The established church desires a fresh move of God inside their local church. They have sought God’s will but may have felt unsure if he would ever appear again in the place of worship. What if all it takes is an earnest prayer to capture the attention of God? What if a specific service turns into a God moment?
At a midweek service at Asbury University, God did just that. The closing prayer was not a prayer that will be remembered for its eloquence. But it will be remembered for its earnest plea that God would transform the lives of students and the university. That simple prayer has changed the trajectory of the university and those who have walked into Hughes Auditorium, the chapel on the campus of Asbury University, seeking a fresh anointing of God in every sense.
Living just a little over two hours from what is being called the Asbury Revival of 2023, I felt a yearning to be in that space, to seek after God, and to receive fresh nourishment for my weary pastoral soul. My wife had just had surgery the day the revival broke out, and here it was two days later, and I wanted her to join me on my spiritual journey that captivated deep inside my soul, longing for God. After taking precautions for her comfort, we loaded into the car for the drive; the flesh part of me was a little cynical, if I am honest with you. Was this emotionalism or true revival? But my spirit was drawn to attend. I believed that God was moving.
As we walked into the auditorium’s side door, I was instantly hit with the Spirit of God. We pressed in and took the stairwell where we passed people praying and reading their Bible up to the balcony, and there laid out before me was a sea of spiritual humanity, crying, praying, reading God’s Word, singing, standing, and sitting. God was here! There was no mistake; God was in this place.
Preparing to leave after three hours of experiencing God, I wrote down 10 things I experienced in a revival that all churches and their leaders should understand.
1. If you are open to the move of God, the Spirit will move.
If God could move in a rural community in Wilmore, Kentucky, on an ordinary day, he can move in your location. The young people who gathered in the chapel that day wanted to experience God fresh and anew. Sure, some were there because they had to, but a mighty remnant desired to sense God like never before. You might not have a lot of people or a group who wants to attend church outside of a Sunday service, but if there is a remnant of believers that want to spark revival, then begin to gather and pray. God promises to show up and do a new work inside your heart that will make a lasting contribution to the community of believers you witness weekly.
2. Prayer can move mountains inside the local church to impact souls.
It takes just one. One believer. One prayer warrior to call on the name of the Lord, and he will act. Prayers that are small or large sent out to God do not come back void. The young people at Asbury cried out to God, and it is changing the world. Your prayer could be the spark that lights a new holy fire in your local church and community. Pray not for numbers. Prayer for God to move. Pray not for influence but for God to influence hearts hardened to him. Prayer transforms and empowers believers to impact others around them. Outside the doors of your local church is a community that needs your prayers and your church’s divine encouragement. Be the lighthouse of holiness that your neighborhood needs to heal division and to find hope in Jesus Christ.
3. God-centered worship changes the atmosphere of your faith.
The music that sang would not have won any awards, but the music and the young people leading it transformed that auditorium from a gathering place into a Christ-centered movement that captured the souls of all those who sought after God. Music done to honor God is music that will be blessed by God to welcome in his spirit and to open his people’s hearts to what God wants to do. God-centered worship leads to scripture reading, mini-sermons, and prayer alone or together in small or large groups, renewing the faith of believers and unbelievers.
4. Healing comes when you can fully surrender yourself to God.
So many walked into that place feeling dejected and beaten down by life. Words like depression, suicide, anxiety, stress and worry were heard, but through the power of God, people felt the healing power of the Great Physician who showed up to renew souls. When a heart is surrendered to God, lives begin to be changed. Through medical science and the power of God, lives can be impacted like never before. Through a spark of God, broken, hurting, or lost, came to the feet of Jesus, and he healed weary souls. If he could do it for them, he can do it for you and those connected to your local church.
5. Forgiveness is brought forth when sins are cleared out.
As the night went on and more people stepped onto that holy ground, the shackles of unforgiveness were broken off, and people were set free. During one moving time of prayer at the altar, young and old alike cried out to God to release the hurts and pain of unforgiveness. People were set free through tears and joyous expressions of renewed love for God. Reflect on your own life where the burden of unforgiveness has taken hold. Ask God to clear it out. To forgive you and your congregation for holding on to envy, jealousy and rage even for things that were done or perceived done and allow the forgiving grace of God to cleanse.
6. God shows up when the people are hungry for his presence.
People and congregations willing to do all they can to enter the presence of God will receive him. Two hours after chapel closed on Wednesday, February 8, students who should have been at lunch, in their dorms or in class were still worshiping God. These students did not want to flaunt the rules but wanted more of God. Ask yourself, How hungry am I? How hungry is my congregation for true revival? I wonder, are most assemblies missing God because leaders want control of the service and how it transpires?
The students bent the rules to allow the Ruler of the World to fill their spirits like never before. What you can take from the Asbury revival is that churches must create room for the spirit to move and get out of the way.
7. Obedience to God is needed to see change.
Do you want to change? Does your congregation? I am not talking about changing a church sign or even the order of your service; I am talking about real spiritual change. Lasting change. As you pray and call your congregation to prayer, the overarching question should be, what do you want us to do so that we can experience all that you have for us? When you pray, a God-size prayer, be ready for a God-size answer. Too many churches want to change but are unwilling to allow change. It can be for personal preferences, leadership differences or even power plays between the pew and the pulpit.
As a leader, you must lead by example with a heart fully surrendered to God’s will for your life and ministry to see real change come to fruition.
8. God moves across denominational, age, race and class lines.
As I peered over the railing at the sea of spiritual humanity before me, I noticed no denominational, age, race or class lines as people gathered to seek after God. Everyone had one thing in common: They were there for Jesus, not themselves. Leaders, help your people break down the walls of division and restore a heart for direct interaction as an example of Christ. Jesus gave as a living example one who broke down barriers that divided people along religious rules and set forth the standard to develop meaningful, authentic relationships.
9. Calling on God makes the world notice that things are about to change.
What started as a small remnant of college students hungering for God has turned into a holy fire that has captured the mainline media attention and has put the world on notice that God is still moving in the lives of his faithful. From social media posts that have gone viral to folks sharing their firsthand experience of what is happening, lives are being impacted and changed. What is happening in a state or city far from yours can happen right where you are if you are willing to call on God. What may seem unique to Asbury can be made special in your local church, but it has to begin somewhere; why not with you?
10. God is not done yet with you or his church.
In a world where our differences have rocked each other, God is telling us that he is not done with his church or with you personally. Revival at Asbury will end, but the spark that came from the fire can burn on inside of your heart. Claim the spiritual mantle of Christ and cling to his calling for you and the church to rise and become holy centers of fire that renew lives, restore neighborhoods and change all those who come in contact with you and the local church.
Do not fall into negativity under the guise of holiness. God is moving locally in your community, as much as it is at Asbury. Let us pray that God moves in our hearts and the greater soul of the church so that our prayers might be the spark that revives our local ministry.