“Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” 1 Kings 18:44.

Elijah sent his servant to look seven times before that little cloud manifested. Then, shortly afterwards, the heavens opened and the rain fell in torrents.

This story, in itself a Postscript to, or sting in the tail of, the main story, has taught us many things about God.

Prayer changes things!

Persistent prayer is often needed.

If God promises Rain — it will Rain — when the time is right.

It’s the same with Revival.

Prayer changes things!

Persistent prayer is often needed.

If God promises the Rain of Revival — it will rain — when the time is right.

In fact it rained so much and so hard that King Ahab was hard put to reach shelter, even with a chariot to speed him on his way!

So it was with Revivals past!

• We’re told that Evan Roberts and many others prayed fervently for a move of God for weeks, even months beforehand.
• We’re told that William Seymour prayed for months to receive that which he had heard was happening in Wales.
• We know that Peggy and Christine Smith prayed for years before the Hebridean Revival broke.
• At Toronto Airport Fellowship, they were praying for God to move among them when an evangelist called Randy Clarke turned up — the rest is history.
• At Brownsville Church, Pensacola they decided, after prayer, to hold an evangelistic meeting. Evangelist Steve Hill arrived for a couple of days meetings and stayed a couple of years when the fire of God fell.

The real lesson for us now, in the age of instant answers, is for patient, persistent, fervent prayer until God answers us as only He can!

God wants to revive us more than we want Him to do it!

He has a plan for us but that plan needs our participation.

Signs are that we already have revival starting in several places at once, all over the world but the rest of us seem to be awaiting the ‘cloud as big as a man’s hand’ to appear on the horizon.

Revival is not about a place!

It’s not about a person!

Revival is all about ‘a cloud as big as a man’s hand’!

But we don’t control that cloud — God alone does. And He’s waiting for us to get desperate enough to do what He calls us to do.

If you are desperate for revival, then let God know.

He’s not listening for our answers — He’s looking at our hearts.

When our hearts are right and in alignment with His, He has a wee small cloud that’s itching to make its way in our direction.

What will it take from us to cause God to release that cloud as big as a man’s hand?

 

~ Chris G. Bennett

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Chris Bennett came to salvation in 1962 but didn’t begin ministry until 2007 — a late-comer! Now mandated by The LORD to prophesy and open old wells of revival in the U.K., but especially in Wales. He has also operated Healing Rooms, and worked with deliverance teams, all with his wife, Linda. Happily now doing whatever The LORD asks of them! Founder, with wife Linda, of their ministry The Upper Room Encounter.

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