Good review of history. Also, another update of what has been happening at Asbury. However, absent from news accounts so far, and I suspect this is just the way news is covered, are accounts of repentance of sin and commitment to a deeper commitment to living a life of faith and obedience. I might have missed it. But I've only heard about the "non-stop worship service." Which begs the question of whether this is a revival or not. This is a great question and time will tell.
We are infatuated with "worship" as a sign of the Holy Spirit's presence. I'm sure it often is. But we all too easily mistake standing and singing and raising hands as worship. We don't need to look far to see that, biblically, worship is seeing God in his holiness with the typical response of fear and falling on one's knees or face before HIM.
Worship as we have redefined it does not seem to fit this pattern. Standing singing and raising hands. All good, but is that a revival? Is it worship? This article refers to Revelation 2. Great passage! But also there is 4:10-11; 5:8-10, 14; 19:10; As well as throughout scripture. Peter, Luke 5. Paul Acts 9. Magi Matthew 2. Etc. Hopefully this is also occurring, just not reported. And hopefully this will also spread to churches everywhere.
Other accounts I have read (e.g., from Mission News Network and others) indicated this particular movement has been marked by widespread repentance and humility as well as worship.
I visited Asbury 4 times during the past couple of weeks—we live minutes away. One of the things we both noticed was the number of people on their knees in worship and prayer. Also remarkable: most of the songs that were sung were God-focused, not self-focused.
The author says '“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” says the Psalmist (85:6).' The implied message there is that revival is for people who are already saved. Eager critics are quick to point out that the Gospel message is not being preached. While that is demonstrably false, even if it were true, it wouldn't be proof that this wasn't a revival.
pjp
Maybe at this time of great evil in this nation God is bringing revival. We can only pray it is so.
Good review of history. Also, another update of what has been happening at Asbury. However, absent from news accounts so far, and I suspect this is just the way news is covered, are accounts of repentance of sin and commitment to a deeper commitment to living a life of faith and obedience. I might have missed it. But I've only heard about the "non-stop worship service." Which begs the question of whether this is a revival or not. This is a great question and time will tell.
We are infatuated with "worship" as a sign of the Holy Spirit's presence. I'm sure it often is. But we all too easily mistake standing and singing and raising hands as worship. We don't need to look far to see that, biblically, worship is seeing God in his holiness with the typical response of fear and falling on one's knees or face before HIM.
Worship as we have redefined it does not seem to fit this pattern. Standing singing and raising hands. All good, but is that a revival? Is it worship? This article refers to Revelation 2. Great passage! But also there is 4:10-11; 5:8-10, 14; 19:10; As well as throughout scripture. Peter, Luke 5. Paul Acts 9. Magi Matthew 2. Etc. Hopefully this is also occurring, just not reported. And hopefully this will also spread to churches everywhere.
Other accounts I have read (e.g., from Mission News Network and others) indicated this particular movement has been marked by widespread repentance and humility as well as worship.
I visited Asbury 4 times during the past couple of weeks—we live minutes away. One of the things we both noticed was the number of people on their knees in worship and prayer. Also remarkable: most of the songs that were sung were God-focused, not self-focused.
The author says '“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” says the Psalmist (85:6).' The implied message there is that revival is for people who are already saved. Eager critics are quick to point out that the Gospel message is not being preached. While that is demonstrably false, even if it were true, it wouldn't be proof that this wasn't a revival.
Maybe at this time of great evil in this nation God is bringing revival. We can only pray it is so.
May he start with the church. May he start with me.
Amen!