Service and the Spirit
Today Pastor Amy read
Acts 2 where the Holy Spirit came down to live in the hearts of the disciples and all those who believed. We learned that the meaning of "spirit" is breath or wind and it stands for the most basic thing we need to live. The Holy Spirit fills the church with what it needs to live. It reveals wrong(sin) and right(righteousness).
If the Holy Spirit is involved in our service, it should look different. We'll do it with a Christ-like attitude.
What does your service attitude look like?
Labels: growth, journey
Meditating
1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Today Pastor Jason read Psalm 1 and talked about meditiation which is an invitation to apprehend God. When we medititate on His word, we are opened up to the mind of God, His world and His presence in the world. God's word enters us and changes us. In verse 3, the person who meditates on His word is compared to a tree planted by streams of water. God turns us into the people He wants us to be when we love His word.
What passages we meditated on affected you today? What caused them to affect you in that way?
Labels: growth, journey
Fasting to Remember
Pastor Henry read
Deuteronomy 8 today where the people of Israel are standing on the banks of the Jordan waiting to cross over into the Promised Land. Moses is telling them to remember the Lord and His provision for their lives as they enter the Promised Land. He knew of the danger that a land with many good things would bring - pride, amnesia and stupidity - forgetting that all good things are from God.
The cure for this is in verse 3 - fasting. This is refraining from food or other things for spiritual purposes, or letting go of our appetite to seek God on matters of deep concern for others, ourselves and the world. In
Matt. 6:16-18 Jesus warns us of one the the dangers of fasting - that is, making it about ourselves instead of about God.
From what is God calling you to fast? Think about what is consuming your life and feast on God instead.
Labels: growth
Your View of Prayer
Today, Pastor Jason read
Luke 11:1-13 when Jesus taught his disciples about prayer. The view we have of prayer forms who we are as disciples of Jesus. It's possible we think of prayer sometimes as wishful thinking or serious desparation or manipulation. But Jesus is teaching them how to pray so that their prayer becomes true worship - so that the asking in prayer is done for the purpose of God's glory. He may not give you the things you ask for but He does give the Holy Spirit. God answers our prayers for His glory.
What are your ideas about prayer?
Labels: Prayer
Fearless & Bold, In Jesus Name
Today, Pastor Amy read
Acts 9:19-31 where we see what happened to Saul after his encounter/experience with God. He began preaching
boldly and
fearlessly that Jesus is the Son of God which is a significant shift from the way he was. People noticed that he had been changed! We see what happened to the people as a result of this preaching in vs. 31:
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
Pastor Amy about the lines we can cross in our journey with Christ.
1 - I believe in the gospel enough to benefit from it.
2 - I believe in the gospel enough to contribute comfortably.
3 - I believe in the gospel enough to give my life to it.
We definitely see that Saul has crossed the 3rd line. Where are you and where do you want to be?
Labels: journey
