Day 186 Awake, O Sleeper!

 

7/5/2026

 “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 

Ephesians 5:13-14

As part of my celebration for our country's 250th America Celebration I decided that since I hadn't had a chance to see the movie A Great Awakening about the life of George Whitefield, that I would pamper myself. I even pulled out my air popper and binged on popcorn, Junior Mints, and Mexican Coke. Generally my soda of choice is Dr. Pepper, but as far as I know, the real sugar brand is not offered here. If I am going to indulge myself in sweets, then I must avoid the high fructose corn sugar. And if there is any in the Junior Mints, I doubt three mints will cause much harm, as I can only stomach three at a sitting.

I gathered a few of my friends, who shall remain nameless, and we enjoyed the movie not just once, but we watched it again today after church. It is that powerful! Every pastor should watch it, so our nation can be truly revived, and America can be saved! 

Watching the interaction between George Whitefield and the people in prison, the people in the coal camp, and how people dropped everything and went the distance to hear him preach made me undone. I cried just thinking of the impact he had on the lives of the desperate, the hurting, the lost and needy, and I wondered where are the George Whitefield's of today. Passionate men of God, hungry to evangelize the lost, no matter the cost. As the friendship developed between Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin, I do believe that in spite of what any media says that Ben Franklin had to have given his heart to Christ at some point. His son asked him once if Whitefield was in the revolution, and Franklin responded "He was the revolution!" Once Whitefield surrendered to Christ he was determined to preach hard truth and straight Bible. And although Whitefield had a voice that could be heard for a great, great distance - Franklin guessed over 30,000 could hear him - when he spoke of the love of Christ it was with gentleness and authority. He wanted others to know that love and acceptance a life with Jesus gives, and when he experienced his own personal revelation while ministering to those in prison, he remained strong even when attacked with coal while ministering to others. It was an amazing story of a man filled with passion for soul-winning. We should all have his zeal. 

The story began with Benjamin Franklin as a young boy, about ten years of age, and his insatiable curiosity of science and technology, although the latter term was not known in his day. His father was a candle maker and a pastor, and although his father wanted him to be a pastor, Franklin ran from it, calling them boring and dull. I imagine he'd have a lot to say about some of the churches here today. Ben Franklin was offered an opportunity to work in his brother's print shop, and that's how he got his start. When he met Whitefield he already knew of his popularity, and they teamed up with Franklin providing the flyers of upcoming meetings in cities far and wide. This is how their friendship began and developed. Whitefield lamented the fact that he could lead so many to accept Christ, yet he could not change the heart of his friend.

Today in our Harvest service Pastor Jonathan shared Benjamin Franklin's words to George Washington:

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that except the Lord build, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel." 

A man who can understand the clarity of those statement had to be affected by the preaching of his friend. The movie ended with this final quote:

"I have often in the course of session, looked at that sun behind the President without being able to tell whether it is rising or setting. But not at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun."

Benjamin Franklin - September 17, 1787, Constitution Day

When the men were gathered in the Constitutional Convention arguing incessantly and unable to come to a consensus concerning any point if law, Franklin's silence was questioned by a very garrulous younger spokesman. Franklin's response could well be used in today's Congressional setting. He said: "He that speaks much, is much mistaken."  He also said: "One judges a tree by its fruit; this convention is a thorn bush!"  

To which we hear the wise voice of one George Whitefield speaking over a crowd of people needing to decide how to direct their lives - "Awake, O Sleeper! Come forth!"