Beginning Time Alone with God (Youth)
Sunday, Jan 19, 2025
Jesus' followers, as we read in the book of Acts, lived and died in the power of the Spirit. The key to the missionary expansion of the church is the simple fact that believers were "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4, 4:8, 9:17) or "full of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:3, 7:55, 11:24). Empowered by the Spirit, missionaries preached the Word boldly (see Acts 4:31), saw sinners convicted and converted (see 2:37, 11:24), cast out demons (see 5:16, 8:7), and experienced supernatural deliverances (see 12:3-17, 16:25-26). The Apostles' Creed contains the line, "I believe in the Holy Spirit." But as one authority observes, "Long before the Holy Spirit became an article of the Creed, he was a reality lived in the experience of the primitive church."
Scripture teaches that the Spirit is God's "gift" to His people (see Acts 2:38, 10:45, 11:17). When a trusted person offers me a gift, I gladly receive it. Let's not be afraid to accept the enormous gift of God's Spirit! The Word tells us how we should 'respond to this gracious gift. We should not resist the Spirit (see Acts 7:51) nor quench the Spirit (see 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Neither should we grieve God's Spirit through disobedience. "Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted" (Ephesians 4:30, MSG). And certainly we must not insult the Spirit by treading God's beloved Son underfoot (see Hebrews 10:29).
Without question, Scripture enjoins us to embrace the gifts of the Spirit (see Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4). The Spirit bestows these charisms not to stir up controversy but to edify the body and equip believers for effective service.
Bruce Demarest. Satisfy Your Soul, p. 290 (1999)
MONDAY
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 – John 19:16-22
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 – John 19:23-27
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 – John 19:28-30
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 – John 19:31-37
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 – John 19:38-42
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 – John 19:16-27
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 –
Write – Journal what God taught you today.
Close – with prayer. Go with God into your day today.