Quotation
God gives us the free gift of His grace. Grace is the help or
strength given through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus. Grace is a free
gift from our Heavenly Father, given through His Son. The word grace, as used
in the Bible, refers primarily to the enabling power and spiritual healing
offered through the mercy and love of Jesus.
Barry Denzil Haney
Verse
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then
will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
Reflection
Most agree, the
First Great Awakening occurred for decades, from 1735-1770. This revival shaped
America’s understanding of religious and civil liberty. Most importantly, it
shaped the Founding Fathers faith, character and worldview, who gave us the
Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
The Second Great
Awakening, also occurred for decades, most agree from 1790-1840’s. Most agree
the beginning of this revival occurred during the Cane Ridge Revival from
August 6-August 12 or August 13, 1801. The revival was led by Barton Stone in
Cane Ridge, Kentucky at the Cane Ridge Meeting House. The Second Great
Awakening was known for its large camp meetings characterized by enthusiastic
preaching and audience participation, that led to a large number of people
converting to the Protestant religion. Two movements in reform occurred because
of this revival – the Temperance Movement and abolitionism.
According to David Barton, twenty years ago, the Speaker of the
House believed the Third Great Awakening had begun, based on statistics at the
time which showed an exponential increase in Christian music when compared to
other genres of music and to the exponential explosion of Christian websites.
David Barton believes we are in and have been in the Third Great Awakening
since that time.
This country was founded on biblical values that have been slowly
eroding since the 1960’s. According to the Barna Research Group, almost
half of this nation’s adults under 35 live together outside of wedlock, six out
of ten adults say co-habituation is morally acceptable and the same percentage
believe sexual fantasies are not a sin. Nearly two thirds of Americans
don’t believe divorce is a sin. The acceptance of pornography is a disgrace.
Three out of ten born again adults believe watching a movie with explicit
sexual behavior is morally acceptable. One third of the population believes
getting high on alcohol or drugs is morally acceptable. The worse sign of the
deteriorating moral values is the magnitude of abortion in this country, where
nearly forty million babies have been killed in abortion clinics in the United
States
Because of this decline in moral values not only in this country
but throughout the world, many Christians are praying for revival, a third
great awakening. What does it take for revival? We must humble ourselves, turn
from sin, and pray for revival. Greg Stier gives five truths we need for
revival: wake up to the power of prayer; wake up to the need for holiness; wake
up to the necessity of faith; wake up to the urgency of the Gospel; wake up to
the potential of youth. (Stier)
In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Timothy discusses the importance of prayer and
how it pleases God:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings,
and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth.
Charles Finney
said revival “is the renewal of the first love of Christians, resulting in the
awakening and conversion of sinners to God. (Laurie) Because of the sin we see in today’s world, I think most would
agree, it’s time for the third great awakening! Let’s begin to pray not only
for the church but for ourselves. Each of us needs to repent of our sins so
revival can begin in our own heart. Prayer for the church won’t make any
difference if we have unconfessed sin in our lives. In Psalm 66:18, the
psalmist said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
Illustration
A man once came to Gipsy Smith, the celebrated English evangelist
of an earlier time, and asked him how to have revival. Asked Gipsy, “Do you
have a place where you can pray?”
“Yes,” was the reply.
“Tell you what to do, you go to that place, and take a piece of
chalk along. Kneel down there, and with the chalk draw a complete circle all
around you—and pray for God to send revival on everything inside of the circle.
Stay there until He answers—and you will have revival.” (Green)
Prayer
Our Heavenly Father,
We humble ourselves and repent of our sins!
We know in order for revival to occur in
the church, we must first turn away from our sins.
Only then, will You hear our prayers and answer them.
We pray for our country! We confess our
nation is indeed wicked and we repent for all
our sins. We ask that every local church and household
become a house of prayer. Have mercy on us, O Lord!
In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
Amen!
Worship
Revive Us Again by Gaither Vocal Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN4N7hOMvTk
God Bless You,
Barry
Stier, Greg. “5 Truths We Need for Church Revival.” ChurchLeaders,
May 14, 2021. https://churchleaders.com/outreach-missions/307785-5-truths-church-needs-revival-greg-stier.html.
Laurie, Greg. “Why Revival Starts With the Church.”
OutreachMagazine.com, November 7, 2018. https://outreachmagazine.com/features/discipleship/37025-why-revival-starts-with-the-church.html.
Green, Michael P. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.
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