Holy Spirit renewal for the repentant
Scripture references
James 4:8–10 (ASV)
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
James 5:16 (ASV)
16Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.
1 John 1:9 (ASV)
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Stories
A church elder confessed his sin to Jonathan Goforth. The next morning, he confessed it to all the people, which open the floodgates. Confession and repentance engulfed the entire church, bringing about forgiveness and restoration between one another.
Revival grew out of a single village to become a movement in the surrounding country. Revived Christians went everywhere preaching the Gospel with amazing results. Most remarkable is the story of a man who was a notorious gambler, who journeyed on his donkey intending to collect his gambling debts. But God clearly directed the donkey to a revival meeting instead.
On a Sunday morning, Louis Talbot discovered that the Church's janitor took out—as trash—the sermon he had painstakingly prepared for that morning. Talbot went into a fit of rage and said regrettable things to the poor fellow. But as he stood to preach that morning, he was convicted. Publicly he confessed his sin and asked for the janitor's forgiveness. Though the conviction had started with him, the whole church too, soon caught the fire. It was an unforgettable service!
Mr. Tung was a Christian who had backslidden and returned to a life of drinking, opium, gambling, etc. But after attending a revival meeting and staying with the Goforths, Mr. Tung was convicted and returned to Christ. He then went home and dedicated his life and resources to winning souls for Christ Jesus, bringing forty entire families into the Kingdom.
Missionaries in Changtefu joined together for a special prayer with great expectation. God answered, poured the blessing of His Spirit upon them and several confessions were recorded. The most astonishing of all was that of a pastor who confessed that he never believed in the previous revival meetings organized by Jonathan Goforth, but now had himself been moved by the Spirit to repentance.
God uses a plane crash tragedy to remind workers at the Wycliffe Bible Translators in Peru of the need for righteousness, humility, peace, love and patience. Through much repentance for self-reliance, they were filled anew with the Holy Spirit.
Three miracles showed the manifestation of the spirit of God and endeared many to give glory to God.
When the time for the Shanghai Bible Conference arrived, the prospects were not bright. However, as the days went by and the word of God was preached to the people, they entered into serious prayer. On the last day, the spirit of God broke out leading to confessions, commitment to God's work, and evangelism.
During a visit to Amoy, China, Dr. Sung spoke powerfully about the love of God to crowds of people gathered to hear His word. Many who were unsaved and lukewarm came under conviction and were transformed, then returned to their homes to witness the new life they had found in Christ Jesus.
Brother Yun was used by the Holy Spirit to challenge fellow prisoners to confess their sins and seek God's forgiveness. And as these hardened criminals obeyed God's call, they were broken by the gospel's power and all witnessed a renewal and transformation that was evident to even the guards.
John W. Redfield was posted to a community where hypocrisy was common and sermons on "hell" were considered unpopular. He travailed for his congregation in the place of prayer. On Sunday, the spirit of God broke out, leading many to confess their sins, and the whole community experienced a revival.
A chance stop at a United Brethren Church led to the outbreak of God's presence in a profoundly reserved place. That day many openly confessed their sins, relationships were healed, and unity was established among the people of God. Revival had happened!
Corrie Ten Boom is convicted about her falling off and turning away from her first love - Christ. Here she describes the great joy and renewed strength she obtained upon confessing her sins and seeking God's forgiveness.
By confessing to each other the secret sins they were both battling, Art and Ellen Sanborn wept in heartbroken repentance and were able to finally experience the victorious Christian life of freedom and great joy.