DAY 5: "If My People" - Turn Our Hearts
Bible Prep: Acts 1-2
THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING
The Second Great Awakening was a Christian revival movement during the early nineteenth century in the United States. It began around 1800 and gained momentum by 1820. The movement expressed a theology by which every person could be saved through revivals.
Many converts believed that the awakening heralded a new millennial age. This awakening stimulated the establishment of many reform movements designed to remedy the evils of society before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Church membership soared during this time in history. The Methodist circuit riders and local Baptist preachers made enormous gains. Camp meetings implemented the revival in the newly settled frontier regions. Each camp meeting was a religious service of several days' length with multiple preachers. They were committed to individuals achieving a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Second Great Awakening had a profound impact on American religious history. During this period, the membership numbers of the Baptists and Methodists grew dramatically. Applying Christian teaching to social problems was commonplace in the early nineteenth century. (pg. 58-59, If My People)
Today, a revival movement is sweeping across the nation, one that might be easily missed; record numbers of college students are attending
Christian campus worship services, and as a result, thousands upon thousands are professing faith in Jesus and immediately being baptized. In California, local churches are coming together through a campaign called Baptize California. In May 2024, what has been deemed the largest synchronized baptism in American history, more than 12,000 people were baptized in the name of Christ across California on Pentecost Sunday. Need some encouragement? Google "Baptism movement across America 2024." I believe the Lord is drawing young people to Himself in a mighty way today!
Notice in Acts 1 that after Jesus ascends to heaven, the disciples gather in the Upper Room for a prayer meeting. Led by Peter, they pray for who will replace Judas. Immediately after they pray and the lot falls on Matthias, the promised Holy Spirit fills each of them, and they begin to preach "in one accord" to the people on the streets and throughout the town. As a result, the church grew as more and more people put their faith in Jesus and publically professed their faith through baptism.
And, to think, it all started in the PRAYER ROOM. We are responsible for praying "in one accord" as the Lord leads for our country and those around us.
"I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
Father God,
We know that Your heart's desires for us to be at peace with You and those around us. Place within our hearts the desire to live for You and listen to Your Spirit's leading. Let us diligently search for You. Open our eyes so that we might see what is good, honorable, and just for this country and all people's well-being. We stand in the gap for the young people today. Draw them to Yourself through Your Holy Spirit. Help this next generation band together for another Great Awakening in America. Thank you for hearing our prayers for our nation. All in the Name of Jesus. Amen. (pg. 10, If My People)
Let's band together and pray for another Great Awakening in America.
From My Heart to Yours,
Carla McDougal