REVIVAL ON THE HEBRIDES ISLANDS 1949–1952

REVIVAL ON THE HEBRIDES ISLANDS 1949–1952 
 
From 1949 to 1952, there was a revival in the Hebrides Islands in Scotland. This great spiritual awakening that took place transformed the hearts of the people on these islands. 
 
It is recorded that two ladies prayed for revival every day until it came while other believers were praying for revival as well. But it was more than just prayer that ushered in this revival. 
 
One minister on the island of Carloway, Reverand Murdoch MacLennan, had an assurance that revival was coming. He not only had a word he felt the Lord had given him but also observed the mighty workings of the Spirit on a nearby island. God was already beginning to move powerfully in Barvas through a man named Duncan Campbell. Reverand Murdoch began to wholeheartedly prepare his congregation, urging them to storm the gates of heaven through prayer until the blessing came to them. 
 
He shared the following with his congregation on Sunday, December 25, 1949, which was a key to ushering in this revival:
 
“I have secured the services of Duncan Campbell, who will be coming for a special evangelistic campaign in February. Till then, there are about six weeks time; almost the time that the disciples waited in the upper room for the promise of the Father. Six weeks of prayer until the day of Pentecost was fully come; then the Holy Spirit came upon them like a rushing, mighty wind and in cloven tongues of fire. So—to your knees, God’s people! This kind goeth not forth but by prayer and fasting. Therefore you must take this to heart. Before you will receive a full blessing, the following conditions must be met. 
 
1. First and foremost, God’s glory from first to last. 
2. Confession of, and putting away of all known sin! 
3. Full dedication to God of our bodies and spirits so that we may become channels of blessing. 
4. Absolute faith and utter dependence on the power of God to raise the dead spiritually. 
5. Prayer and intercession day and night. 
 
If these conditions are fulfilled, I will guarantee you that God will open the windows of heaven to pour out his blessing, and there shall be no room to contain it. 
Therefore, people of God, pray, pray, pray!” 
 
This pastor, along with his congregation and other believers on the Hebrides Islands, yearned for revival so fervently that they were willing to give themselves to prayer and fasting. They sought God with all their hearts. They did not just pray for revival once a month or for a few minutes every day. They set time aside to seek the face of God for revival, and God responded. 
 
How badly do we want revival? Are we willing to pay the price to obtain it? Are we willing to not just pray but also seek God’s face? 
 
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” Psalms 27:78
 
In the Bible, when it says, “to seek the Lord,” it often includes the phrase, “to seek His face.” We have to be very close to the Lord to see His face. After Jacob wrestled with God, he said, “I have seen God face to face.” Moses was a man that did more than pray; he sought God, and scripture says that the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to a friend. 
 
Why is it so important that we seek God’s face?
 
Scripture tells us that no man can see His face and live. We will die to our own ways, spiritual shallowness, self-righteousness, opinions, pride, etc. We will be transformed, and we will live differently! We will no longer live like the world! 
 
Seeking God, seeking His face, is necessary for revival. We see this key in scripture (2 Chronicles 7:14) and also in past revivals, like in the Hebrides Islands. 
 
It is one thing to pray for revival. It is another thing entirely to change our ways in order to obtain it. 
 
In 2 Kings 23:25, we see why Israel had a revival under King Josiah: “Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.” 
 
We cannot think that praying is enough to bring His visitation. Before the Hebrides revival, as with all revivals, the one requirement of God was confession of and a putting away of all known sin. We must repent and change our ways to walk in His way. Only by doing things His way will we see blessing and visitation come to our lives. 
 
God will pour out His Spirit on us as well as our nation when we, His people, stop seeking Him with only half our heart. We will see revival come when we stop seeking Him on our terms and with our lips only. 
 
God is calling us to Himself, to seek Him: to seek first His kingdom, His righteousness, and His ways. 
 
The people on the Hebrides islands sought the Lord’s face, and they gave all to obtain His glorious presence. Heaven came down to earth, and they saw God’s face and were transformed. Also, lost souls were saved, the schools were changed, and the government over the people was changed. 
 
Are we willing to lay down the things of this world, our time, desires, comforts, ideas, and opinions, giving all in order for heaven to come to earth? 
 
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” Psalms 27:78