An Article of Faith

Is revival drawing near? There are two very encouraging signs.
The first is the sense of growing desperation we are seeing in our land. One indication of this is the abundance of prayer movements currently in our nation. Only God can record the authenticity and repentance involved in those who have committed to pray. But it is encouraging, nonetheless.
Secondly, our low spiritual and moral state – and God’s increasing judgment – are exactly the kinds of things that are always seen before moments of national revival. We think it has never been this way before, but J. Edwin Orr reminds us that before the First Great Awakening, conditions were so bad that women could not go out on the streets.
Bob Bakke, an authority on the Second Great Awakening, gives the following list of conditions that preceded perhaps the greatest awakening America has ever known in the early 1800s: eight years of war, pirates and terrorist threats, bankruptcy, real estate collapse, plagues, enlightenment, social unrest universalism, French “Reign of Terror,” famine, political rancor, nasty elections, coarse sensuality, and empty churches.
God often uses such spiritual decline to wake up His true church. With the movement of His Spirit ringing the alarm, the church rises to cry out and God moves in revival and awakening.
We read the biblical and historical accounts of revival and our hearts burn. But God’s history is still being written in the annals of heaven. What if the next few years recorded this account: “And all of God’s people cried out together, and God sent a mighty revival in His church and awakened millions to worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
We may be waiting on God. But it may be that God is waiting on us?
Real revival is a sovereign work of God. He does what He desires, when He desires, but He also calls us to respond. In fact, in His sovereignty there are many, many things God says He will not do, if we do not confess our sin and turn and pray. What do you think is our responsibility to help create a culture of revival in our lives, churches, and nation? Do you believe God can save us?
Think deeply and describe to others what you dream about in terms of national revival. What would it look like and feel like? How would God be glorified and His Son lifted up? What could be the results of another Great Awakening in America? What do you think the effects of such an awakening might be around the world if God visited our land once again?
Thank God for all He has done in the past. Walk through the seasons of your life, your church, our nation, and thank Him for all His goodness and grace! Thank Him for His power and ability to bring revival now and spend time crying out to God for revival in our land. Ask Him to give you His heart and burden for this urgent need. Pray for this, for His glory and the honor of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. (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.