Understanding Awakening: Genuine Faith and Spiritual Renewal

 

Summary

Awakening is a multifaceted concept that can be understood as both an event and a process. Historically, awakenings have been periods of intensified religious interest, often leading to conversion and spiritual renewal. These periods, such as the Great Awakening, were marked by a collective movement towards deeper faith and were not confined to a single moment in time. They spanned months or even years, characterized by a heightened awareness of God's presence and a renewed commitment to spiritual practices.

The distinction between genuine and counterfeit awakenings is crucial. Jonathan Edwards, in his 1741 address, identified five marks of a true awakening, emphasizing the importance of genuine belief in Christ's incarnation and the discernment of true preaching. Emotional displays alone do not signify a genuine awakening; rather, it is the transformation of hearts and lives that marks an authentic movement of God.

Comparing the First and Second Great Awakenings reveals differences in duration, emotional intensity, and theological leadership. The First Great Awakening was shorter and more intense, with a strong Calvinistic influence, while the Second Great Awakening was longer and marked by a mix of theological perspectives, including Arminianism. This shift led to a form of revivalism that attempted to manufacture spiritual experiences through specific methods, contrasting with the spontaneous nature of earlier revivals.

The relationship between revival and reformation is another important consideration. Reformation involves the restructuring of the church's external practices to align with biblical teachings, while revival focuses on the internal renewal of hearts. Both are necessary and require the work of the Holy Spirit and the powerful preaching of the Word.

In addressing the question of whether God regenerates sinners apart from the gospel, it is affirmed that ordinarily, regeneration occurs through the hearing of the Word. While there may be extraordinary cases, such as infants or those unable to comprehend the gospel, the general principle is that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Awakening can be both an event and a process, characterized by a collective movement towards deeper faith and spiritual renewal over time. It is not confined to a single moment but spans months or years, marked by a heightened awareness of God's presence. [01:51]

- Genuine awakenings are marked by true belief in Christ's incarnation and discernment of true preaching, not merely emotional displays. Transformation of hearts and lives signifies an authentic movement of God. [06:49]

- The First Great Awakening was shorter, more intense, and Calvinistic, while the Second Great Awakening was longer and marked by a mix of theological perspectives, leading to a form of revivalism. [13:34]

- Reformation involves restructuring the church's external practices, while revival focuses on internal renewal. Both require the work of the Holy Spirit and the powerful preaching of the Word. [17:27]

- Ordinarily, regeneration occurs through hearing the gospel. While there may be extraordinary cases, the general principle is that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. [24:14]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:21] - Introduction to Awakening
[00:49] - Awakening: Event or Process?
[01:22] - Historical Context of Awakening
[02:07] - The Great Awakening Explained
[03:12] - Revival vs. Awakening
[04:35] - Genuine vs. Counterfeit Awakening
[06:16] - Jonathan Edwards' Marks of Awakening
[10:15] - Comparing the Great Awakenings
[13:34] - Revival and Revivalism
[15:54] - Revival vs. Reformation
[21:54] - Regeneration and the Gospel
[24:14] - The Necessity of Preaching
[28:02] - Overcoming Prayerlessness
[32:52] - Comfort in Suffering
[39:50] - Ethical Decisions in Healthcare
[41:12] - The Hypostatic Union and Christ's Death

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Awakening

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 2:37-41
2. 1 John 4:1-6
3. Romans 10:17

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the sermon describe the concept of awakening as both an event and a process? [00:49]
2. What are the five marks of a genuine awakening according to Jonathan Edwards, as mentioned in the sermon? [06:49]
3. How does the sermon differentiate between the First and Second Great Awakenings in terms of duration and theological influence? [13:34]
4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in both revival and reformation according to the sermon? [17:27]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that emotional displays are insufficient to signify a genuine awakening? [06:49]
2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between revival and reformation, and why are both necessary for the church? [17:27]
3. What does the sermon imply about the ordinary means of regeneration through the hearing of the Word, and how does this relate to Romans 10:17? [24:14]
4. How does the sermon address the potential for counterfeit awakenings, and what criteria are used to discern authenticity? [06:49]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a personal spiritual awakening. Was it more of an event or a process for you, and how did it impact your faith journey? [00:49]
2. Consider the five marks of a genuine awakening mentioned in the sermon. Which of these do you find most challenging to discern in your own spiritual life, and why? [06:49]
3. The sermon discusses the differences between the First and Second Great Awakenings. How do you see these differences reflected in modern church practices, and what can we learn from them? [13:34]
4. Revival and reformation both require the work of the Holy Spirit. How can you actively seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in your personal spiritual renewal and in your church community? [17:27]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of hearing the Word for regeneration. How can you make the Word of God more central in your daily life, and what steps can you take to share it with others? [24:14]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s discussion about the potential for counterfeit awakenings. How can you ensure that your spiritual experiences are genuine and aligned with biblical teachings? [06:49]
7. The sermon mentions the necessity of preaching for spiritual renewal. How can you support and encourage the preaching of the Word in your church, and what role can you play in this process? [24:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Awakening as a Journey of Faith
Awakening is not a singular event but a journey that unfolds over time, marked by a collective movement towards deeper faith and spiritual renewal. Historically, awakenings have been periods of intensified religious interest, leading to conversion and spiritual renewal. These periods, such as the Great Awakening, were characterized by a heightened awareness of God's presence and a renewed commitment to spiritual practices. They spanned months or even years, emphasizing that awakening is both an event and a process. This journey involves a continuous deepening of faith and awareness of God's presence in one's life. [01:51]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a time when you felt a heightened awareness of God's presence. How can you cultivate that awareness in your daily life today?


Day 2: Marks of Genuine Awakening
Genuine awakenings are marked by true belief in Christ's incarnation and the discernment of true preaching, rather than merely emotional displays. Jonathan Edwards identified five marks of a true awakening, emphasizing the transformation of hearts and lives as the authentic movement of God. Emotional displays alone do not signify a genuine awakening; it is the deep, internal change that reflects a true encounter with God. This transformation is evidenced by a renewed commitment to living out one's faith in tangible ways. [06:49]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have experienced transformation. How can you continue to nurture this change and share it with others?


Day 3: The Dynamics of the Great Awakenings
The First and Second Great Awakenings differed in duration, emotional intensity, and theological leadership. The First Great Awakening was shorter and more intense, with a strong Calvinistic influence, while the Second Great Awakening was longer and marked by a mix of theological perspectives, including Arminianism. This shift led to a form of revivalism that attempted to manufacture spiritual experiences through specific methods, contrasting with the spontaneous nature of earlier revivals. Understanding these dynamics helps us appreciate the diverse ways God can work in different contexts and times. [13:34]

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a time when you experienced a spiritual high. How can you discern and hold onto what is genuinely from God in those moments?


Day 4: Revival and Reformation: Two Sides of Renewal
Reformation involves restructuring the church's external practices to align with biblical teachings, while revival focuses on the internal renewal of hearts. Both are necessary and require the work of the Holy Spirit and the powerful preaching of the Word. Reformation and revival are two sides of the same coin, each playing a crucial role in the renewal of the church and individual believers. While reformation addresses the outward expressions of faith, revival ignites the inner passion and commitment to God. [17:27]

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life or church that needs reformation or revival. What steps can you take to invite God's transformative work in that area?


Day 5: The Role of the Gospel in Regeneration
Ordinarily, regeneration occurs through hearing the gospel. While there may be extraordinary cases, such as infants or those unable to comprehend the gospel, the general principle is that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. This underscores the importance of preaching and sharing the gospel as the primary means through which God regenerates and transforms lives. The Word of God is powerful and active, bringing about new life and faith in those who hear it. [24:14]

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel? How can you share the Word of Christ with them in a meaningful way today?

Quotes


Awakening, I mean we're dealing with historical phenomenon, something described in Scripture as Sinclair did so well from Acts and Steve here from Nehemiah, but it's not as if there's necessarily a confessional definition of what awakening has to mean. So, I think historically it was used to describe, though, sometimes somebody moved from being nominal, as Christians were in the Western world in the eighteenth century, to being a converted, now awakened Christian. [00:01:02]

When the Puritans in the middle of the eighteenth century talked about what came to be known as the Great Awakening in America and in Britain, what they meant by that was a period of intensified religious interest that may or may not lead on to conversion in the hearts of individuals who were awakened. [00:02:20]

Jonathan Edwards addressed that. In 1741 he gave the commencement address at the College of Connecticut, which became Yale, and he took 1 John 4:1 through 6, and he drew out of that. In fact the whole campus was in turmoil. The board of trustees were meeting the day before and the student body was very excited, many of them for the Great Awakening and the trustees, some of them were kind of stodgy, older ministers and were resistant and it was kind of that old school, new school debate, and "Is this of God, is it not of God?" [00:05:48]

And Edwards took 1 John 4:1 through 6 and pulled out five distinguishing marks of a genuine, authentic awakening. And previous to those five distinguishing marks, he gave -- I think it was ten, it could be as few as eight, that if you see this, it doesn't necessarily mean that there is a genuine awaking, one of which was a show of emotion. [00:06:30]

The Great Awakening was briefer from --- usually dated around 1740 to 1746. It tended to be in many places more emotional outbursts, people crying out, falling down, weeping. George Whitefield was asked once, "Why don't you control your meetings better? Why do you allow so much emotion?" It was probably some Dutchman who asked that question, and Whitefield's response was, "No one is surprised at someone weeping at a funeral, why should you be surprised at people weeping over the death of their own souls?" [00:10:40]

The Second Awakening was a good bit longer. It was over several decades, less often emotionally intense and the beginning of a more mixed-American kind of revivalism where some of the leaders were Reformed and some of them were Arminian, so that would be some ways of thinking about some of the differences. [00:12:51]

I don't think Iain Murray is either, but that sort of nomenclature, there were revivals that you couldn't plan for, the Spirit came in the sovereign outpouring and work of awakening, which gave way into the nineteenth century to a kind of revivalism, you know, most egregiously with Finney's new measures, you could plan for it, there were dedicated steps you could do, you could, you know even in our times we are used to announcing a revival, a revival this Saturday, if only it were that easy to just hang the banner and then revival would come. [00:13:34]

Godfrey: Well, I think if we look historically, we can say that part of the reason "reformation" became the label of what happened in the 16th century is a great deal of time and energy had to be devoted to the reforming of the externals of the life of the church -- how the church worshiped, how the church educated, how the church catechized -- almost everything had to be redone. [00:15:54]

But when the Reformation was over, particularly Reformed people thought the external life of the church now was conformed to the Word of God, the question is, are hearts really connected to this purified external form of religion? And so the focus shifted away from how do we -- I mean the Reformation was very much concerned about hearts as well as externals, but once those externals were properly reformed according to the Word of God, then the great concern tended to be, are people going to Reformed churches just going through the motions? [00:16:29]

Godfrey: Not ordinarily. DeYoung: Is there an extraordinarily? In the womb. Godfrey: Well, godly parents may believe without doubt that their children dying in infancy are elect and saved. Ferguson: For what it's worth, the Westminster Confession of Faith says, "God effectually calls infants and those who are uncapable of hearing and understanding the Word of God," by which it means, and if you were wandering around England or for that matter Scotland, they were in every village, people who were so mentally incapacitated, physically damaged, that people thought they may not be able to understand the preaching of the Word. [00:21:54]

What it means is that God ordinarily brings people to Christ through the preaching of the Word, but the Westminster Divines thought, without defining it fully, that there were exceptions to that. On the other hand, when they thought about, so what does that mean for the world, I think what most of our Reformed fathers thought is, "There is no reason we should have a broad hope that anyone who has never heard the gospel will come to faith as a result of regeneration." We know God can do what God can do. [00:23:19]

Lawson: Sure, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ, Romans 10:17. I don't think we should have any expectation or hope that someone is regenerated apart from the Word of God, and those who have never heard of Christ are perishing. Adam's sin has been imputed to them. They're a part of the fallen human race. They are rejecting general revelation. The condemnation of a just and holy God is upon them. They're not innocent. They're not in no man's land. [00:24:14]

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Transcript
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