One thing that gave success to the early church was that it started out on the right note with starting out in a time of prayer together immediately after the Lord Jesus had ascended to heaven and left them bodily although he was still with them spiritually. This was even before the believers had the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit since it was before Pentecost and the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church of born again Christians. They were gathered in an upper room which is a good example to Christians to pray in a quiet and relatively private location. All the main disciples were gathered there for the prayer meeting including the eleven faithful disciples, Jesus brethren who became believers after his resurrection and Jesus' women disciples and Mary Jesus' mother. Although it is a positive point for various believers to gather for prayer we should make sure especially for things like prayer meetings that the focus is on people who are Christians according to a literal interpretation of the Bible not just some church tradition that gives place for works or other additions to faith in Jesus and His death on the cross for our sins and His ressurrection from the dead to give us new life alone for salvation. It is when all the professing Christians are genuinely saved according to God's word through the Lord Jesus Christ alone that prayer meetings can be in one accord by those gathered or at least taking part. The first prayer that those not genuinely born again or that hadn't trusted Jesus should make at any Christian prayer meeting is one of the sinner's prayer and their calling on the Lord Jesus to receive them as lost sinners coming to God for his grace and salvation and that are admitting their good works including prayers before they trusted in Jesus alone have no part in salvation since they weren't made with the new nature or the foundation of the new life in Christ that is received after we invite Jesus to be our personal Lord and Saviour. The supplications that believers are in one accord for in this first prayer meeting and is good for other Christian prayer meetings such as the ones in the revival of the Great Awakening that started in Hamilton could include God sending His Holy Spirit in extra measure and power and that people be receptive to Him and that God work in us and others to forgive and cleanse us and turn us from sin and to bring us closer to God and Jesus and His will for our lives according to His word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit and His working in our lives or the counsel of other Christians. The result of these prayers included the pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church and the boldness and conviction on some of the unsaved Jews that led to 3000 of them being convicted of their sins and trusting in the Lord Jesus as their Messiah, Lord and Saviour. There was also a deep committment of the believers to fellowship (meeting with other Christians in Jesus' name), the apostles' doctrine or the word of God much of which became the New Testament and that is closely rooted in and completes or gives the New Covenant counterpart of the Old Testament, breaking of bread or the Lord's supper and in prayers. The scripture reference in Acts 1 of the first prayer meeting of the first disciples of the Church between Jesus' ascension to Heaven and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the Jews (a similiar thing happened to the Gentiles in Acts 10 and 11) is as follows:
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:12-14
In this incident in the Gospel of Matthew 8, the Lord Jesus Christ and His 12 disciples were in a small fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee in the land of Israel. At that time Jesus was sleeping in the boat. At that time there came up a severe storm with strong winds and probably substantial rain. This resulted in water from the Sea of Galilee and possibly some rain from the air covering or coming close to covering their boat. The New Testament original Greek word for cover here is kaluptos. (Kaluptos is also the modern Greek word for face mask in the sense of covering one's face as in the Modern Greek English - English Modern Greek Bilingual Dictionary Collins Greek Dictionary Essential Edition by Harper Collins Publishers in the entry for mask on page 344.)
When the disciples were in this threatening situation of the storm that was covering or coming close to covering their boat (symbolic of a place to dwell together and move around together) they in desperation prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ to be delivered from this threatening and oppressive situation. Jesus did dramatically and completely and immediately answer their prayer. This was even though they had to wake him up first in order to urge him to calm the storm that was covering them and their boat. There was then a great calm and they got back to a more peaceful normal situation in their boat and on the Sea of Galilee. This led them to praise and worship Jesus as the One Who could calm this storm and have power over creation if he was God. He actually was and still is God or part of the One in Essence Godhead in Three Persons - Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit).
For people now, especially Christians or those who are open to becoming Christians we are now facing a severe storm in our lives and world in the Covid-19 virus. The Covid-19 storm is also from government including health authority and media driven oppressive measures related to the Covid-19 corona virus. Although I agree there is some real aspects and public health care threat from Covid-19 I think it is still quite exaggerated. For example I have seen data from scientific studies from universities or the US CDC centre for disease control that Covid-19 is not as deadly as the regular flu for people under 50 years old. They also say Covid-19 is about the same mortality as the regular flu for people between 50 and 65 years old but is much more deadly that the regular flu for people over 65 years old. Some articles based on this May 2020 Centre for Disease Control revised estimates for the mortality rate of Covid-10 are the following: Ex-Health Ministry chief: 'You're not more at risk of dying of coronavirus than the flu' Former Health Ministry Director (of Israel) blasts coronavirus lockdown and 'hysterical' reaction to pandemic. 'In some ways, the flu is even worse.' written May 26, 2020 on Israel National News at link www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/280874. and another article at CDC: Coronavirus death rate likely just 0.26% CDC revises estimates for coronavirus death rate down to roughly a quarter of a percent. But virus remains deadlier than the flu. by David Rosenberg May 25, 2020 Israel National News at link https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/280793 There was another, I think independent study that also supported about an overall 0.26% not 1 % mortality rate for Covid-19. This was probably the same study done in Santa Clara County, California. This study was carried out by researchers at Stanford University in the United States. An article summarizing their findings is the following: Stanford Study Proves Covid-19 Was Overhyped. "Death Rate is Likely Under 0.2%" Stanford study proves many more people are infected - between 50-85 times more - than reported and thus the "death rate" is astronomically lower than we were told. by Tony Cartalucci Global Research April 19, 2020 at link https://www.globalresearch.ca/ mit-tech-review-smears-study-proving-covid-19-overhyped/5710088. However Covid-19 is treated as much worse than the regular flu for people of all ages including here where I live in Ontario, Canada. Also earlier on with this Covid-19 corona virus disease situation, Covid-19 was regarded to have about 1 % mortality in cases but now it is only estimated to be about 0.25 % mortality which is about twice the mortality of the regular flu. Also there is still significant measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 through transfer on surfaces such as limiting the use of cash in favour of debit or credit cards and requiring staff to regularly spray down surfaces with hand sanitizer. The contactless measures to limit the transfer of Covid-19 continues. This is even though I have heard reliable reports, such as from Hamilton, Ontario McMaster University and from Ontario, Canada public health spokesman Ivan Bogac, that the danger of catching Covid-19 through spread from an infected person onto a surface that we might touch is very minor compared to catching it from the breath of some infected person who is nearby. Also there is not balanced reporting in the media or government here in Canada such as from the national broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) or Global News that I have listened to quite a bit about Covid-19 or between Covid-19 and other news. For example there is still far excess or out of proportion reporting about deaths, hospitalizations or cases of Covid-19 and deaths, hospitalizations or cases from other usual afflictions such as regular flu, pneumonia, cancer, heart disease, diabetes etc. This is even though some of these other conditions are still at least as common, some still cause more deaths or are the main cause of death as some of the co-morbidities in some cases where Covid-19 is attributed as the cause of death. A cross-Canada summarized statistics on main causes of death by Statistics Canada annually from 2014 to 2018 just before Covid-19 came to put the claimed Covid-19 deaths this year in perspective to other causes of death that are being mostly ignored by the mass media and health and political authorities is at Leading causes of death, total population, by age group Table 13-10-0394-01 (formerly CANSIM 102-0561) with link: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tb11/en/tv.action?pid=1310039401.
There is also the issue of somewhat exaggerated general or controlling or covering response to Covid-19 in that in this Covid-19 situation there continues to be quite a top down approach from the United Nations forming world government through its arm the WHO World Health Organization and its director Dr. Tedros. Dr. Tedros is the first WHO director who doesn't have a recognized medical degree. This United Nations led top-down Covid-19 response continues down very strongly or little diminished to national, subnational such as provincial or state level then local level government or government health and media authorities. Also these measures are against all the population not just those affected by Covid-19 but also all so-called asymptomatic people. This is even though some senior public health people such as Dr. Maria VanKernhova of the World Health Organization said publicly that the threat of Covid-19 from asymptomatic people is exaggerated and there shouldn't be such severe across the board lockdown. This lockdown would require closure of public store, or community building such as local church closure measures to control Covid-19. Better to identify people with Covid-19 and treat them and have them more confined until they recover than to affect the entire population. Testing for Covid-19 then is probably a good idea.
In view of all these general Covid-19 matters and some of my own personal experience as an evangelical Christian such as experiencing much hindered ability to communicate because of required facemask wearing there are some important additional practical limits on Christian witness including the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to unsaved people one-on-one or to disciples other people I meet. These extra limitations are on Christian witness in one-on-one basis in public settings such as on the bus or train, in the elevator of the high-rise apartment building I live in or in a line up at a bank or other store inside. These limitations to communication, including Christian witness, are because we both have to speak through Covid-19 face masks. Some other excessive Covid-19 measures include the closure of churches (and other buildings) in the first wave of Covid-19 and the looming threat it could happen again and even now many people not having returned to church in person either because of fear of catching Covid-19. Many churches now only meet by only watching services by the computer program Zoom, Youtube, Facebook or similiar internet broadcast software. As a result also Christians are much more limited in Christian fellowship, or in church evangelism or discipleship such as before or after meetings at fellowship lunches etc. or in praising the Lord in having to wear face masks when we sing. Covid-19 government directed measures also mean Christians are often limited regarding in person meetings at churches such as not as many fellowship lunches, or summer retreats, or fellowship group meetings or holiday celebrations such as at Thanksgiving, Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Christmas because of concern over spread of Covid-19.
There is also the sometimes excessive storm or covering issue that some other sources of Covid-19 counselling such as secular psychologists are able to practice and have relatively unhindered access and referrals of people with anxiety or worry about Covid-19 compared to Christian pastors or elders. There is also the still perhaps lack of balance by authorities in charge of the Covid-19 situation in balancing other effects from Covid-19 lockdowns or closure of businesses such as increased substance abuse, suicides, unemployment and associated stress or depression, spousal abuse, divorce, child abuse and increased cases of severe poverty and increased financial disparity between the rich and poor due to Covid-19 lockdown and business closure or instructed remote operations of offices or schools over the internet instead of in person where more socializing is possible.
There is some legitimate concern of the real affliction and danger of the spread of Covid-19 and burden to hospitals and health care workers there is still. However for all the above and other reasons, I believe, because of an exaggerated response and overly fearful attitude on the part of many in society partly increased by excessive fear feeding coverage by the mass media about the danger of Covid-19 that Christians and local churches or fellowships, including myself, need to be more fervent and persistant in prayer to Jesus or to God the Father in Jesus' name. An article about the so-called 1st wave of Covid-19, especially in Santa Clara county California, USA said in part that in the third month of the lockdown in the 1st wave of Covid-19, Covid-19 patients were occupying less than 2% of hospital capacity and none on ventilators. This excerpt is from an article on Real Clear Politics with title How Fear, Groupthink Drove Unneccessary Global Lockdown by Yinon Weiss on May 21, 2020 with link https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/05/21/ how_fear_groupthink_drove_unneccessary_global_lockdown_143253.html. To pray to God fervently in Jesus' name means for Christians to in effect wake God up with our cry and prayers for a deliverance from Covid-19 repressive or covering (kaluptos) measures. Again these measures include lockdowns, required face mask wearing, social distancing or business or public building closures. These government ordered at least temporary closures of business or organization gathering places that still might limit the maintenance of a healthy normal immunity in people due to being exposed to people with non-severe bacteria or viruses in a normally functioning society. The stilling of the winds and covering waves by Jesus in Luke 8 would relate to allowing Christian and other meeting places to re-open sooner so we can get back to a great calm or peace and back to the old normal normal instead of settling for this more restricted and covering (kaluptos) of normal functioning and human interpersonal relations including at local churches.
This is especially true if there is still some substantial time for true Christians and others before the very soon coming rapture or catching up to heaven of all true or born of the Holy Spirit Christians to be with Jesus and God the Father. This rapture of true Christians will be just before the following 7 year tribulation on earth for non-Christians left behind under the Satanic Antichrist or Beast out of the sea and the False Prophet and God's judgments on earth. After the tribulation or 70th week of Daniel there will be God through Jesus judging the world including the devil and Antichrist and world system of those still non-Christians at the end of the tribulation. This judging of the world will be in order for the Lord Jesus Christ or God the Father through Him to set up His visible Kingdom then over all the earth. I hope before the soon coming rapture of the Church and tribulation, Jesus does give a reprieve from Covid-19 and the general oppressive and sometimes excessive public health measures to deal with Covid-19 and gives a great calm of getting back to the old normal normal instead of continunig with the new normal. If Jesus and God the Father through Him does give a great calm before the rapture from Covid-19 and the especially offensive lockdown measures including for asymptomatic people there would be reason, especially for Christians who could then have fellowship and witness etc. more freely, to give praise to Jesus and God the Father for a great deliverance from a storm threatening to hinder or destroy us or our operation. The scripture reference in the Gospel of Matthew 8 of the Lord Jesus Christ bringing or restoring a great calm to the Sea of Galilee and to His disciples and their boat they were in together when He calmed the storm in answer to their prayers as a possible analogy and prophetic application to this oppressive or covering normal operations storm of Covid-19 including forced face mask wearing, lockdowns, closure and limitation of operations of public buildings or meeting places by order by government authorities through the mutual Greek word kaluptos for face mask and cover or hide is as follows:
And when he (Jesus) was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest (storm) in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith to them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Gospel of Matthew 8:23-27
Cornelius was a Roman Centurion probably from Italy as his regiment was called the Italian band which perhaps differentiated it from other regiments that could have been from other parts of the Roman Empire that were stationed in Israel. This man Cornelius was called a devout man who made a habit of giving alms to the people, probably to the Jewish people, and who always prayed to God. The Bible also said he feared God which means he lived his life in a reverential way with thought to God. God then sent an angel to Cornelius to say to him that his prayers and alms had come to God's notice in a positive way and that God was about to bless him in a remarkable way. The angel then instructed Cornelius to send people to Joppa (in present day Jaffa near Tel Aviv) and call for Simon Peter one of Jesus' apostles. Cornelius then selected two of his servants to go to Joppa to meet Simon Peter and find out what God had in store for him. This turned out to be God's pouring out His Holy Spirit on Cornelius and some other Gentiles with him to extend the early church to the Gentiles or non-Jews. The scripture reference in Acts 10 of Cornelius being a devout man that often prayed to God as well as gave alms which led God to select him to be the first Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit and become part of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is as follows:
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa. Acts 10:1-8
After the Apostle Peter spoke the words about God showing him that he should include Gentiles or non-Jews as part of the Church God's primary and heavenly people for this age, the Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and other people associated with him that had faith and reverence for the God of the Bible. The Jews (Messianic Jews that trusted in Jesus as Lord and Messiah) that came with Peter were astounded when the Holy Spirit also fell on the godly Gentiles who also began to glorify or praise God and to speak in tongues which were probably known earthly languages that they hadn't formally learned as on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Part of the praising or glorifying God by Cornelius and the devout Gentiles must have been praising Jesus as their Lord and Saviour or else it would be doubtful if the apostle Peter and the Messianic Jews with him would suggest that these Gentile believers associated with Cornelius and Cornelius himself were Christians and should be baptized in the name of the LOrd JEsus Christ and the Father and the Holy Spirit as the scripture passage here mentions that they, Cornelius and those associated with him should be baptized in the name of the Lord which is a reference to the Lord Jesus CHrist. The scripture passage in Acts 11 of Cornelius and his household and those associated with him that were seekers of God and probably of Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit and glorifying God and being considered for baptism into the Christian church as a result of their typical life of prayer and seeking God is as follows:
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. They answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. They prayed they him to tarry certain days. Acts 11:44-48
astonisHerod the ruler of Judaea as many politicians was most concerned at pleasing the people rather than what is the best principles for a certain situation. Therefore after Herod arrested the apostle James the brother of John and had him put to death and finding this pleased the Jews that didn't believe in Jesus he got greedy and sought Peter and arrested him as well. Herod then intended to have Peter put to death to please the unbelieving Jews as well. Of course in countries in the world now where Christians are openly persecuted this is a strategy of anti-Christian authorities and demons that motivate them as well. This stragey of course is to try to attack and limit the Church or its growth or vitality by killing, torturing or injuring its leaders. This will likely be a strategy of the Anti-christ and his forces against the 144,000 witnesses or other Christian leaders who become believers in Jesus after the rapture. The scripture reference in Acts 12 of the arrest of Peter by Herod after Herod had killed James the Apostle is as follows:
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Acts 12:1-4
The Church of the 1st century did the right thing when faced on an attach ultimately by the devil and demons through worldly authorities on its leadership and what the Church should do and some cases does do now in a similiar situation they prayed for his safe release. God then granted a full positive answer to this prayer request as he has in different ways in other cases where Christians prayed for their leaders held captive in the last 2000 years in similiar situations. In this case God send an angel from heaven that went into the prison and awoke Peter from sleep and urged him to hastily put on his clothes and escape with the angel. As a result of Peter's faith in following the instructions of the angel that were undoubtedly from the LORD other obstacles such as Peter's chains and the prison door and the watching guards were removed miraculously as well and Peter was able to make a safe escape to freedom. This was despite the fact that while this was in progress Peter had some doubts whether this series of events was real or just a vision but the important thing is he obeyed the voice of God through the angel anyway and was rewarded with freedom from prison and the plots of Herod against his life. After Peter had escaped the prison with the angel and had gone a safe distance the angel left him probably in a safe hiding place. Then after a while, probably a couple hours, Peter came to himself and realized all these experiences he had with the escape from prison with the help of the angel was real and not just a vision and that God had indeed sent an angel to deliver him from prison and from Herod and the desire or hope of the unbelieving Jews. Peter then came to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark where many Christians were praying and that probably wasn't too far from the prison. These Christians had been praying for Peter's safe release probably since the news was heard that Herod intended also to put Peter to death as he had already done for the apostle James. This was for one night as later in the chapter it mentions the stir caused in the morning when it was discovered at the prison that Peter was missing. The scripture reference from Acts 12 of the response of the Christians or God's spiritual or heavenly people to respond in concerted and persevering prayer and God's deliverance of Peter in answer to prayer to the news of the arrest and intended killing of their prominent leader Peter by king Herod instigated by Satan and/or other demons is as follows:
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers (guards) before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the (an) angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. Acts 12:5-12
When Peter actually got to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark he got a less than encouraging response. Although Rhoda the girl who opened the door when Peter knocked there and believed it was Peter and apparently believed that God had answered their prayer and probably believed before that God would answer their prayer for the release of Peter, others at the prayer meeting weren't as strong in their faith in these prayers or in God to answer their prayers. Even after this girl Rhoda spoke at some length quite insistantly that she had seen Peter knocking at the door where the prayer meeting was held and that he was still there many of the people including many Christians dismissed her claims and showed their lack of faith in God to answer their prayers saying the man Rhoda saw was Peter's angel which could be interpreted different ways including that this was Peter's spirit after he was killed or perhaps just his guardian angel. The remarks of many at the prayer Peter calling Rhoda mad concerning he claim at having met and talked to Peter at the door of Mary's house also showed their lack in faith in God to answer their prayers to release Peter from Herod's custody in prison and from the threat to his life. However a point that can be made here is that God will answer our prayers through His Son Jesus Christ even when we have some lack in our faith that God will answer our prayers or if there are some people in a prayer meeting that are lacking faith in what is being prayed for. Of course this is all on the understanding that the thing being prayer for is God's will which the prayer for the release of Peter from prison and from a threat to his life was as will often be true of similiar prayers for release of important leaders of the Church at other points in the history of the Church of true Christians who have come to have a relationship with God through personal whole-hearted faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that he died for our sins and rose again from the dead to bring us new life. Lastly the fate of the soldiers who were accused of shirking their duties by neglecting to prevent Peter's escape from prison, even though it was not strictly their fault, shows the danger of co-operating with authorities or other people who are plotting against Christians even if this might seem in the line of duty. The scripture reference from Acts 12 of God answering the prayers of the Christians for the release of their leader Peter despite the lack of faith of some of those Christians or perhaps some professing Christians at the prayer meeting is as follows:
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed it was even so. They said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place. Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. Acts 12:13-19
Although I am just learning more about it, one thing I have heard from quite a few of my evangelical Christian friends in talking about it with them is a revival that began in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, my hometown, between Toronto, Ontario and Buffalo, New York and that spread to many places worldwide afterward. This began as a result of some people dedicated to concerted prayer in Hamilton and later other places for revival and the revival called The Great Awakening began in 1857 and has lessons for Christians even today. I was able to find some articles at the local history department at Hamilton's central library on March 6, 2006 and could give copies or directions to anyone in the Hamilton area. However, although this revival had far reaching effects, according to a strong Christian friend I have who has read an article about this subject, the revival didn't linger as long as it could have because the intense prayer wasn't backed up as much as it could have with people getting back to good, literal Bible preaching, reading and study. There was no record in this article I have from the local Hamilton Spectator religious column on a convicting, local Bible preacher but the effect of this revival especially at first was due fully to fervent, persistant prayer of some dedicated Christians. These praying Christians then won about 300 to 400 people by the conviction of the Holy Spirit in Hamilton and they too began to join in fervent prayer for revival. Then a New York Methodist newspaper, the Christian Advocate and Journal paid attention to this budding work of the Holy Spirit in revival in Hamilton with the front page headline "Revival Extroardinary". This was still nothing remarkable in church or religious phenomena. What was remarkable was its far reaching affect it had later on. In United States the report of this revival in Hamilton was longingly read by many dozens of pastors in the substantial Methodist Episcopal Church. At the same time Presbyterian pastors began praying for a revival at a conference in Pittsburgh and Dutch Reformed Church Christians also started to pray for revival in New York. In a short time the revival that started in Hamilton by some dedicated praying Christians was similiarly occuring in other places in Ontario and many other places in United States where there was spiritual hunger. After six months revival of the Holy Spirit was rushing across North America. This revival that began in Hamilton in answer to fervent prayer then extended to Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. It then extended to many other parts of the world including China and India. One characteristic of this revival was a deep unity among Protestants, great seriousness, an absence of hysteria and especially that men and women in other places longed deeply for a revival similiar to what Hamilton had and it came to their locations also. There is a lesson in this of course for Christians today although the revival perhaps could have had an even greater and longer affect if it was accompanied by more literal Bible preaching, reading and study.
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