Devotional Continued

Welcome

INVOCATION

(GOD gave us Faithful Promises)

Worship Song: Promises

Announcements

(GOD provides for us, even in impossible ways)

Worship Song: Honey in the Rock

Devotional is about being with GOD.........

(When we have a heart of worship we just want to be with GOD)

Worship Song: Nothing Else

Devotional Cont.

Devotional is about being in the presence of GOD!!

Last week we spoke about prayer and meditation.

We broke down the layers of Jesus’ model prayer.

(Relationship to GOD, Worship, Submission, Requests for our needs, Forgiving our sins, Helping us forgive others, Keeping us doing right and protecting us)

So lets discus further about Bible reading.

How do you Meditate on GOD’s Word and actions? You Must have read about them first!!!

Why read the Bible:

(Physical, Spiritual, Personal)

How do you know what to do?

What is a right choice?

Are you prepared for problems/choices ahead of time?

Peter encouraged believers to grow by reading the scriptures.

1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.”

Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Act on what you have read...

Growth comes from exercising and practice.

Hebrews 5:14 “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Why dedicate time to read Scripture?

It is a time to prepare before you need to make choices.

A time to learn the correct way to do things.

Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

In order to do things the way Jesus wants us to, we have to first learn and understand what he did.

Psalm 86:11 “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Our faith is strengthened when we see God’s hand at work in examples where he has helped others.

See the correct way to accomplish things..

Titus 3:14 “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.”

Prepare for the sudden…

that was foretold.

Mark 13:33 “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

Even when challenged by the religious leaders of the day,

Jesus used knowledge of scripture to defend his actions.

Jesus would say “have you not read":

Matthew 12:3 “But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;”

Matthew 12:5 “Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?”

Matthew 19:4 “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,”

Matthew 21:16 “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and thou hast perfected praise?”

Matthew 21:42 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”

Matthew 22:31 “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,”

Mark 12:10 “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:”

Mark 12:26 “And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?”

Luke 6:3 “And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;”

John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

In reading the Bible, we begin to see the references directing us to the sacrificial work that Jesus did on our behalf.

We also begin to understand the way GOD thinks about things.

Relationship with the Father

So the purpose of a devotional is to use scripture reading, meditation, and prayer to grow closer to GOD.

A close relationship with the Father has to be purposefully sought out.

Step by step; Day by day.

Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

You can be intimate: GOD knows your secrets already.

Psalm 44:21 “Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

Psalm 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts:”

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

He understands our problems and our confusion..

James 5:13 “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”

John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

GOD simply wants you to trust Him and walk the path He chooses for you

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

How is Your Devotion?

Invitation

Invitation Song: Holy Spirit