Asbury Revival - Study to shew thyself approved unto God....

 Revival.  That's what I need, that's what this country needs, and it's what this world needs.

So, I've been hearing about the Asbury Revival in Kentucky and seeing footage of it.  Apparently it's been going on awhile.  On the surface it seems like exactly the thing that we need.

Of course Satan would be thrilled that there is no revival at all. In Acts 10, Peter is summoned by Cornelius, a gentile centurion of Rome with many people under him.  Peter goes and preaches the Gospel of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection and being Jesus being "Lord of All" (which was and still is blaspheme to some groups).  

At this time, the Holy Ghost descended upon those in attendance - and gentiles (the uncircumcised) - and even the circumcized witnessed the fact that non-Jews could receive the Holy Spirit and be brought into the Body of Christ.  At this very early time of the Church (Body of Christ), there were many believers (of Jewish origin) who doubted this.  Even Peter had some reservations - and had to be shown the error of his ways through a series of dreams.  These dreams basically taught him that there was nobody that was too unclean to be saved.  Lessons based on what is clean to eat and what is unclean was used to drive on the point that all can be saved, all can receive the Holy Spirit, and all can do the baptism of water.

This is what Scriptures say, 

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

This is VERY IMPORTANT Scripture in the growth and future growth of the Body of Christ (the Church).

Peter had to learn and see with his eyes that gentles could be saved.  It didn't hurt that other early Christians saw the same thing and it also didn't hurt that Gentiles themselves could come to share in the sonship of the Father through their own salvation and immersion of the Holy Spirit.

Now in Acts 15 was a conference that had some focus on the actions of Paul (who if you recall was raised up to primarily minister to gentiles the world over - and would later be in 4 mission journeys throughout southeast Asia, Greece, and other areas surrounding the Mediterrean Sea. He traveled and ministered to people that the 12 apostles wouldn't or were hesitant to minister to.  In using Paul (who was Saul - and was quit happen at the time of the stoning of Stephen) - God grew the Body of Christ exponentially.  It cannot be overstated the importance of Peter's testimony on Paul's behalf - and the general agreement that followed that the 12 would focus on teaching the Gospel to primarily Jewish - and Paul primarily to Gentiles.  I do believe that the Jews had a large array of Biblical knowledge and traditions relating to God the Father - and the Apostles were better able to reach this group of people.  Now, many of the Gentiles were NOT well trained on what was commonly known among the Jews; therefore, the way that Paul preached the Gospel certainly had to be different since there was little foreknowledge - relating to Adam, Noah, Abram, Jacob, Saul, David - etc.

Back to Asbury.  There are notable theologians that are skeptical of this "revival" that is going on in Asbury.  One of the most notable issues is the lack of Scriptural reference throughout these weeks to fuel the revival.

Romans 10:17 states, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God".  It's the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, which should be the driving force behind the revival.  If indeed the use of Scripture is absent - then there's a better than good chance that what is going on is emotionalism instead of spiritualism.

Personally, I hope it is spiritualism - based on Scripture and the Holy Spirit coming down on those in attendance.  In this case, everything happening is great.  It's what is needed.

BUT........if it is not something born of God and is something borne of the human heart - then it probably is emotionalism.

I like the praise and worship service that takes place in churches - as long as the praise and worship is to God - which is often before the preaching of the Word.  But I've seen it where the praise and worship services is more to praise the musical and voice talents of the praise and worship team - which shouldn't be confused with praise and worship of God.

But the meat of the Word is dispensed when then the Word is being taught.  Absent the Word - you don't have a church, you have a group of people that like to congregate.

Of course, Satan would love nothing more than to have people confused and thinking they've had this super special spiritual moment - but instead an emotional moment.  Satan loses when the Spirit runs Christians - but he wins when Christians are just to know the difference between the two types of moments (emotionalism vs spiritualism).

Hoping and praying that Asbury is the real God-driven deal - and not usual Satan misdirection.  He's only got to get our attention and have us focus on things that are NOT of God.  A lot of us simply do not Study to Scriptures and depend on someone else to interpret.  Christian folks are completely equipped to study - but need the Spirit to understand.

2 Timothy 2:15:  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This is a key Scripture - and was the main verse that was the hallmark of the seminary I attended some years ago.

Bible STUDY (not just reading) can be as difficult as reading (and understanding) William Faulkner's works.  You don't just casually read Faulkner, you intensely study Faulkner.  If Faulkner deserves such attention to detail - then I suspect Scriptures do also even more.

It's a critical point - because absent Scripture and the Holy Spirit - what do you really have?  A congregating of people OR a revivial?