QT/Daily Devotion for 2/3/2021

 S: Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. ...if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is truly here among you."
-1 Corinthians 14:20, 24-25

O: I was born and raised in a conservative worship setting. My parents dressed up when going to church on Sundays, and I have pictures of my infant baptism. To me, church was simply a place where I saw certain friends. The messages, songs, and religious traditions did not mean much to me. But that all changed when I went to my cousin's youth group service on a Friday night.

😲 As soon as I stepped into the sanctuary, I noticed that the atmosphere was different. There was a "Presence" in the room. When I sang the praise & worship songs, the Presence was listening and let me know that it was pleased with what it was hearing 😌 The prayer times were different as I was actually talking to the Presence; then I would feel peace, comfort, and joy. I encountered the One, True Living God and my life was forever changed!

That was my goal when I did ministry work during my early adult life. I wanted people to draw into an encounter with the Holy Spirit, and KNOW the He is God. I embraced the supernatural, and wanted to be a part of a charismatic community. However, I was always called into more theological churches and followed wherever He led me. Meanwhile I longed to see the more spiritual side of Christianity come forth.

A: Lately, God has led me into the supernatural and especially into the prophetic. I now see the benefits of this type of ministry and would like to see the Bride of Christ embrace it as well. I am not against theology but do not want to see it overemphasized. Knowledge without power is meaningless. It does not really change people from the inside out when you tell them the truth. You have to show it as well, and then they will believe.

P: Almighty God,

You are the Creator of the universe. You parted the Red Sea. You rose again from the dead. You broke every chain that bounded us away from You. You fully embrace us into Your glorious presence and call us Your child. My heart grieves over the state of the church today. Your people have become satisfied with merely knowing about You academically, and not relationally. We have replaced a relationship with You with a book. Forgive us and convict us of our pride that makes us think that theology is good enough. May we be empowered with Your Presence that reveals secret thoughts, and makes unbelievers fall down in worship and declare that You are present. May Your people be known as carriers of supernatural power and declare Your existence to the whole world!

Amen

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