As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2 CENTERPOINTE CHURCH 2019 40-DAY DEVOTIONAL WEEK 3 Centerpointe Church 4104 Legato Rd Fairfax, VA 22033 www.centerpointechurch.com
JANUARY 14 EXPERIENCE GOD S PRESENCE REFLECTION JAN 14 Exodus 33:12 16, Moses said to the LORD,... if you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people. The LORD replied, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Then Moses said to him, If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.how will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth? The distinguishing marks of a follower of Jesus are favor and the presence of God. Neither one is tangible, but both are recognizable. They were so crucial to Moses that he didn t want to go anywhere without them. Our passage shows Moses relentless pleading for God's continual favor and presence. One can feel a sense of powerlessness in Moses voice; he would rather stay in the desert than be without God. I often pray the same prayer, especially as it relates to Centerpointe Church. We know He is leading us to a new location, and we want to make sure that we don t take even one step without Him. Like Moses prayed, how will the community know we are different from any other business that relocates? I contend that the presence of God is the only thing that distinguishes us in a community. A theater can put on a show and gather a crowd. A hospital can give care. A school can add knowledge. Although all of these are important, only the Body of Christ can bring the presence of Jesus to a community. The phrase presence of God can be a very mysterious phrase. It seems weird and unattainable. What was Moses asking for, and how can we experience this presence? The presence of God is the constant awareness that God is with us. The primary manifestation of God s presence in the Old Testament was the tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was used to lead God s people in their journey to Canaan and into battle with bold confidence. In the New Testament, and today, the primary manifestation of the presence of God is found in Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. A Personal Note: Visiting a family in the hospital is always a humbling experience for any pastor. In this setting we become very aware of our inadequacy. The words we have to offer often feel shallow and helpless. However, I have come to realize that explanations and answers are not why people are glad to see a pastor, an elder, or a fellow believer. They want someone that represents the presence of God and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. In what ways do you experience God s presence? How does it make a difference in your life? In what ways can you nurture a greater awareness of God s presence in your life? Based on what you have read, what decisions do you need to make?
JANUARY 15 EXPERIENCE GOD S JOY Psalm 68:3, Let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy. Nehemiah 8:10b, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (The King James version uses the phrase more abundantly. ) C. S. Lewis, a profound Christian author, titled his autobiography: Surprised by Joy. It is his journey from atheism (after the death of his mother) to theism (as a young adult) and later to Christianity. He wanted to identify and describe the events surrounding his accidental discovery of the phenomenon he labeled "Joy." Lewis believed that joy was a vital part of the Christian life and one too often neglected. Too many believers walk around looking like there is a grey cloud hanging over them, wondering why no one wants to follow them. Why would anyone be attracted to Christianity when they see us in perpetual mourning? As believers, we are promised a life of joy not just a temporary, fleeting "high," but something that endures through both good and bad days. William Treadwell said, If we can convince people that we are onto something that's full of joy, they'll stampede one another to follow us. There are 254 verses about joy in the Bible, which indicates to us that joy in life is not only possible but also expected for followers of Jesus. Lewis discovered that joy doesn t come to us by chasing it like a dog chasing its tail. Joy is a byproduct of a relationship with Christ. Nehemiah tells us that the joy of the Lord provides us with strength because it gives us the capacity to overcome our trials. As James teaches us, trials develop endurance, endurance produces character, and character leaves a lasting legacy of Godliness. Jesus followers can expect to experience joy even in the midst of difficulty. REFLECTION JAN 15 When was the last time you experienced joy in the midst of a trial? How was this possible? In your opinion, what is the difference between joy and happiness? In Psalms 51, David prayed, restore unto me the joy of my salvation. What do you think he meant? Why was this so important to him? After your reading and reflection, what decisions do you need to make?
JANUARY 16 EXPERIENCE GOD S BLESSING Deuteronomy 28:1 8, If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you. Wow! I want to live in this kind of blessing. I want my children and grandchildren to experience the same. Furthermore, I desire our church to experience this kind of blessing. The good news for us is that God is a God waiting to pour out His benefits upon His people. Almost all religions work to gain their gods favor and blessing through rules, idols, and beautiful architectural structures. Throughout the Buddhist and Hindu dominated world, people offer sacrifices to please their gods and obtain favor. While in India, I noticed that almost every home had some sort of altar on the lawn. When I enquired about them, I was told that fruit, vegetables, and gifts were left on the altar to please whatever god might be passing by, hoping that the god would leave behind a blessing. The foundation of their faith is based on their ability to satisfy. God s requirements are different and found in the first verse: fully obey, and carefully follow. At first glance, it sounds similar to other religions, but there is a distinct difference, just like healthy parents who want to bless their children. Children don t try and make the parents want them; they know they are loved. However, the children s obedience makes it a joy for the parents to be generous. If we want to experience the blessings of God, we must follow Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is not a case for works-based theology; it is merely a statement of relational surrender. REFLECTION JAN 16 In what ways have you experienced God s blessing? In your opinion, how is obedience linked to blessing? Based on what you read, and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make? For further study, read the rest of Deuteronomy 28. What insight can we gain concerning obedience and blessing?
JANUARY 17 EXPERIENCE GOD S FAVOR Psalms 90:17, May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us, and may He establish the work of our hands, yes establish the work of our hands. In July of 2014, Esther and I drove our daughter, Kristi, to Cleveland, Tennessee to visit Lee University. Walking around campus, I noticed that every building had an engraved stone with the scripture reference, Psalms 90:17. We later discovered a bronze statue (pictured here) of a man sitting on a bench with his Bible opened to the same verse. In this verse, the writer is portrayed as a desperate soul who recognized his temporary presence in this world and wanted to leave a meaningful legacy. This became my theme verse for July and also the messages I would preach in August and September of that year. I have since quoted this verse in prayer more than any other. It is often said, Favor is when people like you and you don t know why, and this is true to some extent. Favor unlocks doors you thought were closed and brings opportunities you would not have expected. Favor is not something we earn; it is freely placed upon us by the grace of God. It is a gift. However, like a blessing, we can put ourselves in a position of favor. Isaiah 66:2 says, These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. The second part of Psalms 90:17 speaks to our desire for lasting impact. The Life Application Bible notes, Because our days are numbered, we want our work to count, to be effective and productive. We desire to see God s eternal plan revealed now and for our work to reflect his permanence. Significant changes are happening at Centerpointe Church as we dream of our future. Our prayer is similar to the psalmist: Lord, whatever we do, let it be for your honor and glory because this is the only way it will mean anything for the future generations. In what ways have you experienced God s favor? How do you know what God s favor looks like? In what areas do you need God s favor? Based on what you have read and what God is saying to you, what decisions do you need to make? REFLECTION JAN 17
JANUARY 18 EXPERIENCE GOD S VOICE, PT 1 1 Samuel 3:1 10, The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, Here I am. And he ran to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. But Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down. So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, Samuel! And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. My son, Eli said, I did not call; go back and lie down. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, Here I am; you called me. Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening. Emphasizing each word in the last sentence helps us understand Eli s instruction and apply it to our lives. Speak Samuel sought God s voice Lord Samuel recognized God s authority over his life Your Servant Samuel positioned himself as a servant Is listening This word suggests more than hearing, it includes obeying. REFLECTION JAN 18 Take a moment and repeat the prayer of Samuel several times, emphasizing each word. Let this prayer be a commitment to serve and obey God s voice. What difficult things are God asking you to do? Based on what you read, what decisions do you need to make? As one continues to read, what God asked Samuel to do was difficult. God asked him to speak a word of condemnation over Eli s disobedient sons. Reluctantly, Samuel obeyed. God eventually elevated Samuel as Israel s primary prophet and leader. The prayer of Samuel served him well his whole life and is the same prayer we pray as we follow Jesus. What God asks us to do may be difficult, but God s ways rarely are easy.
JANUARY 19 EXPERIENCE GOD S VOICE, PT 2 1 Kings 19:11 12, Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. The voice was not in the fire or thunder, but in the still, gentle wind. Every once in a while it would be nice for us to hear God in a burning bush or some other dramatic fashion. It happened in the Old Testament; God spoke through earthquakes, fire, angels, prophets, and visible writing on the wall. Why can t he talk to us in dramatic ways today? Today, God speaks to us in much more subtle but no less important ways. In the New Testament, God spoke in a dramatic fashion only a few times, and most of those times, the purpose was to affirm that Jesus divinity. We hear reports of that still happening, especially to Muslim Background Believers who have seen Jesus in a vision or dream. Although these accounts are incredible, we are still left with the question: how we can hear God s voice in our life on a regular basis? We know He is not silent. In 2013, on a mission s trip to Argentina, I felt God speaking to me about giving part of our church s building fund money away to the local Bible school. At first, I thought it was just my own internal voice, so I waited and prayed. When I got home, I ran it by Esther, and we prayed together. I processed the idea with our board, and we also prayed together. Because this money was designated for another purpose, I needed to ask the Centerpointe membership. In that meeting, we could sense that God was in this. We voted together to send the money. In this example, we can see a filter for us to discern if we are hearing from God: 1. Do we have a sense that the Spirit put this decision on our hearts? We ask God for wisdom and discernment. 2. Is it in line with Scripture? God will never go against His Word. 3. Does it lead others and us into a closer walk with Jesus? 4. Is there confirmation from trusted Godly people? 5. Is there a sense of peace? God also speaks to us in the negative, by withholding a sense of peace. REFLECTION JAN 19 Name a time when you clearly heard God asking you to do something but you questioned whether or not it was God speaking. How did you come to the conclusion that it was God? Besides the filters listed, what are other ways we can know if God speaking to us? The Holy Spirit doesn t always ask us to do the dramatic; He even speaks to us in our daily routines. How does he do this? Based on your reading and reflection, what decisions do you need to make?
JANUARY 20 SUNDAY MESSAGE NOTES LIFE GROUP NOTES: Scripture(s): Key Notes: