Teacher Devotions: Restoring Hope - Psalm 71

Psalm 71:20    Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

This is one of those verses that makes the Book of Psalms such great scripture to read during troubled times. Each of us goes through bitter moments in our lives that make us question God. We languish in emotional wildernesses of sadness and regret, which causes us to wonder what life is all about.

During those morose moments, we turn to God to comfort our spirits and refresh our faith. We see in Christ’s suffering a God who is not distant and alienated from our troubles, but who is at the heart of our pain and anguish. He seeks to restore our lives through His love and lifts us up from the depths of our despair. We may temporarily lose our grasp of God, but He never loses His hold of us.

Perhaps you are experiencing a time of sadness or fear; maybe you are undergoing a very trying time. Hold on to hope and receive the blessings of this verse. Claim it as your prayer each day and allow God, through Christ, to restore balance and blessing, faith and favor to your life. Remember, you are precious in His sight and He wants His goodness and love to overflow in your heart and mind, your life and experiences. God will restore your life again; from the depths of the earth He will again bring you up.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, you alone fully know what goes on in our hearts and minds. You understand the burdens that we carry and You are aware of the heartbreaks in each of our lives. Allow Your Holy Spirit to come down among us and lift us up to God’s love. In Your Sacred Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Knoxville featuring the two city bridges in downtown Knoxville at dawn. You can see a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4823079492_0bca604219_b.jpg

(John has prints available of this drawing. Contact him by email if you are interested in purchasing one. The cost for an 8x10 inch signed print with an 11x14 matte is only $20.)

Teacher devotions: Testing the Spirit - acts 13

Acts 13:2         While they were worshiping the LORD and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

I love this verse in the Bible because it records one of the few occasions that the Holy Spirit actually speaks. Normally when the Holy Spirit communicates with the apostles, the process is more of an inward spiritual experience. Here, we have direct contact and the communication is given through the spoken word.

I’ve never heard the Holy Spirit speak directly to me, but I have experienced a few occasions where I truly believe the Spirit’s presence was absolutely real and totally influential. Because those events have been few and far between, I tend to question people who constantly say that the Holy Spirit is always with them at meetings, in their churches, and throughout their lives. Maybe I’m wrong, but I personally get the feeling from the Book of Acts that the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the apostles was a holy, sacred, and unmistakable occurrence.

For example, years ago I was at a house group prayer meeting in Scotland and the hosts were praying for a relative who was sick in hospital. The prayers grew more fervent and intense until the host dramatically declared that the Holy Spirit had told her that her father was going to be completely cured and sent home without any surgery. Some people in the group started weeping and began embracing one another, praising the Holy Spirit for mercy.

The very next day, the surgeons at the hospital amputated her father’s two legs. He spent months in hospital and eventually died. Was the Holy Spirit at the prayer meeting? Did the Holy Spirit plant a false hope in the heart of the hostess? I really doubt it. Instead of epiklesis (the sacred presence of the Holy Spirit), I believe that the prayer group experienced euphoria and deluded themselves.

I think I would like to truly hear the Holy Spirit speak to the church that I serve. That’s why I feel strongly moved to lead the congregation through a two year journey of the Book of Acts on Sunday mornings. To hear the Holy Spirit, the church needs to know what the Holy Spirit actually does. There is no greater book in the Bible than the Acts of the Apostles which can do this for the congregation. I personally call Acts “The Gospel of the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer:                        Holy Spirit, please speak to us and grant us the gift of Your guidance. Enable and empower us to be effective followers of Christ through Your bidding. Allow us the delight of being set apart by You to complete God’s work in our congregations and communities. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Savannah series creations. It depicts the Forsyth Fountain at night. A larger version of the drawing can be viewed at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4806659093_c3956ec558_b.jpg

Teacher Devotions: Questioning God - Acts 9

Acts 9:13         "LORD," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.”

There are times when I would love to be like Paul, but in my heart I know that I’m more like Ananias. God tells him to go and heal Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor of the Early Church. Ananias balks at the very idea and even questions God’s command. He’s saying to God, “Are You sure about this? Perhaps You haven’t heard about this terrible man?”

That’s me all over - questioning God’s work and ways instead of listening to His voice and following His instructions. There have been many occasions in my life when God has presented me with new and difficult situations and I’ve ended up praying to God and expressing my concerns: “Are You sure about this? Will it work? Do You really think this person can do that?”

I’m certain that I’m not the only person or pastor who goes through this. Like Ananias, I eventually surrender to God’s will and trust in His wisdom. After all, God knows everything, so He must know what is right for Him, His Kingdom, and Christ’s Church.

Perhaps God is inviting You to a new opportunity, a different journey, or an untried spiritual path. Maybe like me, you question God and feel unsure. Pray and ponder over the possibilities. Seek Christ’s guidance and grace. If you truly do this and take time to think about it, God will show you His way. In the end, it’s His work in the world that’s important.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we often question Your ways and words. We are sometimes challenged by Your teaching because we know it will change our lives. Help us to accept the callings that You give us and lead us on the path that You have chosen for us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is John’s latest Independence Day artwork. It’s called “Home of the Brave.” You can view a larger version of the image online at the following link:  http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4753108411_2f3ec14382_b.jpg