As the new year dawns, let’s join together in prayer, asking God for a great revival to sweep across our country and around the world.
When we look back in history, the First Great Awakening from 1735 to 1740 absolutely transformed the Colonies. Without it, there would not have been an American Revolution or the establishment of our Constitution.
The Second Great Awakening occurred in the 1830s. It’s interesting to note that the pastors and evangelists of the time were concerned that the revival was going to be mere emotionalism and something just temporary. The great preacher Jonathan Edwards wrote that it was like being in an apple orchard in springtime, when the apple blossoms are blooming. But he wanted to wait and see—what would be the fruit of the revival?
As Jesus tells us in John 15:16, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”
We should be looking for the fruit of revival—where we hunger and thirst for righteousness, no longer excusing sin in our own hearts.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
When we are seeking Him first and desiring His righteousness, amazing things happen. We can actually have peace and justice in our land. What a wonderful thing to aspire to and pray for.
Prayer is always the precursor to revival. In Charles Finney’s sermons about revival in the 1830s, he emphasized that it is fundamental for Christians to pray. And we must pray not just for an emotional moment, not just for a turn, but for a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
And we have Jesus’ marvelous promise in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” God bless you!
Excerpted from a teaching on The 700 Club. Scripture is quoted from the NKJV.
