Power for a Purpose: Part 1 - Power in the Presence

This Sunday, Steph Littlejohn brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Readings:

Acts chapter 1 verses 1 - 6 (The Message)

Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He said good-bye to the apostles, the ones He had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven.
After His death, He presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, He talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God.
As they met and ate meals together, He told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from Me. John baptised in water; you will be baptised in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”



 

Prayer & Reflection

PRAYER
for our prayer today please read this Psalm.

Psalm 131
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quietened myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
    both now and for evermore.

The second verse is a picture of resting with God. The significance of it being a weaned child is that it is not enjoying being with the mother because it wants milk from her. The child wants nothing, it is just content to be with her.
 
Read this again slowly out loud and then leave a space to silently rest in the presence of God for a couple of minutes.
My heart is not proud, Lord,
    my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
    or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quietened myself,
    I am like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child I am content.
 
AMEN




Questions to Consider

1. Read the passage a couple of times. What jumps out at you or surprises you? Why is that?
2. This passage is about waiting for the Holy Spirit. What are you like at waiting? Do you find it easy to wait and to centre on God and seek his presence? What are the hinderances and how can you overcome them?
3. What do you understand by the phrase “the presence of God”?
4. Do you want to grow in intimacy with God by seeking his presence?
5. Can you think of a time God seemed very close to you? Describe it.
6. Is it busyness or distractions or something else that prevents you from spending time quietly enjoying God’s presence? What are practical things can you put into place to rectify this?
7. What do you need to do in response to this? Perhaps you could join in with the 40 day challenge to spend 10 minutes a day sitting quietly in the presence of God.