Do you know the story of the Great Awakening?
Back in 1720, the American colonies were in moral decline. Pastor Jonathan Edwards was greatly grieved by the condition of his church- the worldliness and dryness of his flock. He began to passionately pray for God to send revival.
One Sunday, God moved. Edwards was preaching his now-famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. Suddenly, the congregation fell in a great repentance and conversion. People were saved. Lives were changed.
The revival swept through the colonies. Thousands came to know the Lord or renew their walk with Him. The culture was changed- jails sat empty, pubs were neglected. People kept busy with their churches, their families, their work, and their devotion to God.
Several preachers traveled through the colonies, used by God to carry the Great Awakening. One of them was George Whitefield. He preached some of his most famous sermons in Philadelphia near what is now called Independence Hall.
Benjamin Franklin enjoyed Whitefield and brought his friend, Lawrence Tribble to hear him. After a moving sermon, Tribble went home and wrote a poem describing the movement of the Great Awakening.
One man wakes, awakens another.
The second one wakes his next door brother.
Three awake will rouse the town and turn the whole place upside down.
Many awake will cause such a fuss, it will finally waken all of us.
One man wakes with dawn in his eyes,
Truly then it multiplies.
What if we all took this poem and made it a prayer? We could pray it for our country: That folks would wake with dawn in their eyes, that God would multiply an awakening, a revival!
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? –Psalm 85:6
One of my favorite journals is Revive Magazine. It is dedicated to personal revival and renewal with God.
Revive talks about 2 types of revival:
1) little “r” revival: when God personally does a special work in one person’s heart that leads to humility, repentance, forgiveness, obedience, and fervent prayer
2) big “R” revival: when the Holy Spirit sweeps through an area, transforming communities, regions, even nations
Sometimes, when a group of little “r” revivals happen at once, it is a sign that God is preparing to work in a church, city, and/or nation.
We can’t make revival happen, but we all sure need one (who doesn’t?). Our nation and our world could benefit from some supernatural Divine intervention. We can’t make it happen but can make ourselves available.
A good project to take on would be to pray for God to give you a picture of what personal revival would be like. Ask Him, “What would my life be like if I experienced a personal revival?”
The Apostle Paul wrote to his protégé, Timothy, about how to mature as a Christian and how to be a leader. His guidance for Timothy can be found in I Timothy and II Timothy.
Paul felt it important to teach Timothy about prayer.
He told Timothy who to pray for and the types of prayer they needed.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.- I Timothy 2:1,2
Paul wanted Timothy to pray for:
1. Kings
2. All that are in authority
Who are the kings we pray for today?
1. Our president
2. Leaders of other countries as God brings them to mind (our country’s friends AND our country’s enemies)
How do we pray for them?
1. Supplication- ask God specifically for something you or others need from them (for instance, wisdom on ruling the country well, good decisions about the war or education policy)
2. Intercession- ask God specifically for things these leaders need (for instance, to walk with God, to know Christ, to live righteously, good health)
3. Give thanks for them and what they do- (whether or not you like a leader, we are to give thanks for them)
4. That they may lead our country and world in a way that we could live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.
How can you incorporate Paul’s prayer list into your life?