![]() ![]() The fact is, there isn’t anything that happens at Asbury or at other God-sent awakenings that won’t elicit the ire of so-called “discernment” bloggers. It ended because it was fueled by the flesh and out-of-control emotional excesses.” “Look,” they will say, “if this was a real outpouring of the Spirit, it would continue unabated. When the awakening ends, the many caustic, cynical, cessationist critics (although, be it noted that not all cessationists are caustic, cynical, and critical!) will point to its termination as sure-fire proof that the events at Asbury were anything but revival. More than ok, it is inevitable.Īnd that leads to my second “prophecy” concerning the events at Asbury. The visitors from around the country will go home. ![]() So, although it may seem obvious, it still needs to be said: the Asbury awakening will eventually come to an end. But life goes on, and its responsibilities and obligations don’t disappear when revival comes. Of course, I wish people would spend more time than they do in praise and intercession and mutual encouragement and praying for the sick to be healed. It simply isn’t possible, nor desirable, that people spend every waking hour in corporate worship and prayer. After all, people eventually have to go back to work, back to school, back to mowing the grass and changing diapers and shopping for groceries and all the many activities that make up life on the earth. Even the most glorious and biblical and beautiful of revivals cannot continue forever. That is the one common factor in all revivals. ![]() In fact, every revival or awakening in church history has ended. The first “prophecy” is this: the awakening at Asbury will end. So, yes, I used the word “prophecies” to grab your attention! It worked, didn’t it? And yes, I do believe in the contemporary validity of the spiritual gift of prophecy. They are observations that come from recurring realities in church history and common sense. What I’m going to share aren’t prophecies in the biblical sense of the term. What are your prophecies?”īefore I go any further, a word of clarification. I’m simply acknowledging that they exist at every revival, awakening, or occasion of spiritual renewal. There will always be messes and mistakes and manipulation anytime broken, finite sinners like you and me are involved. Anytime the Spirit of God moves, Satan keeps pace (or so said J. Name a true revival in the history of the church where these phenomena were not present. That being said, I’m not suggesting that there aren’t fleshly displays, emotional extravagance, and perhaps even unbiblical doctrines being promoted. But I see nothing in what they say or what I’ve read that would lead me to conclude that this is a man-made or contrived religious event. My perspective is largely informed by what I’ve read online and heard from trustworthy friends who’ve been present for it. Now, I say that having not visited Asbury. I couldn’t care less what you call it: Revival? Awakening? Renewal? What’s important is whether or not God is truly in it, and I believe he is. Let me say from the start that I believe what has been happening at Asbury (and now at numerous other universities) is a true God-sent outpouring of the Spirit. I’ll bet that title caught your attention, didn’t it? Perhaps you immediately thought that the “prophecies” came in advance and spoke to the beginning of the awakening. ![]()
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