An Article of Faith

The critical role of spiritual awakening is vital to our spiritual survival and God’s purposes. In times of deep national decay, it seems that the only element that can bring the comprehensive course correction needed is a widespread movement of revival and awakening.
When we cry out, God revives His church in dramatic measure and then – for a season – sends an outpouring of spiritual awakening to the lost in rapid fire. At such times, hundreds, thousands, even millions of people are converted to Christ. God’s endgame is to quickly bring to life those who are spiritually “dead in [their] trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
In the first 150 years of American history God sent such awakenings every 30 to 60 years: the First Great Awakening (1730-1740), the Second Great Awakening (1790-1830), the Prayer Revival of 1857-1858, and the Welsh Revival of 1904-1906, which expanded during the next few years to impact the U.S. and many countries around the world. All served to provide dramatic course corrections bringing Christ front and center to our consciousness and worship.
Jonathan Edwards, perhaps our greatest American theologian and a firsthand witness of the First Great Awakening, reminded us of how quickly God can turn a society back to honor the Son. He said that in seasons of awakening “the work of God is carried on with greater speed and swiftness, and there are often instances of sudden conversions at such a time. So it was in the apostles’ days, when there was a time of the most extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit ... How quick and sudden were conversions in those days ... so it is in some degree whenever there is an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God...”
Samuel Davies, the president of Princeton University, recounted the following in 1747: “About 16 years ago, in the northern colonies, when all religious concern was much out of fashion, and the people generally lay in a dead sleep in sin, having at best but the form of godliness, but nothing of the power; when the country was in peace and prosperity, free from the calamities of war, and epidemical sickness; when, in short, there were no extraordinary calls to repentance; suddenly a deep, general concern about eternal things spread through the country; sinners started out from their slumbers, broke off from their vices, began to cry out, what shall we do to be saved? And made it the great business of their life to prepare for the world to come.
“Then the gospel seemed almighty, and carried all before it. It pierced the very hearts of men with an irresistible power. I have seen thousands at once melted down under it; all eager to hear as for life, and hardly a dry eye to be seen among them...” (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. For more information see: www.ONECRY.com.)
“If My people,” declares the LORD, “who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV).

Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.