The Baptism of Jesus..Craig Denison Ministries

 The Baptism of Jesus

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview: 

God’s presence is real, full of love, and completely transformational. It takes what was broken and brings healing. It takes what was lost and guides us to our rightful place in the Father. It satisfies the weary, brings light to the darkness, and pours out the refreshing rain of God’s love on the dryest, deepest parts of the soul. Scripture contains story after story of God coming down to meet God’s children where they are, and your heavenly Father has the same heart for you as he did them. He longs to make the reality of his presence known to you. He longs to refresh you with his nearness. You were created for encountering God, and you will never be satisfied until you continually live in the experience for which you were created. Allow your desires to be stirred up to encounter the living God this week as we read powerful stories of God’s people encountering his manifest presence. May you respond to God’s word by seeking out that for which you were made: continual encounter with your heavenly Father.

Scripture:“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17

Devotional:    

The baptism of Jesus lays the foundation on which you and I can return time and time again to experience the abundant life made available to us at salvation. Matthew 3:16-17 says, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” Through the baptism of Jesus the Spirit of God powerfully enters into the scene of humanity. The Holy Spirit’s always been moving and working, but through Christ the way was paved for him to fill us and rest on us. Through the baptism of Jesus, we can all be baptized with the Spirit (John 1:33, John 3:5).

Peter says in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” And Romans 6:4 tells us, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” At salvation the Spirit descends on us and fills us. He is the promise of God for our eternal life. He is our Helper, Teacher, and Comforter while we are here on earth. And he is the one who leads us into the abundant, new life made available to us through Christ.

You see, just as the Spirit rested on Jesus, through his presence in our lives we have untapped resources of unconditional rest. God desires that we would rest in him as he rests on us. He desires for his children to find the only consistent source of peace available to us through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Where do you need rest today? What trouble, situation, thought, or person is stealing your peace? The Holy Spirit wants to descend on you today as he did on Jesus. He wants to guide you into the rest of your heavenly Father. Isaiah 40:28-31 says,

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

You have the one who never faints or tires and gives power and might dwelling within you as a follower of Jesus. You have an inexhaustible resource of joy, strength, renewal, and rest readily available to you in the Spirit. All that is required of you is to make space in your life to enter into the rest God longs to provide you. Allow him to lay a foundation of his presence in your life by spending time simply being with him, and he will transform you into a person of the Spirit who fellowships and receives from the Spirit constantly. Learn to listen to his voice, follow his guidance, and enjoy his presence today.

Wherever you need rest today the Holy Spirit is waiting to provide it for you. As you pray, make space in your heart and day to rest in him as he rests on you.           

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the Spirit’s desire to descend on you as he did on Jesus. Allow your faith to be stirred to have a real, tangible encounter with the Holy Spirit.

 “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” Matthew 3:16-17

“I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” John 1:33

2. Reflect on your own life. Where in your life do you need rest today?Where do you need a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit? What trouble seems to plague you? What brokenness needs healing and peace?

3. Ask the Spirit to descend on you and bring you rest. Ask for him to make his presence a reality to you. Follow him as he guides you into his presence. Worship, pray, and read the word. Do whatever will guide you into an encounter with the presence of God. God longs to bring you rest. It’s his desire that brings his presence, not your ability to feel him. He makes himself known when we open up our hearts and wait on him. Spend time waiting on his presence and resting in his love.

“And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” Jeremiah 31:25

May you discover today the path to continual encounter with the Holy Spirit. He isn’t a God who separates himself into different sections of your life. You are created to live in continual, tangible relationship with your heavenly Father. You are created to find consistent rest in his loving presence. When you begin to feel the burdens of the world weighing you down and robbing you of the abundant life that is yours in Christ, take a minute and receive his presence again. Find consistent times throughout your day to press into the heart of God and discover his continual, new, and refreshing presence that’s available to you anytime and anyplace. Don’t allow a mediocre day to be enough today. Press into the Spirit for more and find all that God intended for your life.

Extended Reading: Isaiah 40

The Pursuit of Righteousness Over Perfection..Laura Bailey

 The Pursuit of Righteousness Over Perfection 

By Laura Bailey

"...and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)." -  2 Peter 2: 7-8 NIV

Do you ever struggle with perfectionism? Until recently, I didn't consider myself a perfectionist. I can easily drift off to sleep with dirty dishes in the sink. A glance at my weekend food choices and one can determine I often fall short of a perfect healthy plate. Although I try my best, I can't count how many plants I've killed. (Did you know you needed to water cacti?)

I've accepted that I will not be an all-star at all things, learning to embrace my weaknesses and lean into my strengths. For the most part, I've released the shame of being unable to do it all, be all things to all people, and openly admit that I am struggling or need help in any area. Except when it comes to my faith. Can you relate?

Maybe you sinned and asked God for forgiveness, but you're still hard on yourself even though you know God has extended mercy and grace. Perhaps you skipped a few days of Bible Study, and now that internal critical voice is convincing you that you will never be a committed Christian. Or maybe as you pray, a persistent thought pops into your mind reminding you that you need to do better and attempting to convince you God doesn't even listen to you because you're such a mess. I can't be the only one who struggles with these things, right? Do you relate to the following thoughts?

• There's no way God can use me; I still struggle with sin. 
• What's wrong with me? Why can't my faith come as effortlessly as it does for others?
• When will I be able to pray or study my Bible like her? She's such a better Christian than me. 

But one day, I came across these verses in 1 Peter 2:7-8, "...and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—"  

Wait, Lot? I obviously misunderstood what these verses were saying about Lot because how, with his past, was he considered a righteous man? Isn't Lot the guy who lived in Sodom and Gomorrah, a town so full of wickedness God sent fire to destroy the town and all the people? Wasn't Lot the one who offered his daughters to a group of men looking to engage in sexual relations? And isn't this the same guy that, even after God provided an escape for his family, went into a cave, got drunk, and committed incest? (Genesis 11-14, & 19) 

Yes, this Lot is the same man Peter highlights in our key passage. It's essential to note Peter's words to describe Lot; he doesn't say that Lot was without fault; he was by no means perfect in his faith. Lot chose to stay in a sinful city, but a deeper look at the text reveals Lot was distressed by the wickedness around him. He was a man of God, and his soul was constantly conflicted between serving the Lord and living among such a corrupt group of people. 

Lot was given his righteousness or right standing with God on account of Christ, and because this status is accessible for all followers of Christ, we are considered righteous despite our imperfections too. The only way we can be deemed righteous is by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross—his substitutionary payment for our sins, reconciling us to our Holy Father.

Let's release ourselves from the burden of perfection and pursue a deeper relationship with the One who sacrificed so much to make us right with Him.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
Ask the Lord to expose areas where you strive for perfection over righteousness. Prayerfully ask God to help you become more like Him each day as you walk faithfully and obediently in His Word. 

Further Reading:

• Hebrews 11

A Prayer Against Suicide..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer Against Suicide

By Emma Danzey

 "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."- Luke 12:7

We sat there in the women's retreat for college students, and after doing an activity to reveal our struggles, many began to share vulnerably that they have dealt with suicidal thoughts. My heart sank. I did not know. Within each young woman's personal life stories, somewhere along the way, life got so difficult for them, so overwhelmingly depressing that they had the thought to end their precious lives. Suicide is glamorized in culture. When celebrities take their lives, it trends. When tv shows come out on Netflix about suicide as a viable option for teenagers, it popularizes the horrific act. Today, we will take the time to pray against this horrible decision and those it affects.

Let's Pray:
Jesus,
By Your strong hand and powerful arm, nothing is too hard for You. You tell us all that we are made in Your image. You say that You created us and called us very good. Today we cry out on behalf of humanity in a sin-filled world. God, we ask that You protect the minds of those who are dealing with thoughts of depression and suicide. Life is so valuable, and we only get one here. Help them see the beautiful plan through Jesus You have for their lives. Father, help them to know that their lives are worth living because You gave Your life for them to have hope. Remind them that You are their living hope and that nothing in all creation can separate them from Your love.

When a Fellow Christian Stumbles..Dr. Charles Stanley

 When a Fellow Christian Stumbles

Dr. Charles Stanley

Galatians 6:1-5

The Lord doesn't want the members of His body to live in isolation; believers are intended to function as a loving family who actively care for each other. One of our responsibilities as part of God's household is to come alongside a brother or sister who has stumbled. Paul specifies that those "who are spiritual" are to restore the fallen ones to fellowship with the Father and the family. "Spiritual" doesn't mean some elite group of pious leaders; it refers to any Christians who are living under the Spirit's control. A key element in this process is the attitude of the one who seeks to restore a fellow Christian.

A Spirit of Gentleness: This isn't a time for harshness, anger, judgment, or condemnation. Our goal is not to heap pain and guilt upon a hurting brother or sister but to show mercy and forgiveness (2 Cor. 2:5-8).

A Spirit of Humility: Those who have a superior attitude look down on a fallen brother and think, I would never make those mistakes. But the humble know their own vulnerability. Instead of judging others, they examine their own lives in order to recognize and deal with areas of weakness.

A Spirit of Love: When we love others, we'll willingly sharing their burden. This requires an unselfish investment of our time, energy, and prayer on their behalf.

How do you react when a fellow Christian has stumbled? One of the ugliest human traits is our tendency to feel better about ourselves when another person misses the mark. Instead of sharing the latest gossip about a fallen brother or sister, let your heart break, and come alongside to love and help.