Vision & Values 2 – Father & Spirit
Devotions - Week 2
Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:6-13, Luke 15:11-31, Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:1-13
Jesus points us to the Father and promises us the Holy Spirit. Jesus also models for us a relationship with the Father and a life lived full of the Holy Spirit. Although Jesus is fully God, he is also fully man, and as such he displays in his life how we can live our lives in relationship with the Father and dependent on the Holy Spirit.
Jesus uses the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship and study to engage with and deepen his relationship with God and his dependency on the Holy Spirit. This is not because he is being religious, but because he knows it is all about relationship.
The Father has declared over Jesus that he is his son and that with him he is well pleased. Jesus does not get up early in the morning to pray because he is trying to earn the Father’s approval. He is making time to spend with God because he knows he is already loved. Jesus discovers more about the character of his Heavenly Father in the pages of scripture – Bible reading was not a religious duty it was a relational delight.
Scripture was also where Jesus found his calling – in Luke 4 we find Jesus reading the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61) and declaring that he is the fulfilment of the prophetic word contained therein – how amazing!
Jesus uses the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship and study to engage with and deepen his relationship with God and his dependency on the Holy Spirit. This is not because he is being religious, but because he knows it is all about relationship.
The Father has declared over Jesus that he is his son and that with him he is well pleased. Jesus does not get up early in the morning to pray because he is trying to earn the Father’s approval. He is making time to spend with God because he knows he is already loved. Jesus discovers more about the character of his Heavenly Father in the pages of scripture – Bible reading was not a religious duty it was a relational delight.
Scripture was also where Jesus found his calling – in Luke 4 we find Jesus reading the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61) and declaring that he is the fulfilment of the prophetic word contained therein – how amazing!
Apply
- Spend some time reading and reflecting on the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:6-13 and consider what it says to us about how much the Father loves us?
- Read through these verses from Zephaniah 3:17 and let the truth soak into you as you read them out loud:
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.
- How might our view of God as Father be shaped more by our experience rather than by scripture and the life of Jesus?
Jesus operated full of the Holy Spirit and promises the Holy Spirit to the disciples, with clear instructions to wait on the Holy Spirit before moving out with the gospel and the works of the Kingdom.
How might we apply this truth to our lives today?
- Isaiah 40 tells us that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.
- Ephesians 5 encourages us to go on being filled with the Holy Spirit.
- In Exodus 33:15-16 Moses petitions God to only send them on the rest of their exodus journey if the very presence of God goes with them.
- In 1 Corinthians 12-14 – Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthian church is to eagerly desire spiritual gifts and the presence of God in their meetings.
How might you make more space to wait on God’s presence over the weeks of this series?
What does eagerly desiring spiritual gifts look like when we gather for corporate worship?
How might we give God room to lead us by his Spirit in our homes and our workplaces?
This Everyday Devotions was written by Simon Elliott, our Lead Elder.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on Vision & Values 2 why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on Vision & Values 2 why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.