REVIVAL ON a US WARSHIP
Posted by: prophetic <prophetic@...>
-by Michael Edds.
The year was 1857. The battleship USS North Carolina,
a 74-gun ship of the line launched in 1820 at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard, was anchored in New York harbor. Her long years of duty
were now reduced to being a naval receiving ship.
Among the many sailors on board were four young Christian
crewmen, who decided that they should meet and pray. Looking
for a private place for prayer, they met on the lower deck. Falling
upon their knees, they instantly were filled with the Presence of
God. So great was their joy that they started to sing and praise
the Lord.
Wicked sailors, who were upon the top deck, heard the jubilant
singing and decided to investigate. Upon discovering that it was
coming from a secret prayer meeting, the vile bunch decided to
mock and jeer. Descending the iron stairs to the place of prayer,
the mob fell under the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Their
jeers turned to bitter tears. Conviction overcame them and they
began to cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. For several
days, the prayer meeting continued. Hundreds of the crew were
converted. The captain of the ship sent a message ashore
requesting the help of pastors and ministers to come and pray
with the sailors.
The USS North Carolina became a bastion of revival. Converted
sailors, upon completing their training, were assigned to other
ships in the fleet. Wherever they went, revival broke out. Revival
swept the US fleet. Prayer is a powerful force!