Awaken – “The Cost of Awakening”

One of the surprising things about studying the Awakening of 1809 is how the strong faith of the Pilgrims and Puritans in New England had waned so much in just a few generations that it needed to be “awakened.”  But this truth holds: that, over time, faith rises and falls in nations, in churches, and even in our own lives – and it requires awakening, renewal and revival. But make no mistake; those who are “awakened” will face opposition – because, as it turns out, there is a cost of awakening and following Jesus.

1. The Cost of Personal Awakening (2 Chronicles 25:6-10)
   
   • In the Awakening on Cape Cod in the early 19^th century, six Congregational pastors responded to the gospel and made personal declarations of faith. They then led their congregations in awakening, preaching the true gospel faithfully and leading many to conversion. 5 of the 6 were supported and encouraged by their congregations and towns, but pastor Jonathan Burr in Sandwich wasn’t. He led a large and influential church with a new building – but lost it all due to his new-found faith in Jesus.
   • Burr and the faithful in his congregation had to start all over again with no building and no resources, essentially planting a new church in town. At his “calling service” as the pastor of the new church, the guest speaker read the story of King Amaziah from 2 Chronicles, in which the king lost 7500 pounds of silver because he chose to trust God. It was the cost of his faith.
   • Awakening has a cost – a personal cost of true faith. It may be the loss of “applause” (the admiration and approval of others) – a great cost for many of us. Or it may be the loss of comfort as we’re called to confess our sins in repentance and surrender our lives to God. Like Amaziah, our first response when faced with the cost of our faith may be “What about the silver?” – but the Holy Spirit responds, as he did to the king, “the LORD is able to give you much more than this.”
2. The Way to Personal Awakening (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)
   
   • Henry Lincoln, pastor in Falmouth, wrote to his good friend Jonathan Burr in Sandwich after they had both experienced “personal awakening” (salvation/conversion) and had begun preaching the true gospel to their congregations. In his letter he alluded to the Apostle Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church in which he reminded them that it is God himself who opens the eyes of the awakened and allows them to “see the light” when they had been living in darkness.
   • The way of awakening is that God reveals himself by bringing his light into our hearts and revealing himself to us – and that light allows us to see Jesus for who he really is. We can’t generate this light ourselves – it is the work of the Holy Spirit. He may use scripture or worship or the words of others to lead us toward the light, but it is his work that allows us to see it and receive it.
   • As Paul wrote, “We don’t go around preaching about ourselves.” There’s no church or tradition or pastor that can “awaken us” – it’s God who leads us to the point of decision, it’s his Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin and our need for grace, then it’s our decision to trust him and accept his amazing gift. The Way to Awakening is simple: when God calls and you’re convicted, just say ‘yes’!

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 50:7-10; Mark 8:34-37; Luke 14:25-27; John 8:12; Ephesians 1:18

Video of the Week: The Test by the Bible Project

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

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1. One of the fascinating aspects of the Awakening of 1809 on Cape Cod is that it met significant resistance, both from within churches and from townspeople as well. Why do you think such resistance arose in response to the “Good News”?

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2. As you think about your own story of “awakening” (i.e., your decision to trust Jesus with your salvation and to live your life as his follower), what resistance or negative responses have you encountered from others?

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3. Read 2 Chronicles 25:6-10 again. King Amaziah decided to trust God with his upcoming battle and lost 7500 pounds of silver in doing so (that’s about $5.8M in today’s value…).  As you think about your walk with Jesus, what, if anything, has your faith cost you?

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4. Paul reminded the Corinthian church that it’s God (in the person of the Holy Spirit) who actually makes the “light” (the truth of the gospel) shine in our hearts as he calls us to himself.  What was your experience of God’s leading that brought you to the point of deciding to follow Jesus?

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5. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4 that “Satan…has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” Do you believe that there are some people who God’s “glorious light” simply can’t reach?  Explain your answer.  

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6. As you consider this week’s message, is there a “cost” that God might be asking of you – something he wants you to give up or let go of – so that your faith will “awaken” and you might serve him better?  What might that cost be?

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