The Great Awakening was a time when the people of America developed a renewed interest in God. It began in 1746, in Northampton, Massachusetts in the church of Jonathan Edwards. And it spread like wildfire throughout the thirteen colonies.
George Whitefield was a young preacher from England, who perfected the art of open-air preaching. He had the ability to project his voice and be heard by as many as 30,000 people at once. He traveled extensively throughout the colonies, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. And tens of thousands of Americans responded to his preaching and became born-again Christians.
The most significant thing about the Great Awakening is that it ignited the real American Revolution. And this is how John Adams described the real American Revolution:
“But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? 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 … This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.”
The American people were being horribly oppressed by King George III. He was taxing them so heavily, they had practically nothing left to live on. So the thirteen English colonies got together and founded The United States of America.
But the English king refused to allow this new nation to be free. And at that time, he controlled the most powerful military force on earth. So he sent his army to quell this rebellion against him. And the colonists had to decide whether to surrender or to fight for their freedom.
Patrick Henry was the Governor of Virginia. He gave a speech in which he urged his countrymen to go to war. Here are some excerpts from his speech. Patrick Henry said:
“Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.”
“Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations.”
“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God, I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
Here Patrick Henry was expressing his strong faith in God. And he was speaking to like-minded people. After all, these men were the spiritual descendants of the Pilgrims and the Puritans, the people who founded America.
So, “Give me liberty or give me death” became the rallying cry of the American Revolution. And Patrick Henry’s words turned out to be prophetic.
George Washington took a group of civilians and used them to defeat the greatest military force in the world. How in the world did that happen?
It could only be due to the intervention of Almighty God. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. And the Bible does say that he fights for us:
“For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4
Then, after defeating the British, our Founding Fathers got together and performed another miracle. They created the United States Constitution.