The Great Awakening was a period of great revivalism that spread throughout the New England Colonies in the 1730s and 1740s and then lingered even longer on into history. The spirits of men and women within America were rousing and America's Godly Heritage was being reborn. While Bible based truths were certainly not ignored, during The Great Awakening a greater importance was placed upon the individual's relationship with Yahweh God in Spirit,  than ever before. In other words, occurring after the Reformation, The Great Awakening moved spirituality even further away from being isolated by the pulpit, to the heart of individuals. This focus can be very advantageous for personal growth.  However when carried to extremes by individuals seeking their own desires, it can create unnecessary problems.

The Great Awakening occurred at a time when people in Europe and the Colonies were questioning the role of the individual in religion and society. Simultaneously with The Great Awakening was a period of time known as “The Enlightenment”. The Enlightenment emphasized logic, reason, and the power of the individual to understand the universe based on scientific laws.

With a new emphasis based upon ones individual spirituality as encouraged by the Great Awakening,  joined with the influence of the Enlightenment movement, confusion occurred among some individuals who sometimes tried mixing the two ideologies together. This is a problem that continues on even  to this day.

Tensions sometimes occurred when individuals placed their personal desires, feelings and doctrines over clear instructions of the Gospel. This sometimes lead to friction with properly established assemblies and churches.

Again we see this very same issue occurring even today. Often times when personal spiritual growth occurs good things can be taken to the extreme. And so while attempting to advance one's individual spiritual journey to meet Almighty God at the place of His choosing, danger lies when we leave common sense and everyone else behind which is clearly contrary to what Yahweh God wants for us.  Rather than utilizing newly found gifts and revelations to benefit the body, recepients sometimes hoard them and become "lone rangers", neglecting their call to unite,  evangelize and make disciples.

Jonathan Edwards was a key revivalist during the Great Awakening who preached for close to ten years in New England. He emphasized a personal approach to religion. He also bucked the demanding puritan tradition and called for unity among all Christian Believers while opposing doctrinal intolerance among the brethren. His most famous sermon was "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," delivered in 1741. Like all of the well known Preachers and Evangelists of the Great Awakening he understood and held tightly to “The Law” of the Ten Commandments; however in this sermon he rightly explained that salvation was a direct result from God and could not be attained by human works alone.

A second very important figure during the Great Awakening was George Whitefield. George Whitefield is perhaps one of the most well known Evangelists of The Great Awakening. Unlike Edwards, Whitefield was a British minister who moved to the colonies. He was known as the "Great Itinerant" because he traveled and preached all around North America and Europe between 1740 and 1770. His revivals led to many thousands of conversions.

There were many others who were also very instrumental in The Great Awakening of the Colonies in America. Among the most noteworthy were John and Charles Wesley.  Athough John Wesley's ministry was primarily exercised in England he had a profound affect in the New England Colonies as well. Though he had already been preaching for some time, on May 24, 1738, John Wesley had an experience in which his "heart was strangely warmed." After this experience, which centered on the realization of salvation by faith in Christ alone, he devoted his life to evangelism.

Beginning in 1739 he established small groups that came to be known as Methodist societies throughout England. He traveled and preached constantly with frequent forays into Wales, Ireland, and Scotland and even to the New England Colonies in America. 

In a memorial for George Whitefield John Wesley wrote  "There are many doctrines of a less essential nature ... In these we may think and let think; we may 'agree to disagree.' But, meantime, let us hold fast the essentials...".  This is a message that needs preached today.

Because of his charitable nature he died poor, leaving as the result of his life's work 135,000 members and 541 itinerant preachers under the name "Methodist". It has been said that "when John Wesley was carried to his grave, he left behind him a good library of books, a well-worn clergyman's gown, and the Methodist Church”.

America was formed by and profited greatly from the obedient men who fulfilled their God Given calling during The Great Awakening.  Through their ministry, during The Great Awakening, individuals recognized that though their doctrine is critical; it is no more important than the manner in which it is lived out in their individual lives.  As a result of this new realization with an emphasis on the individual's faith walk and personal salvation; many denominations were either initiated or grew in numbers.  Also, from John Wesley's  establishment of the Circuit Rider grew the Frontier Preachers and Circuit Riders that spread the gospel into the new Western Frontier Territories of America for many years following The Great Awakening.

As another result of The Great Awakening, of primary importance was that by way of the numerous preachers and revivals, the American colonies were more united in and by the Spirit of Yahweh God than ever before. This lead the way to independence from England and to dependence upon Almighty God.  It was this unity, propelled by The Great Awakening and advanced by the Black Regiment that compelled the British Colonies to claim victory over England in the War for American Independence. The battle cry of the War For American Independence was "I'll have no king but King Jesus".  It saved the day then and He can save the day now.

Please join us in the Reformaiton Society for the next Great Awakening as we carry on to proclaim  "We'll have no king but King Jesus!"