An Article of Faith

It seems every major missions movement in history has come out of seasons of revival and awakening. William Carey was launched from the Second Great Awakening in England. The Moravian missionary movement began with the “Moravian Pentecost” at Herrnhut with Count von Zinzendorf. This began a prayer meeting and missions movement that lasted for 100 years.
The Haystack Prayer Meeting that led to the modern missionary advance in America happened in 1806 during the Second Great Awakening. Men such as George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, and William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army) were all men who had come from the fires of God’s awakening.
Tom Elliff, past president of the largest missions agency in the world has said, “There is no possible way we can see the missions mandate of the American church fulfilled unless God sends a movement of national revival and spiritual awakening.”
When God invades the church, our hearts begin to beat in unison with His, and we care for what burdens Him. And God’s burden is for more men and women to come to a saving relationship with Him through His One and Only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Why do you need to radically change your lifestyle to join with others in one cry for our nation? Because God CAN save us!
No one can manipulate God. Seasons of revival and spiritual awakening are sent to us from the hand of a sovereign God who has a distinct and perfect purpose and “works all things after the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11.)
Nevertheless, there are things God has set in motion and ways He has chosen to work. He is the One who commanded us to “draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8a.) And Psalm 85 echoes this thought: “Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:9.)
The Psalmist isn’t speaking of personal salvation because the whole context of this psalm is a plea for national revival. He is, however, reminding us of the simple fact that God’s nearness is related to our reverence. And God’s nearness is what revival is all about. (Taken and adapted from: OneCry: A Nationwide Call for Spiritual Awakening. Visit www.onecry.com.)
“For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite’.” (Isaiah 57:15.)
“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.