Kernel Of Wheat

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Parable Of The Kernel Of Wheat - John 12:23-26 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Parable Of The Kernel Of Wheat – John 12:23-26 – Growing As Disciples

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:23-26

If It Dies

Are you listening carefully to me? Are you allowing my words to sink deeply into your heart and mind? I think so, how can I know for sure if I’m really listening to you? That is easy to know. How so? If you do what I ask then we will both know that you are really listening to me.

What are you asking me to do right now? I’m asking you to come to follow and serve me. I’m asking you to go to where I lead you to do what I’m asking you to do for me. What will that require? What will following and serving you cost me? That’s a good question. I don’t want you to be at all confused about what I’m asking of you. That’s good. I like clarity. All right then, here is what I want from you. I want everything. Everything? Yes, everything. I want you to lay your life down so that you are completely devoted to following and serving me. I don’t want you to hold anything back at all. I want you to let go and die to your own thoughts and plans. That’s quite an all-encompassing request. Yes, it is. I’m glad that you understand that there is no part of your life that is outside of my request. You want me to give myself completely to you? Yes, I do.

What will happen to me when I give myself completely to you? You will join me in the work that I am doing. Where I am, there you will also be, right along side of me. Instead of the barren life that you were living, you will begin to bear abundant fruit for me. Your life will reap a rich harvest because I will be working in and through you. I’d like that. Yes, I know that you will.

It feels a little scary to give up everything and to die. Yes, it does. I know exactly how it feels. You do? Yes, that’s exactly what I did for you. I died so that you could be born again to a new life in me. Yes, you did. Do you want this new life that I am offering you? Yes, I do very much. So then you must turn away from your old life. You must die to it and give yourself completely to me. Do you trust me? Yes Lord, I do. Do you believe all that I am saying to you right now? Yes Lord, I do. Then will you die to your old life so that you can live a new life in me? Yes Lord, I will. When will you? Right now Lord, I lay myself at your feet. My life is at your disposal. Use me however you see fit. I am ready to follow and serve you without hesitation at a moment’s notice. Very good, follow me now to where I’m guiding you to serve me. Yes Lord, I am.

Lord, you have my full attention. This life and the things of the world have lost their grip on me. My eyes and ears are open to you. I am ready to respond to your call at a moments notice. Show me how you want to use me today.  Amen

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

Parables – John 12-23-26 – Kernel Of Wheat – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Counselor, The Holy Spirit

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 291 - John 14:23-27 - The Counselor The Holy Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 291 – John 14:23-27 – The Counselor The Holy Spirit – Growing As Disciples

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  “All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:23-27 (NIV)

Counsel 

Well, I certainly need that. You certainly need what? I certainly need your counsel. Why do you think you need my counsel? To start with, I am not all that wise. Without your counsel, I have and will likely continue to stumble through life, bouncing from one meaningless endeavor to another. Not only am I unwise; I can’t see the future. Sometimes, maybe quite often, the decisions before me appear to be equal, although that is rarely the case. I need you to guard and guide the course of my life. I need you to keep my life on track. I am no fan of taking missteps that I would need to retrace so I can start over. Doing that has wasted a lot of my time and energy. That is true.  Why else do you need my counsel? Life is difficult. Life is demanding. Life is disconcerting. As you already know, and I am sorry to say, it does not take much for me to become discouraged and depressed. I wish that I was stronger and more resilient than I am. I need you to be my strength. I need you to fill me with your power. I need you to revive and refresh and restore me when I become weary and worn out. Then you need me quite often? Yes, I need you working in and through my life, every moment of every day. It is good for you to acknowledge that you need my help. Can I make a suggestion? Yes, of course, I welcome anything you have to say to me. What is your suggestion? Ask for my help. Ask for my power. Ask for me to work in and through your life throughout all the moments of your day. Rely on me to help you. Stop relying on yourself. Will you rely on my help? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Why else do you need my counsel? In this world, my mind is constantly under attack. My mind is a battleground. The world is constantly bombarding me with its thoughts and opinion and values. Without your help, I am likely to think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. What would you like me to do for you? I would like you to take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me and for me so I can resist temptation and fight against evil. I want you to use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. This sounds like the prayer of your heart. It is. I will hear and answer this prayer. I will do all that you are asking of me. I will be your counselor and comforter, guard, and guide, and helper as you walk through life with me. Thank you, Holy Spirit. 

Holy Spirit fan the flame of my desire to follow and obey Jesus Christ. Teach me so I will know the will and ways of God. Remind me of everything I have been taught. Powerfully use the word of God to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Amen 

Key Question…  How is the Holy Spirit teaching you so you can understand the will and ways of God?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Holy Spirit to comfort and counsel, guard and guide you through life as you love, follow, and obey Christ.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Holy Spirit will be with you to help you, to follow and obey Christ throughout your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has been with you to help you throughout your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you rely on the Holy Spirit to be your comforter, counselor, and helper as you love, follow, and obey Christ.

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

Promises – Day 276 – John 14-23-27 – The Counselor  The Holy Spirit- 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