Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
As usual, each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Hubo
Ezekiel 36:27
I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws.
Ezekiel 36:27 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Throughout the book of Acts, we read about Paul travelling to many cities, talking about Jesus and praying for people to be healed and set free from evil spirits. Today, we are REFLECTING on what happened when some people tried to copy what Paul was doing.
Read by Hubo
Acts 19:11-13,15
God used Paul to do some very special miracles. Some people took handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on the sick. When they did this, the sick were healed and evil spirits left them. But some people also… tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to force the evil spirits out. They would say, ‘By the same Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!’ But one time an evil spirit said to them, ‘I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’
Acts 19:11-13,15 (NCV)
A small group of people – the Bible calls them ‘the seven sons of Sceva’ – saw that Paul was healing those who were sick and setting people free from evil spirits with the power of the Holy Spirit, so they tried to copy him by using the same words they’d heard Paul using.
The problem was that these sons of Sceva wanted the power that Paul seemed to have, but they didn’t realise that the power wasn’t his – it came from the person that Paul knew, Jesus. The sons of Sceva didn’t know Jesus for themselves, and they weren’t filled with the Holy Spirit like Paul was.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is; When have we pretended to be someone else? Maybe we put on a disguise or wore a costume for a fancy-dress party?
And now we ASK God to help us and others.
Lord Jesus, we like learning about You, but we love knowing You for ourselves so much more. However, we’re not satisfied – we want to know You even more, just like Paul did.
In today’s Bible passage, we read that ‘God used Paul to do some very special miracles’. Let’s think of those who might need a miracle from God right now.
Holy Spirit, we pray for You to move in power – whatever the need is – physical, emotional, spiritual or practical and as the Bible teaches us, we ASK this in Jesus’ name. (John 14:13)
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Acts 19:11-13,15
God used Paul to do some very special miracles. Some people took handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on the sick. When they did this, the sick were healed and evil spirits left them. But some people also… tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to force the evil spirits out. They would say, ‘By the same Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!’ But one time an evil spirit said to them, ‘I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’
Acts 19:11-13,15 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. Lord Jesus, we’re so glad that we know You, but we also say YES, we want to know You more.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Ezekiel 36:27
I will put my Spirit inside you and help you live by my rules and carefully obey my laws.
Ezekiel 36:27 (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) is 10 years old, and lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with his parents and 4 siblings.
When he’s not busy trying out ninja moves, he’s practicing the latest dance moves, playing soccer, drawing or playing games with his friends.
