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“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” LUKE 4:18-19
Several spiritual movements in history can be traced back to students praying on their campus. John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitefield are incredible examples. These three Oxford University students, dubbed as The Holy Club, gave themselves to radical prayer, worship, and fasting that served as a catalyst to shifting the expression of Christianity around the world.
From their small prayer meeting, they were sent out like arrows offering incredible contributions to the world. John Wesley founded the evangelical movement known as Methodism; Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 Christian hymns; and George Whitfield help lead the First Great Awakening in America along with Johnathan Edwards and Gilbert Tennent.
As a revival of faith was underway through Wesley and his friends, so was the altering of society. The First Great Awakening helped spark American Independence and a new nation; and Wesley Movement helped paved the way for William Wilberforce’s abolitionist efforts that abolished slavery in England and gave hope to its ending in America.
All across the world, a network of encouragement among fellow revivalist and reformers was growing as they all were partnering with heaven to defeat the giants of their day and rewrite history. They knew they were anointed and appointed for such a time!
In Luke 4, after Jesus’ 40-day fast, he goes to the synagogue and declares out of Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
What a powerful moment as Jesus is coming out of his 40-day fast in the wilderness to declare with confidence and boldness what was prophesied of Him in the Jewish scriptures. Similar, we all have our place written in the Father’s redemptive storyline in shaping history, and it can only be found in the place of friendship and oneness with God.
We were created for such a time as this. Let’s shift the tide of history and see America turned back to God. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon us.
Pray for an open heaven as believers across America gather to pray for revival and awakening on college campuses in America. Pray for open hearts to the Gospel that many would turn from sin and surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. Pray for open hands for students to surrender to God’s purposes for their lives and in their generation.
