Monday
The Helper Goes For The Heart
Read Ezekiel 36:26-27
Ezekiel and Philip remind us that the Helper comes to do a work in our heart. Much of our church work today deals with people’s minds but intellect will not change you but only a renewed heart can. I wonder how many people have tried to have a change in their thinking without having a change in their heart. The Helper wants to not only convert our thinking but convert our heart. True heart repentance does not just come by thinking different but the Helper turning our heart to God so we can think different. The new birth is not just knowing about God but knowing Him.
Wayne Cordeiro, in his book – The Irresistible Church says; “Change must be empowered by the Holy Spirit, because true transformation is not manmade. It’s Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered. Yet we also must commit ourselves in such a way that the Holy Spirit is delighted to work through us. We must lean in the direction we’re praying toward.”
Only when we are lead by a new heart do we have the passion it takes to desire a new life. The Holy Spirit comes to give us a new love for God, His Word, and His life. The Holy Spirit draws our heart to God. Jesus said you can’t come to me unless the father draws you. The Holy Spirit awakens our dead heart to new life. He comes to bring the resurrection power of Jesus into our inner being. The Holy Spirit comes to empower our heart. Jesus ministry was and is moved by compassion. When I received the Baptism of the Spirit the first signs were a new love for Jesus, the reality of His Presence, a new love for His Word and a greater love for His people. The Helper comes to help our hearts to love again.
Scripture Thought: Acts 8:37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (NKJV)
Declaration: The Helper gives me a new heart that loves and pursues God.
Action Plan: Ask yourself if you are trying to have an intellectual knowledge without a heart conversion? Have you allowed the Helper to Change your heart? Ask the Helper to let people see God’s heart in you today!
Tuesday
In His Presence
Read John 16:7
How many times have we wished we could have been there when Jesus walked the earth and we could see the miracles but Jesus said he would always be with us. He told his disciples that there is something better than His physical presence. Jesus physical presence had limitations but His Spirit has no limitations. Till the day of Pentecost only a few individuals experienced the Holy Spirit but on the day of Pentecost the Spirit was poured out on all flesh. (Acts 2:17-18 no limitations) God would no longer be just with us but in us. His seed is in us (1 John 3:9) and his law is written in us (Jeremiah 31:33). We can do nothing without his presence. (John 15:1-8)
Scripture Thought: Acts 2:17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams. Even upon my servants, men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (CEB)
Declaration: There are no limits to what God can do in my life if I just allow Him.
Action Plan: Ask yourself are you limiting what God is doing in your life? If so ask yourself why and in what areas.
Wednesday
Explosion of Power
Read Acts 1:1-5
Jesus made it plain that his disciples would need his power to make it in the world. The first outpouring on the day of Pentecost was to be followed by many other outpourings. For example 12th century St. Francis of Assisi for forty years burned in Italy; Martin Luther; John and Charles Wesley; Pentecostal revival in Topeka, Kansas; Azusa Street in Los Angeles California, Evan Roberts in Wales. The things these explosions of power had in common: Nearly all have originated with the common people, at a grass root level, outside the established organized church, a call to repentance, hostility from the established church, simplifying the gospel and a return to Jesus Christ. . Because of this there was a great outpouring of Love and joy, an outpouring of music and new songs, result in moral and ethical reforms that effected the life and history of the nation in which they arose. How do we become part of this power?
Scripture Thought: Ezekiel 36:24-28 "'For here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I'll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You'll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You'll be my people! I'll be your God! (Message)
Action Plan: There are two steps to renewing power: 1) Readying and cleansing which brings repentance. 2) God putting His Spirit in us. We must be willing to allow these things to take place to experience the explosion of power.
Declaration: I will not rest until I experience my own personal Pentecost.
Thursday
Hunger And Thirst For More
Read Luke 11:13
The greatest gift we could have is the Gift of the Spirit. We are to seek this gift and not half heartedly. Without the Spirit we don’t have an awareness of God’s presence, His love, the fruits of the Spirit, a message to others, real joy, words of wisdom at the right time, guidance from God, the mind and thoughts of God, healing, help in our weaknesses, the ability to set our mind on the things of God, freedom from slavery physical, emotional and spiritual, the pledge of eternal life. Without these how can we live the God life that He wants us to? Jesus gives the living water to the thirsty. He gives to those who are seeking with their whole heart. His promise. (1 John 5:14-15)
Scripture Thought: 1 John 5:14-15 this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Action Plan: Are you living the Life He wants you to live? What are things you can do to live the life he wants you to live? Do you have obstacles that need moving?
Declaration: Take from me my lukewarmness, an give me Your on Holy Passion.
Friday
Accept Jesus As The Christ
Read Ephesians 4:8
Each one of us; just as Peter must settle the question of who is Jesus? We cannot come to God accept through Jesus Christ. There is no other way. He is “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. Everything is under His authority. On the day of Pentecost all the power became available to us to reign as Kings with Him. Jesus Christ showed us God as our Father. In the story of the Father (Luke 15:11-31) what delighted the Father about his returning son was his complete surrender, out His delight the returning son found total acceptance, complete forgiveness and rejoicing that the son was now ready to receive the Father’s bounty. Jesus showed us that we are related to the living God and God gives to his sons everything they need.
Scripture Thought: John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. (Message)
Action Plan: Have you completely surrendered your life to the Father? Reflect on your life, is there anything that is hindering that complete surrender? If so ask Daddy what do you need to do to remove the obstacles from your life?
Declaration: Father I run to you in complete surrender, you have my complete heart.
The Weekender
Looking Back
Today is the day that we take time to look back on what we have learned this past week. To reflect on what the Holy Spirit has highlighted in our lives and how we can implement the changes needed in our lives to be fully all we can be.
Father, we ask that you bring back remembrance of changes and what we need to do to change in our life to be fully who and what you have purposed us to be in your kingdom, Father thank you for being at work in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Take a few moments and Journal what the Father is speaking to you:
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