An Article of Faith

When Jesus walked the earth He moved in perfect unity with God the Father. He explained His life by saying, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19 NLT).
This unity was so complete that when Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not My own, but My Father who lives in Me does His work through Me.” (John 14:8-10 NLT.)
The church is the body of Christ. When we are in sync with the Head, the life, power, and direction of Christ can flow through us. God can be clearly seen. It is one thing to see this in an individual believer’s life, but think of what would happen if a whole group of believers were genuinely and practically united with Christ and each other?
Imagine the picture that would be created and the power unleashed if the whole church in a city or nation would cooperate out of this oneness with Christ? Jonathan Edwards understood this when he wrote a famous call to the church prior to the First Great Awakening entitled: “An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth.” This was one of the most significant tools God used to ignite united prayer among God’s people that led to the First Great Awakening.
Edwards’ endgame was not united prayer for the sake of united prayer, nor even revival for revival’s sake. He longed for united prayer that would lead to the reviving of the church, so there would follow the rapid expansion of the kingdom and the increased worship of Christ. A revived church, marching in sync with the Master, opens the door for great spiritual awakening among those without Him.
Edwards was biblically convinced that this must begin in a united cry. He understood what would happen if the church would agree together in prayer. And the First Great Awakening that followed validated his theology.
Throughout human history there is a predictable phenomenon that teaches us something about the ways of God. The biblical pattern reveals three elements: (1) A crisis brings God’s people to desperation; (2) the people cry out together (a united cry); and (3) God, in every case, delivers His repentant people.
“I can find no biblical illustration – not one – “ writes pastor Bill Elliff, “of God’s people crying out together in humble, desperate, repentant oneness that God did not answer their prayers! This indicates to us a pattern and a prescription. It seems that if we will unite in one cry, God will hear and give us what we so desperately need. Again, we cannot manipulate God, but doesn’t this biblical pattern teach us that the very first step we must take is to cry out together to the only One who can bring deliverance?” (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. Visit 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.