Spiritual Awakening in the Presence of God

“Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples’” (Luke 11:1, ESV).

If we are honest, we must admit that many of us are weak and ignorant about how to commune with God in prayer. We need Christ as our teacher. He does not give up on us. In his grace, he meets us where we are and leads us where we need to go. It is through prayer that we experience the presence of the Lord and commune with him. We need the Lord’s presence and instruction to best learn the ways of prayer.

Bill Elliff states, “Everything flows from the presence of the Lord. Everything.”[1] I long for the presence of God manifest in my life. As the Psalmist wrote, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1, ESV); “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory” (Psalm 63:1-2). God is awesome in every way!

Do you have that kind of hunger for the Lord’s presence? It is in the presence of the Lord that we commune with God through prayer. When God’s people pray in God’s presence, things start to happen. God moves in ways that can only be attributed to him. When God is at work, everyone knows it. I long for times of worship like that.

For several years, I have been praying for spiritual awakening in my life, among NGU students, and at my church. I want to see God move in ways I’ve only read about in history books. The Great Awakenings in the United States were times when God poured out his Spirit. Believers repented of their sins, longed for God, and prayed for forgiveness and restoration. Unbelievers saw the genuine change in the lives of believers. When they were in the presence of God at revival services and other times of worship, they were convicted of their sins and thousands received Christ. The Jesus Movement of the 1960s and 70s, was the last national awakening that happened in our nation. I remember the zeal that believers had for evangelism and discipleship. Many who came to faith were those who rejected and rebelled against established institutions; people from the hippie generation. They were unwilling to settle for business as usual. God moved in my life during that period. I am thankful for many friends who received Christ during those days.

Sadly, the church has often presented obstacles to spiritual awakenings. The truth is that God sometimes moves in ways that makes us uncomfortable. Too often we have settled for business as usual when God wanted to do so much more in our lives. Will you join me in praying for genuine spiritual awakening in my life, on the NGU campus, and all across the nation. The gospel of Christ can mend our faults and bring reconciliation. We have been reconciled to God in Christ, and he has called us to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-21). Lord, send a Holy Spirit inspired awakening that shakes the world for your glory!

[1]Bill Elliff, The Presence Centered Church (North Little Rock, AR: Truthlink, 2015),

Mission-Focused

“When the days drew near for him [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51, ESV).

Mission-Focused is the fourth and final core value of North Greenville University. Jesus Christ exemplified keeping his focus on his mission. As the days drew near for Christ’s arrest, death by crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was resolute in keeping his focus. He came to seek and to save the lost by offering his life to bear the sin burden for all humanity. He knew what awaited him in Jerusalem, but still set his focus resolutely on his mission. Nothing, not even the enemy, could deter him.

At North Greenville University, we must be resolute in keeping our focus on the mission. It is so easy for Christian institutions, including the church, to drift away from their mission. Many times, the drift is unintentional. However, drift is always away from the mission. The current flows in only one direction. A mission is a specific task that a group or individual is charged to pursue. Focus involves adjustment for distinctly clear vision. The mission of North Greenville University is to build graduates who are transformational leaders for church and society. Spiritual formation is essential to the process. Jesus commanded the church to make disciples through evangelism and disciple making (Matt 28:18-20). You have to be a disciple before you can make disciples. Believers must be disciples who are growing in the faith and modeling a Christian lifestyle before they can effectively pour their lives into others. Therefore, at the core of our mission, we must be disciples who make disciples. With Christ as our example, North Greenville University is Mission-Focused and intentionally insulating the institution from mission drift. 

Academically Excellent

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, ‘Which commandment is the most important of all’ Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’” (Mark 12:28-30, ESV).

Academic excellence is another one of the four core values of North Greenville University. When Jesus asked what was the greatest commandment of all, he immediately responded by quoting a passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Jesus stated that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. What did Jesus mean by calling believers to love God with their minds? Christianity is a rational faith. It is important for believers to give a reasonable defense of the faith to the unbelievers in our culture. Since many people in the United States do not have respect for or even knowledge about God’s Word, it is increasingly important to defend the faith through apologetics that are grounded in a philosophy that is biblically faithful and addresses the key questions of life such as how did life begin, what is our identity, does life have a purpose, how do we determine what is right and what is wrong, can we find redemption, what can heal the divisions in our world, is there any hope, and how are we to live?[1]

In truth, all academic disciplines point to God, but this truth has been denied by many scholars who hold to naturalism. It seems they work their hardest to deny there is a God and teach that an educated person must move beyond a belief in the supernatural. Perhaps the primary motivation of some is that if there is no God, there is no accountability. Therefore, everyone can do what is right in his/her own eyes. The problem with this view is that such a philosophy of life invariably infringes on the rights of others and forces them to live under the authority of the voices of those who are in power. The absence of law leads to chaos.

Because North Greenville University is Christ-Centered (Weekly Walk two weeks ago) and Biblically Faithful (Weekly Walk last week), every academic discipline must integrate faith and learning. The College of Business and Entrepreneurship teaches that the best professional practices are rooted in the principles of the Bible such as treating people the way that we want to be treated, serving others, building leaders, and developing excellence. The College of Communication and Fine Arts embodies the richness of creation and beauty. They train educators, worship leaders, actors, actresses, and communicators on how to influence the culture in a positive way, bringing glory to God. Christian Studies prepares students for rigorous academic study of the Scriptures and their application. They shape hearts that are spiritually sensitive to combine with their academic studies, preparing ministers, intercultural leaders, youth ministers, educators, and others. Humanities teach the lessons of history, the richness of literature and creativity, and the use of languages to understand and reach the world. The School of Criminal Justice trains students to live out the command to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Through social research, the study of the needs of various age groups, and counseling, psychology helps students to make sense of the world and teaches ways to serve and help others. The sciences discover and affirm God’s design and purpose for creation. Students are prepared to be teachers and researchers, impacting the world for the glory of God. Education trains teachers to integrate faith through the learning process instilling biblical values in the lives of others. Teaching is a calling from Christ, the master teacher. Students are trained as teachers not only to fully equip their students academically, but to fully equip them for life through love, grace, and forgiveness. Wellness and the health sciences affirm the wonder and intricacies of the human body and teach people how to enjoy life in health through physical education and outdoor leadership. Sport management offers a platform for influence in athletics, coaching, ministry, and missions. Mathematics reveals order and consistency.[2]

Academic excellence is the goal of every institution of higher learning. What sets NGU apart from most institutions of higher learning, is our holistic approach to education, instilling the biblical faith into every academic pursuit. We feel that we prepare students for more than a career. We prepare them to impact the culture and for eternity, building transformational leaders for church and society.

[1]See Chuck Colson and Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live? (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1999) and John P. Newport, Life’s Ultimate Questions (Dallas: Word, 1989).

[2]Much of this paragraph is adapted from the NGU website and other university documents. 

Biblically Faithful

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13, ESV).

Biblical faithfulness is another one of the four core values of North Greenville University. What is so special about the Bible and why should we be faithful to its teachings? As the verses above state, “The word of God is living and active.” The biblical text refers to Jesus as the living Word of God (John 1:1-17) and to the Scriptures as the written Word of God (2 Tim 3:16). The written Word of God, the Bible, is the infallible, inerrant record through which God reveals himself to us. The Bible is not a word about God, but rather it is the very word of God. It is true without any mixture of error (see “The Baptist Faith and Message 2000”) because the biblical writers spoke directly from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. If mortals were the authors of the Scriptures alone, they could not be trusted. I am very much aware of most of my imperfections and my fallibility as you are of yours. But God moved the authors of the Scriptures by the power of the Holy Spirit to record exactly what God wanted to communicate without error (2 Pet 2:20-21).

All we know about God is what he has chosen to reveal to us. God is the source of the Bible; it is God-breathed or inspired. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 reveals that the Scriptures are able to teach salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains believers in righteousness, equipping them for every good work. To be biblically faithful is to place the Bible as the standard for all of life. It is the lens through which believers see and interpret the world. The Scriptures reveal the light of God that pierces through the darkness. Nothing can be hidden from him. He sees all and holds us accountable for our thoughts and actions. The Bible is the standard for all faith and practice.

A word of warning: the Bible, in its entirety, is God-breathed. Many people fall into error when they magnify one text of Scriptures above all others. They often make that text the lens through which the rest of the Bible is read. This practice is flawed and leads error and improper interpretation. The Bible in its entirety is the lens through which we interpret God’s revelation. When properly understood, the Bible never contradicts itself. The most reliable interpretation of the Scriptures is through the Bible itself.

NGU represents these unchanging truths to the university family, local churches, and our culture. The university is unapologetically committed to biblical faithfulness. It is the standard through which our lives, churches, and cultures must be evaluated. If we are to build transformational leaders for church and society, we must be Biblically Faithful and Christ-Centered (see last week’s “Weekly Walk”).

Praying with Your Bible Open

“An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked person: There is no dread of God before his eyes, for in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to discover and hate his sin. The words of his mouth are malicious and deceptive; he has stopped acting wisely and doing good. Even on his bed, he makes malicious plans. He sets himself on a path that is not good and does not reject evil.” Psalms 36:1-4

Gary Millar warns that evangelicals have largely given up on prayer in Calling on the Name of the Lord. I fear he may be right. We have appropriately emphasized reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible to our lives, but many of us neglect the spiritual discipline of prayer. After all, God is sovereign; he does not need us to accomplish his purposes. The Lord knows our needs before we ask because he is omniscient. So, why should we pray?

Jesus instructed his disciples in the sermon on the mount that when they pray (not if they pray), do not be like the hypocrites. Jesus expects us to pray. Our Lord is one with the father, yet in the early morning, while it was still dark, he went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35). The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray (Luke 11:2). It is a learned spiritual discipline.

Many times, we fall into ruts in our prayer lives, using the same words about the same concerns day after day. Because this practice is routine and devoid of spiritual power, we quickly give up on prayer. We are easily distracted by our phones, social media, concerns for the day, email, etc. How can we learn to enjoy prayer in a deeper way?

Prayer is communication with God. That involves voicing our concerns and listening for God’s voice. It has been helpful to me to practice prayer with my Bible open. After all, the Scriptures are the primary way that we hear from God. In the last couple of months, I have been praying through the Scriptures, specifically through the Psalms. It’s really a simple practice. I read through a phrase or verse then pray about what comes to my mind. It doesn’t matter whether my prayer relates specifically to the text. I pray about whatever the Holy Spirit through the text brings to my mind.

Try praying through the text above. This is my prayer through the Word. “Your word says that sin speaks to the wicked deep in his heart because he has no fear of God. Teach me to have a healthy fear of you. Protect me from being blinded by my sin. Keep me from deceiving myself with flattery that hides my iniquity. Protect my mouth from deceit. I know I am vulnerable, only a step away from disobedience. May the things that break your heart, break my heart. I pray for some of my friends, some are close friends, who have acted treacherously. Their words are smooth and flattering, but in an instant, they have turned to deceit and acted unwisely. I pray that you would overwhelm them with your convicting Spirit. May they feel godly sorrow that leads to repentance. May they be restored by repentance and faith. Give me the grace to rebuild trust even when they have betrayed me. You are my refuge. Help me to praise you at all times because you are good. Keep me from wickedness. May I find my peace in you.

Praying God’s Word keeps my prayers fresh and protects me from falling into a rut. What about you? How do you keep your prayer life vibrant and fresh?

The Problem with Prayer

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

This text is one of the great promises in the Scriptures about prayer. Now, this is not a blank check from God to believers, but don’t underestimate this promise. There are two conditions that precede the promise. If I abide (live, dwell with, remain) in Christ and his words abide in me, I can ask whatever I wish and it will be done. Other texts in the Scripture refer to the necessity of praying according to Christ’s will. I have found that by abiding in Christ (Andrew Murray’s book, Abide in Christ, is helpful) and focusing my attention on God’s Word (filling my life with it) leads me to the biblical concept of putting on the mind of Christ. This process helps me to pray according to the will of the Lord because his presence and his words guide me to know his will.

For many of us, the primary problem with prayer is that we do not practice it. Even when we do, we find ourselves saying the same old words about the same old things. We become bored with our prayers and don’t feel like praying. Soon we abandon the work of genuine prayer. But the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer will not allow us to be comfortable in our prayerlessness. We blame ourselves and feel like second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. As Don Whitney states, “The problem is not you; it is your method” [See Donald S. Whitney, Praying the Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017), 12].

All of us pray for and about our families, finances, vocation, studies, people who need Christ, the needs of our church and ministries, Christian cultural concerns, and the current crisis we face. That’s only natural. The problem is not that we pray for the same things, but with the method we use in prayer. Whitney and others argue that we should use the Scriptures as our guide in praying for these needs. For example, Psalm 1 contrasts the ways of the wicked with the way of the righteous. This text helped me focus on the need to seek godly counsel related to all the issues of my life (my family, finances, the crisis I am facing, etc.). I need relationships with people who do not know Christ. These friendships challenge and encourage me in my walk with Christ. They also provide opportunities to share the gospel. But my closest and most influential advisors must be followers of Christ. It is through godly counsel that I make the best decisions.

Are you satisfied with your prayer life? If so, I rejoice with you. If not, ask the Lord to show you how to use his Word to strengthen your prayer life. My prayers are with you.

The Character of a Leader

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14, ESV).

Last week I had the privilege of serving as a guest lecturer in Dr. Frankie Melton’s class on leadership. While there are many important aspects of leadership that grow out of the literature on the topic, management theories and practices, vision for the future, servanthood, etc., I chose to address spiritual formation in leadership. Many Christian schools have lost their way due at least in part to a failure to focus on the need for continued growth in discipleship for every constituent of the organization (students, faculty, staff, administration, donors, and the Board of Trustees).

A basic axiom of leadership is that you cannot lead anyone anywhere that you are unwilling to go. You may be able to give directions to the destination, point others in the right direction, etc., but you can only lead people to the destination by choosing to go on the journey with them. Community is a significant aspect of spiritual formation. The spiritual leader must engage the community.

The character of leaders determines the impact of their influence, particularly in Christian institutions. The text above focuses on the inner life of believers. Here are some character traits of Christian leaders.

  1. Inner purity/personal holiness. Many avoid the topic of personal holiness because of our sinfulness. Yet inner purity is essential for leadership. Ron Boehme states in Leadership for the 21st Century that we are only as pure as our thought lives are pure. Our thoughts are a primary spiritual battlefield. We must take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5).
  2. Integrity reveals our true motives and who we really are. Chuck Swindoll stated that integrity is what we are like when no one else is around.
  3. Faith involves salvation, mission, vision, endurance, and completion. Where there is no faith the people are defeated.
  4. Hope is at the heart of the Christian faith. It gives us the courage to endure in the face of great challenges. Leaders must radiate this kind of hope. It is compassionate and contagious.
  5. Love/Compassion. This characteristic demonstrates kindness and gentleness. Christian leaders must show compassion for the people they serve, for the lost, and for the nations (the mission of God has always been global in nature). Our conversations must be seasoned with love.
  6. Micah asked what does God require of his people (Mic 6:8)? He has told us to do justice, love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with God. We have to move beyond political correctness and traditions to do justice. Christ has broken down the dividing wall that separated races and ethnicities. He is our peace (Eph 2:11-22). We are called to be ministers of reconciliation. The gospel requires that we love our neighbors (all people) as we love ourselves. We need to address the justice issues of our day with the gospel of Christ. We are called to a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-21).
  7. Knowledge (including education) is power. Lord Acton stated that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. History reveals the truthfulness of this axiom. This is why we must guard ourselves against arrogance. Humility is not a weakness, but rather a strength. It is an honest assessment of character and gifts grounded in a sense of one’s unworthiness and sin. Christ is the ultimate example of humble leadership.
  8. Christian leaders must cultivate unity through humble service, a listening ear, personal sacrifice, and team development. The joy of leadership is found in sharing the journey, graciously dealing with defeat, and celebrating victories with no regard for who gets the credit.

Can you think of other character traits of successful spiritual leaders? I’d love to hear from you.