Are We Seeing Revival at Asbury University?

Are we seeing revival?

Much has been said, tweeted, posted and videoed about the events the last few days at Asbury University. Going on 80 hours now, something is going on at this school and the skeptics and supporters and agnostics are all out sharing their opinions. And, if you want to check and see what’s going on, there are livestreams everywhere (e.g., Facebook, YouTube, etc.).

I tweeted a few days ago that I thought it unhealthy to question whether God has brought revival or not too soon. Time will tell. Fruits of salvation will show themselves over time and we should be cautious about labeling this a revival or not a revival. There should ultimately be a “wait and see” attitude.

I have been bothered by a lack of Gospel when I have tuned in. From the sermon that started this whole movement and every time I have watched a live-stream, the Gospel has been missing. That is problematic when we are using terms like “revival.”

What is a revival? A revival happens when a person or group of persons isolate themselves from the apathy around them and commit themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live differently in light of a recovered doctrine. Many people think of a revival as an evangelistic crusade, but a revival is more than that. Revival does not start in the world; revival starts in the church.

What effect does it a revival have on the church? Martyn Lloyd Jones in book Revival explains, “They immediately become aware of his presence and of his power in a manner that they have never known before. … The people present begin to have an awareness of spiritual things and clear views of them such as they have never had before. … Spiritual things become realities. … What they testify is this: ‘You know, the whole thing suddenly becomes clear to me. I was suddenly illuminated, things that I was so familiar with stood out in letters of gold, as it were. I understood. I saw it all in a way that I had never done in the whole of my life.’” (pg. 101)

Revival makes old ways or old truths seem fresh. And it is a period of unusual blessing and activity in the life of the Christian Church. J.I. Packer says, “Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God’s near presence and holiness. Thence springs a vivid sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow.”

What does revival look like?

A revival is when God visits His people in a way they have not recently experienced. For example, on New Year’s Eve 1739, John Wesley, George Whitefield, and some of their friends held a “love feast” which became a watch night of prayer to see the New Year in. At about 3 a.m., Wesley wrote, “The power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground.” They felt as if God was personally visiting them in a unique way that they become both fearful and joyful. Revival always begins with a restoration of the sense of the closeness of the Holy One. Thus, people get on their knees; they pray.

A revival elevates one’s esteem for Jesus and the cross. Jonathan Edwards called this one of the distinguishing marks of true revival. For the Christian, the person of Christ is an unavoidable reality but during revival this mark consumes him.  Jonathan Edwards wrote about this in his work The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God. He says, “The person to whom the Spirit gives testimony and for whom He raises their esteem must be Jesus – the one who appeared in the flesh. No other Christ can stand in his place. No mystical, fantasy Christ! No light within – as the spirit of Quakers extols – can diminish esteem of a dependence upon an outward Christ. The Spirit who gives testimony for this historical Jesus and leads to Him can be no other than the Spirit of God.” (pg. 30)

A revival wages war against any interest of Satan’s kingdom. Revivals don’t eliminate sin but they fight against it. When revival comes, people are struck by their awful sin and awake from their sinful slumber. They get on the offensive when it comes to battling sin. They don’t’ wait for sin to crouch at their door; they attack it before it invades their life.

A revival causes a deeper love and affection for the Bible. Since the days of sola Scriptura and the Reformation, the Bible has been vandalized into many different ways. During revival, the Word of God is not vandalized but prized by all. And the product of such affection is absolute obedience.

A revival invites a fresh love for the Gospel as never before. The sense of God’s nearness creates an overwhelming awareness of one’s own sins and sinfulness, and so the power of the cleansing blood of Christ is greatly appreciated. Thus, as God’s people love the Gospel for themselves, they can’t help but preach it to others. And conversions sweep a land!

A revival stirs up repentance. This is a natural outflow of one’s understanding of their sin and the power of the Gospel. Repentance results in restitution.

When revivals happen, the Spirit works fast, godliness multiplies, Christians mature, and converts appear.

So is what is going on at Asbury a revival? Let’s wait and see.