Three hundred years ago, God stirred hearts across England and the American colonies through the bold proclamation of the Gospel. Men like George Whitefield preached to thousands, calling people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The Great Awakening reminds us of what God can do when His people faithfully proclaim His truth.
But spiritual renewal isn’t meant to stop with us.
The Bible calls believers to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24, ESV). We are called to encourage one another, challenge one another, and point one another back to Christ.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solitary journey. There will be seasons when our faith feels strong and seasons when we grow weary. That’s why God gives us the Church.
Sometimes, stirring one another up looks like encouraging a friend who is struggling. Sometimes it means reminding a fellow believer of the hope we have in Christ. And sometimes it means challenging someone we love to step out in faith and faithfully live a life following Christ.
Our words and actions can help another believer keep going.
The goal isn’t simply to make one another more motivated or more religious. Our encouragement should always point to Jesus.
The Gospel reminds us that our hope isn’t found in our own strength or ability to remain faithful. It is found in Christ. The One who saves us, sustains us, and calls us to follow Him.
Paul encouraged the believers in Thessalonica to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV). When we remind one another of God’s faithfulness, we help each other keep our eyes fixed on Christ.
The Great Awakening began with God. We cannot manufacture revival and we cannot force God to move. But we can faithfully proclaim the Gospel, pray for the lost, encourage other believers, and live boldly for Christ.
Perhaps the person you encourage this week will encourage someone else. Perhaps a conversation you have will strengthen someone’s faith. Perhaps your willingness to share the Gospel will help another believer become more courageous in sharing theirs.
We may never know how far that influence will reach.
So let us not keep our faith to ourselves. Let us stir one another up to love, good works, and faithfulness to Jesus.
And let us pray that God would use our faithfulness to awaken hearts, strengthen His Church, and bring more people to the saving hope of the Gospel.
A Great Awakening: A Celebration 250 Years in the Making DVD
Experience the inspiring true story of an unlikely friendship. As George Whitefield’s faithful preaching of the Gospel ignites the First Great Awakening, Benjamin Franklin discovers that true liberty cannot be written into law, it begins with hearts transformed by Christ.