Grow Your Faith During College by Going on the Offensive
INTRODUCTION
To fully grow in college, you have to go on the offensive. This means you need to act … meet new people, explore new subjects, join new groups. But in college, your spiritual growth needs a good offense too because the defensive-minded college student risks being swallowed by the chaos of our world. At ORU, Spirit-empowered students are taught to attack the chaos, to go on the offensive with their faith. Going on the offensive is the message from ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson in “War: Attack.” In this Chapel message, President Wilson urges you to act and to take action for God. He cautions against fearing the impossible, while emphasizing the power of God in our active battles and our faith.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Our Spiritual War Zone
· We are living in a spiritual war zone, and we must learn to attack in the name of Jesus Christ. In the middle of the chaos, we must commit positive action for the glory of God against our spiritual enemy.
· “Conditions will never be perfect for serving Jesus Christ. In this kind of emergency, chaotic world that will never be normal, God is calling you to learn how to attack the enemy’s kingdom in the name of Jesus.” — Dr. William M. Wilson
· “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” — 1 John 3:8
· Our call is to join with Jesus in assaulting darkness and destroying the devil’s work. Engage with the devil — drive him out — whether it’s sickness, disease, hopelessness, possession, religious abuse, sin, or death. Jesus came to destroy Satan’s work wherever He found it.
· In your life, the best defense is a good offense. Spiritually, when you go on the offensive, it helps you defensively as well. Jesus wants you to take His message of hope to a hopeless world, knowing that when you do, the best defense is a good offense.
Going on the Offensive
· “The victories you win right now in your life are important because later on, they will be places of refreshing for you.” — Dr. William M. Wilson
· God is able to save using many or using few. A single person filled with courage and God’s word can turn the tide. When you are full of courage and by the sword of the Spirit you attack the enemy’s kingdom, God is going to witness and shake the world for the glory of His name.
· The impossible becomes possible when God’s servants are courageous. Things will never be perfect if you’re waiting for the world to settle down. You’ll be waiting the rest of your life. In the middle of it all, hear the Holy Spirit, hear the voice of God saying “Nothing is impossible with me. Rise up, attack Satan’s kingdom, and I’ll give you the victory.”
· We must attack even when the odds are against us. God is calling us in the 21st century to move out of the defensive and into the offensive. Find somebody who’s hurting. Find somebody who needs prayer. Find somebody who needs love. Find some situation where Satan is at work and attack his power.
· “You will never hurt the enemy’s kingdom as long as you are afraid of being hurt.” — Dr. William M. Wilson
· When you’re under spiritual attack, your weak spot will be exposed. It may be in your family or in your home or in your mind … whatever it is, your weak spot will be vulnerable to the enemy. The way to turn the tide is to attack, to come back at the enemy with the ferocity of your faith.
Watch the full Chapel — “War: Attack” — from ORU President William M. Wilson, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.
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