Chapel Show Notes

While You’re in College, Don’t Let Culture Consume You

INTRODUCTION

College has its own culture. It’s a culture connected to young people who find commonality in a university’s customs, social institutions, and achievements. And while culture is important in college, it shouldn’t undermine your faith; it shouldn’t erode your connection to God. At ORU, our culture is about learning and community, but it’s also about personal growth and personal faith in a Spirit-empowered environment. ORU graduates go out into the world and change culture — like a thermostat; they don’t let culture change them — like a thermometer. In his Chapel message “Built in Babylon”, Eli Bonilla Jr. cautions against thermometer Christianity and urges you to scrap your blueprints, ignore the labels, and have faith to endure the impossible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

And Even if God Doesn’t ….

· God is able to save and do immeasurably more than you can think and imagine, but what about the moments when God doesn’t?

· “There’s a generation that’s rising up that says, ‘I don’t care about the consequences of following Christ. I will be able to do it because I know He’s given me the grace of a faith that says “And even if he doesn’t.”’” — Eli Bonilla Jr.

· You were born in a broken world that bends toward opposing God. But you were placed here not with a spirit of fear for where you were placed but with a power that was placed on the inside of you.

· The Kingdom of God is for all those who are willing to say “We want to establish something more than just another institution or another building or another tradition in the earth. We want something eternal.”

· A thermometer is designed so that whenever it comes into contact with something, it adjusts to the thing it comes into contact with. The church has come into contact with culture and instead of changing culture, culture has changed the church. God is flipping the design of a generation that says, “We’re not going to be thermometers, we’re going to be thermostats. Wherever we go, we change the temperature of culture; wherever we’re inserted, we’re the ones that make the difference.”

Having Faith to Face the Impossible.

· Stop asking God to do what you want Him to do. Oftentimes, God is saying “Wrong question. I understand what you’re trying to say, but I’m doing something more profound and deeper inside of you.”

· Culture does not have a structure big enough or robust enough to give every single person the justice they deserve. But Jesus says “I’m a carpenter. I’ve built a table big enough. I’ve built a family big enough for all of you to come.”

· There are two types of labels that have been put on a generation. One label is the label that we put on ourselves. The second type of label is the label that culture puts on you according to what culture believes about you either superficially or just at a moment in your life. It’s not your job to fight the labels other people place on you. If they didn’t design you, they can’t define you.

· “When I say ‘You’re built different,’ I’m not talking about being built different because of your skin color. You’re not built different because of your background. You’re not built different because of your educational status. As a matter of fact, it has less to do with what you’re born with and more to do with what you’re born again with.” — Eli Bonilla Jr.

· The God that knows the future has us in His hands. So whatever He decides to do, we trust Him enough to say “Either this, or either that.” Faith doesn’t make things easy. It makes things possible. God is bringing us into a place where we say, “God, I don’t want what’s easy. I want to face the impossible and watch you do a miracle.”

· “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” — Philippians 4:11–13

· It is not easy to be hungry and love God, but it’s possible. It’s not easy to be persecuted for your Christianity and remain faithful, but it’s possible.

· “I don’t want the faith that says save me from the persecution. I want the faith that gives me the passion to endure no matter the cost.” — Eli Bonilla Jr.

Watch the full Chapel — “Built in Babylon” — from Eli Bonilla Jr., and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

The Key to Growth: You Have to Embrace the Weight

INTRODUCTION

In college, it’s easy to expect growth from the everyday responsibilities of studying and learning. There’s definitely growth in these college activities, but if you’re avoiding things that will stretch you, then your growth is greatly limited. At Oral Roberts University, students grow in a Spirit-empowered environment, one that uses faith and God’s calling to stretch lives beyond the ordinary. This “stretching beyond the ordinary,” according to Luke Barnett, often requires the “weight of preparation” … a/k/a the weight God places on you to move you past the status quo. In his Chapel message Embrace the Weight, Luke lists four reasons why you should never cast aside the weight God wants to put upon your life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Weight of Preparation

· Embrace the weight because the weight will make you great.

· Two kinds of weight can be picked up in life. There’s the weight of burdens, and there’s the weight God puts on you in order to grow you. The latter is called the “weight of preparation.”

· “If you never allow a weightier thing to be put on you, if you never allow your faith to get up under something that’s heavier, then your faith will never, ever grow.” — Luke Barnett

· If you can easily lift five pounds, and you only ever lift five pounds, your muscles won’t get stronger. When it comes to your faith, if you want to move into greater dimensions of blessings and influence, you must be willing to pick up a greater weight. If you expect God to do big things in your life, you have to lift something heavier.

· If asked to carry a heavier weight, don’t immediately cast it aside. God might be preparing you and growing you for the next great thing in your life.

Four Reasons Why You Should Embrace the Weight

· First, the weight will call more out of you, but you’ll never see that called out until you embrace the weight. If you continue to live at your current level of comfort … if you resist the weight that God wants to put on your life in order to grow you … then all that will ever flow out of you is what’s currently flowing out of you.

· “If you will embrace the weight that God is putting on you, it will call out of you a greater level of gifting, a greater level of anointing, a greater level of influence, and a greater level of prosperity. So don’t cast the weight aside.” — Luke Barnett

· The Bible says the calling and the gifts of God are irrevocable. So how can you step away from the calling and purpose of God in your life? Don’t cast the weight aside when God puts something heavier on you. He does it not to crush you but to grow you into your destiny and purpose.

· Second, the weight will clarify your perspective about who God really is and what His capabilities are.

· Some have faith going in the wrong direction. They say things like “As surely as the Lord lives, He can’t use my life.” The devil has them placing their faith in the wrong direction because they’ve yet to clarify who God really is and what His capacity is.

· “If all you ever see in life is what you can see, then you will never see all there is to be seen. Faith is not what you can see. Faith is what you can’t see. Faith is what you hear. Faith is what you read. Faith is what the Spirit of God speaks into your life.” — Luke Barnett

· If you will embrace the weight, it will clarify your perspective. You’ll say things like “I once saw this as a weight, but now I see an abundance in my life.” Or “I once saw this as a hurt, but now I see God using it for my greatest ministry.”

· Third, the weight will test your faith. There comes a time in all our lives when we have to pass a test in order to go to the next level of God’s blessing. God will not tempt you, but He will test you to see if your faith is strong enough to carry a weightier thing.

· “There will always be these moments of testing. Why? Because if your faith can’t be tested, then your faith can’t be trusted.” — Luke Barnett

· Fourth, the weight will prepare you for something far greater than what you’re currently experiencing. It’s going to put more demand on you. It’s going to take you out of your comfort zone. It’s going to stretch your faith. But ultimately, it’s going to prepare you for the miraculous things that God wants to do in and through your life.

Watch the full Chapel — Embrace the Weight— from Luke Barnett, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

From College to Life: How Do You Find Your Fit?

INTRODUCTION

When you choose a college, you’re hopefully finding a home and a family. But this choice doesn’t necessarily mean you’re finding your fit … i.e., finding your life’s purpose and direction. Finding your fit means taking intentional steps, some personal and some spiritual. At ORU, students find their fit in a Spirit-empowered environment that’s guided by academics, community, and faith. Through prayer and worship, ORU students foster a deep and personal relationship with God, a relationship that’s underscored in David Winston’s Chapel message “Finding Your Fit.” In this Chapel message, David discusses the frustrations of finding your fit and reminds us that dependence on God is critical to finding your best fit.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Are You Missing Something?

· It can be frustrating trying to find our fit in life. When we force ourselves to fit in a place where we don’t fit, it’s frustrating. It’s hard. It’s difficult.

· “The Lord will work out His plans for my life — for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.” — Psalm 138:8

· To find your fit, the first thing you need to learn is don’t hide your flaws and don’t let your flaws make you hide.

· “We always have these things about us that we don’t like. We might see something we don’t like. But God made you the way He made you on purpose for a purpose. The way you do it is how God needs you to do it, and He’s counting on you to do it that way.” — David Winston

· “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” — Ephesians 2:10

· Sometimes, you think you’re missing something, that you’re deficient. You think it’s a liability that you’re not like somebody else. Satan tries to use this to slow you down because a “liability” in Satan’s eyes is a lie about your ability. The enemy wants you to put yourself in this box by making you think that you don’t have what it takes.

· “God says ‘All I need you to do is say yes. Don’t examine your flaws.’ I believe that what we think are flaws are actually just access points for God. Because in those areas that we are weaker, we are more readily able to give that area over to God.” — David Winston

You Already Have What You Need

· “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9

· God doesn’t measure your success by what others are doing. He measures your success compared to what He told you to do. When we look at success, some of us don’t want success as bad as we want acknowledgement. We really want the acknowledgement that comes from success because we’re battling with insignificance.

· “God has already impregnated you with solutions that will help with world problems. And oftentimes, we’re looking externally … ‘God what can You do to solve this issue?’ … but God says, ‘All I want you to do is step in front of a mirror because in front of the mirror, you’re looking at the solution.’ You are a walking solution to the things that we’re seeing here in this earth.” — David Winston

· God does mighty works with the things we view as insignificant.

· You don’t perform in order to get God’s anointment. God won’t call you to it unless He’s anointed you. If God has called you to it, He’s already anointed you for it.

· Potential is concealed greatness. There’s greatness inside of you, but everything great has a starting point. A seed will never grow unless it’s buried. God wants to bury you into the ground not to hurt you, not to harm you, but to plant you and grow your greatness.

Watch the full Chapel — “Finding Your Fit” — from David Winston, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

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.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

College Gives You Skills, but Are Skills Enough to Change the World?

INTRODUCTION

Changing the world, one might think, begins with acquiring the right skills … maybe the skills learned in a college classroom. But changing the world actually begins with the humility that comes from a total dependence upon God. To change the world, you need more than the right skills; you need to have God in your skills. At Oral Roberts University, a Spirit-empowered education isn’t solely about learning skills; it’s also about finding your purpose through a relationship with God. In “Finding Purpose in His Presence,” Russell Evans, senior pastor of Planetshakers Church, offers the key step to becoming a world changer. In this Chapel message, Pastor Evans reminds us that in life, you can’t depend upon yourself and your abilities. Instead, when you got out into the world, carry the presence of God, and God’s presence will set you apart.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Power of God’s Presence

· Opinions are everywhere. In our prideful world, everyone is saying “I’m right!” But there’s only one who’s right, and His name is Jesus.

· “We need to live a life that’s not prideful but humble. The Bible says that God resists the proud, but He exalts the humble. What is humility? To me, it’s total dependence upon God.” — Russell Evans

· How do you discover the functions of your iPhone? You discover the creator of the iPhone, and you discover why they created it. The iPhone was created by somebody the same way God created you. God says “I want to take you on a journey,” and the only way to discover God is to be led by Him. You must ask “God, what do you want me to do in my life?”

· You enroll at a university to learn certain skills. Upon graduating, you might say ”I’m going to leave here with my skills, and I’m going to use them to change the world.” But the way you change the world is not through your skills; it’s through the God in your skills. That’s how you change the world.

· “Then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’” — Exodus 33:15–16

· God is everywhere. His presence is everywhere but not just His presence, a manifestation of His presence too. When you go out into the world, you carry His presence. You’re going into a world that’s full of pride and opinion. You go and you bring His presence because it’s the presence of God that sets you apart.

God’s Presence in Your Purpose

· “There’s a voice of destiny, and there’s a voice of insecurity. For a while, I followed the voice of insecurity. But when I had an encounter with Jesus, something changed because His presence changes you.” — Russell Evans

· Don’t depend on yourself. Don’t plan on your ability. You need God’s presence because without God’s presence, this world will become more prideful. This world will become more divided. This world will become more hateful. With God’s presence, something shifts; you carry the presence of God. And when you carry the presence of God, you’re an atmosphere changer

· How do you discover your purpose? You get in God’s presence. God predestined you. God wrote your existence before you were even born so your journey is the journey of humbling yourself and asking God “What do you want me to do?” It’s God’s presence that sets you apart. It’s God’s presence in your life that determines the atmosphere of your home and the places you go.

· “What’s the key to success? Obedience. Where does obedience come from? Humility. And what does humility do? It gives grace.” — Russell Evans

Watch the full Chapel — “Finding Purpose in His Presence” — from Russell Evans, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

From Stationary to Impact: How College Students Can Get Unstuck

INTRODUCTION

In college, you’re working towards your future resume. You’re building a list of qualifications that will open doors for you. But what if the doors you’re called to don’t perfectly fit your qualifications? Does that mean you’re stuck? At Oral Roberts University, our students are more than just the sum of their qualifications; they’re Spirit-empowered leaders who move forward with faith. In this Chapel message from Reina Olmeda., moving forward means you “Don’t Get Stuck in the Process.” For students called to unfamiliar or uncomfortable things, Reina’s advice is to trust God because when God calls you, He will prepare you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Pursuing Your Assignment

· God wants to impact the world through you, through the birth of your dreams, your purpose, your destiny … the thing that the Lord has put in your heart to do.

· “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” — Genesis 12:1–3

· There are four stages of an assignment that have the power to define your character and your destiny: the call, the response, the process, and the promise.

Don’t Get Stuck

· Don’t look at your tomorrow based on where you are today. Don’t limit yourself to what God can do because of your reluctance or your lack of know-how. God will surprise you because when God calls you, He will prepare you.

· “God is preparing you for where you are headed, and there are gonna be moments where you’re gonna have to make a choice whether you listen to the noise around you or the God that called you. What is it gonna be?” — Reina Olmeda

· The process is necessary because it’s going to produce growth and faith. When God calls you, He can’t take you to the promise until you go into the process. The process is what’s going to build your character.

· God never called you to compare yourself to other people. When you start there, God cannot use you. God has a particular anointing for you, and you will never know the level of your anointing until you reach out and grab it. Stop looking at yourself through the lens of others. God has a vision just for you.

· “I’d rather be struggling than surviving. When you are surviving, you are putting up with whatever is being thrown at you, but when you’re struggling, you’re still in the fight.” — Reina Olmeda

· Don’t run away from the hard things. Look them in the eye. When you look at hard things in the eye, you take their power away.

· Whatever doors God opens, walk in even if your resume doesn’t match. If God wants you to stretch your faith, then stretch your faith.

· Get rid of every distraction. Get rid of the people that speak against you. Quiet the noise and the worldly distractions. Don’t depend on the culture to satisfy the hunger that you have.

Watch the full Chapel — “Don’t Get Stuck in the Process” — from Reina Olmeda, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

“Real” Rest: What College Students Really Need

INTRODUCTION

Rest on a college campus can be a difficult concept. For many college students, rest won’t fit into a full day of classes, clubs, and activities. But rest is essential in college, not just for physical health but for spiritual health too. Spirit-empowered students find spiritual rest in the calming of the Holy Spirit and in moments of quite prayer. They find real rest in God. In “Real Rest,” Allie Mendoza highlights the chaos of the world, where busyness has become a shield and the personable is sacrificed for the productive. Allie advocates for real connections — with God, with friends, with ourselves — and cautions that a full calendar isn’t the same as a full life.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What Is Rest?

· Rest can be a noun or a verb, a thing you can have in your life or an action that can be done. As a noun, “rest” means “freedom from activity or labor; peace of mind or spirit.” As a verb, “rest” means “to cease from action or motion; to refrain from labor or exertion; to be free from anxiety or disturbance.”

· Don’t confuse vacation and rest. Rest means rejuvenation. Rest isn’t the absence of work or responsibility or pain, but rather, it’s the rejuvenation of the self so we can meet that work or responsibility or pain with the heart and mind of Christ.

· Real rest is living in peace. It’s trusting the Lord even when circumstances might be hard, when things feel out of control. It’s keeping eternity in mind in the middle of the mundane.

· “We view rest as a distant reward instead of making it a natural rhythm of our lives.” — Allie Mendoza

How To Cultivate “Real Rest”?

· Enjoy solitude, and in your solitude, be alone with the Lord. Jesus modeled this well. The New Testament contains many examples of Jesus seeking out solitude. For Jesus, rest wasn’t a reward. Rest was part of his everyday life, and through His example, we have permission to rest too. Solitude is the only place that forces us to go from doing things for God and learning about God to just being with God.

· “But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” — Luke 5:15–16

· Daily repentance and forgiveness are foundational to rest. These two practices ensure that we’re living in freedom.

· “We’re in the process of sanctification, and daily repentance is part of sanctification because it strengthens your relationship with Jesus and it makes you more like Him. It’s not a legalistic practice; this is a liberating practice.” — Allie Mendoza

· Rest comes when you stop making busyness a personality trait. Busyness is a shield we use for productivity at the expense of being personable and connected. To connect with God, with others, with ourselves, we have to realize that having a full calendar isn’t the same thing as having a full life.

· Boundaries promote rest by protecting our lives from being too busy. Boundaries aren’t a burden; they’re a blessing to the things you value most because they help you know what to say “yes” to and what to say “no” to.

· If you have an undecided heart, you can’t rest so keep your commitments. Pray about them, then commit your “yes” and commit your “no.” When you oscillate back and forth, the voice of the enemy can sneak in, and it becomes difficult to distinguish the voice of the Holy Spirit from the flesh and those around you.

· Selective hearing delivers rest in a world that’s both chaotic and full of voices, opinions, comments, and perspectives. To hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit, you must intentionally turn down the volume and choose who you’re listening to.

· “Listen to advice and accept discipline so that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the advice of the Lord will stand.” — Proverbs 19:20–21

· Find rest in doing what your soul was created to do. This is not your side hustle; it’s an activity that’s not productive except that you love to do it. Hobbies and passions are life-giving things. They cause you to love living. When you become so focused on your to-do list … on the next thing … you forget to enjoy the things you were designed as an individual to enjoy.

Watch the full Chapel — “Real Rest” — from Allie Mendoza, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

Valuing Your “Here” While Attending College

INTRODUCTION

For some students, attending college is a “there” decision because a college education gets them “there” … to a job, to a career, to a paycheck. But with their eyes set on the horizon, these students forget about “here” … they miss the holiness of their today, their now, their in-the-moment. Students at Oral Roberts University look to the future, but as Spirit-empowered believers, they also know the value of connecting with God in the present. Valuing your present is the message of Michael Todd’s “Here Is Holy.” Michael Todd encourages you to find value in your here, your now, your today. He cautions against squandering God-given moments, against wanting a future version of God’s fruitfulness instead of the faithfulness of “here.”

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The Kingdom … That’s All That Matters Here

· One day, you will do great things for God. But you aren’t there yet. You are the hands and feet of Jesus, but you can’t go there, unless you stay focused here.

· Here is holy even if you don’t like here. Here doesn’t have to be comfortable for God to be here. You just have to be here with an open heart and an open mind to develop what God is trying to develop.

· “Here is holy because there’s not promised. Here is the only gift you have right now to steward over, and some of us are squandering the moments that God has given us because we’re wanting a future version of the fruitfulness of God when we will not be intentional with the faithfulness of here.” — Michael Todd

· “Here” can be defined as “opposed to there.” The word “holy” means “set apart; completely other than; declared sacred.” Put these words together — “here is holy” — and you have an awareness that your current situation is sacred and being intentionally used by God to prepare you for your purpose. It’s opposed to there.

· The sacredness of here is difficult for people because many of us have been indoctrinated with the theology of there. The theology of there makes you devalue here because you think one day, life will be better than it is now.

· Your trial here is not a punishment; it’s preparation. The thing you’re going through right now — that big obstacle — is an opportunity. Lean into what God wants to do you, and you will be less frustrated with here because here is holy.

· “Here is a prerequisite for there. Here is preparation for there. Here is qualification for there. Here is sanctification for there.” — Michael Todd

· There devalues here because there distracts you from here, it distracts you from what God is trying to do with you right now. What if the whole reason God brought you here was to give you a vision that has nothing to do with your future plans. God’s purpose will prevail, but most people will not stay still long enough to hear the purpose.

· “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers.” — Matthew 6:31–32

· Unbelievers focus on there because they don’t have a God that stands here and there. God has you right here. God has you up there. And God has you back there. The only reason you get here is because of God’s faithfulness back there.

· Seek first the Kingdom because that’s all that matters here. You can’t seek God from there. You can only seek Him from here so seek first the Kingdom.

· “God said it may not be in the package you want, but it will be a part of your purpose. Most people won’t seek God here because they’re fearful of there, and so they want to be the savior for up there when we already have one.” — Michael Todd

· Reexamine everything you’ve asked God for here so you can see if what you’re wanting here is the thing that’s hurting you now and in your future.

· Don’t act like you’re someone you’re not. God doesn’t bless the person you pretend to be. He blesses the person you really are.

Watch the full Chapel — “Here Is Holy” — from Michael Todd, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

How College Students Can Make Good Decisions

INTRODUCTION

For college students, making good decisions can be extremely difficult. Every day, college students face temptations that can undermine their Christian values and derail their future. At Oral Roberts University (ORU), students reinforce their values through Spirit-empowered living, but like all students, they face trials and uncertainties. So when faced with a potentially bad decision, how does a college student make the right decision? In “Decisions,” ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson discusses the consequential choices in your life and how to approach them. He breaks down the reasons why Christians make wrong decisions and offers insights into choosing the good over the bad.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Why We Make Bad Decisions

· The average adult makes an estimated 35 000 decisions a day. Many are mindless decisions, but about 70 of them are consequential decisions about your life.

· Consequential decisions are important because they ultimately determine the direction of your life … and the direction of your life determines your destiny.

· “God has given man a free will. In other words, God does not create robots out of humans. He created us with a free will so that when we choose Him, He gets the ultimate glory. This is what separates us from the animals, that we have this capacity to make choices and to choose God and give Him glory in our lives.” — ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson

· One reason college students make bad decisions is because they listen to the wrong voices. They listen to the people around them instead of listening to God.

· Students also make bad decisions when they don’t do their homework before acting or they don’t consider the long-term consequences of their actions.

· Spiritual bondage impacts the ability to make a clear decision. When a student’s will has been enslaved by prior decisions, good decisions are more difficult.

How To Make Good Decisions

· Every day, God puts before us the option to be blessed or to be cursed, to have life or to have death. He gives us the ability to choose which one we want.

· “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” — Deuteronomy 30:19

· Every day of our lives, we face the blessings of God and the curses of God, and our decisions will make the difference in whether we are blessed or whether we are cursed.

· College students can make good decisions by meditating on Scripture and by obeying God in ways they already know. A new word from God shouldn’t be expected if the last word wasn’t obeyed.

· Consulting the right people is a pathway to good decisions. Choose your friends wisely, and if you’re associating with the wrong people, choose new ones.

· “Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. God is speaking at all times. God’s word says ‘Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.’” — ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson

Watch the full Chapel — “Decisions” — from ORU President William M. Wilson, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.

When College Students Say “Yes” To God

INTRODUCTION

College students shouldn’t say “yes” to everything. Sometimes, “no” is the right answer … “No” to drinking; “No” to cheating; “No” to lying. But with God, “yes” is the only answer. It’s an answer that will open doors during college and beyond because saying “yes” to God reveals His incredible plan for a Spirit-empowered life. In “God’s Next Yes,” Tony Stewart discusses the “Yes” of God and its impact in your life. He shows you how saying “yes” today will unlock God’s “Yes” of your tomorrow.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The “Yes” Of God?

· “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge — a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.” — 2 Corinthians 1:20–22

· In 2 Corinthians 1:20–22, the word “Yes” simply means to come into agreement with or to partner with.

· God wants to take the blank pages of your life, and He wants the agenda of Heaven — the “Yes” of Heaven — to fill those pages with His declaration for you.

· It’s your “yes” today and your “yes” of yesterday that will unlock God’s “Yes” of tomorrow.

When God’s “Yes” And Your “Yes” Align

· When you say “yes” to the “Yes” of God, it unlocks God’s promise for your life, the thing that He’s declared over your life. It unlocks God’s favor in your life, God’s authority in your life, and God’s will in your life.

· “There’s something greater that God is doing in you. There’s something greater that God has deposited, and many of you have not discovered it yet. It’s that place of purpose that you will one day walk in. The ‘Yes’ of God always aligns you with God’s purpose because you’re called according to his purpose. You’re aligned according to His purpose.” — Tony Stewart

· God’s “Yes” reveals God-potential, which is always bigger than you. God-potential unlocks dreams that cannot be accomplished with your own power. Where you stop dreaming, that’s where God starts.

· The “Yes” of God establishes God-principles in your life, keeping you on your journey of faith and aligning you with God’s purpose and plan.

· The greatest thing that God’s “Yes” does in our lives is it keeps us daily in God’s presence. Every area of your life goes much better when you invite the Holy Spirit into your life.

· “What you say ‘yes’ to in one season and water in one season may carry you into your destiny the next season. Sometimes, it’s the small “yeses” in your journey that unlock the great seasons God has for you.” — Tony Stewart

· Cynicism is one of the greatest enemies to your “yes.” Don’t look at everything through the broken lens of your yesterday. Look at what God is doing in your today; look though the prophetic lens of tomorrow. If you’re waiting for someone else to carry you into the “Yes” of God, it will never happen.

· In its day, the cross was the greatest symbol of shame known to man. But one “Yes” made it the greatest symbol of hope mankind would ever know. Something happens in your “yes.” The minute you release your “yes,” it aligns with the “Yes” of Heaven.

· “Every season of assignment requires a new season of alignment. It’s where God comes in, and He aligns you with His word. He aligns you with purpose. He aligns you with His favor, with His authority. All it requires is a ‘yes’” — Tony Stewart

Watch the full Chapel — “God’s Next Yes” — from Tony Stewart, and choose from nearly 200 other Chapel messages on ORU YouTube.

Searching for a degree with integrity … you’ll find it at ORU!!!

Ranked as one of the top universities in America for student engagement (Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Ed), ORU develops whole leaders for the whole world through a unique Whole Person approach to college education. And at ORU, a college education is a diverse education. We offer a growing multicultural, global community with more than 4,000 students representing well over 100 nations (ORU is ranked one of the Top 100 most diverse universities in America (Stacker/MSN)). If you’re an on-campus student or if you’re seeking an online education, ORU offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in a global, Spirit-empowered environment. Explore Oral Roberts University — a leadership innovator and one of the largest, most influential Christian liberal arts universities in the world. Learn more.