I commend these two articles about this revival, The Asbury Revival and Asbury: 200 Years of Revival by Kurt Mahlburg.

As a recently retired faculty member from Alphacrucis University College, based in Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, I ask the question, ‘Why not here in Australia?’ I have had the experience of ‘chapel’ here in a Christian tertiary context for over ten years, and I think I know something of the culture of Christian tertiary institutions here in Australia. Why not revival here in Australia? Some reflections and prayers.

Spontaneous

In reading about the Asbury Revival, some things stand out for me. It was not planned. Just imagine if the student leadership or the faculty ‘decided’ that on Wednesday 8^th February 2023, they would initiate this year’s revival! The idea is totally preposterous. Yes, we can have chapel services ‘teaching’ about revival. We can have prayer meetings ‘praying’ for revival. But ‘when’ is in the hands of the Holy Spirit. That is an awesome idea to come to terms with. We can’t put God into our year planner. For some, dare I say, many academics, this is not a good fit with our culture! Imagine the messiness of not knowing when God will show up!

The Asbury Revival has been characterised by radical humility, generosity and gratitude. For me, I think I can take steps in the directions of humility, generosity and gratitude, but for any real lasting fruit, I most assuredly need the hand and the power of the Holy Spirit. But my theory is this. Unless we take the first step, He won’t.

Those involved with the Asbury Revival had a real problem finding words to describe it. It seems to me to be one of those things that can’t, by definition, be described. If we could, we would be putting the Holy Spirit in a box or in a book, or in a blog post. It simply can’t be done, and should not be attempted!

Sometimes in my Christian journey, I have met those who decry those who major in ‘experiences’. But for the subject of revival, I think there is only one way to describe it: we have to experience it!

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13, my underlining)

Being with Jesus was most certainly an experience that impacted these people’s lives. I think we simply need the humility to accept that we need to be marked by the experience of revival. (As an aside, I most assuredly don’t think this scripture means that there is no place for Christian schools, colleges and universities — it simply says God does not need them, but I am convinced He uses them.)

Fruits of the Spirit

Some of the results, or the fruit, of the Asbury Revival: Salvations, deliverances, healings, conflicts resolved, tensions lifted, a tangible increase in the genuine care for one another, and freedom from loneliness. This list is brilliant! You can’t imagine any of these being transitory. I would expect these things to be ‘lasting fruit’. So much so that the wider community will be transformed.

Back to my question, why not here in Australia? Why not! God is sovereign, and His timetable is not ours, but we can pray, and we can lay down anything we know to be a potential hindrance. I offer a few bullet points:

1. If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
2. Colleges and universities across Australia should give freedom to the students to take the initiative. I am not saying revival can’t come through faculty and staff, but it seems to be that the younger generations are the ones hearing from God so acutely and accurately. Revival can’t be mandated or managed from the top down.
3. It seems to me that revival is God’s answer for a divided world. Some say the forces of division in America are greater than they have ever been seen since their Civil War. I pray that the fruit of Asbury may heal their land. And that the forces of evil arrayed against Christians and the Christian faith here in Australia might be turned back by revival.

May revival come again to our land.

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Photo: Daily Citizen/Focus on the Family.