I HAVE A FRIEND

 

June 28, 2024

Psalm 25:14

 “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”

John 15:15

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

We are at our week’s end and preparing for the Canada day weekend. What are your plans? 

I was thinking how this long weekend has become a time to appreciate our Country, while it is far from perfect, it is an awesome country. Canada Day weekend has become also a time of gathering with family and friends and celebrating the people in our lives and the blessing they are to us. These thoughts led me to think about “friendhip” in the Bible and in keeping with this week's theme, today I would like us to think about our Friendship with the Holy Spirit.

In friendship with the Holy Spirit we experience a sense of wholeness and joy that is beyond our reach in any other relationship or aspect of our lives.

Perhaps you recall Jesus saying in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” God longs for friendship with his people. I believe that this is what we learn from the Garden of Eden story in Genesis 3. The Creator walking with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. The Holy Spirit provides us with a constant link to God that we can always access. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit desire to do life with us. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence God wants to guide us, speak to us, and show his unfailing love for us.

So, how do we grow in friendship with the Holy Spirit?

Psalm 25:14 says, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”   Friendship with the Holy Spirit starts like any other true friendship. A meaningful friendship in our lives is one built on time spent together, doing things in life together, sharing ourselves with one another learning likes and dislikes, and as time goes along our knowledge grows and we learn to  respect, love, and value our friends guidance and wisdom. So it is with our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Developing our friendship and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, like any other relationship happens through some consistent practices. Here are a few:

• Set aside time each day for prayer. Asking God help to grow in your understanding and knowledge of his Holy Spirit.
• Worship the Spirit by singing spiritual songs. One we use in worship, for example is Holy Spirit, We Welcome You. Have listen to it below.
• Read, study and meditate on Scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the Bible passages you’re reading.
• Expectantly wait for the Holy Spirit to speak to you and guide you.

Friendship with the Holy Spirit flows out of ongoing conversations and interactions with Him throughout your day. Therefore, Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily life and situations.

Here is what I have discovered, by developing friendship with the Holy Spirit, we experience His help in many practical ways:

• The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer, giving you discernment for what to pray about and how to pray effectively.
• He will give you fresh revelation as you study the Bible, teaching you and making the Word come alive.
• The Holy Spirit will bring wisdom and insight into the decisions you face.
• God’s Spirit will awaken spiritual gifts within you and empower you to use those gifts to bless others.

Today may we open up and allow the Holy Spirit to come upon us that we may discover the wealth of knowledge, guidance, and love God has to reveal and communicate to us.

UNDERSTANDING GIFTS

 

June 27, 2024

1 Corinthians 12:1

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

 

 

God’s desire for you and me is that we would be informed about the incredible gifts of his Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. Bottom line is that God longs for us to receive all he has to give. God seeks to teach us about the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that we may live with a deeper purpose and greater affection for Him and for others.

The first aspect of spiritual gifts to note is that they are indeed a gift. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 says,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

 

The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to each of us. He “apportions” them according to his perfect wisdom and these gifts are for “the common good.” Whether you’ve been given the gift of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, or interpretation of tongues, your purpose is to lovingly use your gifts in the service of others.

 

As 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Today, let us

Meditate on God’s word about spiritual gifts. Go back and look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

Ask the Holy Spirit to use you today for the glory of Jesus.

FRUIT ANYONE?

 

JUNE 26, 2024

Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

 

The fruit of the Spirit reading in Galatians 5:22-23 offers us tremendous hope for our lives. We read that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ...."  Don't you long to be a person full of love, joy, and peace? Don't you long to have patience, kindness, and goodness? Don't we all long to be known by faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Of course we do! These characteristics are the marks of a fully abundant life that Jesus promised to us. I see Jesus in these, do you? 

I find it is one thing to want something in my life, like these characteristics, but it is quite another thing to see these as a reality expressed in my actions and words. Truth is I all to aware of the fact that my life doesn't always line up with what God's Spirits desires to "birth" in me.  I imagine many of you are nodding in agreement to this, you too feel the distance between where you are and where you would like to be. Where God desires you to be.

 How can we live a life marked by these characteristics? How can we be people so Spirit-filled that our very being points to the Spirit of God dwelling in us?

These verses give us hope. We discover that God longs for us to understand by his grace, a life characterized by the fruit of the Spirit is entirely possible, but only by his grace. 

Left to my own devices, I am incapable of manifesting these qualities. On my own efforts, I tend to exhibit selfishness, laziness, and pride. “But with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). These characteristics, these fruits, are born out of the work of God in us. These Fruits of the Spirit come entirely by God’s grace. They are a gift!

So how do we allow the Holy Spirit to work at the core of our being and produce these fruits? Well, it comes from being connected to our source, there God plants seeds that grow within us. Seeds of  "Love Joy, Peace ........"As we spend time with God we begin to be transformed into his likeness. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in you today. Ask him to lead you to a lifestyle of love, joy, and peace. Ask him to fill you with patience, kindness, and goodness toward others and yourself. Ask him to make you a person marked by faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

NOW THAT'S A HELPER

 

JUNE 25, 2024

Jude 1:20-21

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”

God responds to the prayers of his people. In the Bible we read of God's response, to the desire of Adam for a helpmate with Eve, the prayer of Abraham in saving Lot and his family, the prayer of Moses in the salvation of his people, the prayer of Elijah in sending down fire upon an altar, and the cry for a Savior in sending his only son, Jesus. And through Jesus we have received the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father as our Helper. Our Helper not only longs to guide us, as we noted yesterday, but the Holy Spirit also wants to help us pray and, listen to this, will pray for us.

Jude 1:20-21 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”  The Holy Spirit who searches the deep things of God desires to help us pray. Revealing God’s desires for us in the middle of our circumstances, relationships, and opportunities and longs to help us pray in line with God’s will. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 writes the following:

"... these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,
        “Who has known the mind of the Lord
            so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.

Matthew 21:22 says, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” And Romans 10:17 teaches us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Scripture tells us to pray in faith that God will give us what we ask for because faith's foundation is always the word of God. God will always fulfill his promises. We complicate prayer sometimes when prayer is meant to be as simple as asking God to fill us with the knowledge of his desire and then praying in harmony with that desire.

What’s more, and I find this overwhelming,  when we don’t know what to pray we can trust in and lean on the "groanings" of the Spirit. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”  Did you know that the Holy Spirit prays for you? That is an amazing thought isn't it? The Holy Spirit asks God to help us. God's  great desire for us is to walk in abundant life that he gives us his Spirit as our guide, helper and interceder. 

God grants us a life of simplicity when we wholeheartedly follow Him. Today, take time to seek God's will for your life and find comfort in His steadfast faithfulness as you pray.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”

J
ude 1:20-21 ESV



God loves to respond to the prayers of his people. We see him respond to the desire of Adam for a helpmate with Eve, the prayer of Abraham in saving Lot and his family, the prayer of Moses in the salvation of his people, the prayer of Elijah in sending down fire upon an altar, and the cry for a Savior in sending his only son, Jesus. And through the death of Jesus we’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit, God himself sent as our Helper. Our Helper not only longs to guide us and empower us, but also to help us pray and to pray for us.

Jude 1:20-21 says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” We’ve been given the incredible gift of praying with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who searches the deep things of God desires to help us pray. He desires to reveal God’s desires to us in the midst of our circumstances, relationships, and opportunities and longs to help us pray in line with God’s will. When we pray in the Spirit we are praying along with the will of God himself. When we pray in the Spirit we are asking God to do the very thing he desires to do. It’s crucially important that we as children of God learn how to discern the will of our Father through the Holy Spirit and pray according to that will.

Matthew 21:22 says, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” And Romans 10:17 teaches us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Scripture tells us to pray in full faith that God will give us what we ask for because faith is always meant to begin with the word of God. Prayer is meant to be as simple as asking God to fill us with the knowledge of his desire and then praying in accordance with that desire in full faith because God will always fulfill his promises.

What’s more, when we don’t know what to pray we can trust in and lean on the groanings of the Spirit. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Did you know that the Holy Spirit prays for you? Did you know that he intercedes on your behalf? So great is his love for you that he asks God to help you. So great is his desire for you to walk in abundant life that he intercedes on your behalf when you don’t know how to pray.

Aren’t you thankful for the grace of God? In his grace he’s blessed you with the Holy Spirit to help you pray and intercedes for you, all because he loves you. You’ve been given an incredible, powerful gift in praying with the Holy Spirit. Take time today to listen to your Helper as you enter into a time of prayer.
PRAYER

1. Meditate on the Spirit’s desire to help you pray and to intercede for you.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

2. Ask the Spirit to fill you with the knowledge of God’s will for whatever it is you desire to pray about. Before you speak, listen.

3. Pray in line with what the Spirit has revealed to you. Ask God, in faith, to bless you with whatever you feel he has shown you. Pray along with Scripture! Rest in the assurance that God will provide you with any and every thing that is in his perfect will for you when you ask him to.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

 

JUNE 24, 2024

Romans 8:14

 

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

  

Where do you need leadership in your life? 

What challenge, decision, or circumstance is weighing on you? 

Where do you need a word from God today? 

We possess the ideal guide to help us navigate the complexities and challenges of life.  The Bible says in Romans 8:14, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.” As children of God, we have received the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and leads us daily. This is good news for us. For you see, we do not earn God's Spirit by our own actions. God has given us all the gift of the Holy Spirit because he loves us. He has filled us with his Spirit because he longs to lead us into the abundant life he has planned for us. 

John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” The Holy Spirit speaks to us the messages of God. The Holy Spirit's role is to communicate to us God's deep desire to love us, provide for us, heal us, transform us, and deliver us.

Today,

1. Meditate on God’s desire to lead you into abundant life.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

2. Open up your life to the Holy Spirit. Ask him to reveal to you things he wants to lead you away from. Ask him to show you the life he wants to lead you to. May you follow his leadership today.

 

JOY, JOY, JOY

 

June 21, 2024

John 15:11

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

 

 

“The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, says Romans 14:17. Our loving Creator is the one who throws a massive party for the prodigal returned home (Luke 15:11-32). He’s the God of the angels who rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). He’s the God who celebrates with us, sings over us, and rejoices in us (Zephaniah 3:17). And at the end of the age he will throw a wedding feast in celebration of the joy he has over us, his bride (Revelation 19:6-9).

Here is the amazing message of Scripture, God doesn’t desire to keep his joy to himself, but longs to fill us with it to overflowing. Toward the end of the John 15:1-17 Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). God’s plan is to fill us with the fullness of joy that is grounded solely in him rather than the ever-changing circumstances around us. That’s why Galatians 5:22 tells us that, “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy.” 

So how do we experience the joy of God? How can the joy that Jesus spoke about in John 15:11 be our experience? Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Finding joy begins with valuing our heavenly Father above all. When God is our focus, joy naturally follows.

Understanding that leaning on God as the source of our contentment, rather than on human opinion or worldly success, provides a steadfast foundation for joy. On the other hand, if our emotions fluctuate with the world's tides, our joy will be short-lived. So let's Anchor ourself in God and rejoice in the Lord always, for He is eternally worthy of celebration.

Secondly, to experience the fullness of joy God has for us we must also trust in his plans. You know the words of  Psalm 118:24  “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We need always to remember that each day of our life was created by God and that truth alone helps us to rejoice. Rejoicing comes from trusting that our God is loving and powerful and that his purposes are always for our good. 

As we close our week of devotions, let us plan this weekend to focus on spending time in God’s presence and experiencing his joy. May we let the Holy Spirit produce the fruit of joy in our life. 

 Where are you not experiencing joy? 

What do you think is stealing your joy in those areas? 

Ask the Spirit to lead you into the fullness of joy in your life. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

 

YIELDING the FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

June 20, 2024

John 15:2

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

 

 

John 15:2 tells us that the only way for us to bear more fruit, to become what our loving God intends for us to become, is to surrender to his pruning process. If you are like me, you have likely noticed that the pressures and cares of the world are like weeds that crowd out and rob us of the nourishment our lives need from the fruitful branches rooted in God. God’s plan is to carefully and lovingly, prune, heal and transform us into the children of light.

 

How can we engage in his process of pruning? I believe it  all starts with seeing the depth of God’s love for us. Psalm 103:2-4 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.” God’s process of pruning is rooted in his unconditional love for us. His pruning of the non fruit bearing branches in our lives is always for our benefit and completely for our good.

 

Today, let us join with our loving heavenly Father in the process of pruning. As we reflect on God’s desire for us, may we allow his love to open our hearts and lead us into the process of pruning intended to purify, heal, and produce Godly fruit in us. Let’s surrender and open our heart and allow him to removed the branches in us than have been hindering our experience of abundant life and fruitfulness that God intends for us all.

 

“I appeal to you therefore, sisters and brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

 

A DIFFERENT OBEDIENCE

 

June 19, 2024

John 15:9-10

 

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

 

 

Our culture doesn’t like to hear about obedience. Generally, when people around us think of obedience they normally understand it as a task to be done that they have no desire to do. Isn’t that what the saying “nobody is going to tell me what to do” reveals. In our society we associate obedience with obligation rather than fulfillment. By the way, even those of us who are Jesus’ disciples have a negative view of obedience.

However, when Jesus walked among us he carried out a very different lifestyle of obedience than our culture resists. You see, Jesus’ life demonstrated for us what obedience to our heavenly Father is meant to look like. Through Jesus’ example we learn that Obedience to God is choosing to live a lifestyle of love and devotion to the God who has loved us completely.

Jesus says in John 15:9-10, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” Let us not miss what is being said here. Jesus illustrates in these words that he lived his life returning the love he was shown by his Father. He lived his life in obedience to God out of the riches of the relationship he had with the father, not out of some obligation. And Jesus simply asks us to do the same. He invites us into the activity of receiving love and giving love as the foundation of our life. In this way of living we abide in the deepness of a relationship with our Father in heaven, as he did. Isn’t that what Jesus meant in Luke 10:27 where we read  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 

In a world bound up in a self-seeking, self-satisfying agenda, Jesus sets us free to live for others, rather than living only for our own self interests. Jesus transforms us into people who will experience the abundant life offered to those who abide in him, the true vine.

 

ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH?

 

JUNE 18, 2024

John 15:7-8

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Jesus makes us an almost unbelievable promise in John 15:7-8. Scripture says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”  

Passages of Scripture like this one are vital for us to understand. So, today, let us seek to understand what Jesus was teaching to his followers, and how we should apply this "ask whatever you wish" to our lives.

In John 15: 7-8 Jesus is teaching us a "How to Pray." Jesus' model for prayer in these verses involves remaining in His presence, living by His words, and then presenting the desires of our hearts to God. Ths is a rather simple model for prayer , however, it calls for a certain level of discipline. You see in the Bible not only are we told that God knows us completely, we also discover that God wants us to know him completely, as completely as our humna understanding can. The key emphasis by Jesus in our verses today is that as we "remain in the Vine", we become more and more in tune with God's desires that our desires are transformed into God's desire.  The divine plan involves enriching us with the understanding of His 

will, enabling us to pray and live with complete dedication and the firm belief that our heavenly Father will fulfill the aspirations He has instilled in us.

Does this model of prayer line up with your life? 

Is your prayer life marked by abiding in him and his word first? 

Are you so saturated with his word that it is transforming your actions, beliefs, emotions, and prayers?

Scripture says in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” And Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” God longs to reveal to us how he feels about us, and his desire for abundant living, in all of life. Our creator wants each of us to experience and discover  what is best in life. When this transformation from my desires to God's beautiful intentions are embraced we are transformed and this impacts "the way" and "the what" that we pray for. Asking for "God's will to be done" takes on a very different meaning.

May our desires be one with God’s today as we spend time abiding in the true vine of Jesus. Amen.

 

Living Abundantly

 

JUNE 17, 2024

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

I wonder have you ever noticed the ways creation teaches important spiritual principles? Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Job 12:7-9 says, “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” Throughout the Gospels, Jesus compares spiritual principles to the surrounding creation. From the parables of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) and pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46) to his teaching on the grass of the field and birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-34), Jesus uses the observeable creation to illustrate spiritual principles we need to embrace as followers.

Today, we note the important principle found in John 15:1-17. In verse 4 Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” We are asked in this scripture reading to reflect on the process of a vine bearing fruit. It takes time, patience, and consistent nourishment for fruit to form on the branches of the vine. That is the way it is with you and me in our relationship with God. After all, the most abundant source of life is available to us through our Creator. God patiently invites us to live in such intimate connection with him that the life of abundance may be developed in us.

We know that fruit that is cut off from the vine loses its source of life. The spiritual principle in this is that this means there is only one way to produce the "fruit" of God in our lives, we must "abide in the vine", take in the abundant life that God desires to give us.

God is our one, true source. There is no other way by we can experience abundant life outside of abiding in him. "The days we try and bear fruit apart from him are the days we will be overrun with the cares and stresses of this life." Today let us make the time and space to listen and receive all that God has for us. Let us do what James 4:8 instructs, “Draw near to God," and experience the promise that "he will draw near to" us.

May we all find our delight in the reality of God's abundant life by abiding in the true vine.

FUN with GOD

 

June 13, 2024

PSALM 30:11-12

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”




I have learned that God loves to exceed our expectations and break open our boxes. For example today let us think about our Father in Heaven as a God who is "Fun". I was talking with a friend recently and we were talking about the varied perceptions of God that many people have. Sadly, the notion of God most common is that God is not loving toward all he has made, but a God waiting to exact some form of retribution for our actions that he might deem "sin". You know "God is out to get you" kind of thinking. My friend and I felt that this is a terrible misconception and distortion of the Bible's picture of God.


I am convinced that the Bible contains evidence that God desires to reveal to us the immense joy of having Him as our Good Father. He yearns to lead us into a life filled with enjoyment, pleasure, and overflowing joy, and yes, "fun" as we deepen our relationship with Him.

Indeed, the joy found in God can differ greatly from worldly pleasures. Scripture provides numerous instances of God's children experiencing a profound happiness that is only possible through a relationship with him. David writes in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God alone guides us to the path of true life. God alone frees us, heals us, loves us, rejoices over us, has grace for us, and longs to fully satisfy our desires.

In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” We need to understand deep in our spirit that God longs to lead us to the fullness of life. God's desire is to lead us into the abundance of His love, so that we may know the joy of being truly treasured by our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.

God loves to celebrate and with his children. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 says, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.”

Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine to keep a wedding feast going (John 2:1-11). The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 is the story Jesus told of an earthly father and son and a parallel to our relationship with the heavenly Father. When the prodigal son returns home, the father tells his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:22-24). And Revelation 19 points ahead to the great marriage supper of the Lamb where we will celebrate our total and complete union with God, "the party to end all parties."

Psalm 30:11-12 says, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!” Our heavenly Father desires to guide us into days that are filled with joy and happiness, and wants to transform our sorrow into celebration.

The God we worship is the creator of joy and delights in rejoicing with His children. He aims to enrich our lives with experiences that satisfy our deepest yearnings, including those for "fun".

Today, may we discover the joyful heart of our heavenly Father.

Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? 

Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?

GO

Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.

May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Where do you need more fun in your life? Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to have the fullness of fun today. What is he providing for you that you might experience all the joy and celebration available to you? What is keeping you from living a more fun life? He wants to free you today. Spend timing resting in his presence and allow him to do a work in your heart today.

WORSHIP

00:00

03:44

GO

Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.

May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

PRAYER

1. Meditate on God’s desire to give you a fun life. Allow Scripture to reorient your understanding of what it’s like to live life with your heavenly Father.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

2. Where do you need more fun in your life? Where do you need God to clothe you with gladness? Where do you need to experience the abundant life Jesus died to give you?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to have the fullness of fun today. What is he providing for you that you might experience all the joy and celebration available to you? What is keeping you from living a more fun life? He wants to free you today. Spend timing resting in his presence and allow him to do a work in your heart today.

WORSHIP

00:00

03:44

GO

Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.

May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

GO

Sometimes we hold to an idea that advancing the kingdom and having fun don’t go together. We leave parties and fun to others as we are too busy with more important matters. But why would a nonbeliever want to get to know a boring God? Why would they want to spend time with a group of boring people? As children of God, we have the greatest source of joy available. We should be the happiest, most fun, and most loving people the lost will ever encounter. It’s in our joy, love, and fun that we will best advance the kingdom. It’s living the abundant life God longs to give us that will encourage others to want to know the God we serve. May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.

Extended Reading: Luke 15 or watch The Bible Project’s video on Luke 10-24.

May you advance the kingdom of your heavenly Father by living today with the fullness of fun.