Great Awakening

My grandfather (on my mother’s side) was an ordained United Brethren preacher, a denomination whose roots go back to the Great Awakening in the United States during the late 1700’s. Grandad Marrs came to Jesus later in life and felt a call to leave secular work in carpentry and in selling furniture. He wanted to serve the Lord he loved as an evangelist and a pastor.

As with many preachers of his day he had no formal education, but invested many hours in prayer and Bible study as he grew in relationship with the Lord. The United Brethren Church was influenced by the holiness movement of the late 1800s, and I can remember grandad preaching often about the change that Jesus should make in your life if you follow Him. They needed to experience the Great Awakening.

Some of the more interesting church events I remember attending as a young person were the baptisms. Back then that celebration wasn’t held in a church but outdoors at a body of water. Grandad’s venue of choice was the always-handy farm pond! I can still see him taking off shoes and socks to wade into the mud and water in his suit pants and white shirt, and leading a hymn and prayer while standing waist deep in the pond. Then the candidates, those who had accepted Jesus as their Savior, were invited to step into the water one by one. Grandad would lean them backwards until the water covered them, then raise them up again symbolizing the new life they were beginning. Without fail every one of them came up “wet,” having fully experienced the water of baptism personally!

Jesus told His disciples of a similar encounter that was reserved for them after His ascension. He said;

Acts 1:5

“John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit!”

Having determined to follow Jesus with their whole life, those disciples needed power; the Holy Spirit was the answer to their need – and the answer to our need today. Both Peter and Paul testified to the fact that being baptized in the Holy Spirit is the way we find strength to do what God asks of us.

As Jesus baptizes us in His Spirit we walk in the newness of life that can only come from a Great Awakening. His life can be seen “all over us” as we personally experience the supernatural presence of the living God in our daily lives! They needed the power only He can bring, in order to live the life of Christ within them.

We are no different than they, and we need that same power to move in our lives as we seek to live as Jesus wants us to live – for Him. Each of us needs to experience our own ‘Great Awakening,’ if we are to follow Him.

Lord Jesus, baptize us in – and fill us with­ – the Holy Spirit!

How exciting to be His people,

Pastor David Vanderpool