Devotions

Hey guys. So I'm thinking we can start this devotion type thing to increase our relationship spiritually with each other and at the same time grow closer to God. Here's what it'll be:
Anyone can bring
* a verse
* a devotion or passage from the Bible
* anything that encourages, or really makes you think (video, poem, song ect)

Basics
It will be once a week
The person that brings the verse or devotion can lead the discussion either online or at the youth meeting
-that person can talk about why they chose what they did 
-how it effects them
-and any other thing that relates to their content

 

 

Weekly Devotions

A Home For Gods Spirit

For those that are baptized, we get baptized because we believe that God is real, and we believe in Him.

 If you are born again, Jesus lives on the inside of you through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The question is: Is God comfortable in you? Does He feel at home within you?

Even though the Spirit of God lives within you, other things can live in you too. 

For example, imagine if you're living in a beautiful apartment but it's not the first apartment you've lived in. Your land Lord is the greatest land Lord you've ever had. He doesn't charge you a lot for rent, He cares about you genuinely, plus he gives you every other amenity that you need to live well, for free. 

But also imagine your old land lord, someone who doesn't care about you. All he cares about is you paying him the outrageous amount of rent every month.Yes, he says he will give you all the great things you desire for your apartment, but those are all empty promises. Empty promises he makes just to get you to commit to him, and the contract for the apartment. 

The only reason you were able to leave your contract with your old land lord was because your new land Lord found a loophole in the contract, a loophole that freed you from the the old land lord and his contract. If you hand the choice, wouldn't you take the opportunity to leave the old land lord for the new land Lord?

Now you're happy, but imagine every so often your old land lord would come to your apartment, and you would let him in. Every time he would come, he would come into your apartment and trash the place up. He would keep coming back but every time he would leave, your new land Lord would clean your apartment up, fix it up, and put it back to normal. These things don't mix, wouldn't you rather have your new land Lord be your one and only land Lord friend, instead of continually letting your old land lord in?

This is a battle a lot of us fight with as Christians. You are the apartment, your body is the temple of God, you are a home for the Holy Spirit. Your old land lord is the Devil, and all the evil things he comes with. Your new land Lord is God, He picks you up, cleans you off, and brings you back to normal. 

• If we want to be a comfortable "home" for the Spirit of the Lord:
• We must give up all things that cause us to forget about His presence or are offensive to Him.
• Stop grumbling, and allowing strife and unrest inside of you.
• Start forgiving people!
• Don't harbor any resentment towards anyone, or anything

• Instead we need to make sure our inner lives are engaged in things that please and honor God presence. Our mouths should be full of praise and thanksgiving. 

Wake up every morning and say " Good morning, Lord. I want you to feel at home and be comfortable in me today. " 

Our inner lives is Holy Ground where God has chosen to make His home.
Commit to making Him comfortable in us.

       Make sure you are a comfortable home for the Spirit of the Lord.

                         Ephesians 3:17

" And I pray that Christ will make His home in your hearts through faith. 

           I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,"

God Bless. Love you all.

Honoring God

 

 

 Honoring God is more than just turning in your tithe, going to Sunday worship and prayer services

Here's a devotional I'm reading now that reminds us:

 

God should be 1st priority, not an after thought or tradition

 

YouVersion Devotional: Pray While You Prey