Early Life and Salvation
I was recently reading on Rees Howells, a man deeply committed to God and known for intercession. His journey with the Holy Spirit and prayer is inspiring, and I thought it would be great to expound on more here. Let’s explore his life and how Holy Spirit transformed him.
Rees Howells was born in Wales in 1879. He grew up in a Christian home but didn’t fully commit to God until later. In his early twenties, Rees moved to the United States in search of a better life. However, it was there that he contracted typhoid fever and Rees feared death. He realized he wasn’t sure if he would go to heaven. Rees told God if He let him live, he would give God his life.
Early Life and Encounter with the Holy Spirit
Shortly after, Rees returned home and at that time Wales was experiencing a great revival. One particular day, he felt an invitation to have the Holy Spirit live in his body. He felt God say that He wouldn’t share his life. Rees didn’t feel this was a purge of sin, but a purge of self; he had to give up his own desires and let God take control.
For five days Holy Spirit pointed out areas of his life: the love of money, ambition, reputation, and ultimately, self-will. Each time the Holy Spirit pointed it out, Rees needed to give them up. The Holy Spirit never stole it from Rees, He needed consent.
After this process, Rees felt transported to another realm where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit lived. There Rees heard God speaking to him and lived from there the rest of his life. He said when the Holy Ghost enters, He comes to abide forever.
The Power of Prayer
After that time Rees felt God tell him pray prayers given to him by God and to never ask God to answer a prayer through others. Rees spent hours in prayer, often waking up early in the morning to pray. He believed that prayer was not just about asking for things but about aligning his will with God’s will.
Rees followed God when others found him foolish. One time God told him not to where a hat going about town. This may seem trivial, but that was the style of the day and considered a shame. Other times he felt God told him to not shave for six months. Some thought he went mad, but Rees was developing trust with God.
There are plenty of stories for you to explore to enrich your faith. From his obedience, Rees developed faith and conviction in God and the power of prayer. He trusted that God would answer his prayers, even if it took time. He prayed for people all over the world, believing that his prayers could make a difference.
The Bible College of Wales
In 1924, Rees Howells founded the Bible College of Wales through many stories of faith and following God. The college became a center for prayer and intercession. Rees trained students to pray with faith and to seek God’s will in everything. The college also sent missionaries around the world to spread the gospel.
Rees believed that the Holy Spirit guided the college’s activities. He often spent hours in prayer, seeking God’s direction for the college. Rees’s faith and dedication inspired many students, who went on to become powerful prayer warriors and missionaries.
Impact on the World
Rees’s legacy continues to inspire people today, as I was greatly encouraged ready his life story. His life shows the power of surrender, obedience, and prayer. I am seeking where there are areas in my life that I still need to die to self. I want the fullness of the Holy Spirit to powerfully impact all that I do. Rees Howells’s journey with the Holy Spirit encourages me to what God can do through a person who is fully committed to Him.