Theology | Spirituality
Asbury University: What People Are Not Telling You
What is all this about, a revival? “I’m not Christian, do I need to know anything?”
There’s a lot of talk about Asbury University and the other 2 or 4 universities that have been having what is called for some a "revival." The dictionary defines revival as the restoration of life.
But, let’s slow way down and take this one item at a time. I will use the term “spiritual encounter” and not "revival."
What Does the Bible Say About Revival or Spiritual Encounters
Without quoting Scripture, those who would understand quoting Scripture would just defend what’s happening, which is thus counterintuitive, so I will define the concept in the Bible in terms of statistics and research.
First
These spiritual encounters are NOT manufactured or planned. I’m sorry Medium for emphasizing "not."
I emphasize it because there are pastors who, at this moment in time, are trying to make this happen for them or their church. I’ll talk about this soon.
Second
It’s catchy. A real spiritual encounter will reach others who have not heard about what’s going on or are in another country, even, with no effort. But, of course, there is no “they must not have heard.” It’s not a scientific law. None of this is. It could even be that the subject in question passes it on to someone else, even just by walking past them.
There are so many situations where random people have stopped someone and asked them why they were the way they were. These people are not Christians, but they are just seemingly spiritually aware. Furthermore, there are numerous instances in which our subject in question interacted with someone or a group that was fully attentive when otherwise they would not have been if it was not spiritual (the Holy Spirit).
Third
Spiritual encounters are never fully explained. People are still coming up with things about Jesus’ death and crucifixion.
- they go over millions of people’s heads
- people scramble to make a judgment
- people read twisted stories
- people hear Christian violations about the event
- and literally hundreds of other scenarios.
This part is known as "spiritual psychological operations," and most people who hear about the spiritual encounter will lose the battle, so to speak. God will only reveal Himself to those He desires (no matter how hard anyone tries), and there’s always a negative spiritual force. The laws of nature follow spiritual laws, for every action, there’s a reaction. So on and so forth. The only power humans have is when they give themselves to one side or the other; that is where good and bad come from. See? It keeps going. Forever.
But here’s a secret—a secret about God. Come here, come close. If you really want to know something, then start working with God. Too easy. You don’t know how to work with God? Well, that’s why you don’t know much about this. But sorry, that’s for another time. However, that starts with someone just opening up their heart. “How do I open my heart up?” someone may ask. Just like you do with a puppy. Start there.
Spiritual encounters of this magnitude are simply too vast for any single person to comprehend. “I want to know everything God is doing”, you won’t.
Fourth
Thousands to hundreds of thousands of Christians have become engulfed in the sauce. They are useless to ask. God has been put on the back burner for them, and when these large events happen, they will get in their cars and drive there, just to come back and talk about what they are wrong about. “It’s a revival!” they say. Okay, I’m good with that, of course, so who got restored? Can’t spiritual encounters be about equipping people, like in Ephesians 4:11–16? Restored is only one measure, and God is making a whole cake. Every time a big event happens, I hear fellow Christians all say the same thing every time — “revival,” “revival,” “revival,” etc.
“So many people are being brought to God.” That’s generic. People are brought to God on their deathbeds, too. These events are not to be publicized for anyone’s social media gain; it just makes them look really, really—I hate to say it… um… dumb… Sorry, all. But it really does. These encounters are for each person to come to a certain spiritual anchor (like in rock climbing) for themselves in light of God’s larger Kingdom picture.
It is different for everyone. Even if I’ve helped just one person a little in this regard about spiritual encounters, they are now part of what’s happening there, too. God uses all situations for good. We can’t keep up with the world. We simply get what God wants us to have for the position or placement He has called us to. God has placed me in a church in Greensboro, NC. Because I'm planted there, that's where my fruit grows.
Fifth
“Am I missing something?” someone may ask. I don’t know—the answer could be yes or no. I don’t have that answer, and no one else does either. But God does. Some people are in comas today. Are they getting anything? Yes and no. I am 100% positive someone woke up from a coma during this spiritual encounter, and someone in a coma did not gain anything.
There is someone else who is lost from their hiking adventure, I believe, too. Not everything is for everyone. God is always working in me, just as He is with you. For me, God does not only move during large spiritual encounters like this event. I love that God is doing some really good stuff! But the truth is that much of what God is doing could be done for you as well, in your closet, with just a prayer and some alone time with God. God wants a deep connection with your spirit. You don’t need to be a part of this if it is not authentic for you.
Be authentic with God, and He will be with you. Ask God how you should respond. But be ready for anything. God might immediately move or say something to you, or God could wait a month or a year and wait until you feel less of yourself for not “getting” anything. Your validation should come from God, not from highly publicized spiritual encounters where God is moving in the hearts of others. God can plant a seed, of joy we’ll say, in you today that you have not had before, but you will never experience it if you measure your encounters with Him by other people’s encounters. Give yourself grace, but don’t excuse yourself when God is nudging you.
Conclusion
If you're a pastor trying to fake it, you've completely missed who God is. This is not a dumb Christian pastor’s conference on how to build your wallet. If you try to duplicate Pentecost, that’s like the Israelites during Moses’ time putting fake blood on their doors. I understand that living for God is scary, and duplicating this population size in your church would be great for business. But that’s not how Kingdom finances work, nor is that God’s intention for you. You will still be held responsible for delivering a message that the Holy Spirit brings to you. If God knows you would not, based on the fact that fear runs in your veins, that fake blood will keep God away from your life (not death from your door).
Humans can’t educate you on your relationship with God. The number of people in your church does not impress me (Joel Osteen, for example). Doing good and positive earthly work does not equate to Kingdom work. You can make the whole world peaceful and financially successful, but dead in spirit. Kingdom work is where the real gold is. Gold is when the spirit beings in the spirit realm actually know your name.
“But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, ‘I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Acts 19:15.
Play dumb games and win nothing that matters, but that makes you feel big and important. But if you play godly spiritual games, you'll end up in the same pond as the big fish.
The same beings that know Jesus will know you. Is there anything better?
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