Grace
That we would we met God afresh in our daily communion times and life together and follow through on any challenges that emerge.
Devotion 1
Light a candle
Listen: “The Lord is My Shepherd” by Keith Green, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
Sit in silence for 5 mins
Read: Acts 2:1-21
Pray: Use your time of prayer to pray for Melbourne. Ask the Spirit to give you words of knowledge, pictures, prophetic messages and prayers for miracles for the team.
Share: Communion and finish your time by writing an email to the Melbourne UNOH team.
Devotion 2
Light a candle
Read: John 1:29-34
Here again we see John pointing all attention towards Jesus and making it clear that Jesus ranks far ahead of him. As an actual relative of the messiah he had a pretty legit ‘claim to fame’! I mean these two first met while they were in their mothers wombs! Yet John states ‘I myself did not know him’. He refers here to the hidden reality of Jesus divinity. Only at the baptism did the Holy Spirit reveal Jesus’ true nature and this is what John bears witness to. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals the truth to us too.
John refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God. Why the Lamb? The central feature of the Jewish Passover feast was the lamb, which was eaten during the Passover meal. It recalled the lamb which the families of the Israelites ate on the eve of their escape from Egypt and whose blood was painted on the doorposts of their houses. This became a Jewish symbol of liberation. For us, however, there is now a new symbol of liberation, a new Lamb. Jesus’ death and resurrection inaugurates a New Covenant between God and his people.
Ask:
1. What stood out to you in the passage?
2. Share an example of when you have been made aware of Jesus’ hand in a situation.
Listen: “Worthy is the Lamb” by Darlene Zschech and move into prayer and communion.
Pray: Use your time of prayer to pray for New Zealand. Ask the Spirit to give you words of knowledge, pictures, prophetic messages and prayers for miracles for the team.
Share: Communion and finish your time by writing an email to the New Zealand UNOH team.
Devotion 3
Light a candle
Read: John 1:35-42
Reflection:
Our passage has so much on it, but we will focus on John the Baptist the forerunner for Christ and awesome exemplar for us. We read the transition of the story and attention, from John the Baptist to Jesus. John clearly from the get go reveals his role of pointing others to someone greater (v.30-34), Jesus, and even pointing his own disciples (v.35-37).
At the height of his ministry, John never forgot his role as a mere sign post to Jesus the Messiah. John humbly relinquishes his own ‘power/stature/ following’ directing them to one greater.
Ask:
Share amongst yourselves the challenges of pointing to Jesus in all we do in the community.
Pray: Use your time of prayer to pray for the Sydney UNOH team. Ask the Spirit to give you words of knowledge, pictures, prophetic messages and prayers for miracles for the team.
Share: Communion and finish your time by writing an email to Sydney.
Devotion 4
Light a candle
Read: John 1:43-51
1. Share about a time when you felt Jesus ‘found you’ and said “Follow me.”
2. Jesus knows us, just as he knew Nathanael. Take 5 minutes to sit quietly, close your eyes and ask yourself if there is anything you need to put right with God. Do you think Jesus could make the same comment about you by saying “Here is a true disciple, in whom there is nothing false.” Pray silently to God. If you feel comfortable and want to you could share with others the thing you need to put ‘right’ with God and/or ask others to pray for you.
3. In verse 49 Nathanael addresses Jesus as ‘Rabbi’. ‘The title ‘Rabbi’ was one of respect and showed the seriousness of his intentions to follow Jesus. When we choose to seriously follow Jesus, He takes us on an amazing journey, opening our eyes and helping us to see the world in a different way. What is something in your community that is currently exciting you as you follow Jesus.
Prayer – Use your time of prayer to pray for Bangkok. Ask the Spirit to give you words of knowledge, pictures, prophetic messages and prayers for miracles for the team.
Share: Communion and finish your time by writing an email to the Bangkok UNOH team.