When our church decided to make these four devotions the DNA of our small groups, real growth started to happen. I want to be part of a 1st century church that reaches a 21st century community. Are you in a home group yet?
When our church decided to make these four devotions the DNA of our small groups, real growth started to happen. I want to be part of a 1st century church that reaches a 21st century community. Are you in a home group yet?
When we say “I will” instead of “His will,” we move into dangerous waters. Pride is the sin that gives birth to many other sins. Satan’s fall began with him saying “I will be like the Most High.” Pride makes us enemies with God. Humble yourselves and draw near to God.
John the Beloved refers to himself in this self-deflecting way. His gospel is an eye witness testimony, containing more detail and dialogue than the other gospels. The word “believe” is prominent, occurring 76 times. John wants us to believe.
John said that he wrote his gospel so that those who hadn’t seen Jesus themselves might believe. And believing that they might have eternal life in His Name. We can read God’s Word and believe.
After betraying David, Ahithophel committed suicide. This foreshadows Judas with Jesus. There was much in the life and times of David that pointed to the Messiah. But only those with hearing ears and receptive hearts were able to believe.
Fleeing from Absalom, David wept on the Mount. Jesus, Son of David, wept here too, crying out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!” He also prayed here in the Garden the night of His betrayal. Do you have a “Mount of Olives” in which to pray?
God’s Word gives light to keep our feet from stumbling. And it shines forth to point us on the right path to follow. As a light is useless without being turned on, so the Word cannot do its work in us unless we read and meditate on it. Have your “turned on” the Word today?
What Jesus prayed for us. “Sanctify” (make holy, set apart) them. Jesus prayed that the Father would cause His Word to set us apart for special use. Holiness is not so much the absence of sin as the presence of God’s special calling and spiritual life within us.
Jesus has not yet taken His flock out of the world and its trouble. But He has overcome the world and through Him we are overcomers too. Don’t be surprised when trouble comes. He said it would. Instead, take heart! Face trouble with overcoming faith.
Our power for witnessing comes from the One who testifies about Jesus to us. The Spirit doesn’t speak of Himself. He speaks of Christ. When we depend on His power, we bear spiritual fruit.