For 20 years God has been speaking to Dutch Sheets about revival breaking out on college campuses. We sat down and talked with him about what has happened at Asbury university and the early beginnings of a possible Third Great Awakening.
“What is happening at Asbury is just another sign,” he says. Dutch isn’t fazed that the revival is ending at Hughes Auditorium.
He believes the outpouring experienced there is part of the bigger picture of what God is doing in the earth. Dutch encourages believers to discern and look for more subtle signs as these events start to take place.
On the week of 9/11 Dutch had an open vision from God about a revival happening in the hearts of young people. He describes seeing things in the Spirit with his eyes wide open. He saw a hand write on the wall Acts 3:19 which says, “Therefore repent and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Describing the vision, he saw a fire of God coming to America. The fires of revival began to burn on college campuses. “What I saw wasn’t like anything I’ve seen,” Dutch says. The grassroots movement wasn’t surrounding a ministry or person but students gathered together organically.
What has happened at Asbury has sparked a fire in believers around the country. Repentance, holiness and worship has transformed the minds and hearts of many. God is reminding His church that He can and will move in this country.
“There is no revival I know of in history that didn’t come at a very dark time spiritually, morally and nationally,” Dutch says.
The point of revival is revive the hearts of the people. God can and will pour out His spirit on those who will respond. Let excitement and joy replenish your soul. What has happened in Asbury is real and along with Dutch, you should be encouraged by it.
“Whether it happens there or in a charismatic church it doesn’t matter to me. God never limits His outpourings to a particular stream or denomination. He comes to the hungry. We build those walls, He doesn’t,” Dutch says.
So, how can you prepare yourself for all that is still yet to come?
Stay hungry for God and walk in humility before the Lord. Dutch reminds, “He is our only hope!” Continue to pray and ask for revival and be supportive of where God moves. “Be a unifier not a divider,” Dutch says.
Dutch, like many others are standing on faith that the awakening that’s coming will bring in a billion souls. Don’t be discouraged that Hughes Auditorium is closing it’s doors, this is just the beginning.
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Shelby Bowen is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
