There has been a lot of noise coming out of Asbury University over the last two weeks. University President, Dr. Kevin J. Brown, explains the humble beginnings. He writes, “At the completion of a regularly scheduled chapel service on February 8, 2023, at Asbury University, students lingered to pray, worship, and share. They have not stopped and, moreover, have been joined far and wide by hungry men and women across the world who desire to seek the Lord in this space.” What began as an ordinary chapel service for the students of a small Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky, exploded into something exceptional as people of all ages, from all over the world, and of differing perspectives came to see what was going on. The Asbury Revival was underway!
In Acts 2, we find a written account of what we might consider the first Christian revival in history. According to the author, some 120 followers of Jesus were gathered in a house “constantly in prayer.” On the day of Pentecost, “a sound like a violent blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house.” Having heard the noise, people in the surrounding area came together to see what was going on. As they gathered, the followers of Jesus shared the truth of who Jesus is, what He had done, and what He promised for all who believe. Acts 2 provides an observable pattern of how a revival-like event can work. People pray and worship. The Spirit moves in a powerful way making a lot of noise. People hear the noise and come to see what’s going on, ultimately becoming participants in what God is doing. I don’t know that one could find a more on the nose description of what has taken place at Asbury University over the last two weeks.
Almost as soon as we exited our vehicle, we could hear the sound of singing in the air… It was the sound of hundreds of people singing as they stood on the lawn outside, in the rain!
Having heard the noise, a good friend and I took a short pilgrimage to Wilmore to witness what was happening for ourselves. It was a truly amazing experience. We parked what must have been a couple of blocks away from Hughes Memorial Auditorium where the majority of people were congregated. Almost as soon as we exited our vehicle, we could hear the sound of singing in the air. It wasn’t the sound of the band or people in the chapel; It was the sound of hundreds of people singing as they stood on the lawn outside, in the rain!
We ultimately did make our way into the chapel. I was impressed by the simplicity of it all. The worship teams were composed of an acoustic guitar or two, a piano, a cajón, and a few vocalists. The songs were a mix of modern worship songs, old school praise choruses, and traditional hymns. The passionate singing of the congregation created a breathtakingly beautiful and soul-stirring wall of sound. Intermittently, college students would step forward to give witness to what God had been doing in preceding days, to pray, and to share passages of Scripture. We lingered for about two hours, but many had been there all day. It was inspiring and invigorating, something wonderful to behold.
Perhaps the revival wasn’t just happening in Wilmore, KY. Could it be that what we experience in our own churches every Sunday can and should be a means of revival?
I must confess: As I sat praying, I found myself a tiny bit disappointed. While the moment was joyful and inspiring, and undeniably monumental in scope, it didn’t feel a whole lot different than what I’ve experienced at First Baptist Church in recent weeks. I felt as if I was missing something and wondered if perhaps I was doing it wrong. But as I prayed, I had an epiphany. Perhaps the revival wasn’t just happening in Wilmore, KY. Could it be that what we experience in our own churches every Sunday can and should be a means of revival? IS THAT NOT THE ULTIMATE GOAL?! Perhaps it didn’t feel different because revival is already happening in Seymour, Indiana and in churches around the world.
Revival is defined as an improvement in the condition or strength of something. The word implies a previous reality being restored, renewed, and reinvigorated. I am convinced that revival is less something new that God is doing and more a reorientation of our attention and affection to perceive, receive, and respond to what the Spirit of God is and has been doing among, around, and within us. God’s Spirit has been moving over the face of the earth since before it was given form. Therefore, revival isn’t an instance where God suddenly starts working, or the Holy Spirit suddenly becomes more powerful. Rather, the change occurs in us. Revival occurs when we see the power of God’s activity in our lives. We receive and respond to His invitation to engage in His activity. And, we allow the power of Gods Spirit to move us as He sees fit.
Asbury University announced that they will be returning to their regularly scheduled programing in the days ahead. The Asbury Revival is drawing to a close. And, if that were to be the end of the story of this movement of the spirit, that would truly be a tragedy. But it would also be a tragedy if the revival continued and was contained to that location. This is not the desire and design of God. Even in Acts, the events of the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit could not be contained in one house, one city, or one nation. The power of the Holy Spirit propelled those who had experienced the outpouring to the very ends of the earth.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is our birthright in Christ. The Spirit is still stirring; It never stopped.
I pray that what we’ve seen and heard over the last two weeks stir our souls. May it inspire us to seek God’s face, celebrate Him in prayer and worship, and serve Him with faithfulness and love. The Asbury Revival may be reaching its conclusion, but there are revivals available to us in our churches, in our homes, and ultimately in our hearts wherever we find ourselves. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is our birthright in Christ. The Spirit is still stirring; It never stopped. May we seek the blessing Jesus speaks of in Matthew 13:16-17, the blessing of eyes to see and ears to hear what God is doing in our midst.
