Thoughts for Life: #17 God's Power in the Ministry of Duncan Campbell

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: My dear friend, the Rev. Duncan Campbell, minister of the United Free Church of Scotland, was mightily used in the Hebrides revival which began in December 1949 and continued in several waves in succeeding years.

Perhaps no minister of this century experienced so many remarkable manifestations of the power of the Lord. He was not a part of the charismatic movement, and there was no emphasis upon gift manifestations. To the day of his death in 1972 he remained the humble prophet of the Lord. (Google image, John D. Campbell)

In April 1918, bleeding profusely from almost fatal wounds in one of the last cavalry charges of World War 1, Duncan Campbell was flung across a horse for evacuation and treatment. He prayed McCheyne's famous prayer, "Lord, make me as holy as a saved sinner can be."

Instantly he felt the mighty power of God like a purging fire sweep through his whole being. God's presence and power were so real that he thought he was going to heaven.

As he lay on a stretcher among the wounded in the Casualty Clearing Station, he quoted, in the Gaelic speech of the Scottish highlands, the metrical version of Psalm 103, so beloved by Scots.

Within minutes the mighty conviction of the Holy Spirit fell upon the other wounded, and seven Canadians were born again in the same instant. Then one by one they began to testify.

Duncan had discovered the secret of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. From then on until his death he had a consuming thirst for God, revival, and the manifestation of God's power.

When the war was over and his recuperation completed, he started out in the country districts of Argyllshire, visiting from home to home, reading Scripture, testifying, and praying with people.

He soon joined the Faith Mission Training Home in Edinburgh for a concentrated nine-month course. In his practical assignments he began to win people to Christ.

One day before class began, Duncan rose to his feet and testified that Jesus was his dearest Friend. God's power descended on the class, the students fell to their knees, studies were forgotten, and they prayed on for hours. This was the first hint of God's plans to use Campbell mightily in real revival.

After graduation Duncan, with a Faith Mission team, began to preach in country school buildings and churches. God poured out his Spirit in power. A schoolteacher was so gripped by God as she rode her bicycle that she had to kneel by the roadside as she received salvation. Up to 200 people began to attend services. Old and young were deeply convicted of sin and turned to Christ.

Much opposition faced him when he began ministry on the Isle of Skye. Duncan walked the roads at night praying for God's help. Three young women were given a great prayer burden and prayed all night in their home while Duncan did the same in a barn.

The next evening God's power fell on the meetings. People were so seized with the conviction of the Holy Spirit that they groaned for mercy. Attendance increased and God's power was felt throughout the community. Whole families were converted.

Duncan went from village to village, preaching wherever he could and praying with people by the roadside, on the hillsides, in homes, or wherever he found them. New converts began to pray for unsaved relatives and many were converted.

Sometimes people were drawn from their homes by the mighty power of the Spirit and came to places where some of the congregation were gathered—even outside a police station. God was so present that people fell on their knees and began to pray.

At times people in the services were bowed before the awesome presence of God by the Spirit's power. Christians groaned and sinners cried out for mercy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.

Ablaze for God

#17 God's Power in the Ministry of Duncan Campbell
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel(pp. 68 - 70) ZondervanPublishingHouse

The greater work

Our prayer today-

Father, our desire is to see your power on our meetings, to where people are seized with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Help us all realize our sinfulness in Your Presence, repenting and asking for mercy. When Your power is felt among us, it has been shown to draw others, and to discover what they've been missing.
May whole families be converted and filled with the power that only comes from You, Father.
As churches are located in our towns, we ask that you bless the pastors and those who attend; for Your Spirit to draw folks from their homes to investigate the tugging in their spirits to attend one of them.
Fill the leaders in our churches in the North Country with Your mighty power! Cause them to welcome Your presence among us,
and that we'll also sense Your glory, much like folks did in Duncan Campbell's services and personal encounters with him.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

"Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for

which God is calling us" Phil. 3:13-14 (TLB).

"O GOD, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even

with my glory. (v.13)Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies" Ps. 108:13 (KJV).

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them

that walk uprightly. (v. 12) O LORD of hosts, blessed is the

man that trusteth in thee" Ps. 84:11, 12 (KJV).

Today's quote-

~ Monica Brands- "We could easily devote much energy to self-improvement techniques. But the deepest and most satisfying changes in our hearts come in knowing the love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:17-19) —the love that changes everything."

Today's very popular post-

#87 Other Examples of Revivals

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: "At the beginning of this century there was a member of Congress from New England who had been reared in a godly family but who later became an infidel and lectured against God and the Bible . . . "

Today's question-

Do you find that some obligations go against your grain?

For one thing, since Adam and Eve, we tend to not like to obey what we've been told, when there's a restriction. It's our natural bent to have our own way. We see it early on in our children. Training needs to be done in a way that when our discipline is applied, disobedience is averted. All through life, the child will have opportunities to obey the authorities in life; teachers, police, professors, and parents.

If they are taught important obligations to obey, and of their importance, they'll have a better chance to be successful in whatever they do with their lives. When parents have learned to follow God's rules for peaceful living, they'll be able to pass this on to their children.

One of our pastors visited some place recently with his family. When he returned a few days later, the owner asked if he was the one who was there with all of his children recently. He answered, "Yes". The man then said words to the effect: "Whatever you're doing, keep it up!"

Upcoming posts-

#18 At Times God's Convicting Power Fell

14th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Our Challenge: A Sanctified Life

16th- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout

#19 You Need Repeated Empowering

19th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#20 Do You Lack Spiritual Power?

21st- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel