This week we are following up after hearing Keith explain how we are to “BE transformed by the Spirit.” I hope you enjoyed last weeks study of the work of the Spirit in each of our lives.

This week, we are going to spend time looking at what BEcomes true of us after we “trust in Christ.”

We are also going to invite you to memorize verses 3-14 during the course of this week and spilling into the following weeks- depending on the pace you enjoy!

Start out the morning listening to the song Boldy I Approach from Rend Collective. Remember that we can approach His throne boldly during this time and throughout the day because we are “in Christ”. You can listen to the song on YouTube below:

Read Ephesians 1:1-3

Take some time today with these following questions after reading:

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)

BE (What does the text say about us?)

DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

As we did on Wednesday, spend some time just sitting with the Lord. If you are a visual person, picture walking with Jesus in your favorite place, sitting with Him and just being together.

Sit quietly, it your mind wanders, just gently bring it back. It’s not a rigid time, just learning to be quiet and enjoy Jesus.

Remember that…

He is crazy about you.
He loves you completely and sees all the good/bad & ugly.
He is waiting for you when you wake up.
He enjoys just relaxing with you, No agenda, no schedule, just you.

Take a long slow read through these chapters. Perhaps use a Bible app and have it read to you.

Read John 14-17

• Pray along with Jesus in John 17.
• Write out a prayer of your own asking the Holy Spirit to continue His work in you:

In the previous devotional pages from Jonah, we got used to answering the questions:

KNOW (what does the text say about God?)
BE (What does the text say about us?)
DO (what is the text calling me to do?)

Take time today to think through those questions from this passage.

Read John 16:5-16

Know:

Be:

Do:

Hopefully you are getting into the habit of asking the Holy Spirit to teachyou as you sit down to read. Pray now.

Read John 15:18-16:4

In 16:1, Jesus says, “All this I have told you so that you will not goastray.” In what we’ve read so far this week, what would make the disciples lose heart and potentially go astray?

• What situations in your life have caused deep questioning of your faith in you?
• How did you process through these situations, or have youprocessed through them?
• Certainly there are hard and unexplainable situations around all of us that cause deep pangs. Has there been a time you have suffered for doing what was right and good to do?
  • Share:
• How does Jesus’ warning encourage you?

This passage was written to the disciples (plural) and not just one person (not just “me and Jesus”). Today, call/email/text one person in response to today’s reading as a means of being anencouragement to a brother or sister in Christ that might need.

Now that we’ve read that the Holy Spirit reminds us and teaches us truth, it makes sense that we would want to ask Him to help us whenwe sit down to read and understand scripture.

Sit quietly for a few moments being still before the Lord. If your mind wanders, and it will, just bring it back. Start with two or three minutes just enjoying His presence. He enjoys your presence immensely.

Read John 15: 1-17

• In this passage, we learn that Jesus is the vine (v.1); the Father is the gardener (v.1); we are the branches (v.5); love is the fruit (v.12). What does life look like for the average branch?
  
• Ž What has pruning looked like in your life?
  
• Ž What do you think “remaining” looks like?
  
• Ž As you reflect on the past several days, what areas can you can honestly say you ARE “remaining in with Jesus” and what areas are you NOT “remaining in with Jesus”?
  
• Ž  Jesus calls you His friend, and also explains that He chose you specifically. What feelings does this bring up in you?

If our loving one another is the actual fruit we are bearing, ask yourself a couple hard questions:

• Ž Are there people I don’t love well in my life?
• Ž Who am I loving well right now?
• Ž What pieces of me make it harder for me to genuinely love others and what am I doing to change those things?

Below is a picture of the vine and branches. Embed the image of the branch needing to be attached to the vine.

On June 2nd Keith & Susan preached a sermon on this passage you might enjoy! Use the player below to listen:

Stop, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you from the text. Ask Him to help you engage with your mind and your heart. Remind yourself you are in God’s presence and read the passage; notice how God might be speaking to you through His Word.

Read John 14:15-31

• From this passage, what are the names and/or tasks that the Holy Spirit will help us with?
  
• If the Holy Spirit brings truth to us, what are some of the current lies you are facing in your life? (In my life I have struggled to believe that I matter to people, that I am valuable…)
  
• How have you seen believing these lies impact your life? (For me, because I can believe that I am not valuable, I can tell myself that I deserve poor treatment)
  
• The Holy Spirit seems to be so personal and intimate with us:whispering truth, gently reminding, soothing us with peacefulness. How does it feel to know that Jesus sends us someone who knows us so intimately? What does that communicate about Him?
  
• How do you feel about your love being tied to something that you do versus something that you say? What’s challenging about that?