Asbury Again: Times of Refreshing

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.  Peter, in Acts 3:19

Asbury Livestream

We recently watched a livestream of the last “official” revival meeting at Asbury University, where student-led worship and prayer had been going on almost continuously for over two weeks.  The school will attempt to get back to classes and education, but the move of God will go on in other venues.  In fact, this visitation of the Spirit has already spread to many other campuses, and other places.

The presence of the Holy Spirit was very evident in the meeting.  The livestream lasted 2.5 hours, but the whole crowd was still there worshiping and praying when the livestream ended.  The format was consistent with Paul’s directions in 1 Corinthians 14, where he encourages church meetings to consist of spontaneous worship and teaching from anyone who has something to share in an orderly way.

This was exactly what happened.  There wasn’t one leader, but many different people contributed under the leading of the Spirit.  Periodically someone would call for the whole group to “huddle” in small groups to pray.  The worship, prayers, testimonies, and mini-teachings were awesome, as these young people (and a few older ones) shared their exuberance and love for the Lord.  

The dominating themes of this movement are repentance, humility, and dying to self.  This spirit dominated everything that happened.

My History

I was in tears as this powerful meeting took me back to my own spiritual roots.  I came to know the Lord in 1976.  It was during the aftermath of a previous move of God at Asbury in 1970, which was part of the “Jesus movement” where thousands of young people came to God in the 1970s.  I was one of those thousands.  Then the “Toronto Blessing” in 1994 came to the Vineyard church we attended in Valparaiso, IN.  It was a powerful time of reconnecting with God, experiencing his love and presence.

Experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit is far better than any other experience in this life.  It’s pure joy!

Repentance and Refreshing

Repentance has always been the foundation of our faith, and the key to revival.  The initial message of John the Baptist, and Jesus, was “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand”.

Peter continues this message when the Holy Spirit fell on the church in Acts 2:37-39.  In response to the question, “what shall we do?” Peter replied: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

In Peter’s second recorded message in Acts 3:19, he says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.

Mountaintops and Deserts

When the Holy Spirit touches us, it is truly a time of refreshing.  But eventually we come down from the “mountaintop” and get back to “normal” life.  Jesus’ disciples experienced this after the transfiguration.  They were in awe of the presence of God and the taste of heaven, but then the experience was over, and they went back down the mountain.  

So how do we evaluate these revivals and “times of refreshing”?  It reminds me of the cycles in the Old Testament, where Israel would have times of renewal under good judges and kings, but then return to sinful ways.  A new move of God would come when the people repented and sought God.  It’s very much like today.  The church has had its ups and downs, just as individuals do.  How we wish that these revival times would go on unabated until Jesus’ return! But our human nature, our old self, is still hanging around to mess things up. That’s why the church, including each one of us, needs to be “revived and refreshed” as often as God wants to do it!

The spiritual mountaintops during my lifetime have changed me significantly.  But, there are seasons of dryness, of deserts. And I think the deserts are just as important as the mountaintops. (See links below).  In those seasons, we press on, we continue to call out to God.  We learn to depend more on him.  We take what we have received and share it with those around us.  We live in repentance and humility.  

God continually reminded Israel “remember when I brought you out of Egypt”.  And so we also remember all of the things that God has done in our lives, especially when he brought us out of our “Egypts”, our old lives of slavery to sin.  And out of the dry times, God moves again.

Ask God for More

As the Psalmist prayed in 85:6, “will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”

I thank you Lord, for what you are doing today, for refreshing your people once again.  Let this move of your Spirit result in many changed lives, many hearts turned to you, to your glory!

Related articles:

Repentance: It Changes Everything

The Wilderness Experience: Life and Love in the Desert