Circuit Thoughts

As I sit here in my office, I have a live feed playing from Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky. This school is a private university and seminary and something extraordinary is happening.

A revival service that started on Feb. 8, has been going 24/7 ever since, with no indication of slowing down. What started as a chapel service has become a world wide phenomenon. In fact, this revival has spread to its satellite campuses and to places around the world. There is no liturgy or order of worship. People come up and lead worship, there is testimony time and there is lots and lots of prayer. We are talking about thousands if not millions of people being affected as we speak.

This happened twice before in my lifetime. Once in 1970 and again in 2006. What I’m seeing is a hungry generation seeking God, and the Holy Spirit moving among the people. This is absolutely beautiful.

We are coming upon the season of Lent, with my next Sunday being Transfiguration Sunday. The Transfiguration was when the veil between our world and Heaven was opened and Peter, James and John got a peek of what was to come. I believe it was then that things changed for the disciples. They may not have realized the import, but they knew that things were not going to be the same.

The problem with revival is that afterwards, things are not the same. When we have been a part of a Holy Spirit revival, we are not supposed to stay where we are. Revival calls us to become Kingdom Builders.

I often wonder what would happen if our churches got the Holy Spirit acting in our worship. Like the chapels at Asbury, what would happen if we just let the Holy Spirit take over? Can you imagine your church being in prayer and praise mode for eight days or more? I can’t. What would the world look like if followers of Christ stopped the 10:30 to 11:30 service and just went as long as the Holy Spirit told us to? I know some churches do, but what about yours? What about mine?

I also wonder if I have the strength of faith to let go. I’m a preacher. I lead worship. Do I have what it takes to just let the Holy Spirit take over? I know I say I hope the Holy Spirit shows up, but do I really mean it? Preachers can be control-freaks. We want worship to be planned, concise, correct, and appropriate. Letting the Holy Spirit take over could get messy. Am I able to let it get messy? What would it look like?

It would probably look like the Kingdom of God. Maybe you should encourage your preacher to let the worship service get messy, maybe we should invite and expect the Holy Spirit to take over. The worst that could happen is a revival could take over. Come to think of it, wouldn’t that actually be best?

Shalom my friends.

See you in church.