The Power of Daily Devotions.
Part 5 – How to Have a Fruitful Devotional Session.
Welcome to session #5 of the “Small Groups” season at Joy Fountain. We have been discussing the subject “How to have a Fruitful Devotional Session” under the wider subject “The Power of Daily Devotions.” In previous Parts, we covered items #1 to #6 namely
- Begin a Devotional Session talking to The Father with “Thanksgiving and Praise”
- Read and Meditate on the Scriptures
- Pray the Scriptures
- Bring your requests to God
- Repent and enjoy the Father’s forgiveness
- Make it a quiet place and quiet time
In Part 5 today we will discuss #7 which is:
- The Holy Spirit
Scripture Memory
Before we go further please take a few minutes to review the Memory Verses from previous sessions:
Mark 1:35, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 John 2:6, Acts 17:30.
And here is the new one for today below. See if you can memorize it.
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 11:13 NKJV
Guided Discussions.
We continue with item #7 on How to have a fruitful devotional session.
7. The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.) Jesus made it clear that after He returns to Heaven the Father will send the Holy Spirit to live with us and in us. This was fulfilled in Acts Chapter 2 where we read the account of how the Holy Spirit came down for the first time to live within the believer. To this day the Holy Spirit continues as our comforter, guide, and teacher and will be with and in us individually and in the Church collectively.
The Apostle John summarizes the essential work of the Holy Spirit in his Gospel account. Let us read the words of Jesus in the verses below as recorded by John and discuss our thoughts.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
John 16:7-15 NKJV
Questions to ponder: What do these verses say about the Holy Spirit and how does this apply to you?
When we meet with Jesus daily we are indeed meeting with The Holy Spirit. He (The Spirit) is always with us as our Teacher and Guide. If that is the case then whatever is Christ’s we can receive from and by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 NKJV
What do the following verses teach us about The Holy Spirit?
Luke 11:13, John 14:15-18, John 16:13, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 4:7-12, Ephesians 5:18, John 14:25-26, Acts 13:1-3
Part 5 Summary and Conclusion
To have a fruitful devotional time with the Father, we must be intentional to make the time daily to spend with Him. You must be mindful that the Holy Spirit is there with you. God is not a liar. If you engage Him in faith He will speak to you from the word of God. He will illumine your mind and give you revelations from scripture. He will change you. Any follower of Jesus who fellowships with Jesus regularly will have a more fruitful life. We grow spiritually and the fruit of the Holy Spirit will also become evident as a by-product.
Prayer Time
- Any Praise Reports or Requests to share?
- Praise God for the gift of meeting with Him daily
- Pray that we Go Deeper With Jesus in 2024 and beyond.
- Pray for one another’s needs as needed.
Announcements
- Glory be to God our first Missions Banquet Raised $16,500 so far. We firmly believe that the rest will come in even as we go into next year. God is faithful!
- Next Small Groups January 3, 2023
- Next Prayer Summit: January 6, 2023, beginning our 21-day fast. Please join here https://joyfountain.engagespot.church/events/26.