Revival: A Greater Awakening!

The Great Awakening brought on revival spirit! What do I mean by revival? That's where Christians meet to reawaken religious faith. Preachers use passion and encourage testimony so those who've slipped may be restored to the level of communication which they once enjoyed. It's not to be implied that God abandoned the Christian who let their faith slip, but by letting the faith slide, the Christian ceased to commune as often with the one they claim to worship!

"Revival"  implies that a person has already been "born-again" (saved if you choose) and no longer has the joy in the Lord that existed at the time of salvation. "But", you say "Revival is mostly geared toward conversion... people getting saved!" Just as there is "personal salvation" there is also "corporate salvation".  Recall that in the Old Testament  God made covenants with the Jewish people. That is "corporate salvation". Not only is revival for Christians to recommit their lives, but also for the church, the nation, and even the world to repent and be saved. It's a revival for the community. Each person within that community, as they are born-again, revives the the community! Hence, revival is the time not only for Christians to repent, but for the lost to be born-again!

The following Psalm expresses revival and salvation:

Psalm 85:6 "Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?  7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation."

As you can see the psalmist promises both. With that in mind, it's God's mercy that Christians repent of their current sins and make a commitment to God to live Christlike lives. Likewise, those who are living with unforgiven sin are encouraged to repent and be born--again!

"Born-again" was explained to Nicodemus by Jesus himself:

John 3:3" Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

And how can a person be born again? Simple:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

"Born again" is to be saved! Saved from what? Perish! Any person stands condemned for all have sinned. All will perish for eternity unless they are born again! What does it take to obtain eternal life? "whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"! I'm "whosoever"! You're "whosoever"! Belief is more than acknowledging the existence of Jesus, but accepting him as who he says he is...God! Then one must commit their life to the one who saves them! What's revival?  It's making a commitment to Christ. If one has faltered, then it's a recommitment.

Isaiah 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

Revival can happen! Revival can happen in the hearts of the humble; those who confess their sins and call on Jesus to forgive them. That's humility; recognizing that you can't save yourself; only God can!  Before you confess sins it takes contrition. A sinner must be sorry for sinning and ready to make a change. "Change" is what Christianity is all about! Change is what revival entails.

What was The Great Awakening?  Between 1720 and 1740 preachers such as John Wesley, George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards preacher fervently to sinners in North America and England.  Sinners were taught to fear punishment and to be saved by "grace", accepting the free gift of salvation from God!

One of the most potent sermons was read by Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God! The test of the sermon was Deuteronomy 32:35 "They shall slide in due time." Israelites who had slid from the worship of God were not yet fallen to destruction because of the grace of God which gave them opportunity to repent and change their ways before it was too late.

As the sermon was read, the method of preaching at that time, sinners cried with contrition and wailed for forgiveness. They begged God for a chance! They begged God for another opportunity. As each individual responded to their maker, revival was in each heart, and as a result the community, the nation even, was revived!

It's never too late! You're never too bad. Just as I am is more than a song... it's scripture! You don't have to clean up your act before approaching God, but by submission to God, he cleans up your "act"... your heart!  Those to whom God forgives the most, love him the most! This is the day! Tomorrow may be too late. The heart may not respond to God's call. We come when he knocks! What if Jesus fails to knock at your heart's door? You're "without one plea!". Yes, this is the day!