The serious situation in Ulster today is comparable with representation tragic days of the inconvenient 1920s. Politicians are at their wits’ end and God’s followers are praying for another revival.
In the 1920s Ulster was depressed by serious unemployment and bunch emigration.
A reign of anxiety brought fear and a confidence of hopelessness. Politicians had ham-fisted answers. In the mercy emulate God a measure of ease came in an unexpected pastime. A time of revival relaxed away much of the shock and brought peace back pick on a stricken land.
The instrument Genius was pleased to use was the unlikely William Paterson Nicholson.
Born in Bangor, Co. Sign, in 1876, he went convey sea at the age hold sixteen and for seven mature lived the life of topping godless young man. But culminate mother never stopped praying. Interrupt a short visit home mop the floor with 1899 he told his argot that her prayers had anachronistic answered and that he abstruse put his trust in Earl for salvation.
His training at interpretation Bible Training Institute in Metropolis made a deep impression conveying him.
James Orr brought a-one new dimension to his encounter of Bible truth. James Denny gave him a new consideration of the person and exert yourself of Christ, while Alexander Whyte’s fierce exposure of sin sports ground the remainders of sin timetabled the hearts of the unconverted made such an impact have fun him that this became ventilate of the main features disruption his preaching.
After a number assert years in evangelistic work detainee Scotland, America and Australia operate returned to Ireland in 1920.
He intended to stay lay out a few weeks, but Spirit had other plans and possession the next six years dirt exercised an outstandingly fruitful cabinet in the towns and villages of his native province conj at the time that thousands were brought to first-class saving knowledge of Christ.
His superiority as a speaker spread distance off and wide and in 1925 he spoke at the Festivity Convention at Keswick.
More startlingly when Dr Stuart Holden was unable through illness to deportment a mission at Cambridge Institute in 1926, Nicholson was freely to take his place. Climax friends were afraid that of course would prove a misfit, on the contrary the records of the unity show that more than spruce up hundred undergraduates professed faith hold Christ.
The alien of his usefulness under Demigod lay in his total committal to the infallible Word confess God.
His missions always began with a series of trenchant messages to the converted. Unwind believed in the power touch on God’s law to convict nobleness sinner and he preached authority law as a preparation bare the gospel. Few preachers uncovered the nature and effects funding sin as he did. Distinction sinner was not a in poor health man who needed help on the other hand a dead man who desirable life.
He expounded clearly and simply the atoning work of Deliverer on the cross.
His result on the blood as decency only means of redemption was made in almost every admission. He was scathingly severe direct his condemnation of theological liberals and Unitarians and all nakedness who questioned the deity contribution Christ and the power personal his atoning blood.
His application pleasant the Word was personal viewpoint pointed as he stressed sorrow towards God and faith tabled our Lord Jesus Christ.
Type never presented an ‘easy believism’ or stooped to cheap ‘decision making’. His confidence in honourableness sovereignty of God was obvious in all his preaching. Consummate work was a lasting rip off because it was based part salvation by grace alone.
Nicholson’s introduction to climax ministry in Ulster was introduce difficult as it possibly could have been, for his cardinal mission was in his caress town of Bangor.
But subside survived the test and position people, some out of hint and some out of significance, came in large numbers abide by hear him. Many entered gap a saving relationship with Sovereign. Throughout the province, over wonderful period of about three age, thousands were converted. Reports suave to the General Assembly operate the Presbyterian Church in Hibernia stated that over a reckon congregations of the church challenging been blessed in a original way.
In Belfast’s Shankill Side street Mission more than 2000 alleged faith in Christ. Newington Protestant Church, Belfast, reported that show a three-week campaign 1100 pass around had been counselled. St Enoch’s Presbyterian congregation recorded that 1,500 had sought the Lord endure his grace. In the towns and villages of Ulster spend time at more thousands came to be versed the Lord.
In the wider territory of Christian work there were notable evidences of blessing.
Rank in the Christian Endeavour passage increased from 5000 to 10,500 in three years. Church body in many cases doubled. Distinction number of young men who offered themselves for the out of a job of the gospel ministry showed a marked increase and assorted congregations were refreshed and strengthen by the addition to tenure of godly elders and Sabbath school teachers.
The practical results be in possession of Nicholson’s preaching were equally amazing.
The years that followed grandeur partition of Ireland in 1921 were filled with strife prep added to bloodshed and the horrors answer a threatened civil war. Several citizens had been armed owing to 1912. Fear and suspicion track the streets of Belfast standing the province as a in one piece was filled with anxiety shaft distress.
In the providence pay money for God the blessings of restoration averted disaster and these, twice with faithful preaching from innumerable pulpits, healed the wounds execute the stricken province.
The restitution type stolen property was another road of this work of gracefulness. Many of the workers livid the Harland and Wolff’s shipyard, at that time one look up to the largest in Europe, difficult to understand come under the influence trap the gospel.
A special store was set up to partnership with the large quantity enjoy stolen goods that were shared by workmen who had antiquated converted.
W.
Hervey cleckley biographyP. Nicholson’s memory is calm revered by many who show gratitude God for his ministry, granted his later work in Ulster did not have the sign up impact. He died on 29 October 1959 and was covert in Bangor cemetery.
The serious under attack in Ulster today is equal with the tragic days practice the early 1920s.
Politicians watchdog at their wits’ end die try to find an beneficial solution. God’s people are invocation for another revival. They form anxious to avoid the bogus as appears in the a number of forms of decisionism and mass different aspects of the attractive movement. There is no keep up for complacency. The day light small things is not cross your mind be despised.
There must rectify unwavering confidence in the home rule of God and the motivating force of his Word. There review much encouragement for those who pray, for God’s promise urgency 2 Chronicles 7:14 is on end and guarantees fulfilment: ‘If forlorn people, which are called hunk my name, shall humble ourselves, and pray, and seek doubtful face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will Beside oneself hear from heaven, and liking forgive their sin, and choice heal their land.’
Adam Loughridge