Looking for Revival

You may have heard the recent news about a spontaneous 12 day long spiritual event at Asbury University in Kentucky. People are using the word “revival,” and I’d like to talk about what that word means. We see revival throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, God’s chosen people frequently fall away from following the Lord and later repent and return to him. (Josiah’s rediscovery of the Law in 2 Kings 22 is a perfect example.) In the New Testament context, we see many instances of the Holy Spirit awakening people spiritually to the truth of the Gospel (though these events are more “vival” than “revival”).

In every case, true spiritual awakening comes in response to the Word of God. It comes when calls to repentance are heeded. Revival comes when we turn fervently to God’s Word and to His Church.

“The Holy Spirit’s everywhere we go, and you can have a revival right in your living room if you’re willing to lean into His love and His grace.” – Alexandra Presta*

These words are from the editor of The Asbury Collegian, a student publication at Asbury University, as she explains the school’s decision to finally close the event. So what happened at Asbury? It’s hard to rely on news sources whose livelihood depends upon sensationalism. But the varied reports seem to agree on this basic information: a sermon on the love of God became the catalyst for the eruption of an unplanned, unanticipated, very long worship service, which then attracted many curious outsiders (and some media).

News about people suddenly hungry for public prayer and worship is encouraging. I can only pray that in equal measure these people are also now hungry for God’s Word and for discipleship, and that this hunger endures. I hope the people who flocked to Asbury are, or become, devoted members of their local church for the rest of their lives. I hope this event ends up filling churches, rather than emptying them as people rush around seeking the next wave of excitement. Regardless, I am certain that the Holy Spirit is at work in the church. I know because I see and experience spiritual vitality right here.

Just before Pentecost, the disciples had experienced the emotional rollercoaster of Jesus’ betrayal, death, and resurrection. He had appeared to them for 40 days “speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3b) before ascending into Heaven. In obedience to Christ’s words, they stayed in Jerusalem awaiting the promise of the Father. They were all together when the sound of wind rushed in and the Holy Spirit fell, enabling them to speak in different tongues. And what did the Holy Spirit give those tongues to say? They proclaimed “the mighty works of God” (2:11). Peter’s speech at Pentecost is characteristic of the Spirit’s message: He proclaimed who Jesus is and what He had done. And the crowds, we are told, “were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (2:37). In response to the Word of God, 3,000 souls repented of their sin, turned to Christ, and were baptized. This, not the spectacle of speaking in tongues, is the point of the story. 

The early church serves as both a model and an encouragement for our own ministry. After Peter preached repentance to the Jews, Paul and others, took the message to the whole world. Local churches were established as the Gospel changed hearts; and Paul spent his life (even while chained in prison!) ensuring that those local churches would remain spiritually healthy and growing.

Fast-forward nearly 1700 years and a few continents over to the American colonies, where a pastor named Jonathan Edwards also preached a sermon calling people to repentance,

“And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God, who is now angry with you every day and every night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings?”*

Edwards’ sermon became the flashpoint of a great spiritual awakening in the colonies that quickly spread to Great Britain. It’s important to note that at that  time Christianity was cultural. Everyone was expected to attend church. As a result there were many “Christians” in church who had never been born again. Much like Peter’s Jewish audience, these “Christians” believed in God and in sin, but had yet to repent and follow Jesus Christ.

As at Pentecost, the primary miracle of the Great Awakening, as it became known, was not the spectacular show of emotion, but the salvation of sinners. Even so, a couple of years later, Edwards was amazed by how little lasting effect those events had on the life of the church. Once the emotion died down, far too many people went back to their cares, their squabbles, their sins, leaving Edwards to wonder (and write a book) about what had happened.

While we are hearing so much talk about revival, I want you to know that I, along with the rest of our leaders, pray for revival consistently. It is our earnest desire to see many come to saving faith and for our region to be transformed by the Gospel, to see God glorified in our area. This should be your desire. too. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32). So to pray for revival is to pray for endurance in the Word for ourselves and others. I would rather see one quiet, earnest believer who is active in the ministry for the next 10, 30, 50 years, than dozens who give a grand show of enthusiasm, but then return to their sinful, Christless life a few months later.

So here is my encouragement for you: abide in His Word—live in it. Thirst for the words of your Savior! Let nothing distract you. If you love Christ, you love His church just as He does. You love to be with her and long to see her healthy, growing, and flourishing. So pray that the Gospel continues to transform you, this church, and this community. And pray with your church! (Join us 9:30am Sunday mornings in the church library.) Commit to the joy and fellowship that comes from building His Kingdom here with us. And tell others what Jesus has done. This is how the Spirit works; this is how the church grows; this is revival; and this is the work that God is doing now right here among us!

*https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/why-asbury-university-decided-to-end-revival-services-this-week/

**Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Jonathan Edwards, 1741