Many people have heard about the events that began on February 8th at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. That day, after a regularly scheduled chapel service, a small group of students lingered in the chapel. Something happened. Everyone has their own opinion about what has happened and what is the right terminology for it. Still, there is no doubt that something happened. Day and night, from that moment, there has been what has been most often described by those most closely involved as “an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”
There have been many phrases used to describe what people who have been there had felt or experienced. Peaceful, gentle, sweet, and similar words and phrases have been commonly used to describe the experience of being in the chapel these past two weeks. I am sure many people have powerfully experienced God during this time, but my personal experience is better described as “beautiful” rather than powerful. It was not overwhelming but sweetly precious to be there.
There are those who are critics, those who are promoters, and those who are curious and wondering what it is all about. I know there has been an intentional effort to keep personalities and professionalism from conscripting what is taking place and making sure that it is simply about Jesus and whatever His agenda may be in the lives of those who in any way are participating. The leaders are quick to say they don’t even claim this to be a revival but simply an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They say that history can decide exactly what to call this outpouring. That is true. History will indeed determine what this is best to be called.
High up on the wall in the front of Hughes Auditorium on the campus of Asbury University are inscribed the words, “Holiness Unto the Lord.” Beneath those words are people upon whom the outpouring of the Spirit is taking place. How very appropriate that is because to whatever extent this is an outpouring from God, it will be marked by holiness.
The Spirit is poured out in the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit who is holy by name and nature, and He will always work in holiness. The Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He works in Power. He is the Comforter, the Helper, and He can be described in so many ways by the things that He does. By His nature, however, He is holy and desires to produce holiness in our lives. All that He does is holy, for He is holy, and the fruit He produces in the lives of believers will also be holy.
I hope the singing, praying, worshipping, testifying, and all the rest continue for a very long time and spread to many places in this nation and around the world. I also hope that long after this “outpouring” is accomplished, we will see a generation and a Church marked by Holiness Unto The Lord. We so desperately need that, which the Holy Spirit desires to bring.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.