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The Anatomy Of Awakening (part 1)

 

By Rev. Joe Sazyc

 

It was an average winter day in 1831 in the town of Rochester, N.Y. As a community on the newly completed Erie Canal, its commercial district was bustling. But once again, nearly every business in the city was shutting down for the day. Why? Because of the another heavy snow that Rochester was so well known for? No. Charles Finney was in town. The simple fact was, nearly the entire city would be at the revival meeting. There was no sense to keep the business doors open. Over the past several months, the population of the city increased by two-thirds because of Finney’s meetings. Meanwhile, crime dropped by two-thirds. Nearly one hundred thousand people connected themselves anew to churches over the past several months, eliciting national attention.¹ The only business on people’s minds in Rochester that day was the same business on the minds of many Americans during the Second Great Awakening: doing business with God.²

 

What is it going to take to see entire communities impacted for Christ again? What will cause our nation turn back to God? What is it going to take to turn your community to Christ? What will it take to awaken people from their spiritual slumber? When will we once again see thousands upon thousands saved and entire cities converted as in the great revivals of the past?

 

Thankfully, we are not without examples and guidance in the Scriptures and in history.

 

There is a very important missing link to revival that many have not thought about in recent years. If there is that “magic” one key to unlock a community, a church, or even a nation, this may be it. It is so simple, so accessible, so ...unspectacular, that it is easily passed up by the multitudes of Kingdom workers, desperately trying to make an impact for Christ in this world. Yet the testimony for this “secret” in the Scriptures is undeniable.

 

A number of years ago, a great refreshing came upon much of the church world. Thousands upon thousands of believers were touched by the genuine manifest presence of God. Even unbelievers were converted in great numbers in some locations because they saw and felt the power of God. However, the next Great Awakening that many who experienced this refreshing anticipated, never materialized. Yes, there were churches that were revived. Some communities suddenly took note of churches that were experiencing this touch of God. However, the full-scale impact upon society was negligible. Some churches even seemed to have setbacks. Many were left wondering, “What happened? We thought this was IT. We thought this was THE revival!” What will bring a true Awakening?

 

The Great Asian Awakening - Acts 19:11-27

 

¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them...¹⁷ the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus… were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸ Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. ¹⁹ A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.   ²⁰ In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power… ²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty." (NIV)

 

When many picture a great revival or spiritual awakening, it looks something like what is described in these verses: extraordinary miracles, divine healings, the name of the Lord held in high honor among people, open confession of and repentance from sin, and a destructive blow to false religion and sinful economy. Wow! If we saw that in our communities, we would call that revival! In this story of the revival in Ephesus, the very foundation of occultic and demonic influence in that city was broken!

 

“So the key IS miracles!  Right?”  Wrong. The desperate search for the secret may cause people to think it is miracles… or anointed handkerchiefs… or public book burnings! Certainly, miracles were tremendously important in the conversion of many. But there was something more fundamental than that and all the others.

 

The Key: TEACHING of the WORD!

 

Something happened long before the miracles and dramatic displays of repentance. The Word of God was TAUGHT… FOR YEARS! We’re not just talking about a single inspirational sermon that caught the fancy of a city. We’re not even talking about a series of “revival meetings” or crusades. All those things are wonderful and can bear fruit. But what set off the city-transforming awakening in Ephesus was YEARS of DAILY systematic teaching of the Word of God! The Word was the SEED for this great revival, and it was sown in abundance by anointed itinerant teachers!

 

Just before we read about the dramatic story of a city transformed, there are three inconspicuous verses.

 

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. - Acts 19:8-10 (NIV)

 

TEACHING… comprehensive, systematic, anointed teaching about the Kingdom of God IS the key to awakening. Jesus spoke of the Word as POWERFUL seed. It has multiplying, even exponential potential! It can yield a 30, 60, even 100-fold yield (Matt. 13:23)! Teaching was central to Jesus’ ministry (Matt 4:23; 9:35; Luke 23:5).

 

Pollster George Barna has demonstrated that our nation is one that is ignorant of God’s Word. Although four out of five Americans say they have a good comprehension of basic Christian teachings and principles, less than one out of ten can correctly identify fundamental New Testament teacings.³ Even the church world has an embarrassing lack of knowledge of God’s Word. Poll results have shown that in the American church, “knowledge of scriptural content has declined, personal Bible reading has declined, the image of the Bible as sacred literature has declined, and the ability of people to comprehend biblical principles has declined.”⁴ Is it any wonder that the church is in decline in America while it is exploding throughout the world?

 

An eye-opening experience for me occurred in April 2004. I had heard about the great revival taking place in Nigeria and how some of the largest churches in the world were now in that nation. I heard about how one of the churches was so large, there was literally a tram inside the church to get people from the back of the church to the front for the altar call! The pastor of one of the largest of these churches, William Kumuyi was scheduled to speak at the International Apostolic Gathering at Bethel Temple in Hampton, VA. I made it priority to see and hear him. What I saw and heard was not at all what I expected. I expected a charismatic personality who probably drew the hundreds of thousands by the sheer force of his personality… or at least, an abundance of miracles! What I saw was a university math professor turned Bible teacher who was about as exciting as a math teacher! Frankly, I was surprised and, well… disappointed. I wanted to see MIRACLES! Nevertheless, I faithfully tried to keep up with slide after slide of an outline about “reaching the next level” and how to “pass over to the other side of the storm” based out of the Gospels. A funny thing happened. It wasn’t until days later that I actually recognized how significantly that teaching impacted me. It was ALIVE inside me and constantly feeding my spirit. It still feeds me… 3 years later! The seed was planted, took root, and continues to grow. I no longer doubt why his church is such a dynamo in that nation! That kind of teaching several times a week could make one spontaneously combust with the fire of God!

 

Back to Ephesus

The teaching of the Word began even earlier than those two years and three months recorded in Acts 19. Back in Acts 18, Paul already visited Ephesus.

 

“¹⁹ They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, ‘I will come back if it is God's will.’ Then he set sail from Ephesus.” - Acts 18:19-21 (NIV)

 

His trip was comparatively short, but it was followed up by a visit to Ephesus from Apollos. The description of Apollos’ ministry is telling.

 

“²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.” - Acts 18:24-26 (NIV)

 

In 1 Corinthian 3, this same Apostle Paul, whose teaching was the foundation of the transformation in Ephesus, talked about a principle that was at work there, a principle that was apparently followed in Corinth as well:

 

“⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” - 1 Cor 3:6-7 (NIV)

 

Notice, growth and increase comes from God. But it requires that the seed of the Word is planted AND watered. It’s not enough to preach that one great message. There needs to be a constant nurturing of that seed to bring forth its fruitfulness. Paul came to Ephesus, planted a seed. That planting was followed up by the powerful and anointed teaching of Apollos. By the time Paul returned, there was a small contingent of believers that eventually grew to thousands!

 

Old Testament Awakenings: The WORD is the Key!

In his book, Unlocking the Abraham Promise⁵, Dr. Berin Gilfillan exposes the common mistake that many make regarding the great victory of King Jehosaphat over the Moabites and Ammonites as recorded in 2 Chronicles 20. Many attribute the victory to the praise and worship team that led the army in battle. In actuality, as Dr. Gilfillan says,“the singers and dancers were simply the mop-up crew to celebrate and usher in the victory.” The victory was won long before that when Jehosaphat sent itinerant teachers throughout Judah.

 

“⁷ In the third year of his reign he [Jehosaphat] sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. ⁸ With them were certain Levites-Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah — and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.” - 2 Chron 17:7-9 (NIV)

 

Jehosaphat sent three levels of leaders to teach God’s people throughout ALL of Judah. As if that wasn’t enough, he himself went on a teaching tour to follow their work up.

 

^“4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.” - 2 Chron 19:4 (NIV)

 

The result was that God’s people were full of faith in their God, for “faith comes from hearing the message…” (Rom 10:17 - NIV). So when a great enemy came against Judah, the people gathered together and called upon God in faith, marched out in complete faith, and watched the deliverance of God!

 

This pattern of the Word of God as the key to awakenings is throughout the Old Testament (e.g. Josiah in 2 Kings 22; Ezra in Nehemiah 8; etc…)

 

One may think, “I thought prayer is the key to awakening” (Read about that in the upcoming part two of The Anatomy of Awakening!). But prayer cannot be offered in faith when the Word of God and the promises of God are not known or understood. That is why much prayer today is ineffective. It is not based on the Scriptures because of the ignorance of many of God’s people. If God’s people are taught correctly, they will become powerhouses of prayer, praise, and spiritual warfare!

 

The Church That Touched the World!

One of the greatest churches in all of history was in Antioch. We find the story in Acts 11:19-30. A great revival broke out there, crossing cultural boundaries, and becoming the chief center of Christianity, only behind Jerusalem. This was the church which sent the greatest missionary of all time: Paul. It was a church that also was established on the solid teaching of Saul, brought to the church there by Barnabbas. In Acts 13:1-3 we see that there were “teachers” and prophets present. We also see the charismatic and missionary character of that church as one of its teachers, Saul, was now sent forth as an apostle. At its height, this church had a membership of 100,000 people with 3,000 people on paid staff!⁶

 

I am firmly convinced that if the local church in America once again makes the intensive teaching of the Word a priority, including the ministries of anointed itinerant teachers as a healthy part of the mix, it will become a “revival center!” The local community will be impacted, and the fire of revival will spread to the surrounding region and even the world! Like Rochester in the Second Great Awakening or Northampton in the First Great Awakening, lit by the teaching of the great Jonathan Edwards, a community can become “a changed community with a presence of piety, charity, and devotion felt even by passing travelers.⁷” Such a church will become a missionary center that can influence an entire region and the world! Enough of less and less services and opportunities for teaching! Enough of all the other trappings of “churchianity!” Let’s challenge the people of God to develop an appetite for the Word, and let’s offer them anointed teachers that will stir a hunger for more of the Word and a passion for the Next Great Awakening!

What is the missing link to REVIVAL?

^1. Finney, Charles G. Revivals of Religion or Lectures on Revival. Footnote 10

 

^2. http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200601/200601_118_Finney.cfm

 

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/special/131christians/finney.html

³ The Second Coming of the Church, George Barna. p. 25

 

^4. Ibid. p.27

⁵ To order this book, go to www.isom.org

 

^6. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, Vol 1. McClintock & Strong, p.268.

 

 

 

^7. Quenching the Spirit. William DeArteaga. p.40