From the September-December 2010 Issue
BOOK REVIEW
Andy & Jean Woods
FIRE FROM HEAVEN Times of extraordinary Revival
Paul E. G. Cook
Published by Evangelical Press
ISBN 9780852347096
If you are reading this review it probably indicates a serious interest in the work of the gospel in at least some countries in Europe. In Southern and Western Europe that often means scattered and struggling groups, making only a small impact on the towns and cities where they are placed. They have always struggled, and most will have been thrilled and rejoiced to see God’s power at work in a few lives here and there, but rarely if ever to have experienced special times of refreshing and revival in the entire community. In Eastern Europe, churches are often much more numerous but still would acknowledge the need for a much greater sense of God’s presence and power amongst them. They have, in many cases had their times of outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon them. But I’m quite sure that they long to know such times in 2010.
Paul Cook’s book Fire From Heaven should thrill us and drive us to pray for God to visit the churches and cities in Europe in which we have an interest. Its stated purpose is to ‘draw attention to a series of revivals which took place in Britain during the period 1791-1840…... During this period spontaneous revivals were breaking out all over the British Isles in varying degrees of divine power: sometimes limited to certain towns and villages, whilst at other times sweeping the nation.’ We are told that in this period one and a half million people were gathered into the Nonconformist chapels of England and Wales alone: one out of every ten people in the nation at the time. Wesleyan, Calvinistic and Primitive Methodists, Particular Baptists, Congregationalists and Independents all saw amazing outpourings of God’s Spirit in their congregations. The book gives us helpful and exciting insights into times of refreshing in London, the North of England and Cornwall. Lessons are drawn out and applied to us today. It is a book of heart-warming stories, and accounts of those ‘who knew a quality of spiritual life to which most of us are strangers’. The author’s stated aim is that it would give rise to a longing for similar spiritual life in those who read it.
ONE EXAMPLE TO WHET YOUR APPETITE!
In Stepney, East London, Andrew Reed called his deacons to prayer in October 1839. He says “We never had a more serious meeting.” Following this, New Year’s Day was set aside for a special time of prayer. ‘The spirit of prayer continued in the church. Parents gathered to pray for their children, and many of the young people seriously considered their spiritual state and were brought to call upon God for mercy. In the evening service on January 20th a marked solemnity spread over all the people. The finger of God was searching the conscience and some bowed their heads overwhelmed with concern. .....Reed announced a short prayer meeting for any wishing to remain. Upwards of a 1,000 stayed and a deep sense of awe came upon the people. ......The awakening continued throughout the year and in November Reed records that since the beginning of the year “more than three hundred persons have spontaneously seen me separately and alone, under concern for their salvation.” Most were from the immediate neighbourhood and many had been regular churchgoers. None had come from other churches. Ages ranged from children under 12 to those over 70.
I am so glad to have been asked to review this book by Paul Cook. It has warmed my heart and reminded me again of what God has done, and can do even in the hardest materialistic, post-modern catholic or orthodox lands. I trust that its lessons will remain with me, and make me pray for God to visit His people in Europe in mighty power in our generation.
We need God to come down and visit us whether we are in the UK, Spain, Poland, Belarus or Italy. Please read this book, and may it drive us all to pray for fire from heaven to come on us and our congregations.