Revival Stories

The 1625 Six Mile Water Revival


Ulster was a province in northern Ireland which, in the 16th century, had been devastated by over 70 years of war. Atheism and immorality quickly took root in this rough country area.In an attempt to rebuild the region in the early 1600’s, England allowed the establishment of churches from various camps: English Anglicans, Scottish Presbyterians, and English Puritans. These groups unfortunately did not always get along with each other. In the 1620’s, some ministers began meeting together for fellowship and for prayer. These meetings could go on for several days as they persisted in seeking after God to transform this land.

In 1625, an eccentric and poorly educated preacher from Scotland arrived in the area. His name was James Glendinning. He was limited in his ministry training and not very polished in his approach. No one really expected much from him. He ended up in Oldstone, an old section in the town of Antrim. There, he preached the only way he knew how: focusing on the Law, the corruption of sin, and the wrath of God. The Spirit of God mightily descended on people as he preached, and soon the fires of revival were stirred up. The more educated ministers didn’t approve of his preaching style, but even they had to admit that God had chosen to work through him.

As the revival began to spread, the Spirit would pervasively soften people’s hearts during the meetings. Conviction of sin would sweep across the listeners. And a fresh burning hunger for God was ignited in people’s souls. Often, the power of God would cause many men and women to fall to the ground in a dead faint. Others might shake violently where they stood. Some were so overwhelmed that they would have to be carried outside. And sometimes, the Holy Spirit’s presence would stir those gathered so much that the demons at work in the place would instigate a few to cry out and cause a disturbance. But even then, God gave the leaders the grace to handle each situation.

On a regular basis, people from all ages and stations in life would surrender and give their lives to Christ. And unmistakably, the character and lifestyles of those affected would be radically changed for the good afterwards. As the numbers of those newly saved began increasing to over a thousand, some of them began meeting in homes. In an attempt to help the young believers to grow, the local ministers began working together and established a monthly gathering for them in Antrim, near the castle grounds by the Six Mile Water river. Meeting together for an entire weekend, they would delve into God’s Word, worshiping the Lord, encouraging one another, and taking the Lord’s Supper on the final day. These powerful monthly meetings continued for almost 10 years. As the revival spread to other towns, more and more folks encountered the Gospel and embraced their Savior. By the time the awakening started to wane years later, it had left a strong and lasting mark upon the spiritual character of northern Ireland.


QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:

  1. What does God require from a person He chooses to use for revival?
  2. How would you handle a situation during revival that seemed chaotic or unusual?
  3. If you started to see thousands coming to the Lord during revival in your city, what are some of your ideas of how to care for and disciple all the new believers?
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