Daily Devotional: Friday, March 19

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Holy Spirit

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Not to Us by Chris Tomlin; No Not Oneby Christy Nockels; Love Came Downby Ben Cantelon; Til I See Youby Hillsong.

Read: Acts 1:8, Acts 2: 1-7

Side Note:As we finish up our week of devotionals on the Holy Spirit, a great way to encounter and be filled anew with the Spirit is through worship---and tonight is the Timberlake Worship Night at 7pm!!! During these times of dedicated worship, God seems to pour out His Spirit in an extra special way. If you can be there I know you'll love it! 

Think: Have you ever felt pressure to perform well at something you weren't feeling very confident about? Remember being 16 and taking the driver test? Remember final exams and public speaking class? What about starting a new job or bringing home your first baby? There's an element of insecurity that we all feel when we are asked to do something that we don't have a lot of experience doing.

Jesus was eating dinner with His disciples one evening before He ascended into heaven. He was giving them important instructions on the next step of their spiritual journey. They were tasked with taking the Good News of Christ to the world. If you are like me, taking Jesus to a friend is sometimes an intimidating task, let alone the world. Jesus told them, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit gives us power to be Christ's witnesses. Sometimes this is by telling others about Him, and sometimes this is just living out our lives among people who need Christ- most the time, it is a combination of both. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would empower us to be a light and a witness to the world around us. Any intimidation or fear we have is our own flesh worrying what others may think, or obsessing on some negative outcome. Let God take care of the outcome, and just accept the task set before you. You play a very important role in being Christ's representatives on earth- setting things right, showing love and justice, acting with grace and not revenge, pointing people to Jesus.

When the disciples were baptized with the Holy Spirit, they were empowered to do supernatural things- things that they couldn't do on their own accord. Peter didn't exactly have a gift of oratory persuasiveness- remember he couldn't persuade a servant girl that he wasn't Jesus' follower. But as you read on in Acts 2, you'll find that he drew a crowd of thousands and saw 3,000 put their faith in Jesus and be saved.

We can experience the supernatural moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives too. We can wait on His direction, and accept the power of the Holy Spirit to be Christ's witnesses to the world around us.

Do: Write down how you think the Lord wants you to be a witness in the world. How can you be a light in the darkness and point people toward Jesus? Ask God to reveal specific names of people that need to meet Christ in a powerful way.

Pray: Jesus, I want other people to experience the life change that I have experienced. I want to  be able to share my faith in You in a meaningful way with the people you have put in my sphere of influence. Holy Spirit, empower me with strength, understanding and opportunity to be a light in the darkness. Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Daily Devotional: Thursday, March 18

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Holy Spirit

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Not to Us by Chris Tomlin; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Love Came Down by Ben Cantelon; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: John 14:15-21, John 16:13, 1 John 4:6

Think: Making good decisions isn't always easy. We wonder "which is the right way," and "am I doing it for the right reasons?" Sometimes we get stuck in indecision, because we are afraid of making the wrong one. When teaching me to drive, my dad said, "He who hesitates, is lost." This was especially true when pulling out into traffic. The philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, "Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days... What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."  Sometimes we don't know what is the best thing to do until we actually do it. Sometimes, this is not only a way of learning, this is the best way of learning.

When I was an intern working toward my licensing hours, my supervisor could tell I was afraid to do or say the wrong thing. I was green and insecure in my new profession and needed some encouragement to try new things. She said, "You're going to make mistakes. So if you're going to make them, might as well make them big and with confidence." She gave me permission to learn by failing. Good advice. I was in the safety of her oversight. She wanted me to learn, but she wasn't going to let me crash. It was a safe place to do "trial by error."

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit wouldn't just be with us, but that He would be in us. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth. He didn't say that the road was going to be lined with flower petals and lolly pops- He just said that we would be led, and that we would know the truth. Sometimes the process of learning the truth is painful and hard. Sometimes being lead into all truth means facing embarrassing flaws and admitting we don't know it all.

The cool thing about the Holy Spirit is that, we are safe in His oversight. Like me with my supervisor, I had to be honest with her about what I was doing: what was working and what wasn't. I was submitting to her leadership, and she lead me into knowledge, experience and wisdom. When we submit to God's leadership, we come to Him with honesty and dependence and He will encourage us to be bold and keep going- mistakes, embarrassing moments, successes, big wins, major disasters and all.

Do: Write down a recent mistake you've made that taught you something about the truth.

Pray: Thank you Jesus, that you don't expect me to live life without making mistakes, but that mistakes are a part of the process, and you will lead me through them showing me truth and grace.Holy Spirit fill me and lead me as I boldly move forward under Your care and guidance! Amen.     

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Daily Devotional: Wednesday, March 17

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Holy Spirit

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Not to Us by Chris Tomlin; No Not Oneby Christy Nockels; Love Came Downby Ben Cantelon; Til I See Youby Hillsong.

Read: Romans 8:26-30

Think:  Have you ever noticed how we try really hard to improve our weaknesses? I wonder if all that trying really helps? I'm not very good at administrative, detailed stuff. I worked at a print shop one summer, and messed up so many projects that I was relegated to gluing scrap paper into notepads all day. I tried being a bank teller at one time, and balanced twice the entire three months I worked there. I suppose I could have tried harder, and I may have improved a little, but the likelihood of me turning my weakness into a strength was slim.

The same applies to our frail humanity. Since we are human, we have some inherent weaknesses: like coveting, complaining, criticizing, controlling, lying, lusting, gossiping and nursing grudges. You know what I mean- we have a weakness toward sin. We can try really hard not to sin, but unless we invite God's power into our weakness towards sin, we won't see any real improvement.

Once when the Apostle Paul was lamenting about his own weaknesses, he described God saying this to him; "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Isn't that cool? So what we see as a limitation or a weakness, God sees as an opportunity for a display of His power and grace. What we see as a problem, God sees as just another way He gets to step in show His strength.

What if we were able to stop lamenting about our limitations, and turn them over to God? I wonder if we stopped trying to fix ourselves, and just surrendered ourselves to God, how much more power over sin we would really experience? What if our weakness was the key to our greatest victory?

Do: Explore what might be keeping you from surrendering completely to God, and ask a friend for their insight if you get stuck.

Pray: Jesus, I surrender my burdens, my weaknesses and my limitations to you for your glory. I will stop trying to hide or fix them, and just give them to you. I trust you to show up with your strength. Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Daily Devotional: Tuesday, March 16

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Holy Spirit

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Not to Us by Chris Tomlin; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Love Came Down by Ben Cantelon; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: Ephesians 3:16-19; John 13:16; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Think:  Corrie TenBoom once said, "If God sends us on strong paths, we are provided strong shoes." Many of us can relate. Have you ever been out on a hike with the wrong shoes? One year, when I was a girl, my family took a trip to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. I remember having some kind of "toe dilemma" where I insisted on wearing flip flops instead of more sturdy shoes. I was irritated by the seams in my socks and couldn't be persuaded to wear them, no way, no how. That day, we climbed up ladders, down into underground caves, along narrow pathways- and I remember regretting my decision the entire trip. Those stupid flip flops slipped and slid to the point I just gave up and sat down while the rest of the family kept exploring.

Sometimes we get so focused on the pain or the irritation of the moment, that we can't see past it to embrace an incredible opportunity. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church, "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong."

God's Spirit is always leading and guiding us into knowledge and truth (John 13:16). Our only job is to respond to Him and do what He is leading us to do. But what if you don't know what His Spirit is leading you to do? Jesus promised that the Spirit of Truth will guide us into all truth, so keep seeking His truth, and God will keep guiding.

God knows the path He is preparing us for, and the kind of shoes we will need to navigate it. He promises to give us the resources we need to carry out the purpose He has given us. He offers us Himself to help us and guide us and teach us along the way. Even though I didn't bring the best shoes that day, God's grace provided me a pretty incredible slew of images and memories, flip flops and all.

Do: Write down what direction you think God is asking you to take today - Forgiveness? Sharing your faith in Jesus with someone? Speaking out or shutting up? Ask God to reveal your next right step.

Pray: Jesus, I want to be aware of the Spirit leading me. I want to listen and yield to the directions you have for me. Your directions are the best directions, and I want to trust You. Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org

Daily Devotional: Monday, March 15

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: The Holy Spirit

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Not to Us by Chris Tomlin; No Not One by Christy Nockels; Love Came Down by Ben Cantelon; Til I See You by Hillsong.

Read: John 14:15-28

Think: At the core of every stressor or worry, there lies one of two fears: the fear of being left alone, or the fear of being out of control. Jesus addresses the first of these fears as He is talking to the disciples in John 14. He is breaking it down to them that he is leaving- that he is not going to be there for much longer. He realized that this news would strike the chord of that most basic fear of being left alone, and He didn't want them to get stuck in the fear.

We all know what it feels like to feel lonely. We are told of people in the bible who shared these lonely times: Elijah prayed to God, "I am the only one left!" (1 Kings 19:14). A psalmist wrote, "I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on a roof," (Ps 102:7). And even Jesus cried out while on the cross, "Father, father, why have you abandoned me?" (Mark 15:34). These feelings are painful, yet common.

Jesus reminded his disciples that even though he would be gone in physical form, that He would send a "Helper". The Holy Spirit is described in various bible translations as the "Advocate", the "Counselor", "Friend," and the "Spirit of Truth." One of the biggest ways the enemy trips us up is tempting us to believe that we "have to do it on our own", or "it's up to us", or "there's no one out there for us." But the Spirit of Truth stays with us offering to be our Helper. Now sometimes, we don't think we need the help, but our mistakes have a way of reminding us of the truth.

The truth is, that we not only need the Helper, but that He is always there with us and we are never alone. The Holy Spirit is a constant Friend. Turning to Him, day by day, and moment by moment is all that is required to accept the help.

Do: Name at least one thing that you will be asking the Holy Spirit for help today.

Pray: God, remind me that I am never alone and that I don't have to feel the stress or pressure of having to do things on my own. Help me to depend on the Helper each day. When I hear you speaking to me, help me to have the strength to do what you say.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, WA 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@timberlakeonline.org