"It’s Time For A Change”

The following is taken from Read from Brokenness, Surrender & Holiness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth - Pages 323-324

IN PATRICIA ST. JOHN'S NOVEL Star of Light, a British missionary nurse reaches out to an eleven-year-old Moroccan beggar named Hamid. Night after night, she welcomes him and other beggar children into her home for dinner and a warm place by the fire. One evening after dinner, Hamid impulsively steals two eggs from the kind woman's kitchen, just before he and the nurse go out into the cold, rainy night to visit another needy child. The woman takes a torch to light their way on the dark street. However,

“To the nurse's surprise Hamid did not wish to walk in the light. He seemed to be taking great care to keep out of the beam, slinking along the gutters, shuffling against the wall. It was very dark and very muddy, and once or twice he slipped a little, clutching his precious eggs tightly in both hands.

He was not enjoying himself at all. He was so afraid of that broad beam of light, and the eggs somehow did not seem worth it. He wished he could get rid of them, and yet at the same time he wanted to hold on to them.”

I’ll share the rest of this story later, but I wanted to share this part to illustrate how too many are in the American church today. Too many American Christians are plagued by hidden sins and an aversion to walking in the light, So, they slip and stumble and hinder the American church from making much progress in our walk with God.

But there’ve been times in our history when this wasn’t the case. There have been times when the influence of Christianity was the primary influence in determining the direction of our country. One such time was prior to the American Revolution. A movement of God that historians call “the Great Awakening” stirred the American church and greatly influenced the thinking and culture of the colonies.

Historian William McLoughlin says he has concluded that the Great Awakening had actually fostered the birth of the Revolution simply because the cry for freedom was a natural response to being biblically enlightened in this religious movement.

Author Catherine Ulrich Brakefield, explains it this way: “Free, bondservant, or slave; men, women, and children filled with the Holy Spirit spoke freely about God's grace to one another and shared how He had changed their lives. Christ was personal and real; He shared their lives, dreams, and future—and this new faith gave them hope of a brighter future amidst the oppressive taxes of King George.”

“The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations.” - John Adams

George Whitfield, a prominent revivalist, is often mentioned as an honorary founding father, because of his role in the Great Awakening.

Even after the War for Independence, the idea of the three branches of government is said to have been derived from Isaiah 33:22 (NIV): “For the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us.”

Now, I’m not saying all the founders were Christians. But I am saying the influence of the church in colonial America because of the Great Awakening helped determine much of what happened in our early history; and that much of what’s wrong with our country today is due to the loss of influence by the American church. So how do we change things? By letting Christ change us.

Paul speaks to the Colossians about the fact that since Christ has given them new life, it’s time for a change! He mentions two determinations every Christian should make to live the changed life we’ve received in Christ. Determinations that I believe will also restore the American church to a position of needed influence again in our nation.

1. There are some things we must determine to deal with - vs. 5-9

A. Sin - vs. 5-8

Paul says we must not be content only with victory over obvious sins, but we must be willing to deal with non-obvious sins as well. While God’s people can certainly have trouble with the sins listed in verse 5, it seems that the second list in verse 8 can often can be our undoing. We need to see sin as God sees it; and get serious about dealing with it!

Another prominent leader during the Great Awakening was Jonathan Edwards, whose sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” resulted in many coming to repentance and faith, emphasized the need to take our sin seriously.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 (NIV)