Month: February 2023

Miraculous Testimonies From Asbury Revival

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From Charisma:

by  | Feb 14, 2023 | Prophetic & Revival, Revival

Credit: Linda S. Fox

Over 100 hours at Hughes Auditorium have come and gone, and the heavenly worship is still sounding throughout the auditorium. The Asbury University revival is still underway and has spread to another building on campus.

On Wednesday, Feb. 8th, students at the university gathered together for another chapel meeting. What has transpired since that morning has been nothing short of a move of God.

Students walked in the doors, sat down in a pew expecting another service. By the end of chapel, it was clear this wasn’t just one of their normal mandatory meetings.

Local news outlets in Kentucky have reported on the revival as people carry in pillows and blankets just to stay in the presence of God.

The 1970 Revival

Fifty years ago, Asbury University experienced an eight-day-long revival where class were canceled for an entire week as students and faculty were transformed in the presence of God. It all started with one student saying he was ready to go all in for Jesus and invited other students up to the altar.

Reports came out of the 1970 revival that as testimonies were shared, more breakthrough came. The students would leave to take showers and rush right back to Hughes Stadium to continue worshipping and crying out to God. The fear of Lord was at the forefront of the revival, with a greater understanding of God’s power and holiness.

People were experiencing the manifest presence of God—and they are again today.

Read the full story here

Finding Jesus At A Cafe

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From persecution.org, a testimony of simple faith and trust in Jesus.

2/14/2023 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – Flourish Café is a café in West Java, Indonesia, that opened in 2021, motivated by the owner’s Christian faith and desire to reach out to women victims of human trafficking. At the height of the pandemic, the café was struggling to survive. There were only a few customers who came to the café. They do not have enough income to operate and pay the workers.   

One day, an ICC staff member met with the owner and discussed the cafe’s goals and programs. After hearing about the café’s needs, ICC was able to help the business survive by providing some financial assistance to keep operations running smoothly.   

Every Saturday, the owner held a Discover the Bible And Quran Study at the cafe to prompt discussion about the two books. As a result, some of their employees came to faith in Jesus Christ.  

Reli is one of the employees who came to faith in Jesus Christ. Her story is as follows:   

I’m Reli. I was born in 1994. I was born into a Muslim and tribal family with the largest Muslim population in Indonesia. I grew up to be a naughty teenager; even as an adult, I did not respect my parents, so my relationship with my parents was not close.  

I wore a hijab during high school because the school required it. However, even though I remained a Muslim after I finished high school, I took off my hijab because I felt uncomfortable.  

 In 2021, I began working at Flourish Café. Every Saturday, there is an activity at the cafe to read the Bible and the Koran, and we discuss the stories in the two books.   

From week to week, I became more and more interested in studying the Bible because so many words in it touched my heart. I installed the Bible app on my cell phone to read it throughout the week.   

I told one of my Christian friends about my interest in the Bible. She told me now, if you pray, pray to Jesus Christ. Slowly, I learned to pray to Jesus and felt something different in my heart. I was having problems with my family and with my husband. I prayed to Jesus, and several times in a dream, someone wearing a robe came and said, “Do not be afraid. I will help you” I believe that Jesus appeared in my dreams.   

Every day, I am being changed more and more in my character. First, I became more loving toward my parents and family. Then, I started giving some of the money I received from my place of work to my parents.  

In December 2021, I decided to be baptized because I had complete confidence to follow Jesus. But, until then, my family and husband did not know I believed in Jesus. They are not pleased that I converted and wish me to return to the Muslim faith. I pray that my parents and husband also believe in Jesus.  

Quote for the Day

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The episode with Legion, the cluster of demons possessing the man in the country of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1), simply cannot be considered a disease. A mental or physical illness does not beg to be transported into a herd of swine nor can it jump from a human into the herd (Mark 5:6–13).  Michael Heiser

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-21

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Scripture

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold onto what is good.

Observation

We must honour those who lead in the Lord’s work. We should show them respect and love.

We should rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. We must not stifle the Holy Spirit nor scoff at prophecies. Instead we must test what is said and hold onto what is good.

Application

There are people who, with no scriptural foundation at all, assert that the spiritual gifts ended when the New Testament was completed.

Here Paul tells us to not stifle the Holy Spirit nor scoff off at prophecies. This means that we should welcome all the works of the Holy Spirit, including those that make us feel uncomfortable.

We, that is leaders in the church, must work at making people feel comfortable in using the gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12. If we hem these gifts in with too many rules and regulations, or criticise people, then we are stifling or quenching the Holy Spirit.

When a person prophesies, they are claiming to speak God’s word. We need to listen carefully, swallowing the meat and spitting out of the bones. When a person is speaking by their own spirit, or worse still, an evil spirit, then the church needs to be ready to correct what is wrong.

All of this does not mean we should abandon prophecy. No, we need to hear and discern the words of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, please forgive us for rejecting your gifts when they do not come in the package we expect. Help us to grow in your gifts and facilitate them in our meetings. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

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Scripture

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him for ever.

Observation

We do not need to know when Christ will return. He will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. Disaster will all on those who deny the truth of Christ’s return.

We are children of the day and of the light, not of the darkness and of the night. We need to be alert, and live as children of the light.

Jesus saved us so that, whether we are alive or dead when He returns, we will live with him forever.

Application

The good news is that we will live with Christ for ever. Whether the day of his return is today or another thousand years away, we will all be raised to live with Him.

Nobody who loves Jesus will miss out on the resurrection. For this reason, we should not worry too much about “end times” teaching. It is far more important that we live as followers of Jesus in the present.

If we are faithful to Christ, He will be faithful to us. If we follow him all the way to our death, then we will join Him in eternal life.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for this wonderful promise that every believer will join you and live with you forever. Amen.

Quote for the Day

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Certain New Testament descriptions of evil spirits unmistakably point to an intelligent, conscious spirit entity. For example, certain passages straightforwardly present Jesus in an adversarial stance and in conversation with an evil/unclean spirit, with no hint that Jesus was “playing along” with a deluded, mentally ill individual who only thought he was possessed. Michael Heiser

Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18

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Scripture

The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. First the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

Observation

The Thessalonians don’t need to be taught about loving one another because they already do it.

They should live a quiet productive life. that way, non-Christians will respect the way they live.

The believers who have died will be raised to life. When Jesus returns, those who are dead will rise, and the Christians who are still alive will be caught up to be with the Lord forever.

Application

This passage (vs. 15-17) is often used to justify the erroneous doctrine of the Rapture.

This is not about a snatching up of the Christians prior to the Great Tribulation. No, this is the Resurrection of the Saints. When Jesus returns to the earth, all the Christians – both those wo are dead and those who are alive – will be lifted up to be with Him forever.

This is our hope. Regardless of where we and our loved ones live in the time frame of history, we will live forever in heaven, in the presence of God.

This is a physical resurrection in the same way that Jesus’ resurrection was physical. We will have a new body that is incorruptible and untouched by sickness or death.

What a happy day they will be!

Prayer

Come, Lord Jesus, come. May I be ready to meet with you on that day. Amen