Sometimes we wonder why, in America today, there are so many people who have no desire to serve Jesus. But what is even more disturbing, many Christians seem somewhat luke-warm in their service to the Lord. Thankfully, there are still many believers who are on fire for Jesus and it is my prayer that they may lead America into another great spiritual awakening. But in order to bring about this spiritual awakening I agree with the sentiments of the late American evangelist, John R. Mott, who once said: “A necessary pre-cursor of any great spiritual awakening is a spirit of deep humiliation growing out of a consciousness of sin, and fresh revelation of the holiness and power and glory of God.”1
My friends, before we can see a mighty move of God in America, I believe, Christians must take to heart these words of Mott and not only mourn over their own sins and the sins of others, but ask God to give them a burning passion to see the manifestation of God’s glory be the driving force in everything they do.
Once Christians develop a passion for personal holiness, the next thing needed to usher in a great spiritual awakening is fervent prayer to accompany evangelism. So many people in America don’t know Jesus because they are spiritually dead in their sin and we Christians often fail to utilize our most powerful weapon to reach the lost – prayer! Yes, sharing the gospel is key, but without fervent, believing prayer God often will not move in these millions of hardened hearts to be receptive to the message of the gospel. Again, John Mott helps us understand the necessity of prayer when it comes to reaching the lost for Christ. Just listen to these three penetrating statements by Mott on prayer:
“We fail to prevail with unconverted men because of our more fundamental failure to prevail with God in prayer.”2
“Prayer is the greatest force that we can wield. It is the greatest talent which God has granted us. He has given it to every Christian.”3
“The Church has not yet touched the fringe of the possibilities of intercessory prayer. Her largest victories will be witnessed when individual Christians everywhere come to recognize their priesthood unto God and day by day give themselves unto prayer.”4
When Christians get serious about personal holiness, putting God’s glory first in everything they do, and devote themselves to fervent prayer for the salvation of souls, I believe, we will see a mighty move of God across this great country of us. To me prayer and evangelism are in reality two sides of the same coin and are necessary companions if we want to see a great spiritual awakening in America.
So, if you want to see God move in a mighty way in America, then strive to live holy, pray fervently for the conversion of souls, and ask God to let the following words of missionary, David Brainerd, become your words: “I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts.”5
1 17 John R. Mott Quotes | ChristianQuotes.info
2 17 John R. Mott Quotes | ChristianQuotes.info
3 17 John R. Mott Quotes | ChristianQuotes.info
4 17 John R. Mott Quotes | ChristianQuotes.info
5 David Brainerd – I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I…