Holy Week Devotions

Good Friday Service

Thursday Evening Devotion

The Last Supper

Read Matthew 26:26-29

There is something special about the last supper. It was an intimate time with Jesus and his disciples before his death. In John’s Gospel we get a detailed look at the conversation he had with his closests followers as he prepared them for what was about to happen (John 13-18:1). 

It would be good to remember this. When we take communion it is a reminder that Jesus is with us. He is preparing us. 

Consider taking communion tonight before you go to bed. If you are with your family, read John 13:12-17 and wash their feet. 

Thursday Morning Devotion

“Maundy”

Today is known as Maundy Thursday. “Maundy” is a weird word but I like the meaning and it can be traced to 393AD so who am I to judge? It’s an Anglo-French word derived from the Latin “mandatum,” which means “commandment” and comes from this statement;  “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” (say that 3 times fast). It refers to when Jesus, in the Upper Room during the Last Super, said to the disciples: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34

Say a quick prayer and ask God to speak to you, then Read John 13:1-35. If you have the time read it slowly. Then spend some time in prayer asking how to serve and love others today. 

Tonight’s devotion includes taking communion. If you are locked in with your family consider planning a foot washing tonight and then communion. 

Wednesday Devotion

“Prepare”

What do you do to prepare for a big day, especially if you know it’s going to be really hard? 

Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes things are too big to prepare for and you simply have to walk through it. 

Holy Week is to prepare us for Easter. We walk through the last week of what Jesus did and try to walk in his shoes. We don’t know what Jesus did today. We do know Judas seals the deal with the religious leaders to betray Jesus. One commentary said that Jesus was preparing… I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that. 

How do you prepare to take the wrath of God for the sin of others? How do you prepare to be mocked, beaten, and crucified by the very ones you are dying to save? 

This is the only devotion today. Let’s walk with Jesus and prepare. 

Tuesday Evening Devotion

“Stay Awake“

“And what I say to you I say to all: Stay Awake.” Mark 13:37

I have not been sleeping well since isolation began. Routine has been thrown in the air and it has yet to land. That said, the words of Jesus could not be more fitting in this time. 

I noticed our family cat on the hunt last night. He is a natural born killer and has single handedly changed the life span of vermin in our zip code. Here’s what I noticed; he was keenly aware of everything going on around him. Every movement, every sound, every smell… he was on it. This is what Jesus means.

No, I do not mean go on a vermin killing spree. When Jesus says, “stay awake”, he means to be alert of your surroundings: What’s going on in my soul? What lies am I believing? Where is darkness infiltrating the light? (And equally important) What is God showing me? What truths do I hold onto? How can I best let the light of Christ shine through? Staying awake is not just playing defense, it offense too.

Now more than ever it would be easy to put it on cruise control, go spiritually comatose and let the chips fall where they may (as though before this you had it all under control) so here’s a friendly reminder… STAY AWAKE! 

• Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
• Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8
• For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:5–6
• “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,  and Christ will shine on you.”
• Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:14–16
• “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay Awake.” Mark 13:37

Pray for the church, your family and self to STAY AWAKE! 

Tuesday Morning Devotion

“Woe”

Read Matthew 23:1-36 (I know, it’s a lot) 

Jesus tells the religious leaders of the day how it is. He calls them out in no uncertain terms. It’s easy to see yourself standing behind Jesus saying, “You tell ‘em Jesus!”. BUT, I wonder if the same religious proclivities are in us? 

The New Legalism. 

Under the new covenant we are set free from the burden of the law. We know Jesus fulfilled the law for us. Great news, right? Therefore we certainly shouldn’t struggle like the Pharisees and Sadducees of old.

The Apostle Paul has some similar words for a church. Yes, a church; established in the gospel, saved and born again believers. 

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1–3

Yep. That happened, and it still happens. We slowly turn from a walk of faith in the sufficiency of the crucified Christ to a rule based life with God. It’s time for some self inventory. Skim back over Matthew 23:1-36. Where can you see yourself falling into the same patterns? 

Prayer

Confess, repent and turn back to the Gospel. Spend the day thanking God for his saving grace! Remember, where sin increased, grace abounded all the more!!! (Romans 5:20)

Monday Evening Devotion

“Cleaning house”

Read Mark 11:15-19

Jesus cleans house. He is good at it. He has cleaned and is continuing to clean me up. Can you relate? 

The Gospel is set in an “already, but not yet” state. We are “already” redeemed, saved, sealed and heaven bound! Our sin is removed and his righteousness is declared over us so we are in right standing with God… It’s a done deal. (see Eph. 1:7-15 & Romans 3:21-26)  BUT, we are a work in progress. We are “not yet” without the effects of sin personally and globally this side of heaven. (FYI, this is the concept of our “R” Logo. It’s an R ‘in progress’). 

Another benefit of the Gospel is presence. God makes his dwelling  with us. (abides, see AM devotion below) Check out these verses…  

• “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
• Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

I find it’s better to be proactive in the “in progress” of my faith in Jesus. In other words, I like to avoid Jesus’ whip and kicking over tables in my life. Anyone else? 

Prayer

• Spend some time asking God to reveal areas that need to “cleaned up”. Then confess and repent as needed. 
• Jesus says “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?” Spend some time praying for the nations. 

Monday Morning Devotion

“Have Faith in God”

Read Mark 11:12-14 & 20-25

A fruitless fruit tree is truly a sad sight. It was created to bare fruit. 

Most commentaries agree that when Jesus cursed the fig tree it represents Israels lack of fruit. I love that when Peter points it out Jesus goes right to a lesson on faith. Why? Because the faithless are fruitless but true faith produces fruit. 

John 15:5 says “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 

Abide means “to continue to be present”. So our focus to be fruitful is to be faithfully present with Christ.  

Prayer

Spend some time abiding (to be present) with Christ. 

Re-read Mark 11:22-25 and then PRAY BIG PRAYERS and forgive those who need forgiving. 

PM Devotion available after 4pm

Wednesday Prayer devotions

Evening Prayer

Good evening saints,

Send some time praying through the acronym, A.C.T.S. 

• Adoration
• Confession
• Thanksgiving 
• supplication 

End your time in communion if you are able. 

Midday Devotion 

Reading for reflection

“From all that I said about our worried, overfilled lives, it is clear that we are usually surrounded by so much outer noise that it is hard to truly hear our God when his is speaking to us. We have often become deaf, unable to know when God calls us and unable to understand in which direction he calls us. Thus our lives have become absurd. In the word absurd, we find the Latin word surdus, which means ‘deaf.’ A spiritual life requires discipline because we need to learn to listen to God, who constantly speaks but whom we seldom hear. When, however, we learn to listen, our lives become obedient lives. The word obedient comes from the Latin word audire, which means ‘listening.’ A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen to our God and follow his guidance. Jesus’ life was a life of obedience. He was always listening to the Father, always attentive to his voice, always alert for his directions. Jesus was ‘all ear.’ That is true prayer: being all ear for God. The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the presence of God.”  Henri Nouwen, Making All Things New

Solitude- Spend 5-10 minutes listening.

Morning Devotion

Invocation

Almighty God, you are the light and life of every soul and our only source of hope. Grant that in this day of worship I may experience your transforming power preparing me for the ministry of this day. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

Pray for our Local Pastors 

Pray through Ephesians 3 for our local Pastors. (There is list of a few Goleta Pastors and their churches below, but pray for as many Pastors in our area that you can think of ) 

Lord, I pray according to the riches of Your glory That You may grant Pastor _______ to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in his inner being, so that Christ may dwell in his heart through faith—that he, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that he may be filled with all the fullness of God. In Jesus Name. Amen

• Rino Daltillo, South Coast Church 
• Nate Wagner, Anthem Chapel 
• Jason Lomelino, Isla Vista Church
• Keith Jones, Good Shepherd 
• Eric Sorenson, Community Covenant 
• Jim Pazan, Goleta Presbyterian 
• Jon Eymann, Jubilee 

Morning Benediction 

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21

03.25.20, Fifth Week in Lent

Evening devotion below

Morning Devotion

Invocation 

O God our Father, renew our spirits and draw our hearts to thyself, that our work may not be to us a burden but a delight; and give us such love to thee as may sweeten all our obedience. Help us that we may serve thee with the cheerfulness and gladness of children, delighting ourselves in thee and rejoicing in all that is to the honor of thy name through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. –The Book of Worship 

Scripture Reading

Read Psalm 32. Please note- When it says “Selah”, it means to pause and reflect. Take a few minutes of silence at each Selah depending on how much time you have. 

Pray for the Church

Praying scripture is a way to align your prayers with the Word of God. Pray through Colossians 1:9–14 (Below) and fill in the blank with churches and Christians in town that you know of (don’t forget our Church and leaders).

Lord I pray for___________, asking that they may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy you, our Lord, fully pleasing to You: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing your knowledge; being strengthened with all power, according to Your glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to you, our Father, who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. God, you have delivered them from the domain of darkness and transferred them to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom they have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Continue to Pray for them as the Spirit Leads) In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Morning Benediction 

Walk with Christ today, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving! In Christs name. Amen 

Midday Devotion 

(from The Best of Andrew Murray on Prayer, A Daily Devotional, March 25th) 

“… And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Jesus

When the Lord chose His twelve disciples, it was to be “his regular companions” and that He might “send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14). A life in fellowship with Him was to be their preparation for fulfilling the Great Commission. 

When Christ spoke of His leaving them to go the Father, their hearts were filled with great sorrow. The presence of Christ had become indispensable to them; they could not think of living without him. To comfort them, Christ gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit, which would be a heavenly presence far more intimate than they had ever known. 

Unbroken fellowship with Him was the power the disciples would need to preach and testify of Him. When Christ gave them the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, He added the words: “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This principle holds true for all His servants. Without the experience of His presence always abiding with us, our daily walk would have no power. The secret of our strength is in the Spirit being with us every moment, inspiring and directing and strengthening us. As you pray, be deeply convinced of Christ’s words: “And be sure of this: I am with you always.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Breathe into my heart, with divine words, Your comforting words: “I am with you always!” In Jesus’ name, amen.   

Evening Prayer 

Let’s revisit Psalm 32. Before you start, please get a bible and if you can, prepare communion. 

• Invocation  
  • (Pray a short prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of the Word as you yield to his will and receive power to pray!)
• Scripture Reading
  • Psalm 32:1-2, Praise God for his current blessings with a focus on his redeeming work in our lives. 
  • Psalm 32:3-4,  Ask God to search your heart for hidden sin. Take some time in silence to listen and then confess and ask for forgiveness and the grace to walk in repentance. 
  • Psalm 32:5, Receive Gods forgiveness through the person and work of Jesus!
  • Psalm 32:6-7, Pray for a celebratory heart towards the Good News. Pray for childlike faith to believe you are his son/daughter. Take some time to mediate on this beautiful truth, “you surround me with shouts of deliverance”.  Then read the scriptures below with a time to reflect after you read each one. 
    • “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
    • “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10
    • And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:20–24
  • Psalm 32:11
    • Take some time to PRAISE THE LORD as he celebrates over us and surrounds us with shouts of victory!!! 
• Supplication (the action of asking for something earnestly or humbly)
  • Our world, our Nation, our city, and our church as we face this pandemic.
    • That God would heal and bring glory to his name
    • That MANY would turn to God and be saved 
    • Pray for our church that God would protect us.
  • Pray for Restoration church 
    • Pray for members by name and needs.
      • Healing
      • Financial burdens
      • Spiritual health
    • Pray for people to be faithful in their giving 
    • Pray for our leaders 
    • Pray that God would use you in this time to be faithful to minister to your neighbor
• Communion 
  • Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-24, pray over the bread, and partake 
  • Read 1 Corinthians 22:25-26, pray over the juice, and partake
• Blessing- May you be filled with joy in Jesus Name! 

__________________________________________________________

03.18.20, Fourth Week in Lent

1. Invocation 

Lord God, you who are the source of all truth, wisdom, justice, and love, lead me through this time of worship and throughout this week of service to you. Help me constantly to rest my life upon the eternal foundations of your love and presence. Save me from haste and confusion, from wrongful desire, and there net of evil. Though the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, enlighten, instruct, and guide me all the day long. In the name of Jesus. Amen.  A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other servants: The Upper Room, 1983

2. Scripture Reading

   1. Psalm 143:1-8 / Joshua 24:14-18 / Hebrews 2:1-18

3. Silent Mediation 

   1. Spend 5-10 minutes of silence meditating on the Words of God you just read.

4. Confession  

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen. PCUSA Book of Common Worship Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993

1. 1. Confess your sins

5. Assurance of Pardon 

   1. The assurance of God’s grace is declared in the name of Jesus Christ! We accept God’s forgiveness, confident that in dying to sin, Christ raises us to new life. 
      1. Proclaim- “Hear the good news! Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun.” https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/service-lords-day/service-lords-day-confession/
      2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

6. Reading for Reflection 

Often we’re not as pressed for time as much as we feel we’re pressed for time. I remember several years ago becoming so pressed by the demands of teaching at Yale that I tool a prayer sabbatical to the Trappist monastery at Genesco, New York. No teaching, lecturing, or counseling…just solitude and prayer.

The second day there, a group of students from Genesco College walked in and asked, “Henri, can you give us a retreat?”

Of course, at the monastery, that was not my decision, but I said to the abbot, “I came here from the university to get away from that type of thing. These students have asked for five meditations, an enormous amount of work and preparation. I don’t want to do it.”

The abbot said, “You’re going to do it.”

“What do you mean? Why should I spend my sabbatical time preparing all those things?”

“Prepare?” he replied. “You’ve been a Christian for forty years and a priest for twenty, and a few high school students want to have a retreat. Why do you have to prepare? What those boys and girls want is to be a part of your life in God for a few days. If you pray half an hour in the morning, sing in our choir for an hour, and do your spiritual reading, you will have so much to say you could give ten retreats.”

The question, you see, is not to prepare but to live in a state of ongoing preparedness so that when someone who is drowning in the world comes into your world, you are ready to reach out and help. It may be at four o’clock, six o’clock, or nine o’clock. One time you call it preaching, the next time teaching, then counseling, and later administration. But let them be part of your life in God—that’s ministering. “Time Enough to Minister” by Henri Nouwen in Leadership, 1982

7. Prayer

   1. Pray for the Church 
      1. To be light in these dark times, healing to those who are hurting, hopeful to the hopeless, calmness in the storm, etc. 
      2. Wisdom for our Elders as we negotiate these uncharted waters
      3. Pray for our people 
      4. Pray as the Spirit Leads
   2. Pray for others 
      1. Pray for our city, our nation, and our world to be protected from the virus
         1. Families that will be effected economically
         2. Kids who are not in school to be protected 
      2. Pray for the lost to be saved and turn to Jesus  
      3. Pray as the Spirit Leads
   3. Pray for yourself
      1. Pray that you would “be the church” and love your neighbor well.

8. Communion

   1. Take communion if you can 

9. Benediction 

   May the Lord make you strong to do the work of the Ministry. In the Name of Jesus. AMEN!