The Fifth Awakening

 

The need for a move of God has become more obvious than ever. What our nation needs is a great spiritual awakening. I hear people praying for a revival in our country, but we need to ask God to awaken our world. Throughout history, the Western world has actually seen four “great awakenings.” You may ask what is the difference?

Revivals changes people and churches.

Awakenings change cultures and nations.

The 1^st Great Awakening occurred in 1734. Before it began, only 5 percent of colonial Americans identified with a Christian church. At its height, 80 percent were active followers of Jesus.

The 2^nd Great Awakening is date 1792 and was sparked by a prayer movement. Churches doubled and tripled in membership.

The 3^rd Great Awakening began in New York City in 1858. Out of national population of 30 million, more than a million came to Christ in a single year.

The 4^th Great Awakening began in Wales in 1904. Saloons went bankrupt. Houses of prostitution closed. This awakening spread to the US. Out of fifty thousand residents in Atlantic City, NJ only fifty were unconverted.

Now the world is seeing is seeing a Fifth Great Awakening.

• More Muslims have come to Christ in the last 15 years than in the past 15 centuries.

• China's underground church is exploding with growth.

• Churches in Cuba, Latin and South America are seeing remarkable advance of the Gospel.

Will we see this awakening in America? I believe it's possible. If we obey 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God promises he will heal our land.

The Dying Church

 

There is no question that the last two years have been difficult on every front and nowhere is that seen more clearly that in our churches. Attendance in most churches has been declining for many years. Experts said in 2020 they expected 380,000 churches to close. Each month 250 pastors leave the ministry. The average time a pastor remains his church is 4 years.

I do not want to sound like a 'prophet of doom' but it is evident that the church is dying. Space does not allow me to explore all the reasons but allow me share a solution to keep churches from dying.

The Bible calls the Church the Body. Colossians 1:18 Romans 12:4-5 and as the human body has a life cycle, so does the Church. The churches the Apostle Paul started are no longer in existence. Most (if any) of the churches John Wesley started are in existence today. The church has a life-cycle: Birth. Growth. Stability. Decline. Death. A church left to itself will eventually die.

One church growth expert says for a church to keep from dying it must rediscover the purpose of the church. Many churches think their purpose is self-propagation; that is to maintain its existence. But Theology Professor Don Meeser rightly said. “I believe we need to rediscover that the purpose of the church is to increase the love of God and neighbor.”

Most churches see revival services as a means to convert unsaved people. But that is not true revival. True revival is the church recommitting itself to Christ and sharing His love.

Today's church most reinvent itself to reach this new generation. That doesn't mean changing our message but changing our methods. George Bernard Shaw once declared that "some [people] see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."

The Good News is... I will build my church. The gates of hell will not be strong enough to destroy it. Matthew 16:18

For more insight see Reinventing the Church