Lesson 4

The Devotional Life

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The differences in PRAYER and DEVOTIONS are:

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Prayer is usually a time of making a REQUEST to the Father and DEVOTIONS is a TIME OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER AND / OR A TIME OF MEDITATING ON HIS WORD. This is our opportunity to cultivate a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus our Lord, SNUGGLE TIME.

 

This is an excellent time for SIFTING GOD’S WORD FROM THE HEAD TO THE HEART and PURIFYING THE WORD IN OUR HEART. This has been covered in the How to Study God’s Word lesson.

 

Some of the better scriptures to use in your devotions are The Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospel of John and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd John.

 

The In Him verses on page 14, have 140 verses telling us how we fit into the Kingdom of God. Meditating on the SEVEN COMPOUND NAMES OF GOD that are in the Scriptural Healing lesson will be very helpful also.

 

All of the EXTRA HELPS in the Seminar Manual ARE FOCUSING YOU TOWARD YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND YOUR POSITION IN HIM. There is enough material in this manual, along with your Bible, to assist you in your Devotional time and SPIRITUAL GROWTH for a very long time. This will HELP you to BUILD A VERY STRONG SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION IN JESUS, GOD’S SON, with Him being your CHIEF CORNER STONE.

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HOW DO WE REACT TO SITUATIONS THAT COME UP IN LIFE?

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We react to situations that happen to us based on comparing them to the things of our past, things in our current life and their impact on our future, our family, our friends, work, etc.

 

Let’s compare our reaction to winning a lottery for 5 million dollars with no strings attached. We would be jumping for joy, telling everyone of our good fortune. YES!

 

Now let’s COMPARE THIS to becoming Born-Again and having an INTIMATE, LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WHO CREATED EVERYTHING AND HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE AND ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO OUR PRESENT LIFE NOW, AND TO OUR FUTURE LIFE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.

 

ARE WE REACTING IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THIS GIFT FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER? I THINK NOT, AND WHY NOT?

BECAUSE, OUR BABY BORN-AGAIN SPIRIT HASN’T GRASP THE REALITY TO WHAT HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN PLACE IN OUR LIFE AND REALIZED THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFT, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER HAS GIVEN US.

 

We have not yet, developed THE CAPACITY TO COMPARE THE THINGS OF EARTH TO THE THINGS OF HEAVEN. Jesus said, each of you ( us ), individually, is worth more than the entire world and all of the things there in. There is no question that the value that God and Jesus has placed on you (us) is many times more valuable, than a mere five million-dollar check.

 

Paul says in I Corinthians 2:14-15 “The natural man (or the unlearned Born -Again person) DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE THINGS OF GOD, BUT THE SPIRITUAL MAN DOES”. NOTICE; Paul did not say, THE SPIRITUAL BABE UNDERSTANDS.

 

The DEVOTION TIME will help bring our UNDERSTANDING INTO AGREEMENT WITH GOD’S PERSPECTIVE (Romans 12:1-2). Beginning as a BABE IN CHRIST, we progress in understanding, (RHEMA) as we grow toward SPIRITUAL MATURITY. Refer to THE FOUR STAGES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH in Lesson One..

 

Remember: The PURPOSE of this Seminar is to give you the FOCUS and the Tools, to REACH A LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP AND MATURITY IN YOUR LORD AS QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.

 

ALSO, This SEMINAR MANUAL is NOT a substitute for the Bible. It is a tool designed to assist you in your Bible studies, to help you search the Scriptures DAILY, so that you may learn for yourself, what your Lord is saying to you. Look at Acts 17:11.

 

It is the Christian's privilege to have fellowship with God every day--communicating with Him and enjoying His presence.

 

This fellowship is a two-way matter. God speaks to us through the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, and we speak to Him by prayer. This two-way fellowship with the Lord is a daily necessity if our goal is to know and please Him.

 

The Bible is our handbook for daily fellowship with God, the means by which He speaks to us in a living, practical way as the Holy Spirit gives us understanding.

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LEARNING FROM DAVID’S DEVOTION

 

God called David, "a man after my own heart" (Acts 13:22). David wrote many of the Psalms, and they show the depth and richness of his relationship with God.

 

Look up the following verses in the Psalms and record what each one tells you about David's relationship with God. As you write the answer, think about how you can respond to God the same way.

 

5:3

 

25:5

 

32:5

 

34:4

 

51:10

 

55:17

 

62:1

 

63:1

 

103:1-2

 

145:1

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS

1. What evidence do you see in Luke 5:15-16 that Jesus considered time alone with His Father to be very
   important?

2. What did Jesus do just before choosing His twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-13)?

3. Read Luke 22:39-44 which describes a portion of the night before Jesus died. How did Jesus show His continued closeness to God?

4. In Luke 23:46 what were Jesus' last words before He died? What has God called us to according to I Corinthians 1:9?

5. Read Ephesians 3:12. Because of our faith in Christ, what attitude can we have in approaching God?

6. Review your answers in this chapter. On the basis of what you learned, summarize here how important you believe it is for you to maintain a close relationship with God, and explain why you feel that way.

7. Men and women of God through the ages have made it a habit to spend time privately with Him each day, generally early in the morning. Complete the following statements to help you plan time with God every day. Start small with an amount of time you can easily maintain. Plan to let this daily fellowship with God be a regular and increasing part of your schedule.

MY DAILY APPOINTMENT WITH GOD

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MY BEST TIME EACH DAY IS_________________________.

 

I PLAN TO ALLOW APPROXIMATELY______ MINUTES FOR MY LORD.

 

MY BEST PLACE FOR MEETING GOD ALONE IN FELLOWSHIP IS________________.

 

 

What Is GOD’S Snuggle Package?

 

IT IS!

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THE NIGHT OF THE LAST SUPPER
John Chapters 13-17

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JESUS’ FINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO US
Matthew 28:19

 

THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER
YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER
Acts 1:8

 

THE RIVERS OF LIVING WATER IS
THE BAPTISM IN ACTION
John 7:37-39

 

 

I AM KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR
REVELATION 3:20

 

 

 

SEEK YE FIRST
MATTHEW 6:33

 

 

 

HOW MUCH MORE
LUKE 11:13

 

 

 

THE FRUIT IS GOD’S CHARACTER
GALATIANS 5:13-26

 

 

 

GET TO KNOW GOD BETTER
II PETER 1:2-11

 

 

 

PUT OFF THE OLD MAN
COLOSSIANS 1:9-27 AND 3:8-17

 

 

 

GIVING THANKS TO THE LORD AND
GROWING IN OUR CAPACITY TO PRAISE HIM.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
- PSALMS 148-150