Pentecost Alive – Go!

June 5, 2020

DAILY READING

Matthew 7:7-11 – 7 “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

John 14:25-26 – “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.”

FIELD NOTES

While God answers some of our prayers with “No,” others with “Slow,” and others with “Grow,” God answers others with “Go!”

Yes, many times, God’s answers to prayers are a clear, “Yes! Now with my help, go for it!”

“I gave you your spouse! Now, love as I love with the help of my Holy Spirit!”

“I gave you that job! Now, let my Holy Spirit help navigate you through it!”

“I gave you the answer in the specific form of your request. But please allow me to help you make the most of it through the guidance of my Holy Spirit.”

Please note that God’s answer also includes the Holy Spirit. 

Most of what I purchase comes with a “Technical Support” telephone number and website in case I need help in using the device or if it breaks. God gives us our answers to prayer and includes the Holy Spirit as our Holy Guide, our Holy Tech Support. 

So, if your answer to a prayer is a “Yes,” go for it! And go with the Holy Spirit guiding you.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• What are some clear answers, blessings, and solutions you received from praying with God?
•  In what ways are you allowing God to assist you with those answers?
•  Is there something about which you need to pray? 

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• How does it feel to receive a “yes” answer to a request?    
• Describe a time you received something, and needed help (tech support) in figuring out how to use it.
• Answer the above Questions for the Field.

PRAYER GUIDE

Lord, Jesus Christ, you answer many of our prayers with a simple yes! Thank you! Help us to praise and thank you for your answers, and help us to allow you to guide our use of your answers to our prayers. In your gracious name, I pray.  Amen.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND PENTECOST CHALLENGE

For the duration of our sermon series, we are offering daily prompts for applying the wisdom from the scriptures to our everyday lives. Each week focuses on how we can encourage those around us, resulting in our bearing fruit! This week we are focusing on making Pentecost come alive through our prayer life and following the Holy Spirit.

This week’s scripture is Acts 2:1-21 and we will be practicing Lectio Divina with it.  Lectio Divina is an ancient prayer practice that means divine or sacred reading.  It is a way of meditating on the scripture and allowing God to speak anew through the words of scripture.  There are a number of ways to practice Lectio Divina; one method is listed below.

First pray: Loving God help me to hear your word for me today.  Amen.
Next, read the passage Acts 2:1-21 aloud slowly. Pause for a moment.
Read the passage aloud again slowly.  Listen for a word or a phrase that stands out to you.
Read the passage aloud again for a third time.  As you do, reflect on your word or phrase and think about why God might be revealing those words to you. 
Meditate on your word or phrase and listen for what God might be inviting you to do.
Who is the Spirit inviting you to pray for today?

To learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit challenge, click here.