Spiritual Devotion Pursuits

“Spiritual Devotion Pursuits”

By Pastor Kent Munsey

May 30, 2021

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

• Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

Last week, we talked about the day of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit came in power. In Acts, the Holy Spirit was made available through a supernatural event on the day of Pentecost. However, the Holy Spirit is not only made available during supernatural events and encounters; it is available to all believers. The Pentecost experience was not just an event; it was the beginning of the church. 

When the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the scripture says it produced a devotion in them. Being filled with the Holy Spirit produces a devotion, love and loyalty to the apostles' teaching. To be devoted means to be faithful to and to persist in, it refers to a covenant relationship of love and loyalty. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it produces the same devotion in us as described in the disciples in Acts 2. 

1. The Holy Spirit produces a devotion to spiritual authority

The disciples became devoted to the apostle’s teachings and thus became subject to spiritual authority. When we have the Holy Spirit living in us, we become devoted to spiritual authority.

For our spiritual growth and development, God has given us the five-fold ministry. The fivefold ministry is composed of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. A true apostle touches all of the gifts and can prophesy, do the work of an evangelist by reaching the lost, operate as a pastor, and teach. All spiritual authority can be tested, tried, and proved through the word of God. 

We live in a time that devalues authority, but the Holy Spirit causes us to be devoted and loyal to spiritual authority. A church that is filled with the Holy Spirit of God is going to have a devotion and a commitment to spiritual authority. 

2. The Holy Spirit produces a devotion to community.

The Bible says that the Lord puts the lonely in families. The Holy Spirit's work is to plant us in a spiritual family. There is no such thing as a perfect family but we, the church, are the family of God on Earth. There should be devotion and commitment to a spiritual family.

3. The Holy Spirit produces a devotion to spiritual strength that only comes by prayer. 

The Holy Spirit produces a devotion and a commitment to spiritual strength, which only comes by prayer. If we are feeling depleted today, we might not have spiritual strength or vitality because we are not as devoted to prayer. 

One of the spiritual things that we need to be more loyal towards and attach ourselves to is prayer. A religious and dry and dead church produces judgmental and critical Christians, but the Holy Spirit produces a praying church. There is spiritual strength and fervor that comes from a devotion to prayer. 

The Holy Spirit wants to fill you, change and transform you. If you want spiritual power in your life, ask yourself where you are devoted and what you are attached to. When we are dependent on the spirit of God, we will be devoted to spiritual things. When we are devoted to spiritual things, miracles will happen. When we get under that spiritual authority, we get into a spiritual family, and then we develop spiritual strength. Let us come out of this pandemic with a fresh devotion to spiritual authority, to spiritual family and to developing spiritual strength. 

Reflection/Discussion Questions: 

1. What are you most devoted to (what are you attached to, where do you draw strength from)? 

2. How devoted are you to the spiritual authority and spiritual family in your life? 

3. How devoted are you to spiritual strength that only comes by prayer? What does your prayer life look like? 

4. How can you invite the Holy Spirit into your life this week to refresh your devotion to spiritual authority, spiritual family, and spiritual strength this week?