Ps.85:6 – Will You not revive us again,
So that Your people may rejoice in You?
I have been recently reading a book By Joseph Castleberry called THE SIXTH GREAT AWAKENING. In this book the author defines awakening as a general spiritual visitation that touches the entire culture. Revivals are often more regional and can happen really anytime and last for extended periods of time. In this book the author made some interesting observations about the changing spiritual climate in America before the Jesus Movement rocked our world with what he called the Fifth Great Awakening. He mentioned the rise of Billy Graham, Oral Roberts, and Kathryn Kuhlman as well as many organizations like Youth for Christ and universities such as Oral Roberts University. His point was this, there appears to be a changing spiritual climate before a great move of God that effects nations. Here are some of his comments about the spiritual climate before the Jesus Revolution of the seventies.
“The religious experience of America before the Fifth Awakening in the Jesus Movement and Charismatic Movement could hardly fit the description of a deserted wasteland! Before an Awakening can result in massive salvations and church growth, revivals and new expressions of Biblical faith must occur to prepare the churches for the reception of the huge waves of new believers that may come with the Awakening. The Church must enter the next Awakening in robust spiritual health, evangelistic zeal, and remarkable unity. The movement of the Holy Spirit on America’s churches in the next twenty years will prepare the church to receive a great harvest along those very lines—just as the rising Charismatic Movement set a track for the “Jesus Revolution” to run on. More than anything else, churches must pray earnestly for revival now. We have not prepared ourselves for a massive move of grace. But we can get ready. An Awakening may tarry, but revival can happen now! So, what will revival look like in our churches in the next twenty to twenty-five years?”
So if this is true it appears that the spiritual tide is beginning to rise in our generation. Is it possible that the youth today are beginning to make a turn that will ultimately result in a major move of the Spirit of God. Recently we had five weeks of daily prayer in our church, I was amazed at the daily attendance with many young people hungering after the Lord. It’s time to get ready! It’s time for daily prayer, evangelism and discipleship. These are the ways we can be prepared for the next Great Awakening.
