Beginning Time Alone with God (Youth)
Sunday, April 18, 2021
But the disciples cannot grasp much of this at this
point, both because the ultimate revelation has not yet occurred, namely the
crucifixion and resurrection and ascension, and because they have not yet
entered into the divine life, the eternal life, through the new birth by the
Spirit. But when the revelation is complete and when they do receive the
Paraclete, he will guide them into all the truth that is in Jesus, which means
all the truth of the Father. As always in this Gospel, the Father is the
ultimate source and focus. The Spirit will focus on the Son, who is focusing on
the Father. Jesus’ staggering claim to have complete knowledge of God is the
foundation for the Christian claim that Jesus is the unique and only way to the
Father. But how are we mere mortals to appropriate such knowledge of God? Jesus
provides the way by sending the Spirit of God. The “all” of Jesus’ revelation
is matched by the “all” of the Paraclete’s instruction, an instruction that is
not merely cerebral, but that involves a sharing of the very life of God…The
expression what is yet to come is
paralleled in the next two verses by the phrase what is mine, suggesting the future events have to do with Jesus.
The reference would be to the glorification – the crucifixion, resurrection and
ascension – which still lies in the future at this point. This complex of
events forms the climax of Jesus’ revelation and thus will play a central role
in the Paraclete’s instruction of the disciples; he will glorify Jesus in large
measure by declaring to them the truth revealed in Jesus’ glorification.
Rodney A. Whitacre, John,
p. 372, (1999)
DAILY TIME ALONE WITH GOD
Select a day to fast from something unto the Lord.
Be sure to practice – A Day of Sabbath (Rest).
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer
–
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – on those who need salvation.
●
Petition – Talk with God about your life and needs.
Your
Purity before God.
Worship – and give thanks to God for everything (be specific).
Bible Adventure –
●
Read and think and imagine – Matthew
14: 22-26
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer
–
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – on the need to grow and become like Jesus.
●
Petition – Talk with God about your life and needs.
The Presence of God in your life.
Worship
– and give thanks to God for everything (be specific).
Bible Adventure –
●
Read and think and imagine –
Matthew 14: 27-36
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer
–
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – on those who need healing.
●
Petition – Talk with God about your life and needs.
The
Passion of God in your life.
Worship
– and give thanks to God for everything (be specific).
Bible Adventure
●
Read and think and imagine –
Matthew 15: 1-6
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.
THURSDAY
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer
–
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – on the missionaries all over the world – Monica Padilla
Trueman, Colorado Christian Services
●
Petition – Talk with God about your life and needs.
The Power of God in your life.
Worship
– and give thanks to God for everything (be specific).
Bible Adventure
●
Read and think and imagine –
Matthew 15: 7-12
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.
FRIDAY
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer
–
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – on giving thanks for Creation.
●
Petition – Talk with God about your life and needs.
God’s Freedom in your life.
Worship
– and give thanks to God for everything (be specific).
Bible Adventure
●
Read and think and imagine –
Matthew 15: 13-20
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer –
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – on life all around you.
●
Petition – Talk with God about your life and needs.
God’s Hope in your
life.
Worship
– and give thanks to God for everything (be specific).
Bible Adventure –
●
Read and think and imagine – Matthew 14:
22-36
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.
SUNDAY
Quiet – yourself before God (2-4 minutes).
Prayer
–
●
Confession – Confess your sins to God. Ask Him to forgive you
and take
away all sin from you.
●
Intercession – Pray for other people’s needs and lives.
●
Focus – Talk with God about church and worship today at WLCF.
●
Petition – Ask God to help you worship Him today.
Bible Adventure –
●
Read and think and imagine –
Matthew 15: 1-20
●
Meditate on this passage in the Bible.
Write
– Journal what God taught you today.
Close
– with prayer. Go with God into your day today.