Asbury

The wind blew and blew.

A year ago, we were swept away to Asbury.

My husband and I were presented with an opportunity to volunteer at the college campus where an assemblage of people were waiting hours and hours to get in a small chapel at Hughes Auditorium.

Not knowing how or where they’d need our help, I was thrilled to find us being escorted inside the chapel. I’d heard of activity there for days.  We were witness to a beautiful orchestration of something Jesus was doing. I knew throngs of people outside were waiting plus hours to be inside.  There was word of some sleeping all night in line to do so.  We were ushered to a mighty chorus of song.  This holy chapel was full of various denominations of all ages and a rainbow of nationalities. There were all manner of expressions singing in unison to one Holy God.

We all knew the words whether expressed in solemn respect or holy hands lifted. Some knelt, others even prostrate on the floor.  Each one took all the time they needed in that space while thousands were respectfully waiting outside to do the same.  Multitudes of people chose to come before this place where hearts yearned to be in worship. They positioned themselves where the Sovereignty of God, the supremacy of His Word and Jesus Christ was being lifted up name above all names in mass agreement in a tiny pocket of Wiltmore, Kentucky.

Some called it a Revival.

Trying to figure it out myself, what I know to be true is that one sweet girl walked down the aisle and stopped me to ask if there was a prayer team up front, which I wasn’t certain of but felt sure there had to be.  I walked with her to find an individual in that role.  I stayed with her as someone prayed over her, as did I.  What I learned from her story is that she didn’t know why she was here.  She didn’t know what kept drawing her back because she had already been here days ago.  She confessed to having walked away and returned with a repentant heart to be reconciled with God.

She didn’t say these words, but if that’s the definition of Revival - that’s what she was there to do.  A chapel of decisions were being made to get right with God.  There was no preaching. There was no baptismal pool.  There were, as best as I could tell, baptisms of Spirit. Nothing else could explain this outpouring of the Holy Spirit to a non-denominational campus of believers.

More than half of the people stood to represent coming here from outside of Kentucky.  More than half of the people stood to represent being younger than 25.  There was a collective yearning to be or see where God seems to have laid a stake.  People inside and outside were believing in it and honoring it wherever it was that God was choosing to be exalted.

The Lord was leading the way and everybody was trying to get out of it.

Asbury did that so beautifully.

And the wind blew and blew.

It felt like the breath of Heaven.

This is the word.  I believe it.

1 Corin 1:10-17; 2:4-5

Ezekiel 18:31-32

John 3:8