Like the majority of believers in the Christian community, I have been genuinely encouraged by the awakening that began at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky last month. Honestly, it’s not so much about the event in and of itself, which is recognizably amazing and transformative, but rather for me it’s been much more the individual stories and testimonies of the many lives that have been greatly and even dramatically impacted by the revival, that has brought a renewed sense of hope to my heart. From my personal perspective, the revival is a beautiful reminder that God is at work in the world. I marvel at how an unseen God becomes highly visible by revealing Himself in and through the lives of ordinary people.

Robert Coleman, who served as dean of the Billy Graham International Schools of Evangelism describes revival as, “the awakening or quickening of God’s people to their true nature and purpose”. I believe this is an accurate depiction of what is occurring on the Asbury campus as well as other revivals that have taken place throughout history. While individuals may seek revival and even posture themselves through prayer, repentance and fasting to experience revival, the consensus amongst theologians and Christian historians alike, is that revival in the true sense of the word, is a work of God alone. As I reflect upon this, I am led to consider what I believe could quite possibly be defined as the first revival of the early church as is recorded in the second chapter of the book of Acts.
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, his disciples find themselves in the somewhat confusing, potentially frustrating and most likely frightening position of what next and what now. Before Jesus ascends to heaven, He instructs his disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but rather to wait for the promise that would come from His Father. The problem however was the disciples didn’t truly understand Jesus’ words, and as a result promise was lost to them. And while they were still in the midst of processing all that they had just heard, Jesus shared two more pieces of critical information: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem… and as far as the remotest part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) And with these parting remarks, Jesus ascends into the clouds as the disciples stare dumbfoundedly into the sky. And the final shocker of the day was the sudden appearance of two angels that assure the disciples that Jesus will return again the same way they saw him go. Overwhelmed by an immense mix of emotions and thoughts too deep to ponder, the disciples unite together as a band of brothers and return to Jerusalem to wait, although for what they are not quite certain.

The day of Pentecost…
Ten days after the ascension of Jesus as the believers were gathered together in prayer, the promised Holy Spirit suddenly arrives, bursting on the scene, like a mighty rushing wind and filling every believer present with power. This amazing miracle was witnessed as flames of fire rested upon every person present, resulting in each one of them speaking in other languages. This God-induced, supernatural miracle radically transformed the followers of Jesus, igniting their passion and purpose and solidifying their unified mission to advance the gospel. In speaking on the subject of revival, Richard Owens Roberts, President and a founding director of International Awakening Ministries states, “it is an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.” I share this quote only because this is exactly what occurred on the day of Pentecost.

In my sincere attempts to glean insight and gain understanding in regards to authentic biblical revival, I felt prompted to study and investigate the awakening that is recorded in Acts 2. It was through this process that I discovered that included in the text are well-founded, godly principles that reveal the spiritual conditions that spark a revival, and most significantly the results that follow the revival experience.
Ten Principles of Revival inspired by Acts, Chapter 2

Principle 1: Revival Begins with Unity
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:1 NASB2020

Principle 2: Revival is an Act of God
“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:2 NLT

Principle 3: Revival is a Witness to the World
“At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:5-6 NLT

Principle 4: Revival Brings Glory to God
“Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
Acts of the Apostles 2:9-11 NLT

Principle 5: Revival is Subject to Ridicule
“But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!””
Acts of the Apostles 2:13 NLT

Principle 6: Revival Unleashes Purpose and Calling
“Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming… No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people….”
Acts of the Apostles 2:14-17 NLT

Principle 7: Revival Evangelizes the Lost
“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:41 NLT

Principle 8: Revival Promotes Community
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—”
Acts of the Apostles 2:42, 46 NLT

Principle 9: Revival Fosters Generosity
“And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:44-45 NLT
And lastly…

Principle 10: Revival Expands the Church
“…And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:47 NLT
What an amazing finale to this chapter!! Honestly, it makes me want to applaud, or shout or perhaps even sing!
In closing, in my effort to better understand revival, what has become blatantly clear to me is that revival is not at all about something we do, but rather is based on something we are. Basically, revival is the result of the church actually being, (that is acting, working and responding) as the church was created to be (both as individual members and corporately as a body of believers). Pentecost was indeed a miraculous move of the Holy Spirit that revolutionized the church. In addition, the Asbury awakening, like many other true revivals throughout history, has also greatly influenced and impacted the lives of multitudes, but of much greater significance is what followed, or as is the case in the recent Asbury revival, continues to follow, after these events have ended.
While it is wonderful to experience amazing worship services, sit under inspired teachings and witness godly transformation, if these experiences don’t mobilize and empower us to walk out our faith in the real world, then these experiences are reduced to simply events that eventually fade to memories. True biblical revival is a posture of the heart, results in a renewed sense of godly purpose and passion, is practically lived out and evidenced by an ongoing commitment to holiness and spiritual growth, and produces lasting fruit.
God bless you my friends!

Carol

“So…let’s press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, As the spring rain waters the earth.”
Hosea 6:3 NASB2020