Tag: God

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Lent Day 12: Faith

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Each Sunday in Lent will focus on one of Jesus’ miraculous signs in the Gospel of John. 

PREPARE

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your devotional time. Before you read, meditate on John’s words about his Gospel:

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name – John 20:31.

READ

John 4:43-54

REFLECT AND PRAY

Jesus returns to Cana to find that news of the miracle he performed there (turning water into wine) has gone before him. Yet Jesus is aware that many people aren’t able to look past his “miraculous signs and wonders” (v. 48) and seek him for who he is, not what he can do. The official seems like one of these shallow thrill-seekers at first, yet he trusts Jesus enough to believe his son has been healed without any evidence but Jesus’ own words.

1) Is there anyone you are trusting Jesus to heal – physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, etc. –  even though you can’t see anything happening yet? How has Jesus shown you that he is trustworthy?

1) The official comes to Jesus in desperation. He has left his son in a different town, an 8-hour walk away, knowing that his son may be dead before he gets back if Jesus cannot or will not help. Have there been times in your life when you felt this kind of desperation? What were they? How has what happened shaped to the person you are and the relationship you have with Jesus today?

OBEY

Allow Jesus to stir up your deep need for him and pray that he will do the same for others he has brought to mind. Begin by praising Jesus for how he has worked in your life, then move to worshipping him for who he is.

 

You are also invited to hear a sermon on this passage. It will be streamed on the Vineyard One NYC Facebook page beginning at 10:30 am Eastern Standard Time. (Previous sermon audio files are available at vineyardone.nyc.)

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 11: The Blessings of the Week

 

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PREPARE

This is a day to review the graces, or gifts and blessings, of the week. Find a place where you can welcome God’s presence, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you think back over the previous week. What relationships, events, or things have you been grateful for? How has Jesus been present to you in your daily life?

REVIEW OPTION 1

Review one or more Bible passages and devotionals from the previous days (Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10). Is there anything in particular that stands out to you? What has Jesus been saying to you so far in the Lent Season?

REVIEW OPTION 2

If you need something simpler, you may choose to meditate and pray on one or more of these questions from the week:

  1. In John 3:16-21, Jesus tells us that his light illuminates the world. In what areas of your life or heart is he bringing his light?
  2. In John 4:34, Jesus says, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.” How have you been fed by doing God’s work in the past? What do you sense is God’s will for you in this moment?
  3. Review the emotions and experiences of the week, both the high and the low points. Ask God to speak to you in detail about one high and one low point? What do you hear him saying to you?

PRAY

What is Jesus’ invitation to you today? Ask for the grace to say “yes.”

Close with a prayer of gratitude or with The Lord’s Prayer (Find classic and contemporary versions here.)

 

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 10: Witnesses to the Truth

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PREPARE

Find a place where you can be still and sense God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you receptive to hearing Jesus’ words for you.

READ

John 5:16-47

REFLECT AND PRAY

In this passage, Jesus is facing religious leaders who treat him with doubt and hostility. Jesus replies that he has witnesses who testify that he is telling the truth: John the Baptist, Jesus’ own teachings and miracles, and God himself.

1) Who in your life has witnessed to you that Jesus is the Son of God? What led you believe their testimony? In what ways have you heard the truth directly from God, whether in the person of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, or the Word? What can you learn about the ways you are most likely to receive God’s truth for you and become more aware of his love?

OBEY

As you reflect on the ways you are most “wired” to connect with God, choose one such activity or posture and spend some time today doing that very thing. Then, tell another person about your experience so that they might also be blessed by it.

 

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 9: “Pick Up Your Mat and Walk”

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PREPARE

Find a moment to be still and sense God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you reflect on his healing work in your life and in the lives of others.

READ

John 4:46-5:15

REFLECT AND PRAY

1) In verses 4:46-5:15, Jesus encountered two men who desired healing – the official who was pleading for his son’s life and the lame man who could not see past his circumstances. Jesus gave healing in both cases. With whom do you identify more, the official or the lame man? Why?

2) In the case of the official, Jesus heals his son because of the father’s pleas. Is there anyone in your life currently that needs healing? Take this opportunity to intercede on their behalf, having faith that God will heal.

OBEY

When Jesus healed the lame man, he sent the man away with a task: “carry your mat.” By carrying the mat he once laid on, the man was living out the reality of his healing, doing work that used to be impossible for him. Ask Jesus what task he has for you today. How can you respond to Jesus’ healing in your own life? What might it mean for you to carry your mat?

 

Guest writer: Aaron Perez

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 8: “My Nourishment Comes from Doing God’s Will”

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PREPARE

Find a place where you can be still and sense God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your time of reading, reflection, and prayer.

READ

John 4:1-45

REFLECT AND PRAY 

Hunger and Thirst

In the passage, can you see the connection between the desires of God and the desires of humans? Jesus (God the Son) fulfills his hungry desire to do the will of the Father (God) by satisfying the woman’s thirst for a meaningful life. It seems that God desires to complete us in our lacking areas. Meanwhile, we are never complete (whole) without God. God hungers to interact with you and set you free to be alive!

1) “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” How do these words of Jesus make you feel? In what ways have you done the Father’s work lately?

OBEY

How can you acknowledge God’s attempts to get your attention each day? What are ways you find deep satisfaction in God? Set time aside to take part in some of these activities today and this week.

 

Guest writer: Marcus Samerson

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 7: “He Must Become Greater”

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PREPARE

Find a place where you can be still and sense God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your devotional time.

READ

John 3:22-36

REFLECT AND PRAY

1) In verses 25-30, John the Baptist deescalates a debate by pointing to Jesus. John recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah and that Jesus must increase and he, John, must decrease. Ask God what areas of your life you still need to give up to Him. In your prayer time today, ask Him how you can become less and He can become greater in your life.

2) In verses 31-36, John the Evangelist reminds us that Jesus is God and was sent by the Father. All we need to do to receive eternal life is to believe in Jesus. Have you truly believed in Him? Give Him thanks because our redemption, other than in our acceptance of His mercy and grace and His perfect sacrifice on the cross, does not depend on us but on Him and His love for us.

OBEY

Rest in Jesus. Let go of control of every aspect of your life: your relationships, your job, your finances, your ministry. Ask Jesus to come into those areas in which you still have to trust Him. Ask Him to increase as you decrease and relinquish control.

Guest Writer: Abraham Aldama

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 6: His Light Illuminates the World

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PREPARE

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your devotional time.

READ

John 3:1-21

REFLECT AND PRAY

1) In verses 1-15, imagine yourself sitting and observing Jesus speaking to Nicodemus about spirit and being born again. What images or phrases hold your attention? Do you have any questions for Jesus, as Nicodemus did, about what it means to be born again?

2) We often focus solely on John 3:16, learning about eternal life but losing sight of what is said right after in verse 17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” God loves us so much that not only did he give his Son but he did it in a spirit of wanting to save us, not condemn us. Are there any ways in which you feel condemned and would like to trade that for a feeling of being saved?

OBEY

In verses 16-21, Jesus speaks about how his light illuminates the world but many hide from it for fear of being exposed. Prayerfully examine if there are any areas of your life that you would like to invite Jesus to illuminate today.

 

Guest Writer: Erin Brehm

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 5: Water to Wine

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Each Sunday in Lent will focus on one of Jesus’ miraculous signs in the Gospel of John. 

PREPARE

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your devotional time. Before you read, meditate on John’s words about his Gospel:

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name – John 20:31.

READ

John 2:1-11

REFLECT AND PRAY

1) By his actions, Jesus reveals himself as abundantly loving, generous, compassionate, humble, and kind. Are there any other characteristics of Jesus that stand out to you from this story? Which do you find the most meaningful and why?

2) In turning water to wine at a wedding party, Jesus foreshadows the magnificent feast that will take place when the church is united with Christ as his bride (Revelation 19:6-9).  But Jesus also foreshadows the suffering he will endure on the cross in order to bring about this final, joyous union. In what ways have you experienced a taste of Jesus’ wedding feast and/or miraculous provision? In what ways have you experienced his suffering?

 

OBEY

As you read and reflect, how do you sense Jesus speaking to you? Are there any ways he invites you to share in his suffering this week? In his joy?

 

You are also invited to hear a sermon on this passage. It will be streamed on the Vineyard One NYC Facebook page beginning at 10:30 am Eastern Standard Time. (Previous sermon audio files are available at vineyardone.nyc.)

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 4: The Blessings of the Week

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PREPARE

This is a day to review the graces, or gifts and blessings, of the week. Find a place where you can welcome God’s presence, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you think back over the previous week. What relationships, events, or things have you been grateful for? How has Jesus been present to you in your daily life?

REVIEW OPTION 1

Review one or more Bible passages and devotionals from the previous days (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3). Is there anything in particular that stands out to you? What has Jesus been saying to you so far in the Lent Season?

REVIEW OPTION 2

If you need something simpler, you may choose to meditate and pray on one or more of these questions from the week:

  1. How can you “clear the way” for Jesus’ coming? What actions might you take in order to prepare someone know and serve Jesus?
  2. Jesus calls each one of us to “come” and follow, to know him more and to be more deeply in love with him. Where do you sense this invitation in your life?
  3. Are there any specific ways in which Jesus is asking for your obedience?

PRAY

Based on how you have heard Jesus speak to you, respond with a prayer of commitment, repentance, or petition, or however you feel led.

Close with a prayer of gratitude.

 

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).

 

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Lent Day 3: “Do What He Tells You To Do”

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PREPARE

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your devotional time. Read the assigned passage, then proceed through the “Reflect and Pray” and “Obey” sections.

READ

John 2

REFLECT AND PRAY

1) Verses 13-16 tell us that the temple is a dwelling place for God. What is the temple used for in this story? What is it supposed to be like?

2) “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days’” (v. 19).

What does “this temple” mean to Jesus and to you? Now that Jesus is risen and has left his Holy Spirit with us, the believer’s body is also a temple. Knowing this, how do you feel about your body? How should you treat it?

OBEY

Mary: They have no more wine.

Jesus: Woman, why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come.

Mary (to the servants): Do whatever he tells you to do.

In this dialogue, it seems like Jesus is refusing Mary’s request. His response is not very encouraging. We all have faced circumstances where the outcome seems uncertain. Mary’s response is something to which we all can aspire: obedience and trust in Jesus to handle the situation with his wisdom.

Are you facing a discouraging situation? Ask Jesus how he wants to handle the situation. Do whatever he tells you to do.

Guest Writer: Mimi Otani, crazy4jazz

“Leap of Faith” is a devotional series on the Gospel of John for the Lent season. All readings are available on the Vineyard One NYC app, along with additional resources for Bible reading, worship, and prayer (IPhone app here; Google Play app here).