Virtue: Devotion
Resolution: I choose to practice spiritual disciplines to nurture my relationship with Christ.
Human Story: Revival at Asbury College
On Tuesday February 3, 1970, Asbury College held their routine chapel service at 10:00 am, yet there was nothing routine about this particular chapel service. It began ordinary enough. The professor assigned to lead the service decided to tell of his testimony in lieu of expounding on any particular bible verses. As the hour was closing, another professor sensed God’s presence and encouraged the leading professor to invite those who wish to pray to come to the altar. The service concluded eight days later.
The small United Methodist college, located in Wilmore, Kentucky, experienced revival. The service continued with student after student giving testimony, expressing how God has been at work in their life, some confessing sin that they had overcome or were struggling to overcome. Each testimony struck a chord with another, prompting them to make their own confession. The testimonies were only interrupted by intermissions of prayer and singing.
By Wednesday evening, the chapel service had hit the local news, and later spread throughout the US and Canada. A number of people traveled to the small town in Kentucky to see for themselves what was happening. Some students were prompted to speak of their experience in their hometown churches, spreading the renewal. Churches and other organizations across North America began requesting students from Asbury College to speak. The college president referred to the effect as sparks from a fire starting new fires.
Asked what caused the revival at Asbury College, the college president attributed it to prayer and need. He referred to a young female student that felt a call to prayer. She and five friends committed themselves in the Fall semester to devote 30 minutes each day to prayer for 30 days. In January, each of the six found five more friends to commit to 30 days of daily prayer. These 36 students were on the chapel stage just prior to the February 3rd service.
1970 was a time of much unrest in our country. The Vietnam War had become very unpopular, resulting in protests and riots at several colleges. That same year, four college students were killed by the National Guard during a protest in the neighboring state of Ohio. Juxtaposed to this unrest, we see the working of the Holy Spirit at Asbury College, like a breath of fresh air. We are currently living in a time that seems to have become more divisive. In our time of unrest, let’s devote ourselves to prayer, seeking God’s will on earth and acting on the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
The following YouTube link provides more information on the Asbury College revival:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qOqitIKUNs
Lesson: James 5:16 (NIV)
Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to the Jewish Christians who had left Jerusalem due to persecution. His letter is a collection of his teachings about how life should be lived. He begins his letter stating that our trials in life can lead to becoming complete in our restoration with God. As James is wrapping up his letter, he emphasizes the importance of prayer in our own healing whether physical or spiritual.
Confessing to one another and praying for each other indicates that we are more effective in community. We shouldn’t pursue our journey alone. We all face trials. We all have struggles. We also all have victories and times of celebration. We should share all of these with each other, lifting each other up.
What a powerful example of the effects of prayer and confession we have in the revival at Asbury College. Students committed to prayer led to a revival sustained by the confessions to one another. The revival was not just a one-time experience, but a life-changing event for many. Being a Christian college, most, if not all of the students, grew up in Christian surroundings; however, some had never personally experienced Jesus in their life. Others experienced a sustained renewal, including a Bible professor whose relationship with Jesus had become distant. One person referred to the revival’s effects as “tradition becoming reality” and “vocabulary becoming experience”.
May our community at Mission Cleveland Parish become one of prayer and sharing with one another, so that we journey together in God’s process of our own restoration, leading to revival in our city and beyond. Selah.
Remembrance:
Book of Common Prayer
Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in You our refuge and strength. Hear now my silent prayer.
Challenge
We practice corporate confession each week in our services, but have you ever openly and verbally confessed a sin to a trustworthy person? Sometimes we repress the sin in our lives, keeping it locked inside. Putting words to thoughts and feelings makes them real and forces us to deal with them. Confessing those sins to someone frees you from guilt and pride and helps you accept God’s forgiveness. Thoughtfully and prayerfully consider whether you need to confess a sin in your life to a trusted friend.
Reflection
Have you felt a call to prayer either in a general sense or toward a specific issue or circumstance? Do you think God has placed a similar burden on any of your friends? If so, seek out a group of folks who might be interested in praying together on a regular basis.
Further Growth
2022: Book of Common Prayer Proper 10
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Psalm: Psalm 25:1-21
New Testament: Colossians 1:1-14
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
2021: Book of Common Prayer Proper 10
Old Testament: Amos 7:7-15
Psalm: Psalm 85
New Testament: Ephesians 1:1-23
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13
2020: Book of Common Prayer Proper 10
Old Testament: Isaiah 55
Psalm: Psalm 65
New Testament: Romans 8:7-17
Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23