God exalts His Son, Jesus, among His people and draws unbelievers to saving faith in Him.

Thank you for joining me as we continue to prepare our hearts for revival. We pray you will join us at the Just Give Me Jesus Revival, led by Anne Graham Lotz, Sept. 21-22, at the James Brown Arena in Augusta, Georgia. Please find us on Facebook, Just Give Me Jesus Augusta, Georgia, to keep up with the latest news. For more information you may go to Just Give Me Jesus Augusta.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”

2 Cor. 5:17

Welcome to week 7 of our study of the 7 phases of revival from Henry & Richard Blackaby’s book Fresh Encounter, Experiencing God’s Power for Spiritual Awakening.

·      Phase 1: God is on a mission to redeem a lost world.

·      Phase 2: God’s people tend to depart from Him, turning to substitutes for His presence, His purposes, and His ways.

·      Phase 3: God disciplines His people because of His love.

·      Phase 4: God’s people cry out to Him for help.

·      Phase 5: God calls His people to repent and return to Him or perish.

·      Phase 6: God revives His repentant people by restoring them to a right relationship with Him.

·      Phase 7: God exalts His Son, Jesus, among His people and draws unbelievers to saving faith in Him.

“When God’s people fully surrender themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, God will draw a watching world to Himself.” We must first be restored to a right relationship with God in order to be used by Him to reach the lost. “Without the church first being brought back to spiritual vitality, there will not be a spiritual awakening.”

But what is a spiritual awakening? “Spiritual awakenings are periods when God intervenes into a spiritually darkened world and brings large numbers of people to a saving faith in Him.”

Some may ask why are spiritual awakenings so important. When large numbers of lost souls are changed for God, transformation takes place in the lives of those who know the Saving Grace of God. But not only does transformation take place in the lives & actions of the individual, change also begins in the homes, the neighborhoods, the community, and the world around those who have accepted Christ as their Personal Lord and Savior.

What do some of those changes look like? “Based on Scripture and the record of history, here are some changes you might observe during spiritual awakening:

·      Bars and taverns close for lack of business.

·      Police and law enforcement personnel see dramatic decreases in crime.

·      Businesses receive money and merchandise from thieves, employees, and shoplifters returning stolen goods.

·      Christians and churches begin serious efforts at helping the poor and needy in the community through orphanages, ministries to the homeless, and other ministries.

·      Laws change or are enacted to protect the oppressed and to uphold justice.

·      Reconciliation takes place between races and ethnic groups.

·      Foul language is replaced by civil and wholesome talk.

·      Evil practices, such as prostitution, cease and often are outlawed.

·      Private and public acts of immorality decrease dramatically.

·      Marriages are restored, and family life is strengthened.”

How would your community look if lives were changed for Christ causing a change in lifestyle, behavior and perspective?

Dear Lord,

We thank you that you are an Amazing God who has the power to create the amazing world around us. We thank you that when we come to know you, you make us into a new creation. Lord we pray that as our hearts are revived in you, we will draw others to you. Lord, may the Just Give Me Jesus Revival be the catalyst needed to begin a revival and a spiritual awakening in our lives, our city, and our nation.

In Your Name We Pray, Amen.