Tag Archives: and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations

Then He Opened Their Minds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 320 - Luke 24:45-49 - Then He Opened Their Minds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 320 – Luke 24:45-49 – Then He Opened Their Minds – Growing As Disciples

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49 (NIV)

Opened Mind 

There is a big difference between having an “open mind” and having an “opened mind.” Really, how so? In the world someone who says, they have an “open mind” often means that they are willing to try anything no matter how vile and sinful it may be. They will likely, almost certainly, suffer great harm with that approach to life. They will live with deep regrets. They will experience a life that will, no doubt, be bruised and battered and broken. Their open-minded pursuit of pleasure with only lead them down a path of pain and suffering. So, in this regard, I want to have a closed mind. I only want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That is very good.

You mentioned that there was a difference between having an “open mind” and an “opened mind”? What did you mean by that? I want you to open my mind. I want you to open my mind so I can understand your word. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to receive your instruction. I want to follow your guidance. So, that is my prayer. That is my desire. That is my request. Do you believe that I will open your mind so you can understand my word? Without a doubt, I know that you will make me able to understand your word. Yes, I will, you are correct. What will my word do for you? Your word will change the desires of my heart. Your word will transform the thoughts of my mind. Your word will guard and guide the course of my life. Yes, my word will do all these things for you.

What must you do with my word? I must follow and obey your word. It would be foolish and sinful to only hear your word. I must go where your word guides me and do what your word asks of me. I must keep in step with you and your word. I must not run ahead or lag behind your word. That is true. What do you know about my word? Where will my word guide you? What will my word give you to do? Your word will guide me into the world to be your witness. Your Holy Spirit will use your word to empower me to be a bold witness for you in the world. Will you do that for me? Will you be my witness in the world? Yes Lord, I will. It will be my joy to help others to come to know and love and follow and serve you. That will be very good.

Lord, only you can open my mind so I can understand your word. I will wait quietly and listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. Help me to follow and obey your word. I will go and do whatever you ask me. Help me to be your bold witness in the world. Amen

Key Question… How attentively are you hearing and following instructions from the Lord?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to open your mind so that you can understand His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will open your mind so you can understand His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has opened your mind so you can understand His word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to the Lord and carefully consider what He wants you to say before you speak.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 320 – Luke 24-45-49 – Then He Opened Their Minds – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Clothed With Power

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit - Luke 24:45-49 - Clothed With Power - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – Luke 24:45-49 – Clothed With Power – Growing As Disciples

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49 (NIV)

Stay

That is a very hard word for me to put into practice. What word is that? Stay. I have a very difficult time staying in one place. I want to be on the go. I want to be on the move. I don’t like sitting around doing nothing. Is that what you think it means to stay? If I tell you to stay, do you think that is the same as me telling you to do nothing? That’s a good question, that I haven’t considered. I have only thought of staying as doing nothing and being a waste of time. That’s not correct thinking on your part. I need to hear more.

Let’s talk about what is a waste of time. I’m listening. That’s good. Have you ever wasted your time and effort by doing something that I didn’t ask you to do? Yes, many times. Have you ever wasted time and effort by trying to do something under your own power, without my help? Yes, many times. Have you ever wasted your time and effort by running ahead of me and trying to do something before you were ready? Yes, many times. Have you ever wasted your time and effort by not carefully following my instructions? Yes, many times. Might you have greatly benefited by staying with me, in my presence before making all these mistakes? Yes, I’m sure that is true. That’s good.

So, tell me how you will wisely use the time, when I tell you to stay in one place. I will stay and wait for your guidance. I will stay and wait for your power. I will stay and wait for you to prepare me. I will stay and wait for your instructions. Does waiting in any one of these ways seem like a waste of time to you? No, not at all. Do you believe that you really need to stay in one place until you have received these things from me? Yes, I do. Without your help I can do nothing. Without your power, my efforts will be fruitless. I desperately want and need your help. I will come to fully rely on you. I will place all my faith in you. That is very good. I will use you to be my witness in the world. You will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name.

Holy Spirit, it has been difficult for me to wait. Often, I have run ahead of you and tried to do your work under my own power. What a fruitless mistake. I’m here now. I’m waiting. Fill me. Clothe me. Empower me to do your work and be your witness in the world. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Holy Spirit – Luke 24 -45-49 – Clothed With Power – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com