Asbury Revival

I.

On Wednesday afternoon, I got a call from a friend in Arkansas.  He said that he heard the 10 a.m chapel at Asbury University had not ended.  That is code in Methodist Holiness Talk for “there may be a revival going on,” as in the 1950 and 1970 revivals that lasted days.  I called a few people down in Wilmore.  Our youth pastor went over and stuck his head in.  He called back to say that yes, people were still worshipping and praying.

About 6, Jessie, Nadia and I went down there.  It was a powerful moment of prayer and praise.  Student musicians had been leading worship since 10 that morning.

More than the novelty of 8 hours of prayer and praise… the Holy Spirit was there.  When I walked in, I had the distinct sense that I had come there to die.  That I was not going to leave until the revival was over or I was entirely sanctified.

It did not take long.  The president of the University just shared a few words, “If you have anything to settle with God, do it now, even if it means walking to your grave.” That was it.  An immense sense of peace settled on me.  I asked the Lord to clear out the vestiges of the old man, to shine the light of His love in my heart.  And praise Him, He is doing just that.

Truth be told, this was happening before the revival.  About a month ago, between sleep and being awake, I knew the Lord could sanctify me.  I have been very conscious of that a few different times, but this time… temptations were fleeing.  I found myself driven and given to prayer in new ways.

It was ratified there at Hughes Auditorium.

II.

The second day of the Revival, it was much more crowded, perhaps 5 or 600 people.  I was blown away, looking at the carving in the chancel: HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.  I was impressed that so many people have given so much to have a place like Asbury, to preach the doctrines of holiness, to the point that there is a place prepared for so many people to be touched by the Holy Spirit.  And for me, my own personal spiritual experience with God. Give generously!  Sow into the harvest!

Jessie spent the night in the chapel, where about 20 people spent the overnight, and there were still people playing music.

That is basically what is happening.  Singing and praying, interspersed with some testimonies and short messages from the Word.  Night and Day.

III.

It has been very inspiring to watch the crowds growing.  People coming from all over.  I have had house guests from Mississippi, a friend from Oklahoma has come.  Why?  Because the Holy Spirit is here.  It is an amazing thing.

I have been every day, at different times, just to pray and meet with God in what is a special way.  It will end at some point.  And I hope we let it.  I hope we let the Holy Spirit have His way, and wrap it up when He is done.

On Saturday night, I ran into a young man from our church.  We were in the very back because there was no room.  When I saw him, I found the words for something I had been feeling.  I told him, “I won’t live long enough to see the fruit of this revival.”

What I meant was that this visible outpouring of the Spirit, as wonderful as it is, is not the goal.  It is the beginning.  The Lord is laying out a vineyard.  Being able to plant a vineyard means your borders are secure.  You have peace and plenty.  You have to prepare the ground.  You have to be ready for the long haul.  It takes a few years before the first grapes come on.  And even then, they are not usually very good.  You have to prune.  You have to cut out much of the fruit so that what is left to grow is better.  If done right, the grapes will grow for generations, hundreds of years.

And that is what the Lord is up to.  It will not be until retirement notices in alumni magazines and obituaries are written that we will see the fruit, see that people dedicated their lives to a calling they received in February of 2023.  This revival is momentous.  But it is nothing compared to the fruit that is coming from this generation.

I thumped the young man on the chest and said, “this is you.  Let God work.”