Asbury Testimony: Repentance + Redemption

Called to Asbury:

I'd been reading and hearing stories of the Spirit-led Revival at Asbury University. People were pouring in from all over the country and the world. My excitement was enormous! A revival! I've read stories of other revivals and always wished I could be a part of one, to experience God's Spirit in that way.

I knew I had to get there. I asked the Lord for affirmation. I picked up my bedside Bible and asked for a verse. Zecheriah 10:9. "Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me..." He had affirmed His call to His people from across the lands.

My eyes moved up the page and there was the verse for me. 10:8. "I will whistle for them and gather them in…" My heart sprang with joy. Lord, I hear your whistle and I am coming!

I'm not someone who generally takes spontaneous, out of state road trips. Especially with multiple small children. I discussed the pros and cons with my husband, Matt, on the car speaker phone with our kids in the backseat. Further affirmation came from the voice of our 6-year-old. "You should go to God!" she exclaimed.

I checked my heart and my intentions. I knew that I didn't have to drive 7 hours to a town in Kentucky I'd never heard of to experience God. I've experienced Him before and knew that I could experience Him right where I was. I decided not to go.

But, a few hours after deciding not to go, I told my husband, "This feels like a mistake." I felt in my heart that God wanted to do something in life while I was there. We decided I would go alone and that felt right.

The next day, I drove the 7 hours straight to Asbury. I was mindful to try and not have my own expectations, while also staying expectant of what God was going to do.

Saturday's Lesson:

When I arrived, it was a cold evening. I walked around for a short time, taking in the scene, gathering my surroundings. There was a large lawn in front of the auditorium with no less than a thousand people gathered. Two large screens projected what was happening inside.

People from all over were there to experience God. Adults were watching the screens, worshipping, praying, and praising. Children were playing together, laughing alongside the worship. It was really a beautiful sight to behold. It makes me emotional to consider such a blessed and pure scene.

It was also notable that God was the only reason to be there. There were no big name speakers, no rockstars, no performances (even the worship team was set to the side of the stage, facing each other.) There were no food trucks. There was no merchandise. The only food came from Salvation Army Disaster Relief trucks, handing out snacks like chips, coffee and doughnuts.

It encouraged me tremendously to see such a huge remnant, hungry for God. Despite what it feels like when we see the news or events like the 2023 Grammys, God's people are strong in number in the world and they are seeking His face.

It reminded me of God's conversation with Abraham before destroying Soddom and Gomorrah. God showed us He is willing to save a nation on behalf of a righteous remnant.

As I approached the lawn, I smelt a fragrance in the air. It was not something I've smelled before. I could not place it or identify it, but it was absolutely lovely and had a sweetness to it. No one else I spoke to could smell it, but to me, it was thick in the air.

I remembered testimonies I've read of people encountering Jesus who spoke of a beautiful scent that entered the space. Scripture speaks of this in Revelation 5:8. "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

I knew that what I smelt was a fragrance of Heaven, not of Earth. I felt so blessed to have been allowed to perceive the scent, to have been chosen to receive that gift!

I asked some people who were still probably an hour or so away from getting in how long they had been in line. "8 hours," they said. There was not even a hint of frustration or complaint in their voices.

I knew I wouldn't be able to get in that night and there was a longing in my soul to want to experience Jesus right away, to be close to him, to just be with Him. It reminded me of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark, chapter 5. I got a tiny glimpse of the desperation she felt just to touch the fringe of His garment. I prayed for the people who are desperate for Him today, that they would experience Him and know He is always near.

For a couple hours, I worshipped and prayed along side the brothers and sisters there. I felt to pray for a woman next to me. She was on her knees and crying before the Lord in her worship.

"Can I pray for you, sister?" I asked.

She said I could, so I asked what she needed.

"I need more of Jesus. I need Him to use me more," she said. How beautiful, I thought.

As I drove back to my hotel, I prayed over an expectation I'd had, that had not been met (one of those that I was trying not to have). A testimony from another revival spoke about people a block and half away being slain in the Spirit, just walking by. I didn't feel that. God was clearly there, but I could not describe the feeling as "slain!"

The lesson He spoke to me was that, "Faith is more than a feeling." I don't have to be overcome by His presence to know that He is there. Then it dawned on me what a gift that is! We can know and trust that He is there, whether we feel it or not.

I also perceived that in this revival, God was meeting people right where they were. Each testimony was unique. There was an undeniable display of the intimacy that God shares with each of His children.

I went to bed early the first night with the plan of arriving very early the next day to ensure that I would get into the auditorium. It would be one of the last days open to the public.

Sunday's Deliverance:

The next morning, I again approached the campus. It was still dark and I could hear voices singing. A group of Brazilians were there, waiting on the steps right in front of the auditorim door, singing praise in Portugese to Adonai. Another beautiful sight to behold. Praise being sung despite the cold, despite that the sun had not even risen yet. Praise rising to Christ the King! My soul smiled.

The doors did not open until 1pm and I was grateful for the company of the believers around me in line. We waited, shared testimonies and eagerly anticipated the doors opening. The common sentiment among the people there was, "I just felt like I needed to be here."

We waited in line for 7+ hours and were some of the first people inside. Going up the steps into the hall was such an exciting feeling, I shook with nerves the same way I did on my wedding day! I felt like I could not get up the steps fast enough. We were seated in the balcony at the back of the hall.

I'd decided to fast that day and by the time we were allowed inside, I had a headache. As the worship began, I tried. I tried to participate and praise, but felt hindered by my headache.

There were two women behind me. They were weeping and praising Jesus, clearly having the experience I was hoping to have!

I put my head down in my lap and prayed. "God, what is going on? You say that when I seek you, I will find you. Where are you?"

The music stopped for the reading of Scriptures by young adults. 15 or so young people had come forward to read a verse into the microphone. And that's when I felt it. When the Word of the Lord was spoken aloud, I could feel the "Holy Spirit tingles."

After the scripture readings, the person holding the microphone reminded the attendees that there were people ready to pray with us. I knew before I'd even left my house that I would go to the altar for prayer. I'd already spotted the individual that I wanted to pray with me. She was a white-haired woman wearing pink. As the music began again, I got up for the altar. I cannot explain what happened to me. I felt overwhelmed from head to toe. A sort of rush came over my entire body. I held close to the railing as I walked down to the main floor, feeling unsteady.

As I walked through the aisle up to the altar, it was loud. The atmosphere felt somehow stronger on the lower level. The woman in pink was reading her Bible.

I approached her with tears in my eyes. I asked if she could please pray for me. She gave me the biggest smile and nodded yes! She seemed so excited and happy I was there. She asked for my name and told me hers, Beth.

Beth cherrily asked, "What is Jesus saying to you?"

Still crying, I answered, "I don't know. I just know I want to be clean. I want to be clean from anger and unforgiveness and jealousy and bitterness and pride."

Beth nodded and started flipping the pages of her Bible. She opened to Ezekiel 36:25 and set the book before me. "Read this out loud and insert yourself into the Scripture," she said. I nodded, knowing speaking the Word of God is how we yield the Sword of the Spirit in the Heavenlies.

Tears streaming down my face, I did as she'd said. "Then you will sprinkle clean water on me, and I shall be clean. You will cleanse me from all my filthiness and all my idols. You will give me a new heart and put a new spirit within me; You will take the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. You will put Your Spirit within me and cause me to walk in your statutes, and I will keep Your statutes, and I will keep your judgments and do them. Then I shall dwell in the land that you gave to my fathers; I will be Your people, and you will be my God. You will deliver me from all my uncleanness."

"What uncleanness?" Beth asked me.

I looked at what I'd just read "All my uncleanness," I answered, nearly sobbing.

I could see my tears dripping down onto the pages. "I'm sorry for crying all over your Bible," I said.

"It's good. This Bible has been cried over many times," She responded. "My own tears over this same verse," she said, as a woman of great faith would.

Still weeping, I prayed a prayer of repentance for my sins. Desperately crying out, asking that the Lord would deliver me. Beth then prayed over me, also.

Another had come up seeking prayer and my time at the altar was complete. Walking back through the aisle, many were caught up in their own worship. Others, seeing my face wet with tears, gave me loving and knowing glances.

By the time, I sat back down, I felt absolutely terrible. The rush of all the emotions and crying had multiplied my headache and my empty stomach felt nauseous.

People all around me were worshipping, but I could not bring myself to do so in that way. I'd waited in line for 7 hours and I hadn't been inside but 15 minutes. But, I felt my time there was finished. It was time to let someone else have my seat.

Feeling the Lord release me, having completed what He'd called me there for, I turned to my friends from the line who were seated next to me. "I think it's time for me to go now," I said.

I slowly walked down the steps to leave, still closely holding the handrail. I felt depleted and struggled to get out the door. This was certainly not how I expected to leave the Hall after my experience!

I walked straight to a nearby porta potty and threw up. (If you are not familiar with deliverance, vomiting is a physical sign of a spiritual cleansing.) Though it initially appeared unpleasant and confusing. I can now see God was so kind to me in what happened after I left the altar. He knew I would want a sign to affirm my delieverance, which He gave me. Yet, in His great graciousness, He also allowed me to experience that sign privately. I was so relieved not to have thrown up in the auditorium!

It was all I could do to drive the 20 minutes back to my hotel. I did not have the energy to even call my husband. I laid down for a few hours and slept.

When I woke up, I ordered a steak and began to process and share with those who'd been praying for me what I'd experienced. Still exhausted, I went to bed that night earlier than my 3-year-old back home.

After Asbury:

My experience of deliverance at Asbury was over a week ago now and the Holy Spirit fire is burning within me in a new and profound way that is difficult to articulate. I feel lighter, I feel more joyful.

Gratitude comes more easily - I found myself thanking the Lord for our plates! What a blessing to have something to eat off!

I had to have what could have been a difficult conversation with someone in my life who'd been causing me to feel troubled. Where I normally would have been nervous and rehearsing my words, I found myself fully forgiving her before the conversation even began!

I heard a small voice saying, "Don't let her off easy, remember what she's put you through." But I said to that voice, "No. She is my sister in Christ and I do forgive her fully."

I used to crave black tea, coke and coffee. Now, I cannot get enough water! My craving for sugary snacks has subsided.

My faith feels bolder and stronger. My sense of spiritual sensitivity and discernment is heightened. My heart breaks in new ways for those who are lost and under Satan's deceitful power.

Sin and the things which abhor God feel especially offputting. I have a new found resolutness not to do things which separate me from my Lord. If I do, speak, or think something that I should not, repentance seems to come as quickly as a reflex.

Where before I had hesitation to serve in additional ways at our church, my mind has shifted to a Kingdom perspective. Now, I can see that God is reaping His Harvest and I am honored that He should choose me to be a laborer!

The fire each person received at the revival surely did not stay at Asbury. It is now all over the world. And when one flame meets another, fire spreads!

The Word of the Lord is true. When we seek Him with our whole hearts, we will find Him!(Jeremiah 29:13)