“Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy LORD, And grant us Your salvation.” (Psalms 85:4-7)
If you are like me you probably have been involved in many church revivals over the years. For much of our nations history there have been tent revivals or weeks set aside in our churches to ask God to move in our church, our community and in our nation. We know that we need the power of the Holy Spirit to take the gospel to the majority of this world that do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Perhaps you have read about some of the great revivals in America in the 18thand 19thcenturies or about the revival in Wales in the early 20thcentury. But what about more recently, here in the U.S.?
Well there was a more recent revival that originated on the campus of Asbury College in 1970 that spread to many parts of the nation and world that you may not have read about. Here is what Robert Coleman, editor of the book “One Devine Moment” , had to say about this event:
“One of these divine moments came on February 3, 1970. The visitation occurred in Wilmore, Kentucky, a small town near Lexington. While many students across America were burning down buildings and rioting in streets, students at this college community were strangely drawn to their knees to pray. It was as if the campus had been suddenly invaded by another Power. Classes were forgotten. Academic work came to a standstill. In a way awesome to behold, God had taken over the campus, Caught up in the wonder of it, a thousand students remained for days in the college auditorium---not to demand more freedom or to protest the Establishment, but to confess their sin and to sing the praises of their Savior.
This divine moment did not come about through human scheduling or preaching. Instead, it came as people opened themselves to the living God and received the forgiveness and cleansing which God alone can give. The change wrought in them was and is too great to keep secret. It must be shared. Thus one man’s divine moment becomes a gateway through which others may come to know the same experience.” (One Divine Moment , The Asbury Revival by Robert E. Coleman, pp10-11)
As is the catalyst in all revivals, this one was preceded by prayer. Several groups of people on campus who met at various times to pray for spiritual awakening. During the beginning of the weekly chapel service the Dean of the college, who was scheduled to talk, was not impressed to preach and opened the floor to any students who would like to give a testimony. Several students got up to speak and increasingly the testimonies were powerful confessions of sin and a desire to obey God better. One of the professors, as the normal chapel hour was coming to an end, announced that the altar was open if anyone wanted to pray.
“No sooner had the invitation been extended than a mass of students moved forward. The congregation began singing “Just As I Am.” There was not room for all at the altar. Many had to kneel in the front seats of the auditorium. Their prayers were mingled with heartfelt contrition and outburst of joy. It was evident that God was moving among His people in power. The presence of the Lord was so real that all other interests seemed unimportant. The bell sounded for classes to begin, but it went unheeded.” (Ibid, p.15)
The service continued as many others came forward to confess sins of cheating, theft, animosity, prejudice, jealousy, and other actions and some made their way to individuals to ask forgiveness and to make restitution. A long line began to form and many waited their turn to tell what God had dealt with in their hearts.
“The service continued on into the afternoon as an announcement was made that classes were suspended for the rest of the day…..Toward the supper hour some began to leave, but the building began to fill again as the marathon service entered into the evening. At times nearly every seat in the 1,500-seat auditorium was occupied….there was continual movement to and from the altar. At times, the whole front of the auditorium was crowed with people on their knees---some praying, some giving counsel, some just rejoicing in the Lord.” (Ibid, p16)
The revival spread across the street where Asbury Seminary was located and the people continued to gather in great numbers until late at night or early morning and then dwindling to about a 100 but then refilling in the morning. This continued for a week! Many townspeople joined in, and on Sunday many of the local churches came to the campus to participate in the revival. Additionally, people from all over North America came that had heard about the revival. They came from as far away as California, Florida, and Canada!
The revival did not stop there. Many Christian colleges (130) and churches requested students to come to their campuses or churches and in many cases revivals broke out there also! Two campuses that saw big movement of the Spirit were Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Texas and Azusa Pacific College in California.
(To read the whole story get a copy of: One Divine Moment, the Asbury Revival (25th anniversary edition) edited by Robert Coleman and David Gyertson, published by the Fleming H. Revell Company, 1995.)
(To read the whole story get a copy of: One Divine Moment, the Asbury Revival (25th anniversary edition) edited by Robert Coleman and David Gyertson, published by the Fleming H. Revell Company, 1995.)
So what do you think is keeping us from having a revival today in 2018? I think we all know the answer. We need a group of people gathering together and praying for God to move! Are you willing to meet with someone else or a group and just pray for our awesome God to come down and fill us with His Spirit and fire us up to go and tell the world about Him?
PRAY
1. Lord please help me to be led by Your Spirit and prepare my heart to be a prayer warrior for You.
2. Forgive me Lord for my sin of laziness and help me to be more faithful in praying for Your will to be done in my life and in the life of those You have put in my life.
3. Thank You Lord for loving me so much that You saved me from my sins and have adopted me to be your son or daughter.
