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*Photo by Kendall Scott on Unsplash

All eyes are on Asbury University after the Holy Spirit intervened in a normal chapel service on February 8, 2023 that never ended. A simple, student-led, faculty-guided movement of humble worship and prayer, confession and repentance of sin, testimonies and exhortations from Scripture has continued for over a week at the the time of writing this. It’s beautiful.

You can watch student testimonies here, here, and here, and see highlights from my visit to Asbury on my Instagram feed.

As a missionary to college campuses and someone who has been praying for revival and awakening in America for years (since I myself was a college student in 2008-2012) I can’t tell you how much this moves my heart! Of course, we don’t know the fullness of all God is doing and all He has in store, but He is stirring in this nation in a beautiful way right now. I wanted to share with you how I’ve felt prompted to respond to Him in light of everything going on and how I’d invite you to respond too.

1. Thank God for what He’s doing and ask for more.

I love the faith and hunger God is inspiring in His people through this. Other college campuses have experienced similar things to what God is doing at Asbury, or gathered to worship and pray to spend time with God and seek Him to touch their campus. Visitors are coming to Wilmore, KY in droves to experience in person what God is doing and others are following along online. Churches–mine included–have experienced a fresh hunger in congregations and Holy Spirit breaking into our normal order of service over the past several days.

I broke down weeping in worship at church on Sunday with gratitude that the Lord would draw near to our campuses, our churches, and our nation in a special way in this season. I can’t believe I’m seeing a glimpse of what I’ve been praying for regarding campuses and America become a reality with my own eyes.

This kind of thing isn’t new. In both the Bible and Church history, we can observe times when God moved in sovereign and powerful ways to refresh His people and revive His Church out of spiritual complacency, drawing their hearts to Him with new spiritual fervor, unity, and commitment to Christian mission. And we can observe times when God has moved to awaken those who don’t know Him to saving faith in Jesus and a life wholly devoted to Him.

As with any work of God, there are those who are excited, those who are genuinely cautious and trying to discern biblically before forming an opinion. There are even those who are critical and even skeptical. They question if this is a true move of God or if it’s a work of emotionalism, human fabrication, or the enemy.

But we know from the principles Jesus taught in passages like Matthew 12:22-45; 13:53-58 (also told in Mark 3:22-30; 6:1-6) and Luke 7:31-35, and that Paul taught in Galatians 5:16-25 that the human sinful nature doesn’t lead us to do things that please God and that Satan wouldn’t destroy his own kingdom by doing works that point people to Jesus and bear godly fruit.

So if there’s fruit currently being produced that’s exalting Jesus, consistent with the truths of Scripture, and consistent with godly fruit as defined in Scripture, then we can know now that it’s a work of God, even as we rightfully look for long-term fruit as the days, months, and years go by. (In addition to Asbury itself, ministries I trust like Nick Hall from Pulse Movement, Jennie Allen and Luke Lefevre, Remnant Radio, and Joel Bomberger and more have verified reports of godly fruit at the gatherings.)

The reality is we need this. I need this. You need this. The Church needs this. The culture needs this. We need times of revival where God intensifies and accelerates the ordinary work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. (Dr. Steven Seamands from Asbury Theological Seminary and Pastors Samuel Hood and Allen Hood point out this truth, quoting First Great Awakening leader Jonathan Edwards in their talks on revival. And we see it played out in Scripture in Acts 19 too.)

We need times when God makes known His power and presence in a unique way and breathes a fresh life of the Spirit on our ordinary, daily activities of following Jesus and doing the work of His Kingdom. I’m referring to those biblical practices Christians are called to devote ourselves to daily (like we find in Acts 2:42-47: gathering with believers, preaching the gospel, discipleship, reading and teaching Scripture, worship, prayer, etc.) as we wait and pray for times of revival, during times of revival, and after times of revival.

At a time when God is pouring out His Spirit in a unique way in some measure and giving us an opportunity to increase our faith, may we lean into the invitation to ask Him to do even more of this good work in our own hearts, in the Church, and in our nation. I’m reminded of the Bible verses that encourage God’s people to seek the Lord while He may be found and to ask God for rain in the time of rain (Isaiah 55:6-7; Zechariah 10:1; Hosea 6:1-3; Habakkuk 3:2; Psalm 85).

I know that Christians who believe in revival and awakening, or have experienced it, or who intentionally pray for those things are sometimes accused of just trying to fabricate revivals, but that’s not the case. Revivals are sovereign moves of God. Although, I believe He releases them in response to the prayer, faith, hunger, and partnership of His people, just like He does His other Kingdom work in the world each day through the work of His Spirit in partnership with His people.

A true move of God cannot be fabricated, but it can be humbly yet fervently sought after, prayed for and prepared for. We’re not trying to force revivals to happen or fabricate anything or copycat how God is moving in another location just for the sake of doing it.

But we can pray and seek God and cry out to Him for revival in the Church and awakening amongst the lost. We can pray for God to move in such a way that brings healing to our land and transforms culture. We can posture our hearts and lives to believe God and prepare to receive a move of His Spirit, should He graciously choose to pour one out.

We can respond by seeking His face and drawing near to Him with faith and hunger, and making space in our lives and gatherings for Him to move as He sees fit. And dare I go so far as to say we should respond this way.

We’re living in a moment when God is doing this in some measure now, especially among youth and young adults and college campuses. And who knows if it’s in God’s heart to do even more, perhaps even in the nation and beyond–like He has done at other times in Church history.

I believe it is in His heart to do more, whether through spreading this particular move of His Spirit or in the near future. Either way, this is not a moment to passively observe and spectate, it’s a time to get right with God and press into God for more Him, above anything else, and for the fullness of what He wants to do in our generation. Don’t miss your opportunity to celebrate and participate in a work God is doing.

2. Lean into what God is highlighting.

With what’s happening at the Asbury services, God seems to be highlighting:

• Radical humility and unity
• Ministering to the Lord in reverent worship and prayer
• Confession of sin and repentance
• Reading and exhortation from Scripture and responding to God’s Word, preaching the gospel
• Sharing testimonies of what Jesus has done in your life
• Praying for one another
• Youth and young adults (high school and college students)

Ask Jesus how He wants you to respond to this moment and what He’s bringing to the forefront amongst His people. How is He asking you to receive from Him, to seek Him and press into Him, to make adjustments in your life in those areas, individually and with the community of believers around you?

I’ve been inviting Him to search my heart and cleanse me of any complacency or compromise. I’m sensing Him refresh my hunger for Him, and my faith and surrender for Him to move in my nation in a greater way, however He wants, even at the cost of my own comfort and convenience. I’m stirred up in my calling to pray for and shepherd the next generation.

3. Pray for the Asbury students and leadership.

They have been entrusted with experiencing and stewarding a move of God. The leadership has shepherded this move so well as they’ve followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit moment-by-moment to guide gathering times, make logistical decisions, host the Lord’s presence, have leaders available to pray with people, and do what’s best for the students. And it encourages me that as God pours out His Spirit now and in the future He’ll guide you and me in how to respond in each moment too.

*Here are the gathering archives for the Asbury Outpouring and Collegiate Day of Prayer

Resources:

College Campus Revival:

• Ministries: Luke18 Project | Collegiate Day of Prayer
• Books: Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening by Dan Hayes // God On Campus by Trent Sheppard // The Asbury Revival by Wayne Atcheson

Sermons on Revival:

• What Is Revival? by Jonathan Laurie
• Can We Have Revival In Our Time? by Greg Laurie
• It’s Time For Another Jesus Revolution by Greg Laurie
• When God Comes by Lee Cummings
• God Comes Where He Is Wanted by Jon Tyson

Let’s Talk: How is God stirring your heart through what’s happening at Asbury University? Discuss this post in the comments below.