I read online stories about revival in Nagaland wich is a small state located in north east of India. I thought it will be an encouragement for bro & sis of sermonindex to read. This revival happend in the 1950s and had subsequent revivals in 60s and 70s in Nagaland.
Every true revival will bring conviction of sin and lead people to a living faith with Jesus Christ, note also that healings and miracles happend in this revivals and these people were from baptist background not pentecostal. Today there are many charlatans who preach a watered down gosple or perferm false signs and wanders that lead people away, but praise God for those genuine oupouring of the Spirit to purify and empower believers.
Nagaland, India
When Heaven Came Down
(Part 1)
Of the 36 tribes and language groups of Nagas in northeast India, all were deeply impacted by the light and power of the Gospel. The miracles and signs and wonders that accompanied the revival are so numerous that it would take a book thousands of pages long just to begin to scratch the surface of God’s wonderful works.
Here we faithfully recount some of the remarkable testimonies of what happened in just one church – the Sendenyu Baptist Church in Tseminyu, Nagaland. Some of these stories are so remarkable that you may struggle to believe they happened, but they were witnessed by many people. Beginning in February 1959, after several years of terrible suffering for all Naga people, the Holy Spirit was poured out in a mighty, unexpected way upon the Sendenyu Christians. Many lives were transformed and regenerated into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:2)
The Sendenyu Baptist Church had existed for many years before the events that shook the congregation in February 1959. The Christians had grown somewhat apathetic in their faith and commitment, and many had lost their spiritual fervor. Gradually, the believers had become more aware of their sins. Spontaneous confession of sin began to break out in their meetings. After pouring out their souls and receiving God’s forgiveness, their sorrow was overtaken by overflowing peace, joy and happiness.
One evening, after three consecutive nights of special meetings, most of the believers began to leave the church for their homes. Some Christians, however, stayed in the church and continued in prayer and worship, sensing that God wanted to do something new in their midst. Suddenly, a flame of fire appeared in the church in full view of many people. It came down and settled over the pulpit at the front of the sanctuary. The people were shocked and awestruck, as the fire was accompanied by a mighty, loud sound like a roar. The fire divided itself into tongues of fire. Some people immediately began to prophesy, while others saw visions. This was the start of the tremendous visitation of the Holy Spirit among the Sendenyu body of believers. They came to despair for their state of rebellion and hopelessness outside of complete submission to the True and Living God. They came to understand that their greatest acts of self-righteousness were no more than filthy rags in the sight of God. Only Jesus Christ and the Word of God could satisfy the deep spiritual longing felt by all.
Over the ensuing days and weeks many people in the church stood up and, under the power of the Holy Spirit, exposed the secret sins of church members. Accurate Bible references were spoken that often spoke directly to the condition of a person’s heart, in a way that only God could know. Sometimes, the prophets speaking these pinpoint Scriptural messages were illiterate people who had never learned to read the Bible for himself or herself. During one worship service, a church member prophesied that God would send a pillar of fire, and that everyone must confess and repent from their sins. He also said that the fire would burn down an unbeliever’s house when it came. The whole church gathered together that evening and earnestly prayed and confessed their sins to the Lord. Suddenly, a strange pillar of fire shone above the church between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The light was so pure that it was brighter than at noontime on a normal day. No reflection or shadow was cast in any direction, however. It was unlike any other light the people had seen before. After a short time, the pillar of fire from the Lord vanished. The people then noticed that the house of a non-Christian named Tesinlo Khing had caught on fire! The fire raged out of control. In those days, there was hardly any gap between the houses in the village. The roofs were made of straw and the walls were mats. However, in full view of the people, the destructive fire miraculously did not spread to any of the neighboring houses owned by Christians.
http://www.asiaharvest.org/pages/WhenHeavenCameDown1.htm