Awakening

A new awakening is beginning to dawn. Katherine and I have dedicated this edition of our publication to sharing more about how this growing outpouring of God’s love is transforming our hearts and our home church. It is our heartfelt prayer that as you read, and perhaps take time to peruse our newly redesigned website, you too will be inspired to believe the Lord for a spiritual awakening. 

America is facing one of the most difficult seasons in our nation’s history. There is not a sufficient political, economic, or military answer for what is coming. If we look beyond the temporal uncertainty around us however, we will see a greater reality. Christ is the answer. He has a redemptive purpose in store for our nation. 

AWAKENING TO THE WEIGHT OF HIS GLORY

One of the Hebrew words for glory is kavod (pronounced kuh-VOAD). It means weighty or heavy. Kavod also carries a connotation of authority, honor, respect, and dignity. In the Old Testament we first read about the kavod of the Lord manifesting when He brings the children of Israel out of Egypt: 

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34-35 KJV). 

The weighty kavod, or glory of the Lord, is the essence of His being. His glory is deeply connected to His goodness (Exodus 33:19). The glory of God is manifested in His love. It is a glory that connects the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in an eternal communion. Most importantly to our understanding of the Godhead, Jesus Christ is the brightness of the glory of the Father (Hebrews 1). 

The glory of the Lord is not a vague or enigmatic concept. It is the tangible manifestation of His love in open hearts, homes, churches, and nations. At times over the last few months I have been personally overwhelmed by the weighty presence of God. I cannot fully articulate what the Lord is doing in my heart. Like anything that the Lord does in the human heart, it always begins with prayer. 

AWAKENING TO A NEW PASSION IN PRAYER

It is Wednesday evening, just before 7 PM. The air in the sanctuary at our home church, just a few miles from New York City, is heavy with expectation. An hour into the meeting and the kavod, the weighty presence of Christ, has descended on those gathered to pray. The weight of God’s love has begun to settle down on our waiting hearts. 

Each Wednesday evening between five hundred and a thousand have been gathering to pray at church. A tangible sense of the peace of God has frequently made the air seem heavy. Many worshipers have raised their hands each night. Others have moved to the altar in an act of surrender to the love of God.

As I have prayed over sharing about this new awakening for several months now, I have found it difficult to find the right words. What the Lord is doing is very personal. It is sacred beyond my words. I have conviction that I must share it however. 

As the Lord has been moving, all of my priorities have changed. I have rearranged my daily schedule, so that my needed tasks and work projects are not in the mornings. I no longer schedule appointments before noon. The first portion of every day is for prayer, for Bible study, for seeking, and for worship. God is awakening me to a new passion in prayer.

AWAKENING TO HIS STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

Physical infirmity, a trial of persecution, or a debilitating loneliness, all weakness prepares our hearts to receive the words of Jesus, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9 KJV).

The greatest awakenings to the glory of God’s love in my life have come in seasons of weakness. As difficult as it is to articulate the weakness that has been awakening my heart during this season, it is equally challenging to explain the tears. 

As I had breakfast with a family member recently, my eyes welled up. ‘What is wrong?’ My companion asked. I was speechless. The glory of the love of God during these occurrences has been indescribable. 

In these moments of weakness and tears, I have lost my ability to speak. Sitting on the couch and reading the Bible with Katherine, the scene has repeated itself dozens of times in recent months. Seldom does an evening go by that we are not wiping away tears, as we quiet ourselves in prayer. 

I am not speaking of tears of sorrow. Neither can I say that this has been an altogether joyful experience these last six months. All that I know for certain is that the Holy Spirit has been filling me, and revealing the nearness of Jesus in these moments of divine encounter. 

Tears are not popular in American culture today. The crowd will say, ‘be strong.’ Many even find tears offensive, unless they are a result of some devastating loss or intense physical pain. 

Yet time and again in Scripture, we find the Lord responding to heartfelt tears. Hezekiah turned toward the wall and wept bitterly, and the Lord extended his life (II Kings 20). God heard the repentant cry of King David (Psalm 51). A desperate woman washed the feet of Jesus with her tears (Luke 7:36-50). Her weakness, expressed through her weeping, has impacted generations of Christ-seekers.

AWAKENING TO HIS CALLING

Beloved, the Lord does not see as man sees. He is looking at our hearts. Whatever our heart condition, Jesus is calling us and His heart is burning with love for us. He understands the frailty of our hearts. 

This Easter we celebrate the Savior who carried our weakness to Calvary and arose in power. Christ is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for our weakness (Hebrews 4:15-16). He is moving in this anxious hour on earth as never before. 

God is now awakening hearts to the weight of His glory. If we ask, He will give us a new passion in prayer and a new strength in our weakness. A great awakening of God’s love will awaken America.