Is this the time?

So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” I Kings 18:42-44a (CSB)

The people of God had grown spiritually lethargic, and Elijah called them out for it with the challenge, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.” (I Kings 18:21) In a dramatic display of God’s power, Elijah single handed confronted the prophets of Baal and won a decisive victory for God.

What do you do after such a spectacular display of God’s power? You retreat in prayer. Elijah the prayer warrior climbed the summit of Carmel to wait to hear from God. Time after time he heard the words, “there’s nothing.” Finally, Elijah heard the simple words, “a cloud as small as a man’s hand.” Praying is hard work and we often don’t know what to look for in an answer. Then that moment came, when, “the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour.”

Is there a small cloud coming up from the sea at Asbury University? If you haven’t seen the reports, there has been an unusual movement of God on this small Christian college in Wilmore, Kentucky. Senior student Alexandra Presta said, “I was in chapel on Wednesday, and it was an ordinary chapel service…. we have them three times a week. But then…people just kept worshiping afterwards. It was a small group of students.” Since February 8, there has been a continuous worship service that has gripped students, professors and now people from around the world. They linger in the presence of God, testify of God’s glory, confess, repent and seek God.

Asbury Professor Thomas McCall writes, “The holy love of the triune God is apparent, and there is an inexpressible sweetness and innate attractiveness to it. It is immediately obvious why no one wants to leave and why those who must leave want to come back as soon as they can…. In previous revivals, there has always been fruit that has blessed both the church and society. For instance, even secular historians acknowledge that the Second Great Awakening was pivotal to bringing about the end of slavery in our country. Likewise, I look forward to seeing what fruit God will bring from such a revival in our generation.”

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2 NIV)

A group of 24 men and 24 women met to pray on August 27, 1727 and agreed to spend an hour each day in prayer, covering all 24 hours of the day, seven days a week. This small group of Moravian believers set in motion what would become known as the “Hundred-Year Prayer Meeting.” Out of this fervent focus on prayer, the foundation was laid for a spiritual awakening in the 1800s. Dr. Nathan Finn writes, “The Moravians became the tip of the spear for evangelical global missions.”

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God because they will return to me with all their heart.” (Jeremiah 24:7 CSB)

The words of Ezekiel still ring true in our day, “This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went. I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the LORD—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.” (Ezekiel 36:22-23 CSB)

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23-24 CSB)

Skeptical or hopeful. Young or old. Churched or unchurched. We can’t help but cry out in desperation at the events that overwhelm us in our nation and around the world. Lord, fall fresh on us today. Only You can bring life, hope, and joy. We desperately cry out to you today!

God is great!