I am hesitant to comment on the revival at Asbury University since many have already done so; some with great insight and discernment and others with scorn and skepticism. However, for about a year now, I have had a great interest in revival and a personal longing to see a great moving of the Holy Spirit in the church. In reading the biography of George Whitefield, I found myself praying for revival and contemplating what it would look like should it happen in our day.

A number of unusual events in the not too distant past have been identified as revival. For example, the Toronto Blessing, the Pensacola Outpouring, and the Asbury College revivals of 1958, 1970, and 1992. Reading accounts of these past revivals left me ambivalent as to whether or not they were truly a work of God, mainly because I could not help comparing them with the Great Awakening that took place in 18th century New England under the preaching of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.

Then on Wednesday, February 8, after a regular chapel service, revival returned to Asbury University. Christianity Today reported that “something began to happen that defies easy description. Students did not leave. They were struck by what seemed to be a quiet but powerful sense of transcendence, and they did not want to go. They stayed and continued to worship. They are still there.”

One of the characteristics of true revival is that it spreads. This past weekend approximately 20,000 showed up for worship at Asbury. Because the town of Wilmore, Kentucky, population 6,000, is unable to accommodate the crowds, the school’s administration is dispersing them to other venues. According to Fox News, the revival is spreading to other campuses, like Samford University in Alabama, Cedarville University in Ohio, and Belmont University in Nashville.

On Monday, Asbury President Kevin Brown announced an end to two weeks of nonstop worship and will offer students evening services through Wednesday. What this means for the future of the movement no one knows. Because revival is a sovereign work of God we know that human effort can neither sustain nor stop it. Therefore, I would encourage my readers to do three things.

1. Refuse to criticize. In revival there will always be naysayers and scorners who discount revival as so much misguided enthusiasm. Whenever a movement of God breaks out, lies are spread and misinformation is disseminated. (You can check this out online at jedwinorr.com) Social media have reported that the worship team at Asbury, on stage during the revival, were all gay. Others criticized the revival saying that God would not send revival to a place that allows women preachers. It’s not time to sit in the seat of the scornful when young people manifest a hunger for God, lives are being changed, and thousands are repenting of sin.

2. Read about revival. There are numerous books on the great 18th century revival in Great Britain and the Great Awakening in New England. Read the biographies of George Whitefield, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and other revivalists. Why Revival Tarries by Leonard Ravenhill and Road To Revival by Vance Havner are books I heartily recommend. Such reading will not only help you understand revival biblically but will also stir your heart to long for it.

3. Pray for revival. Jonathan Edwards wrote that revival is strictly a work of God apart from any human effort. Therefore, we can only pray that he would pour out his Spirit on his people. And in praying for revival, pray that God will begin to move in your own heart. Who knows but what the Lord is beginning a work in these last days in preparation for his return. Amid these troubling times, as society continues its moral decline, let us lift our eyes to heaven and pray with the psalmist:

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” Psalm 85:6