Faith Focus

Greetings friends,

I ask that as we begin our spiritual journey together we begin to take some time daily (if you are not already) to read the Scripture and pray. I thought it would be beneficial for us to focus on the same passage of Scripture for the week. This week, we will focus on Sunday’s text, John 3:1-17. If you were not in present on Sunday and have not yet watched it, I encourage you to do so.

Format:

Find a quiet place and time to focus on the Word, and to hear from God through it. It doesn’t have to be long, for some it will be longer than others. I encourage you, if possible, to do this practice in the morning. You will then find that God brings it to your mind throughout your day.

For greater impact I encourage you to get some paper and a pen and journal daily what thoughts and impressions God brings to mind. Write out also your own thoughts and your own prayers, making sure to leave space within your time for God’s response. Listen intently, and notice what rises up within you- what you are thinking, feeling, memories that arise and ideas that spring up. It may be something God would want you to address within yourself and/or with others. It may be something God is inspiring you to begin or end. God’s possibilities are infinite! After time, it is often beneficial to go back and read what you have written, and notice how God has been moving in your life (and praise God for it!).

Begin with prayer, quieting yourself within and opening up to hearing what God would like to reveal to you. Praise God for who he is, for loving you, being with you, and more. Then ask God to speak to you; to open your heart and mind to hear his message. (if you are journaling, you could write out the prayer)

Read the Scripture passage over twice; once as a read through, and the second time slowly, meditatively. Notice what God illuminates for you. Notice what words or ideas are “jumping off the page at you,” impacting you from the Scripture. Ask God why that is being highlighted for you. What is God saying to you? What is God asking you to say, do, change, pray about, etc.? What is the application for my life today? **Most importantly- what am I going to do about it? (If you are journaling you could write it all out, which reinforces it in a greater way)

I have put together some daily questions based upon the Scripture. You may use those, but also feel free to deviate away from it if God is leading you there. They are simply offered to prompt contemplation with God. There is much more in this passage, feel free to delve in more!

At the end of your time pray again. I recommend praying throughout, but the ending prayer would include praise, thanking God for revelation, and asking for the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal, bringing to mind God’s will. Ask God for the courage, empowerment, and opportunity to do what you have determined God is asking you to do.

John 3:1-17   Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” ³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” ⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. ¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD:

Monday:

Nicodemus was an accomplished man. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin. He was highly religious, highly educated, wealthy, and had power. It would have been easy to rely on all of that prestige and accomplishment instead of on the Holy Spirit. Shifting would have meant advocating control to God, which could be scary, frustrating. Has there been a time in your life when you felt you were living on the merits of your accomplishments, trusting solely in your own ability? How did that feel? How do you think God perceived it? Was there a time when you decided to relinquish control to God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and empower? Was there a time when you recognized you needed to do so? Describe what happened, including how it felt, and any changes within yourself or others because of it. In what area of your life is God asking you to trust him to lead you now?

Tuesday:

Nicodemus went to see Jesus at night. He was cautious, because being with Jesus was risky to his reputation. It was uncomfortable, and he may have even perceived it as embarrassing. He wanted to keep his desire to seek after Jesus a secret. Have you ever experienced a time when you wanted to keep your faith in Jesus a secret? Why did you feel that way? Have you ever hidden away your faith to keep it from others? Why was that decision made? How do you think God perceived it? What do you need to ask God for so that you can live your faith boldly before others?

Wednesday:

Nicodemus said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Nicodemus noticed that God was moving in and through Jesus. Have you ever noticed God moving in and through someone? What did you experience and how did you respond? Have you ever discerned when God was moving in and through you? How did that make you feel? What is God asking you to do; either more of, or differently, or perhaps something new?

Thursday:

Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” The word “again” can also be translated “from above,” or “anew.” What translation speaks most to you, and why? Do you have a desire to “see” the kingdom of God, and if so, what does that mean to you? Whether born again, from above, or anew, what is God asking you to do?

Friday:

Jesus said in v.7, “you must be born again.” How does the word “must” feel to you? What thoughts does it bring to mind? What relationship with God does it imply? Are there any attitudes that God is bringing to mind from which God wants you to confess and repent?

A “classic” Scripture is John 3:16. We see it displayed on bumper stickers and at football games. Yet too often the verse that immediately follows is forgotten, and it’s important to remember that Jesus came to save and not condemn. Yet the word “must” is used about being born again. With a focus on Jesus’ offering of love for saving, not condemning, for eternal life for the world and Jesus saying you “must” be born again in order to see the kingdom of God, what does that say to you? How does that work together- in faith and in life? Is God calling you to change something within yourself? How do you think God wants us to minister to the world with this in mind? What are you going to do about it?

Saturday:

Read again verses 5-12. Jesus’ uses a description of being born of the Spirit, with the analogy of the wind blowing wherever it pleases, and not knowing where it comes from or where it is going. It implies a lack of control, with humility and vulnerability with God, in the one who is born of the Spirit. It implies complete surrender to God. Imagine yourself moving like the wind, as the Spirit dwells and moves within you. Would your life change in any way? How does that imagery make you feel? Is there anything that makes you hesitate to live in this way? How open are you to the changes God is leading you to?