Between the Asbury Revival of 1970 and the Outpouring of 2023
Friday, February 17, 2023
Lord, let worship tear down demonic strongholds.
Yesterday Rich Swingle, IFA contributing writer and prayer leader, spoke with a man who had been a classmate of Jeannine Brabon, who was instrumental in the 1970 Asbury revival. The man made an interesting comment about the differences between the two outpourings: The 1970 revival was marked by testimony, usually focused on repentance, and then with worship: this current outpouring seems to be marked by worship, followed by testimony of repentance, healing, and deliverance.
Worship has always been central to spiritual warfare. Judah — the tribe whose name is linked to praise — was the tribe that disembarked first from the Israelite camp (Numbers 2:1–4). Joshua sent first the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, representing the very presence of God, into the Jordan when the Israelites began to take the land (Joshua 3). The Lord ripped open prison walls when Paul and Silas worshipped in the Philippian prison (Acts 16:25–40).
Further, the Bible tells us that the Lord is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). That being the case, is not the heartfelt expression of worship going to bring the overwhelming power of the presence of the Lord into our environment, circumstances, and community?
And given that the days are increasingly evil — seemingly more evil than those of 50 years ago — the presence of the Lord in overwhelming abundance is even more necessary to the clearing away of demonic strongholds. As the love of most grows cold, the fire of His presence as He inhabits the praises of His people melts away the ice, burns away the demons, and creates a new ladder to heaven (Genesis 28:12).
The Lord is accomplishing His work today in Asbury and beyond, even as He did in the 1970s. Throughout the ages and across the globe, the Lord has visited His people to recover them to Himself through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In His wisdom, He chooses the means and the expression of His visitations. We are left to revel in His goodness and rejoice with the saints.
As Joyce Swingle, IFA contributing writer and prayer leader, reflected on the Swingles' days in Wilmore, she told IFA that a spirit of humility is dominant. This was also emphasized by student body President Alison Perfater in an interview with Glenn Beck: "My generation struggles with pride, and what we've seen here is a radical humility. Students are standing up and confessing … and they're opening their hearts up not only to the presence of God but to each other, and that is a very intimate thing. … There is that core of honesty that we are holding onto."
Radical humility. Is that something you want? Please post your prayer in the comments.
