The Great Experiment - Day 8 (night)

The Great Experiment, Day 8 (night)

Here are this evening's video devotional, Bible reading, prayer points, and guide for Day 8 of The Great Experiment.

Blessings,

Matt Bennett
Founder and CEO, Christian Union

______

Transcript:

Hey, thanks for taking some time to seek Jesus and dive into the Scriptures together. My name is Justin. Glad we get a few minutes. I want to read a Bible passage from the New Testament. 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 11. It says this, “And such were some of you.” The Apostle Paul had just described a whole bunch of sinful practices, things that didn't honor God. It says “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus by the Spirit of our God.”

Really important thought I want to hit on today is that it's the Holy Spirit who is the one that washes you, sanctifies you and justifies you. It's in the Lord Jesus. It's the atonement. What Christ has done on the cross that enables you to access these things. It's the Spirit of God that actually does the work inside of you. It's interesting that he uses the phrase, "washed." In John, chapter 7, Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit to the people in Jerusalem. Talks about who the Spirit is. When he does that he uses the illustration of water. He says, "Out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."

Again here, we see this idea of being renewed. Now, that word renewed that's used in Titus, chapter 3, verse 5, to illustrate what the Holy Spirit does, the renewal of the Holy Spirit… It can actually be translated renovation or renovate. The Holy Spirit, in your life today, in Jesus’ name, has a renovation plan. He is the general contractor of the renovation plan of your soul. You’ve got walls of pride. You’ve got a staircase of fear. You’ve got windows of anxiety. You’ve got all of these different things and it's the Holy Spirit that is washing you. He's ripping all of that stuff out. He's tearing out the junk inside of you.

There are things that we as human beings just cannot do in ourselves. It's the work of the HolySpirit inside of us that sanctifies, okay. That washes us. That renews us on the inside. Think of it like a flush. When you drink water, physically, it cleanses out your liver. It cleanses out your intestines. It allows your body to operate. If you don't drink any water you'll die, because your body needs that cleansing power. You won't be able to go to the bathroom if you don't drink any water.

In the same way you can't get rid of the garbage in your Spirit, in your soul. You get rid of the junk. The pride, the selfish ambition. The fear. Without the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit. Here’s a little assignment for you today. I just want to encourage you. Meditate on this passage in 1 Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 11 where it says, "You were washed, sanctified and justified by the Spirit." Then ask the Lord to do that work in a rich way in your life. Say, "God, would you wash me today? I know by faith I've been washed in the gospel through Jesus. Would you practically allow me to experience that washing today? Would you allow me to experience that renewal, that renovation?"

Then, just open up to the Holy Spirit. Say, "Holy Spirit would you show me today the areas in my house that you want to renovate?" You want to tear that bathroom out. You want to pull that bedroom out. You want to take that wall down. What inside of my soul, do you want to work on right now. Little question for you to go away with today, what is the Holy Spirit inviting you into right now? What is the Holy Spirit inviting you into? If you can answer that question and discern from God the invitation of the Lord, then you can begin to agree in faith with God to see it happen in your life. I pray that that happens today as you open up your heart to Jesus. In his name, Amen.

______

Here is this evening's guide for the “Five Rs” of The Great Experiment, June 1-10, 2019.

1. Read and Pray

Daniel 6:10 – When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Read Daniel 6:1-28 for more context.

This evening's Prayer Points

• Pray that God would raise up Daniels all across the cities and countryside of our nation.
• Pray that we would have unwavering Daniel-like devotion to pray day and night no matter what else is going on around us.

2. Repent.
What sins do I need to repent of today? What hindrances to my devotion to Christ can I remove today?

3. Respond to the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, what is the one thing you most want me to do today? (Write it down, and do it today).

4. Represent Christ. 
How will I bear witness to Christ today? With whom shall I share the Gospel today?

5. Raise Your Faith.
Be bold and courageous in living out your faith (Joshua 1:8,9). Choose from one of the following options for a “Joshua Faith Challenge”:

1. Host an all-night prayer meeting. Set a date during June 1-10 and invite friends to come and pray with you for revival in America.
2. Every day, pray for ten friends and family members to come to faith in Christ and look for opportunities to share the gospel with them.
3. Share an evangelistic post on social media every day from June 1-10.
4. Anything else the Lord burdens you to take on that will require courageous faith.