Somewhere along line a predominate number of people began to see natural disasters as accidental or irrelevant to God’s purposes. From this mindset came belief that God was no longer Sovereign. He no longer controlled events of history. Also, miracles didn’t happen any more, and it was foolish to believe such nonsense. When revivals brokeout in 20th century, they were opposed by this mindset. Because of prevalence of this attitude, 20th century would not see restoration of cities and economies like it did in First Great Awakening.

The Bible says that we are to believe Him for who He is—Almighty God. Because He is Almighty, He can do anything but fail. As long as we have a heart to believe that God is still same miracle working God that He has always been, we will experience miraculous in our lives; however, if we think God has lost control and is weaker than He was during Pentecost, we will miss many supernatural events that are soon coming.

There are two secular movements—one of 18th and one of 19th century that stripped God of His Sovereignty. In his book that he co-authored with Peter Bocchino, Unshakable Foundations: Contemporary Answers to Crucial Questions about Christian Faith, Norman Geisler talks about secularization at work during 19th century.

One powerful force that opposed Christianity and is still affecting lives today was a philosophy propounded by a German atheist, Friedrich Nietzche. He’s intellectual that coined phrase, “God is dead and we have killed him.” In simple, Nietzche asserted that myth of God’s existence, which was once widely believed, died, and that myth of objective values died with him. He believed that there was no meaning to life, except meaning man gave to it. Hitler was influenced by this philosophy. Another secular force at work during this time came about in middle of 19th century. In 1859 Charles Darwin published his book on macroevolution, On Origin of Species. People were ripe for godless theories it stated. They readily embraced Darwin’s teaching and man was lowered to level of animals.

One final feature of Holiness movement, was its split from Pentecostals because of their belief that “tongues” was initial evidence of being baptized in Holy Spirit. When Azusa outpouring began, people came from around world to receive gift of “tongues,” and then carry gift back to their part of world.

Typical of what happens when great moves of God break out, explosion happens first, and then men try to explain explosion by doctrines later. When one of Charles Parham’s Bible students, Agnes Ozman, received Baptism of Holy Ghost and began speaking in tongues, Parham made an assignment for his students. He wanted them to study Bible, and list every occurrence of Holy Spirit Baptisms in New Testament. They were then instructed to list one thing that manifested with it.

Overwhelmingly students reported “tongues” to be initial evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism. Later when Azusa outpouring was going strong in Los Angeles, California, Reverend William Seymour, a Holiness preacher who led early Azusa outpouring, came into conflict over doctrine of sanctification with William Durham. Durham said that sanctification was a progressive work of holiness being worked out in believer by Holy Spirit. He said that Baptism of Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues was not work of sanctification but an experience subsequent to salvation.

Sanctification was a work of Holy Spirit in life of believer, which continued entire lifetime of believer. Seymour, being a true Holiness preacher who had received Baptism of Holy Spirit with tongues, disagreed. He said that salvation was first, then entire sanctification, and then Baptism of Holy Spirit with tongues, last. They never resolved issue and eventually went separate ways.

The issue has never been settled. The Holiness churches that teach “entire sanctification” still believe that sanctification is a Divine work of Spirit to seal Salvation experience with power. They are opposed to “tongues” being sole or initial evidence of Baptism in Holy Spirit.

And, then again, there is a group of sincere Christians that believe Reformed doctrine of Martin Luther. They believe sanctification is a progressive work of Spirit, continuing throughout lifetime of saint. They do not teach "entire sanctification" nor Pentecostal experience of being baptized in Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.

However, some groups in Reformed tradition believe there is first Salvation, then Baptism of Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues, and then progressively sanctification of a believer is worked out a believer “walks in spirit and not flesh.” Nevertheless, no matter how you pronounce potato, it’s still a potato. If one is hungry for God and seeks a deeper walk, one will find a more intimate, a more satisfying experience of Him if they keep searching for Him.

So, I’ve given you some of important features of Holiness movement from its inception in middle 19th century to its split from Pentecostal movement of 20th century. One important point to remember from this document is God’s desire to use simple prayers and insignificant people who simply have a burning and passion for God, to reach their community and nations. The Bible warns us against sneering at small beginnings. No matter how big move, it started with a seed. Once again, I believe that God is stirring up revival winds. The wind of His Spirit is getting ready to fan flames, until revival is burning out of control. Are you ready?

Terry Dashner Pastor of Faith Fellowship Church Broken Arrow, OK (Sources cited are available)

McGready recruited some other preachers—some Baptist, some Presbyterian, and some Methodist to assist him with large gatherings taking place. Tens of thousands were now pouring in with wagons and supplies to stay through summer meetings. McGready would stand on an eight-foot podium and preach while his fellow ministers would take their places on outskirts of crowds and preach salvation messages. This way, everyone heard and was able to respond to outpouring of Holy Ghost. From this frontier revival, began what has been recorded in American history as second “Great Awakening.”

The Results of Frontier Outpouring

When these crowds began to break up and travel home, they took a bit of revival fire with them to their part of western wilderness. Soon little church buildings began to appear. Many of those who were saved in revivals gathered as Baptists and took pastors from their own rank and file to minister to them. These chosen few had no special credentials other than they were on fire for Lord. What they lacked in learning, they made up with Holy Spirit fire in their souls. The Baptist pastors worked their fields through week and pastored flocks on Sundays. The Baptist congregations grew, forming a foundation that allowed Baptists to grow to one of largest Protestant denominations currently in America.

Those who joined together as Methodists were visited by Methodist’s circuit riders. George Whitefield had ridden a Methodist circuit across eastern seaboard during first “Great Awakening.” During second awakening, Francis Asbury, as well as many others, rode Methodist circuits throughout western frontier. This they did for many years, preaching and encouraging small congregations in their newfound faith. With this personal attention, Methodists in west grew to rival Baptists in size.

But what about Presbyterians? They had been at Gasper River outpouring. Did they take their faith back to their homes? Yes. They did, but something happened in Presbyterian denomination that stopped them from taking a hold in west. The Presbyterians split over revivals that were happening. Some of them said that God was a “God of order” and would never use emotionalism to win lost. They couldn’t get beyond quaking, being slain, screaming and hollering, and barking that took place during meetings. So, Methodists and Baptists took up slack.

Far from becoming pagan as many in east had predicted, western settlers became born again Christians on fire for Lord. The unifying faith of Christ did more to bond western settlers as one nation of Americans than any other unifying factor in early American history. The second “Great Awakening” which had began in a rogue county in Kentucky at turn of 19th century, continued in pocket revivals throughout entire century.

Also, second awakening did something unique from any other move of God in world history. Christians began to develop a keen sense of “beyond church house ministry” mentality. They began to join together, no matter what denomination affiliation, and work for a common goal of getting Church ready for coming Kingdom of God.

They joined together to fight slavery, hunger, alcoholism, poverty, and many more social problems in America. The Christian community developed an aggressive social conscience. In 1804 some young college students were walking across an open field when a thunderstorm blew up. They quickly took shelter under a haystack. While waiting for storm to surrender, they joined hands and pledged their lives to missions in Asia. This was a radical concept. Up to this time, very little attention had been given to missions beyond wilderness in America. The Haystack Prayer Meeting is now famous for foundation it laid and opening for Gospel it generated in Asia and around world.

Then again, second awakening readied this nation for coming tragedy of American Civil War, death and carnage of brother against brother. On brighter side, it prepared America for grand crusades of Charles G. Finney and D.L. Moody. America was greatly influenced by second “Great Awakening.”

It’s amazing how God’s hand has directed this nation. When many said we were doomed to heathenish by exodus west in late 1700s, God had other plans. He always has a plan and upper hand. God is sure to honor His covenant relationship with America’s first settlers at Plymouth Rock as long as Americans keep seeking Him.

Although America has had many hard and difficult times, and continues to wane at times, God can always find a remnant of His people to stand gap for this nation. This is land we love. When believers begin to pray by laying aside all denominational barriers and theological differences, Spirit of Living God goes to work, restoring this great land to her national heritage.

Yes, we are one nation under God. We are one nation founded as a light unto this world. We are one nation commissioned to uphold old rugged cross of Jesus Christ. We must never let our light dim. We must fan flame, and pray that God will continue work He started in America from sea to shining sea, even in most unlikely places, in His most willing way.

May God forever bless America, my home sweet home.

Pastor Terry Dashner Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013 918-451-0270 dash0355@cs.com