Recalibration is a big word.  We used it in science lab a lot.  Auto mechanics do it a lot when they work on engines.  You do it when you balance your checkbook and even when you turn your computer off and on.  What it means is to reset to some known standard, whether it comes to tuning an engine or balancing a checkbook.  We do it when we come to church, when we come to the Lord’s table, when we have quiet times with the Lord.  Spiritual recalibration should happen a lot in our lives.  We are always in need of being reset to God’s standard.

“Mercy drops ‘round us are falling but for the showers we plead.”

This is the closing line in the old hymn, “Showers of Blessing.”   There is an obvious comparison of blessing quantities.  The idea is that “we” are experiencing God’s mercy drops, but we long for the full “rain” of God upon us.  As I look in the rear view mirror before the revival-weekend slips from sight, I still see the splattering of mercy-drops all over the rear window. 

The blessing of Adam, Justin, and Christian leading us to God on Friday and Sunday evenings.  Of Bob and the worship team leading us toward rebuilding broken walls on Saturday.  Switzerland Dance School invigorating our hearts for worship.  Pastor Henry calling us to experience the present, powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Donnie calling us to meet Jesus at “this altar.”  Joe Jamerson reminding us that the purpose of revival is to take Christ to the streets.  But above all … ABOVE ALL, seeing the altar filled with people meeting with Christ, weeping tears of repentance, arising free with laughter in their souls.  Yes, there were mercy drops all around us. 

Duncan Campbell came to the Hebrides Islands in 1949 for a two week revival.  He stayed two years, and God brought fire from heaven that touched the whole chain of islands and every man, woman, and child who lived on those islands.

To understand the story, one has to back up to 1948.  The revival did not start with Duncan’s arrival.  It started in 1948 … with prayer.  That is the way moves of God always start … with prayer.  Prayer that yearns for God.  In a small cottage by the roadside in the village of Barvas lived two elderly women, Peggy and Christine Smith.  They were 84 and 82 years.  They had never married.  Peggy was blind and her sister almost bent double with arthritis.  Unable to attend public worship, their humble cottage became a sanctuary where they met with God. The promise from God’s word, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground,” was given to them.  They tenaciously clung to the promise day and night.  One night Peggy had a revelation, revival was coming and the church of her fathers would be crowded again with young people.  She called for her minister, Rev. James Mackay, and told him what God had shown her, asking him to call his elders and deacons together for special times of waiting upon God.

Now focus on a barn just a few miles up the road.  Seven men gather for prayer.  These are the deacons and elders whom God has called to pray.  Three nights a week, they prayed all night, seeking the face of God.  As they knelt in the straw, God called 2 Chron. 7:14 to their minds.  “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”  They prayed according to this verse, and the Holy Spirit gave them a revelation that God is a covenant-keeping God.  This meant if they kept their part of the covenant to turn from their wicked way, pray and seek His face with humility, that God would surely keep His end of the covenant – He would hear from heaven and heal their land.  They persevered for five months.

So with the two sisters in their travail before God along with the seven men in the barn praying for God to visit their island, one night He came.  Suddenly, the barn was filled with the glory of God.  At the same time, the little cottage where the sisters were praying, was also filled with the presence of God.  They knew that God was among them and was about to descend upon them with power.

He instructed the sisters that the man He wanted to preach the revival was Duncan Campbell, an evangelist on the mainland of Scotland.  They sent word for him to come.  He replied that his itinerary was full and that they should continue to pray and he would come the following year.  The two sisters responded, “well, God is coming in two weeks.”  Duncan’s schedule was changed – his immediate meetings were cancelled (isn’t God amazing?), and he went immediately to the Hebrides.

The first night, not much happened, but one of the praying seven told him that he could hear the sound of heaven’s chariot wheels; revival is coming.  We will pray another night.  At 3AM, God swept into the cottage where they prayed and a dozen were laid prostrate on the floor, unable to move.  Revival had come.  As they left the cottage they found the lights burning in every home as men and women were seeking God.  They found three men lying by the roadside under conviction of sin, crying out to God for mercy.  This was just the beginning of a supernatural visitation by God.  Night after night, God dealt with men’s hearts.  People could not sleep.  Floods of repentance and salvation came.  People crying out to God.  Whole villages turning to Christ.  People praying everywhere.  This was revival.  It would touch all the islands and go on for three years.

God rarely does it the same way twice, but some things are always the same.  It starts with people hungry for God – more hungry than they are the next meal, for comfort, for recreation, more hungry for God than anything this world offers.  When that happens, a visitation of God will come.  Could it be that this is happening here?  I have never seen hunger for God like I see on Thursday prayer gatherings.  I have never seen people respond to the call to fast like it is in these 40 days.   If we have intercessors like Peggy and Christine and men like the seven in the barn, God will come. 

Friday -            April 23 at 7PM   The Beginning: youth-led worship inviting God’s presence; 

Pastor Henry to speak

Saturday -        April 24 at 9AM    Morning breakfast and prayer and teaching on revival

in scripture or as God leads with Henry and Wes leading

Saturday -        April 24 at 7PM    Salvation of the soul and peace in that relationship

with Pastor Henry

Sunday  -          April 25 at 8:30AM  if Fred Bible is able, he will speak in this service;

Fred has been miraculously healed from death 3 times

Sunday  -          April 25 at 11AM    Pastor Henry to preach the "that is this"

continuation of revival message              

Sunday  -          April 25 at 6PM  Healing Service for whatever the ailing - body, soul, spirit...

Pastor Wes