As my family and I walked through historic Spartanburg, South Carolina, we stopped to read a plaque that read, “The Battle of Cowpens: Prelude to Victory.” A Prelude is defined as an action or event that serves as the introduction to something more important. January 17, 1781, marked a decisive victory for the Patriots. This triumph set in motion a series of events that led to the end of the war. The conflict was far from over, but the stage was set.
Synonymous with the Second Great Awakening in the 19th century, Charles Finney has been called the “Father of Modern Revivalism.” His name is forever etched into the canvas of history due to his tremendous success in revival preaching.
Yet another man, who is arguably just as effective, has remained cloaked in relative obscurity. Daniel Nash and Finney were a team. Before Finney would enter a town for revival, Nash would first go, find a select few willing to commit to prayer, rent a small room, and begin earnestly interceding for the people.
Before Finney ever arrived to preach his first sermon, a foundation was laid. This battle, won in prayer, was the precursor for a series of events that would lead to powerful, life-altering revival. The Pentecostal outpouring of Acts chapter 2 is another example of revival birthed from a prayer meeting. The fullness of revival cannot be experienced without prayer.
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to prayer made in this place.“
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (NKJV).
Before He hung on the wooden cross of Calvary, Jesus had a prayer meeting at the olive garden of Gethsemane where His flesh wrestled with His Spirit. His humanity struggled to surrender to His eternal purpose. He knew Judas would betray Him, His disciples would abandon Him, and Peter would deny Him. He was fully aware of the horrors awaiting Him at the crucifixion. The whip would tear his flesh, the thorns would pierce his head, and most of all, He would feel the immeasurable weight of the sin of the world.
The cosmos stood at the precipice of a shift in dispensations. The fate of eternity hinged on His momentous decision. Yet, in that garden he prayed, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” Matthew 26:39 (NKJV). Prayer was the key to Jesus ultimately submitting His flesh to His purpose. Jesus won a battle that set-in motion events which led to our ultimate victory over death, hell, and the grave.
The cosmos stood at the precipice of a shift in dispensations. The fate of eternity hinged on His momentous decision.
Justin Henry
The ultimate triumph that was to take place at Calvary was preceded by a victory in prayer, and Nash’s prayer meetings preceded Finney’s successful preaching in the Second Great Awakening. How can we expect to align ourselves to God’s will and experience life-changing revival without prayer? The victory God desires for us to possess will not be gained without it.
It is said of David in Acts 13:36 that he “served his own generation by the will of God.” May the same be said of us. We are all tethered to an eternal purpose. The weight of destiny is on our shoulders. The hour in which we live is calling us to action. Wherever we go, whatever we do, let it first and always be preceded by prayer.
The weight of destiny is on our shoulders. The hour in which we live is calling us to action. Wherever we go, whatever we do, let it first and always be preceded by prayer.
Justin Henry
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