the way blocked. With young people who had been at the dance. When I went into the pulpit I found a young woman a graduate of Aberdeen University Who was at the dance and she's lying on the floor of the pulpit crying.

It's their mercy for me. It's their mercy for me. It's their mercy for me. Continued until four o 'clock in the morning. I was leaving the church a young man came to me. Oh He's not a Christian. But He's a God-fearing young man and told me this story.

Conviction Reaches the Police Station and the Streets

There must be anything between two and three hundred people at the police station. They're gathered there and Some are on their knees. Now I can't understand this now. He wasn't in the church you see but here a crowd of men and women From a neighboring village moving to the police station because the constable there was a God-fearing and well-saved man just next to begged off me or never forget What my ears heard and my eyes saw.

Young men were kneeling by the roadside. I think just now with a group of half a dozen one of them Under the influence of drink. And his old mother kneeling beside him and saying Oh, Willie, Willie. Are you coming at last?

Hey, Willie, are you coming at last from the group of young men that night? There are nine in the ministry. I dear people that's revival the same Passing that is the crying me and church in Canada today.

But not this effort and not effort human endeavor but a manifestation of God that moves Sinners to cry for mercy before they go near a place of worship. My dear people that was how it began then. That was how it began.

Revival Spreads Beyond the Parish

And then it left over the bounds of the parish. But the neighboring parishes We are now addressing meetings through the day. But addressing meetings right through the night. I can remember once within 24 hours.

Addressing eight meetings the churches five times twice out enough and come across a lot of their old men and They were so moved that night. So many of them found the Savior that we followed them to the shore and there we sang the songs of Zion at two o 'clock in the morning before they left for People.

That's why I remember one night the man coming to me. And saying would it be possible for you to visit our party. Well I said it all depends on when I could visit the party. I Think it would be possible for me to go if you could have me between one at two o 'clock in the morning was decided That I should go One o 'clock half past one.

I arrived there the large church one of the large churches in Lewis Crowded to capacity with us many outside to go. I say hundreds to go. Young man came to me. And said mr. Campbell there must be between three and five hundred people on a field down here.

They're wondering the elders there are wondering if you could come down and I went down. And I found this crowd Was easy to address. Spirit of God was hovering over us. We see a man Lying on the ground.

Oh, he's in distress of soul. For young girls, I would say about 16 years of age. They came over and they melt beside him. You're one of them saying I think I ought to tell you a rather amusing incident and In favor with all section of the Christian Church that is some of the Holy Ghost was a definite subsequent experience to conversion.

A Distressed Farmer Finds Mercy

No, my dear people. I believe that we know Practically nothing of backsliding from that gracious movement of years ago. It's the minister was with me we found an elder waiting us to say that a Farmer was in great distress of soul.

Now this man hadn't been near a church for 12 years. He just lived for his cattle and horses. He lived for the earth. Godly wife and A godly daughter were concerned about. They invited me Prior to this incident old man, and he said all well I may turn up at the church.

I'm walking down the road to the church and one of the elders said that he thought the suit he adorned was the suit that He married me. It wasn't certainly a mother in one. He went to the church at any.

And the church was so crowded that he had to sit on the pulpit steps just quite near to me. Fearful state repeating God Hell is too good for me. Hell is too good for me. Conviction crying for. After this conference and women prostrate in the press go mental to the wife.

Can you have mercy on me? Can you have mercy on me? I seem to feel that hell is too good for me. The wife is what you say Incidents, but I think I ought to mention one of one or two of the of the movement first awareness of God this Sense of God the fear of God and you would find them Thinking about God now that is of this awareness of God Essence of God you to go to this particular mighty sinners there.

The Awareness of God and the Secrets of Prayer

I said to her, you know I have no leadings to go there men there that are bitterly opposing me. And I don't suppose I could get any place to hold a meeting and said this. If you were living as near to God as you ought to be he would reveal his secrets to you all.

So just a rebuke and I went back to the manse and I said to the minister I think we ought to spend the morning with old Peggy and wait. So woman began to pray give you her prayer. Conversation we had this morning at 2 o 'clock.

And you told me you were going to visit this part of the parish with revival. Open to mr. Campbell about it, but he's not prepared to think of it. You better give him wisdom because the man badly needs it.

Well, that was what the dear woman said. And when we rose from our knees, I said to a well pig, you know. Where do you wish me to go? Where is the meeting to be held and God will provide the congregation and the meeting place.

Well, Peggy, I'll go. I went on the following evening congregation of anything between three and four hundred. Gathered around this bungalow a seven-room bungalow and the bungalow was so packed so many young people anxious to be in.

But the man of the house who wasn't a Christian and Suggested that they should get into the beds in rows of threes pick off their shoes. Elves like Harry he's on their knees in the different beds. So I'm awesome could tell you but move a a sovereign God for about ten minutes when one of the elders came to me and said Mr. Campbell, will you come round to the end of the house?

Some of the leading men in the village are crying to God for and if you go there We'll go to the peat sack over here where you see those women crying to God on their knees. I went round to the end of the house and there they were.

The men that old Peggy saw. That would become pillars in the church of our fathers and today. Those men are pillars in the church. My dear people, that's the revival that I believe but in the midst of those crying to God for mercy.

Revival Reaches a Dance Hall

There were two papers. I think most of you know that I was a paper Dance when God spoke to me. Well, two of them are there. Now those two papers were advertised. We are the concert and dance in a neighboring party and The minister of that parish was there.

He was a man who spoke to me and said go to the end of the house and he and his wife are looking at the two papers. Over there crying to God for mercy. He turned to his wife and he said look here. We'll go back to the parish and we'll go to the dance.

We'll tell them where what is happening in Barabas. So off they went 15 miles. Arrived when the dance was in progress went to the door and was met by the son of a schoolmaster. What are you wanting here, mr. McClennan?

Oh, I've just come to the dance. Oh, but we know you haven't come to the dance to to dance. Parish minister he claimed the right and went in. They're dancing then there's a love he stepped onto the floor.

Young men young women. I've an interesting story to tell you the Smith Pipers aren't with you. They're not with you. They're crying to God for mercy in Barabas till mess of eternity. I'm putting the words of the minister came over the death and then he said young folk.

Listen I would like you to sing a psalm with me and I think we ought to sing Psalm 150 where God is depicted as a flame of fire. He's leaving it himself when they came to the second verse. Suddenly there was a cry the young man fell on the floor and Began to cry to God for mercy in five minutes.

The hall was empty and there now in three buses. Coaches that brought young people from other parishes. Under in the coaches on their knees crying to God for mercy. And listen the young man who fell on his knees.

That night was Inducted to a parish church just before I came across to Canada. That's God the Spirit of God so moved. The conviction was so terrible That we could only Leave them there. Of course, you've read about the most remarkable Movement acts of the Apostles repeated again.

Opposition, Covenant Prayer, and Further Revival

It's in the village of our Younger came to us last year. He was up there just now again. Bitter opposition. Bitter opposition is teaching error. So it went on and got up to police words. God, do you know that your honor is at stake?

Do you know that you made a promise that you're not fulfilling? Now there are five ministers here along with mr. Campbell. I don't know where any of them stand not even mr Campbell, but if I know anything at all about my own poor heart, I Think I can say that I'm thirsty thing for a manifestation of your power and then About a quarter to two in the morning He stood up and said this.

This is I now take it for myself to challenge you to fulfill your covenant engagement. When that man said that the farmhouse minister said to me Pamela said yes, but I in my own thoughts and when John Smith stopped praying I Pronounce the benediction and went out of the church.

To find the whole community alive all community alive. Opposition had fled this movement broke out. But he's spoken up in Scotland today after the Arnold revival. The mighty movements in the midst of this gracious Dissertation, you know that the drinking house was closed that night and it's never been open since never been open since.

The men who used to drink there and spend the evening fair Are now praying in our prayer meetings and one of them is that minister in Southern Arabia? Donald McPhail. I could go on after that was how the movement began conviction distress of so 14 young men.

Fourteen Young Men Turn from Beer to Prayer

Standing at a hall discussing the amount of beer that was to be brought to the parish for a dance on Friday. Suddenly one of them turns to the others and says boys. Let us increase the amount. I believe that this is the last time that beer is going to come to this body.

Another young man said Angus. Are you suggesting that the revival is going to come to this godless parish? I Cannot say what? It's going to happen of what is going to come. But something is happening to me.

That was all that he said. But listen to your people 14 young men fell on their knees in front of the public hall and were there for over an hour and all of them saved. And 11 of them are office bearers in that church today, and that is one community.

After that gracious moment when you couldn't find a single unsaved soul in the party or in that party. My dear people did your good folk understand what revival means your? Conception of what it means to see God working God of Miracle supernatural Moving in the midst of men and hundreds swept into the kingdom.

The Lasting Fruits of Revival

Oh. That we may see it see my time's gone, but You ask What are the fruits of it? You've already said that you know nothing about backsliding. No, that is true. I Could count on my five fingers all who dropped off from the prayer meetings.

You see in Louis and in the highlands generally. They would no more believe that you were a Christian. Then they would believe that the devil was a Christian if you don't attend the prayer meetings. We agree with born again.

Hunger to be among the Uncrowded couldn't find a parish in Louis today that hasn't five prayer meetings local press stated in the midst of the movement. There are more people attending the prayer meetings now Than attended public worship on a communion Sunday.

Now that's true. Well that is one of the outstanding features. Relative to the fruit that remains and from those prayer meetings now get a hold of this on those prayer meetings a Movement has began now.

That is sweeping through Louis. Where is it among whom among the teenagers among young men and young women? Time ago. Would be making their way to town to the pictures or to the dance drinking houses in the town but today.

In their school now. I'm not saying it's revival not in the sense that we witnessed it some years ago. But in Parishes tonight you'll find perhaps half a dozen prayer meetings in progress. They were in the church and From the church they go for a bite of supper and then to houses here and there to wait upon God till two o 'clock in the morning and in those prayer meetings young people young men and women.

Teenagers and others to Christ. Bengal was among them recently and She has a story to tell the prairie. She'll tell you all about it. Not as if we let her go. We're going to hold it. I think I said half a dozen other miss bangles.

We'll welcome them with open arms. Oh the movement Continues another feature relative to the fruits. There's a number of men and women that have gone forth into full-time service in the ministry and in the foreign field.