Day Thirty "The First Great Awakening

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever amen.” [I Tim. 1:17]

The spiritual conditions of the American Colonies in the early 1700’s were deplorable. Long gone were men and women who loved God and had settled the land. Behind them rose a generation who had abandoned God.

Immorality was rampant. Debauchery was the rule of the day. Few people concerned themselves with matters of eternity. Church rolls were shrinking. Other sins included irreverence in church, disregarding the Sabbath day, disobedience to parents, sensuality, greediness, and hatred of neighbors.

In the midst of this dark time God called a man named Jonathan Edwards. Edwards followed his grandfather as the pastor of the Congregational Church of Northampton, Mass. Edwards became deeply burdened for the town of 1,100 people. He prayed over this flock for a strong move of God.

Edwards preached fearlessly against sin. Often people spent sleepless nights after listening to one of Edwards’ sermons. In 1734 God began to answer Edwards’ prayer. In December of that year a handful of young people were saved. One of them was a young lady who was known as a “company keeper.” This young lady had been sexually active and her salvation sent the first waves of revival among her peers.

Edwards wrote about what happened next. “A great and earnest concern about the great things of religion and the eternal world became universal in all parts of the town, and among persons of all degrees and all ages; the noise among the dry bones waxed louder and louder; all other talk but about spiritual and eternal things was soon thrown by.”

In just six months’ time God began to save the masses. 300 people were converted in Northampton. Night and day they would come by the parsonage to talk with Edwards. Don’t forget the total population of the town was a mere 1,100 people. God saved nearly thirty percent of the town in six months.

The revival torch was passed on in 1735 to evangelist George Whitfield. God used him to spread the Great Awakening. Soon God began moving in other towns and using other ministers. As often happens controversy began to swirl around the revival. Many criticized it as all emotional. Edwards wrote to defend the work of God. History can be the judge.

The revival lasted for twenty years. What were the results? Estimates run as high as 50,000 people being saved during this time. The total population for the New England Colonies was only about 340,000. One person has estimated if God were to work like that again in the United States we would see 25 million converted.

One of the great impacts of this Spiritual Awakening was the reviving of the average church member. Love for God increased and chasing after sin decreased. All of it began with Edwards crying out to God on behalf of His people. Will you be one cry out to God on behalf of your church and city?

Steps to Revival

1. Will you pray for God to move in such a way that His honor and glory are promoted?

2. What public sins exist in your town? Pray against those sins and for God to call people to repentance.

3. Plead with God to bring a spiritual awakening where notorious sinners are convicted and brought to salvation.