Ablaze for God

2008-11-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Excerpt from ‘Ablaze for God’
(Used by permission of the author and the
Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, IN)

How to be Filled With the Spirit

Dr. Billy Graham in The Holy Spirit has a chapter entitled “How To Be Filled With the Spirit.” In it he says, “It is interesting that the Bible nowhere gives us a neat, concise formula for being filled with the Spirit.” He suggests that perhaps it was because the believers in the early church did not need to be told how. “They knew that the Spirit-filled life was the normal Christian life.”1

Dr. W. Graham Scroggie, esteemed Baptist pastor and expositor from Edinburgh, cautioned seekers regarding the nature of the experience. Basing his observations on many years on the convention circuit and his own experience, he warned that “’to be filled with the Spirit’ is not necessarily a drastic experience … a strange and strongly emotional experience. Emotions may be deeply manifest, and may not be. This may depend partly upon the temperament of the person. The genuineness is not based on the external, but on what God does deep within our nature. It is not necessarily accompanied by ecstatic joy.”

Dr. Scroggie added, “In my own experience it was ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory.’ The joy became a pain, and as I walked up and down the streets of East London in those days … I had to ask Him to modify it, for it seemed as though my soul would rend my body.”2 He refers to this joy as an accompaniment rather than as an evidence. It is not something that “dehumanizes.” We do not become superior people; we become full of the Spirit, not domineering or superior to others. We are still our own selves with our own personalities, but they are now purified, beautified, and empowered.

Simple Steps to be Filled with the Spirit

Steps to be filled with the Spirit have been described in many ways, but essentially they emphasize the same things. For example, The Salvation Army in its brochure, It Can Happen, lists seven points: Aspire, Acknowledge, Abandon, Abdicate, Ask, Appropriate, Act.

Total surrender means that we confirm Christ as Lord over every part of our being. Dr Harold Lindsell teaches, “Before anyone can be filled with the Holy Spirit, he or she must voluntarily come under the lordship of Jesus Christ in the sense of being a slave. This choice will not be forced on anyone, but it is the … condition set down for those who wish to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

He adds that we cannot claim God’s promise for the enablement to live our life on the highest plane unless we make Jesus Christ Lord in this way. “The norm for Christian life is to have Christ sitting on the throne of our hearts. Paradoxically, when Christ is truly Lord, this is when the believer reaches the highest point of self-fulfillment.”3

Billy Graham writes, “It is amazing how many Christians never really face this issue of Christ’s lordship.”4 He states, I am convinced that to be filled with the Spirit is not an option, but a necessity. It is indispensable for the abundant life and for fruitful service… It is intended for all, needed by all, and available to all. That is why the Scripture commands all of us, ‘Be filled with the Spirit.’”5 He suggests that steps to being filled with the Spirit are understanding, submission, and walking by faith.

Dr. R.A. Torrey, after speaking of the new birth, lists these steps to the Spirit’s fullness: obedience (which he defines as “the unconditional surrender of the will to God”); thirsting; asking; faith.6

Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, places primary emphasis upon faith, but in his more nearly complete explanation he mentions these points: Desire, Surrender Confess, Present, and Pray (or Ask) as the heart preparation for faith.7

Charles Cowman, found of OMS International, outlined these steps to the fullness of the Spirit: Reckon yourself dead to sin, yield yourself, believe the promise, and obey.

Note the basic similarity in what these spiritual leaders say. Let us summarize and restate it in the following simple steps. Let the Holy Spirit guide and enable you to take these steps if you have not done so hitherto.

1. Be sure everything is clear between you and God. Have you become a child of God through the new birth? God does not fill unsaved people with His Spirit. Neither does He fill those who are living in known, willful disobedience to Him. Graham emphasizes, “We must deal completely with sin in our lives if we are to know the infilling of the Holy Spirit.”8 Anything about which the Spirit has convicted you, anything which has separated you from God’s best or veiled His face from you must be abandoned. You must walk in the light if you would be filled with the Spirit (1 John 1: 7).

2. Acknowledge your need and God’s provision. Be honest with God. Confess your defeats and the areas in your life where you recognize spiritual need. Don’t be in such a hurry that you make a simple blanket confession, a mere general admission of need. “Lord, whatever my need may be, meet it,” or “Lord, You know how weak I am.” Take time to search your heart before the Lord and name your needs before Him. It may be helpful to make a list of things the Spirit brings to your attention and then to commit them one by one to the Lord. Ask Him to remind you of failures you have forgotten.

There is great blessing in emptying your heart of failures, defeats, prejudices, attitudes, and actions. Name them one by one and put them beneath Christ’s covering, cleansing blood. The Holy Spirit will probably bring to your attention things you did not know were there.

Then rejoice in the full provision Christ made for you on the cross. Rejoice in the provision of the Holy Spirit who is already resident in your heart and who longs to fill every aspect of your being with His cleansing presence and His empowering for
life and service. Rejoice that God’s promise is available to you. “The promise is for you,” said Peter (Acts 2:39)

3. Hunger and thirst for the Sprit’s fullness. God is always moved by spiritual hunger and thirst and repeatedly promises to meet the needs of our soul. Jesus assures us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt. 5:6). He stood in the temple and called, “’If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit” (John 7:37-39). Water is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters,” God calls through Isaiah (55:1). “I will pour water on the thirsty land…I will pour out my spirit” (Isaiah. 44:3). “Land” is not found in the Hebrew. It is a promise to the “thirsty,” and the Spirit satisfies our thirst.

As long as the fullness of the Spirit is not your whole-souled desire, you will probably not be filled. As long as you treat the experience as something desirable, but are willing to continue as you are without it, you will not receive the fullness. Torrey said, “No man ever got this blessing who felt that he could get along without it.”

We read of the people of Judah that, “They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them” (2 Chronicles 15:15). The literal Hebrew is “They sought God with their whole desire.” God said through Jeremiah, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Probably not desiring the Holy Spirit with all the heart and not making a total surrender of the self are the major reasons for failure to enter upon the experience.

4. Surrender totally to Christ’s lordship. Make a total consecration of all you are, all you have, and all your future. Present yourself in the totality of your being – body, soul, and spirit. Offer up yourself as a living sacrifice to be wholly God’s. This may well involve a dying to your own self-will in one or several areas. You must die to your carnal selfness, to all that is of “the world”. You can now say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

“Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body…offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness” (Rom. 6:11-13). Provisionally we were crucified with Christ at His cross. We now affirm it by an act of the will in self-surrender. This is the emptying of self which must precede the infilling of the Spirit. Make a total surrender of your will in advance for whatever God reveals to you in your tomorrows. Be willing to abandon your own plans, ambitions, and will if God ever reveals anything to you as contrary to His will. Henceforth you are not your own.

Think of your life as a checkbook. Absolute surrender is to fill all the blank checks by signing in advance your own name, making them out to the Holy Spirit, and permitting Him to fill the blanks as He sees best throughout your tomorrows. You have already said your eternal yes to His will as He makes it known to you. You are His. He is Lord and you lovingly and gladly obey day by day.

5. Ask in prayer. Christ’s promise could not be more clear: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to you children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). When our hearts are prepared by taking the previous four steps, we are ready to call out to God from the depths of our being for the fulfillment of His promise.

Asking and appropriating need not require a prolonged period of prayer, for God is always ready to fulfill His promise. Yet the biographies of many Christians describe how they hungered and thirsted and prayed for some hours or even days before their hearts seemed ready to take the last step of appropriating faith. Perhaps God uses such a period of asking and reaching out to Him to enable us to deepen our thirst for Him or to enable us to realize new depths of spiritual need within our nature. From God’s standpoint there need be no waiting. Yet He can greatly bless to our spiritual good a time of waiting before Him. During such a period the Spirit searches our hearts. Jesus tells us in such a case to stop our prayer and first make things right with the other person (Matthew 5:23-24).

God’s promise of reward for our waiting in His presence in prayer is certain. Isaiah assures us: “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). The Hebrew word for hope in this verse means “to wait with confident expectation and trust.”

6. Appropriate by simple trust. How blessed that the infilling of the Spirit is by faith! It is by faith – so it is for whoever will. It is by faith – so it can be yours this moment. You don’t have to wait to become more worthy. You don’t have to prove yourself through self-discipline or through prolonged prayer and fasting. It is not by works; it is the gift of God. It is by grace through faith that we are filled with the Spirit.

When Peter described how the Spirit filled the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius and compared it to how the 120 were filled at Pentecost, he explained that God gave the Holy Spirit to Gentiles just as He had to those in the upper Room on Pentecost. “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9). God always purifies and empowers when He fills with His Spirit, and the appropriating means which god has ordained is faith.

Dr. A.J. Gordon writes, “It seems clear from the Scriptures that it is still the duty and privilege of believers to receive the Holy Spirit by a conscious, definite act of appropriating faith, just as they received Jesus Christ…It is as sinners that we accept Christ for our justification, but it is as sons that we accept the Spirit for our sanctification.”

Nothing could be more simple, yet nothing is more demanding. When electric lines are installed and connected with the electric power supply, even a child can turn on lights by touching a switch. Even so, when we have prepared our hearts by making everything clear between God and us, acknowledged our need and God’s provision, hungered and thirsted for the Spirit’s fullness, surrendered totally to Christ’s lordship, and asked in prayer, all we need to do is to touch God in faith. It is not a question of the power of our faith; it is the greatness of God’s available provision that counts.

Believe how intensely Christ longs to fill you with His Spirit. He wants you to be all He created you to be. Believe what joy it will bring to the heart of Jesus when He sees you filled with His presence and power. Believe in God’s wonderful plan for you! How He desires to use your leadership and your life in ways beyond your own plans and thoughts! The full record you will not know until eternity, but God will encourage you at times with bits of news of how He has made you a blessing.

Believe and keep humble, giving God all the glory, and Christ will use you more and more as he leads you in His triumphal procession (2 Corinthians 2:14). “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18).

REMEMBER THESE SPIRITUAL REALITIES:

1. The infilling of the spirit is instantaneous. Faith is not a gradual process nor is the
infilling of the Spirit a gradual process. Faith instantly receives in your innermost being the fullness of the presence and power of the Spirit. Rejoice! When your prepared heart believes, that moment you are filled with the spirit.

2. The infilling of the Spirit is not a matter of feeling. It is a spiritual reality through faith. Your trust is not in your feelings, but in God and His promise. Many have testified to an overwhelming awareness of God’s presence, love, or power. God may or may not choose to bless you that way. He knows what is best for your future walk of faith. But power is present whether you feel it or not. It will be manifest as you serve and obey God.

3. Continued infillings of the Spirit are available to you. Chapter 11 pointed out that the bible records repeated infillings of the Spirit. I also mentioned that Zechariah presents a picture of God’s flaming servants being kept aflame by the constant inflow of the Spirit. That is why Zechariah 4:6 can be a continuing experience in the service of the Lord: “’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty”.

4. Rejoice in God’s fullness and continue to pray and obey. You have been filled with the Spirit. Now let God use you. He did not fill you to make life easy for you, but to empower you for holy living and effective service. As long as you keep the channel clear between God and you, His power continues to flow into you. You cannot retain the fullness of the spirit without prayer and obedience.

Sometimes you may realize that you have grieved the Spirit, and sense a loss of the abundance of His presence and power. You may be aware of a depletion of the Spirit’s working because of your busy ministry, or for the other reasons listed in chapter 13. Seek God’s forgiveness and ask Him for the renewal of His power upon you. Prayer and obedience will again bring the renewal you desire.

Many occasions will rise in your leadership when you will need a special manifestation of God’s presence, a renewed empowering, a fresh anointing. Praise God! He is waiting to meet all your needs. He knows your ministry and the situations you face
far better than you do. All of His resources are available to you. Pray and obey. Go through life praying and obeying. God will not fail you.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20). And to Him be glory through your life and ministry as you live and walk in the fullness of His Spirit’s presence and power.

Make this beloved hymn of the church your prayer. It has been sung in prayer to the Lord for a century. May it express your heart cry today:

Fill Me Now

Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit,
Bathe my trembling heart and brow;
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

Chorus:
Fill me now, fill me now,
Jesus, come and fill me now;
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

Thou canst fill me, gracious Spirit,
Though I cannot tell Thee how;
But I need thee, greatly need Thee,
Come, O come and fill me now.

I am weakness, full of weakness,
At Thy sacred feet I bow;
Blest, divine, eternal Spirit,
Fill with power, and fill me now.

Cleanse and comfort, bless and save me,
Bathe, O bathe my heart and brow;
Thou art comforting and saving,
Thou art sweetly filling now.
- Elwood H. Stokes

1Graham, Holy Spirit, 160
2Scroggie, Filled With the Spirit, 16-18
3Lindsell, Holy Spirit, 116
4Graham, Holy Spirit, 166
5Ibid., 159
6Torrey, Holy Spirit, 154, passim
7Bright, Handbook, 100-101
8Graham, Holy Spirit, 164

Ablaze for God - Day 50 Devotional

2008-11-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

“Testimonies of the Infilling”
Submitted by Mark O. Wilson
Key text: Acts 4:31-35

Over the centuries many people have experienced the infilling of God’s Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of denomination or church affiliation. It is not about being “Pentecostal”, speaking in unknown tongues, or some other ecstatic experience. (Though many Pentecostal brothers and sisters are definitely filled with the Holy Spirit, the evidence is in the fruit – Galatians 5:22-23 rather than the utterance.)

Consider these testimonies of spiritual infilling, when people surrendered fully to God. What a difference!

“The big word to me was CLEANSING, which opened the door of glory, hope and joy to me. Not a coming to be cleansed in the fountain only, but a remaining in the fountain, so that it may and can go on cleansing.” - Frances Ridley Havergal (hymn writer of such beloved songs as “Take My Life and Let it Be” and “Like a River Glorious.”

“A tide of joy swept into my soul, and I cried out, ‘O Bless the Lord! Praise the Lord! He does come and fill my soul!” - Dr. A. M. Hills (author of Holiness and Power.)

“I was happy, but not ecstatic. My soul was hushed into silence.” - Dr. Asbury Lowrey (Methodist pastor and Bible scholar. Author of Possibilities of Grace)

“Lord, bend me.” --Evan Roberts (The prayer God used in 1904 to ignite one of the greatest revival movements in history)

“It was borne upon me that I had to claim the gift from God on the authority of Jesus Christ. . . this I did in dogged committal. I had no vision of heaven or angels. . . but like a flash, something happened inside me. The days that followed have truly been heaven on earth. Glory to God!” - Oswald Chambers (Author, My Utmost for His Highest).

As a young evangelist, Billy Graham took a long walk in the woods and settled his commitment to Christ once and for all. Today, he points to that experience as the turning point in his life and ministry.

“No words can express the wonderful love that was spread abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love. . . These waves kept coming over me, and over me and over me, one after another, until I remember crying out, ‘I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me.’ I said, ‘Lord, I cannot bear any more’, yet I had no fear of death.” -- Charles G. Finney (Great 19th Century Evangelist)

“And as my faithful testimony. . . be it known to all that ever knew me, that when the unspeakable riches of God’s love visited me. . . I was immediately endued with a power that gave me a dominion over them (i.e. worldly conversations and habits.)
• William Penn (Famous Quaker, Founder of Pennsylvania)

John Bunyan (author of devotional classic, Pilgrim’s Progress) testified to entering into his “Beulah Land Experience.” Though not without trials, from then on, he was overwhelmed with the sense of God’s grace and power. (Ablaze for God, p. 300)

“On December 6, 1991, in an empty church sanctuary, my soul was flooded over with the presence of God. It was like I was swimming in an ocean of God’s love. All my burdens fell away. At once, I could see others through the eyes of Jesus. That day changed everything for me. My ministry today is a direct result of that experience” -- Mark O. Wilson (Senior Pastor, Hayward Wesleyan Church)

“The altar sanctifies the gift.” - Phoebe Palmer (19th Century Holiness Evangelist)

Ablaze for God - Day 49 Devotional

2008-11-02T06:00:00.000-06:00

“Who God Longs to Fill”
Submitted by Loretta Sunderland
Key text: Acts 15:9

Who does God long to fill? ALL! At the moment of salvation, (that precious free gift of grace) the moment we respond to God’s prevenient grace (the grace that goes before) and His unconditional love for us, we are indwelt by the Spirit (Rom 8:9) Although we receive all of the Spirit at the moment of salvation, He does not do all of His ministry within us at the same time. Our faith is alive, active, and dynamic, which involves a beautiful relationship with the Triune God.

On one still Oklahoma night, my family and I sat around the table singing and visiting together, when my younger sister, with tears in her eyes, said she wanted Jesus, she wanted to get rid of all that held her back, but she doesn’t believe that He could ever possibly want her. Not after everything she has done in her life. BUT……………. God longs to fill us with His Spirit, He takes great delight in us, and he loves to be in relationship with us. Let’s pray together; not only for my sister, but for all the brothers and sisters who are lost and seeking. For Jesus has said, I have come to seek and save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). We are made His child and His ambassador by the Father’s grace, Christ’s washing, and the Spirit’s quickening. All be to the glory of God.

Ablaze for God - Day 48 Devotional

2008-11-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Spiritual Realities of the Infilling”
Submitted by Tim Young
Key text: Zechariah 4:6

Before I was saved, I would have things going on in my life that to me were unexplainable. I might be thinking about someone and then mysteriously run into that person, or I might call someone, only to have them say, “I was just going to call you.” We used to call those moments; déjà vu, circumstance or coincidences.

Now that I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I know that it is more than just a chance happening, but actually what we like to call a ‘God Moment’, or a Divine appointment. I believe that God through the Holy Spirit gives us promptings; to put people on our hearts. Then it’s our job to make sure we follow up on the appointments. For some it kind of freaks them out to be led by something that they can’t see.

I have had people say to me that after they have accepted the Lord in their heart they are hearing Him, and wondering why now. My only explanation to them is that they are finally listening! I have times now where I’m thinking of someone and I’ll run into them at the store. They will either have a burden or they will say, “I can’t believe I ran into you, I was going to call you when I get home.” Or, I’ll call someone and they’ll say, “I was looking up your number to call you, or I knew you’d call.” I don’t now about you, but that’s not me, that’s a higher power, prompting me to call one of His children—Divine appointment! Before, I might have just blown it off as a coincidence.

As followers of Jesus it is our job to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart.” (NASB) Make sure it is of God, by praying for what the Holy Spirit has called you to do. Then act according to God’s will for people He puts in your path; be ready and willing for a ‘God Moment’!

Ablaze for God - Day 47 Devotional

2008-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

“The Marks of the Spirit-filled Person”
Submitted by Heath Davis
Key text: Galatians 5:22,23

When the kingdom of God comes Jesus will not be recognized by a crown or robes. He’s never been into that kind of garb. The Scripture teach He will be known by His scars. We will identify the King of Kings by nail-scarred marks on his hands and feet.

In the same way the Holy Spirit today is recognized by specific marks. The two most significant marks of God’s Spirit in a person’s life is purity and power.

As God’s Spirit fills our lives there is a instantaneous and ongoing desire to serve God with a pure heart. One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit’s work is that there is an increased sensitivity in our lives to those things that dishonor the heart of God. We recognize all too quickly what the disciples experienced. . .“The Spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” The habits of our bodies (course talk, loose lips, wandering minds, rolling eyes, stingy hands, lazy feet, etc.) quickly are confronted by the Spirit inside us. I’ve noticed that when the Spirit is at work in a person’s life, a crisis occurs within the self. The Spirit is screaming “purify, purify” and the body is screaming “I am a creature of habit…I hate change.” So, the Spirit’s quest to purify leads in this internal crusade towards holiness.

In order to win this battle we need power over the sinful habits at work in the members of our body (Romans 7:21).

How convenient! The second mark of the Holy Spirit is power. The Scripture says that the Spirit “helps us in our weakness”. We want to become holy, but cannot go it alone. As we admit our need for God’s help, the Spirit comes with divine assistance.

First, He intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:27).
Second, He reminds us Whose we are (8:16).
Third, He embeds in thick skulls the truth that we no longer are defined by condemnation (8:1), but by conquest (8:37)!

His marks in our life are simple to detect. Purity and Power. And, they compliment one another us they lead us towards the image of Christ.

Are His marks recognizable in your life today?

Ablaze for God - Day 46 Devotional

2008-10-30T06:00:00.001-05:00

“Infilling Begins with Complete Surrender”
Submitted by Judy Gorud
Key text: Romans 12:1,2

Infilling begins with complete surrender.

Surrender from a worldly perspective denotes defeat after a lost battle. In God’s kingdom however, it is the basis for a life of joy, peace and victory.

So what do we surrender? Our selfishness, passivity, ambitions, plans, grudges, critical attitudes, and an unloving spirit. God may show you others!

When the above attitudes and mind-sets fill our hearts and minds, there is no room for the infilling of the Spirit. When you put water in a container that has a rock in it – that container is not yet “full” of water – and cannot be “full of water” until the rock is removed!

To surrender all we must ask the Holy Spirit to shine the probing light into our hearts to reveal what is there, ask God’s forgiveness and cleansing – then we are ready for that baptism of the Holy Spirit who brings purity, power and love to work in and through us for God’s glory and the benefit of His Church.

However, once we have reached this place we must realize our enemy, Satan, will do all he can to bring back thoughts of these weaknesses. We must fight constantly – what Paul calls the “good fight of faith.” And as we are faced with new situations and assignments from the Lord we must have His cleansing and fresh infillings to meet the need.

Pray: Father in heaven, as the Lord Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit, so we too need to have that infilling so we can effectively do Your work. So this day I confess my sins and ask for the Holy Spirit to cleanse me and fill me with His love and power just now. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN

Ablaze for God - Day 45 Devotional

2008-10-29T06:00:00.003-05:00

“The Hand We’ve Been Dealt”
Submitted by Heath Davis
Key text: 2 Peter 1:3,4

Why are we forever dissatisfied with the hand we’ve been dealt?

Imagine for a moment a guy in a poker game holding a Royal Flush in his hand. He’s positioned to win. Yet, not recognizing the great cards he’s holding, decides to fold. We might question this man’s sanity or question if he even understands how the game is played, but we would never question the hand he was dealt. We’d correctly assume that he was granted a perfect hand. We’d argue that the man had in his grasp all he needed to win the game, to achieve success. Yet, unless he chooses to play out that hand, what he has been dealt is of little consequence.

In the same way, the Scriptures are clear that through the Holy Spirit God has dealt us one great hand. Our desire to sometimes fold the hand God has dealt us because we are dissatisfied with Him exposes how often we misconstrue the game we are called to play. . .and misunderstand the God we are called to serve.

Let’s take a peek at just a few of the cards we hold and see the precious hand we’ve been dealt. If you have received the Holy Spirit:

· You have been chosen by God (Ephesians 1:3-8)
· You have been sealed by His Spirit marking your permanence in his kingdom (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
· You are part of the body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:27)
· You are free from the power of sin (Romans 6:18)
· You are a child of the King (Romans 8:15-17)
· You have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16)
· You have been given gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-7)
· You are heir to a Kingdom (Hebrews 12:28)

God has placed all His chips on the table through the loving sacrifice of His only begotten Son. Quite a gamble indeed. Now, because of Jesus’ sacrifice we hold a Royal Flush. How we play the game and what we do with the hand we’re dealt. . .well, let’s just say, we hold the cards.

You have two options today. You can fold. . .or you can put all the chips on the table and play out the victorious hand you’ve been dealt.

Ablaze for God - Day 44 Devotional

2008-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Our Indwelling and Our Infilling”
Submitted by Jeremy Mavis
Key text: Ephesians 5:18

What if Culvers came to town? I’ve heard this rumor often in my short time in Hayward. What if the rumor was true and the backhoes started digging, foundations were placed, the building structure went up, the lights were turned on, the food smell was wafting through town, the cashiers were ready, but the doors remained locked? And not just one day, but three days, and then a week, and then almost a month! What were they doing?! Why go through all that trouble to create an amazing restaurant, cook the food, and then NOT open up and share it?! That’s crazy!

Exactly! This would be the difference between being “indwelt” with the Spirit versus being “infilled” with the spirit. The indwelling of the Spirit of God happens when a person opens up their heart to God in faith through Jesus. The Holy Spirit builds a home in the heart of that faith-filled person. It is like the creation and existence of a Culvers restaurant in Hayward. We are all excited that the Spirit just made a new home in the heart of another child of God!

If, however, that is all the faith-filled person did, then that would be a shame. Why? Well, it is a little like having this amazing, Culver-aroma snaking around town, but not being able to eat anything. The Holy Spirit is inside your heart, but nothing happens. Culvers was built to serve greasy hamburgers and tasty frozen treats! The Holy Spirit indwells in order to infill!

The infilling of the Holy Spirit means that he opens up shop in your heart. You become a beacon of light and hope for the world around you because you have allowed the anointing presence of the Spirit of God to shine in your life. Infilling is when you allow the Spirit to coarse through every thought and intention of the heart and live out of His power and strength and not our own. Being infilled with the indwelt Spirit is a lot like unlocking the doors to Culvers and ordering that/those…whatever.

Culvers exists not to be a building, but a provision of food and beverages to Hayward and beyond. The Holy Spirit infills, not to merely indwell, but to take a human heart and be a launching pad of God’s power and presence to Hayward and beyond.

Ablaze for God - Day 43 Devotional

2008-10-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Integrity in Our Private World”
Submitted by Dennis Smith
Key text: Psalm 139

“Well did you see me?” These were the common words out of my then three year old daughter’s mouth when interrogated by us, her parents, about some suspected wrong doing. In her mind if we didn’t actually see her do it she didn’t have to own up to it.

I often find myself in this same situation, believing that I have gotten away with something so long as it wasn’t visible to the outside world. In my mind I think no one will ever know because they may have not seen my bad behavior, or worse yet, my sinful thoughts, motives or intentions.

I resort to this type of earthly thinking when I find my self out of touch with God. I forget he sees and knows all. While God is not the author of these sins of mine, I feel he understands them because of what went on in the Garden of Eden that day. Because I struggle so with this private world of mine, I am so thankful for God’s redemptive power and love that he has freely given us through his son Jesus Christ.

The challenge for each of us is to find a consistent way to keep ourselves in touch with God. I have found that journaling my prayers works best for me. For you it maybe something totally different, but find a practice that helps you stay in tune and exercise it often so that you to can enjoy the rich life that comes with a close relationship with your Creator.

Ablaze for God - Day 42 Devotional

2008-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Integrity in Communal Life”
Submitted by Jim January
Key text: Colossians 3:12-15

Starting points are important. In 1980 Rosie Ruiz had just won the Boston marathon and received the winner’s laurel. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that she had only run the last few miles of the race and was stripped of her crown. She had lost her integrity by missing the most important aspect of the race, the starting point.

Many times as God’s people we miss the starting point of community. It is easy to live in a community where everyone looks like us, speaks like us, thinks like us, and worships God like us. We are comfortable. But this is not Christ-likeness. No, Jesus hung out with the handicapped, the tax collectors, the poor, the lepers, the rich, the religious, the young, the old, and even people who betrayed his trust. Yes, Jesus knew where the community starting line was and he challenges us to see it in everyone we come in contact with if we are to become like him. Community starts with understanding that every person on this planet (whether we like it or not) was made in the image of God, and our responsibility is not only to love them as ourselves (Matt. 22: 37-40), but to love them as Jesus loves us (John 13: 34-35).

Thus love in the Christian community should, first of all, not be based on doctrine, principle, commonality, church ideology, but instead based on a love that knows that God loves all his people. If this is our starting point, then the person we enjoy the least (for whatever reason) is welcomed into our community.

This makes community a dirty, painful process. We are actually called to love, forgive, nurture and dwell among people who are sure to let us down. Therefore, let us go through our days of community knowing full well where our starting point is-loving one another as God loves us.

Ablaze for God - Day 41 Devotional

2008-10-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

“Integrity in Marriage”
Submitted by Gary and Sue Bartz
Key text: Ephesians 4:3

Webster’s Dictionary defines integrity as this:

integrity
1: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility
2: an unimpaired condition; soundness
3: the quality or state of being complete or undivided; completeness

Although it’s not always easy, this is what we need to strive for in our marriages. Life can bring an overabundance of storms on any given day. Combine this with the fact that the enemy is doing his best to destroy the marriage, and you have an award winning recipe for a battle.

Have you ever thought about how the words integrity and integrate are so similar? In order to thrive, a marriage really needs one in order to achieve the other. Stir in a good dose of respect, romance and humor and who knows what will happen. Better than chocolate chip cookie dough!

A great verse to meditate on as related to your spouse is Ephesians 4:3. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for giving us to each other. We pray for Your protection over our marriage, over our love. We pray for your help so we might model Your love and Your heart, as we go through the various seasons in our marriage. In Your name, Amen.

Ablaze for God - Day 40 Devotional

2008-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Integrity in our Play”
Submitted by Jeremy Mavis
1 Timothy 6:17

“Jeremy, you’re no good when the TV is on.” This is true. When the TV is on in my home, I am drawn to its pulsating orb of light! Maybe because I am an extremely focused person. This is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing when I don’t want to be distracted; a curse when I want to be distracted! Watching television allows me to focus on a mind-numbing task rather than an intense one. Which frustrates my wife and now my daughter because I often go too far in the mind-numbing department. I become “no good” to anyone (let alone the two people I love the most in my life!).

So how does one relax from a long day’s work (or long week’s worth of work) without escaping or being destructive? Does God care about our exhaustion and need for “vegging out” and is this something a person ablaze for God person should do?

God gave us something amazing in the act of creation—He stamped His image on us. Much ink has been spilt in understanding what the “image of God” means, but it at least means this: we are like God somehow. Not outside looks, but embedded into our character and passions—our soul. Because God is a creator, we are also mini-creators. We were created by God to re-create.

When I watch TV I am seeking to be renewed and refreshed; I am recreating. What goes wrong is that I recreate in front of the TV too long to the neglect of the women in my life. Integrity in our play should be sourced in a God-inspired act of creating again what was worn out of us in a hard day’s work. In that sense, re-creation serves a divine purpose in that it brings back a sense of wholeness and balance that is taken from work.

More than anyone, children understand the necessary component of play in our lives. My daughter Sari wants me to be involved in her stacking of blocks, reading a book, or poking her finger in my belly button as I lay on the floor watching TV!

On that note, I guess I’d better turn off Seinfeld and get my finger poking revenge!

Ablaze for God - Day 39 Devotional

2008-10-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Integrity in our Work”
Submitted by Kevin Kiss
Key text: Colossians 3:23

So there I am, standing atop an extension ladder preparing to apply stain to the gable peak of a beautiful Northwood's cabin when I'm stopped dead by a hole, no bigger around than my smallest finger. I stare at it, and as it stares back at me, I can only think one thing.

Caulk! That hole needs to be caulked before I can continue staining. No big deal, it'll take only thirty seconds to caulk a hole, right? Trouble is that the caulk is in the work truck, and I'm standing atop a ladder, forty feet above the ground. The truck is on the far end of the house, then up a long flight of steps, around the flower gardens and then up the sidewalk. Wow!

That's an exhausting thought, and a longer hike! Maybe I'll just stain it, forget the caulk. I mean, who's going to know? It isn't even visible from the ground.

'But I can't leave it', I argue back to myself, it has to be sealed to keep the insects out. It's big enough for bats to enter, and maybe even those cute little flying squirrels that chew on anything and everything and will make your home their home, by the dozens once let in, potentially costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage to the structure. And, even if no one else knows, I will! It's now a "no-brainer"; I'm making my way down the ladder and up the hill on a six minute mission to get the caulk.

Colossians 3:23 tells us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

Integrity on the job means doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. And the fact is that what we do on the job is always seen by One. Are we honest with ourselves and others, have we done the best job that we could? You see, ultimately we’re not just simply caulking holes. . . we’re actually laying a foundation, which lies buried and often unseen beneath the ground but will be revealed through the test of time.

Watching You

2008-10-22T17:02:00.002-05:00

Here's a video that reminds us why Integrity is so important.

Ablaze for God - Day 38 Devotional

2008-10-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Integrity is More Caught than Taught”
Submitted by Judy Wessel
Key text: Proverbs 3:5

We are the proud parents of 6 children, and proud grandparents of 10 grandchildren. We have always had to put our trust in the Lord as there is no way we would ever have been able raise our family without God's help. It is only through Him

During the time four of our children were growing up, we owned a live bait business. My husband was out in the woods nearly every day catching minnows to sell in the shop. Taking care of the children and running the ship was left mostly to me. I did all the cooking, gardening, canning, wash, and ran the bait shop which included waiting on customers, ordering tackle, paying bills, etc. Oops, I forgot about the cleaning, but that is something I like to forget. From May to late October, we were open 16 hours a day. Life was hectic and crazy but lots of fun.

Amidst all of that, our aim was to bring our children up to have integrity. Integrity is not anything that you can teach. It can only be learned by living it and setting a good example.

I remember one day, my two daughters and I went shopping. Laura was 3 and Diane just a baby. We went into the card shop where Laura saw some little playing cards. She asked if she could have them. I said “no” because we just couldn't afford them. I thought she put them back, but she had put them in a little purse that she was carrying. We finished our shopping and drove the 13 miles home. When we got home, she took out the little cards to play with. I was so upset. She was too young to really understand what she had done wrong, so I called the card shop and told them what had happened and that we were coming back in. We drove back the 13 miles to town and I marched her into the store. She had to give the cards back and apologize to the clerk, tell her that she was sorry and that she would never do it again. That was 38 years ago and she still remembers this lesson like it was yesterday.

I like to think that we ran our bait shop and raised our family with integrity. We always tried to treat all our our customers with respect, fairness, kindness, and friendliness. We always tried to do the same with our family except with a lot of love mixed in. It wasn't always easy when the children became teenagers and “knew more than we did”.

People have asked me how I was able to raise a family, run a business, and keep my sanity. My advice is to live each day as it comes, love unconditionally and laugh a lot. The main thing is to PRAY and model integrity to those closest to you. Constantly. God has always been there for me. May He be there for you too!

Ablaze for God - Day 37 Devotional

2008-10-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

“You Must Become a Person of Integrity”
Submitted by Kathy Pierce
Key text: 1 Chronicles 29:17

The first lie I clearly remember telling was as a small girl at my grandparent’s cottage. The rule there was, “no cookies before dinner.” Since my grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies were the best on the planet, this was a hard rule to follow. I lied when asked by my mother if I had eaten any. “No,” was my reply. At this point I believed that my mother had eyes in the back of her head, because she told me she knew that I had.

As we grow older, we realize that integrity is more than not telling a lie and more than merely telling the truth. It’s living out truth daily. As Christians we discover that to be authentic we are to act out what we know deep inside to be true. God’s desire is for His truth to influence every aspect of our lives; our values, our beliefs, and our everyday decisions. Psalms 15:1-2 and Proverbs 10:9 call this ‘walking with integrity.’ Walking with integrity is not an easy path; we may not always be popular, we may not make everyone we happy, we may not be able to avoid conflict, and we may even have to sacrifice to stay true to our promises. Walking with integrity means that the same loving attitude with which we approach our neighbors, is the one with which we speak about them in our own living rooms.

Can we walk with integrity and be on both sides of the fence? When we seek God’s approval over the praise of men, then we have the power to stand firm in our convictions without needing the world’s validation. Walking with integrity results in being secure in Him and that is enough!

Thought for the Day: It is God who has eyes in the back of His head.

Read: Psalm 15

Ablaze for God - Day 36 Devotional

2008-10-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

“You Must Become a Person of God”
Submitted by Renee Hecker
Key text: 1 Kings 17:24

What comprises a man who is known as a "man of God"? First of all, the difference between a man of God and a child of God is one of maturity. Both are equal in God's sight; loved, and forgiven, but one is a child spiritually, and one is a man.

A child is at the beginning stages of life, learning to find balance and walk, to communicate effectively, to give and share, to have patience and wait, to be diligent and disciplined, etc. In this process of learning there is pain and crying, complaining and a lack of understanding, but through the diligence of the parent there begins to be a gradual shift from a baby to a child to a mature adult. A parent rejoices when true maturity and strength of character emerge from their son or daughter.

To become a man or woman of God we will undergo the same process with our Heavenly Father overseeing the training and discipline of our soul and spirit. We are born again in an instant, but we are perfected and matured over time. James 1:4 says, "But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Ah, a wonderful vision!

So what are the signs that this perfecting and maturing have taken place in one's life? Most importantly this man or woman of God will have a Presence or a state of Being, and this Presence is Love. Yes, there will be works that will also prove their maturity, but I Corinthians 13 states very clearly that works without love are empty and vain and will profit them nothing.

So what about this loving presence? Here’s some handles that help define this Presence we call love:

· Love dwells in the present. It doesn't ruminate over yesterday or fret about tomorrow. It accepts what IS today with the full assurance that behind the scenes all is working together for good and for blessing. So it is contented with life NOW and actually delights in it because it doesn't take for granted the good that IS.
· This Presence of Love is full of joy in life and has enduring hope because it totally believes and firmly relies on God's magnificent promises given in His Word.
· Peace runs like a river from it, refreshing those around because at this moment it knows Who holds and takes care of the next moment.
· It suffers long with others, is gentle and kind and meek knowing that God is uniquely dealing with every individual Himself.
· Love gives goodness to all, for it knows that what we sow in other's lives we will reap in our own.
· Love is self-controlled in all areas of life because it believes and thereby lays hold of the power of God within us as new creatures in Christ.

How can this love be matured and perfected in you? As with all of life, it is through time and consistent practice. So let us begin to press on to become men and women of God who daily display the fruit of His Spirit--fruit so luscious, sweet, and fully ripened that all who experience life with us will taste and see that God is SO good.

Ablaze for God - Day 35 Devotional

2008-10-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

“Anointed to Serve”
Submitted by Steve Gerich
Key text: Romans 12:1

I decided to go out for hockey my senior year of high school. I had never played in an organized league before so I had a lot to learn. I got to play some but I was never very good.

Twenty-five years later a friend suggested I play in the annual alumni game. Not wanting to embarrass myself I said, “No – I don’t even have a hockey stick.” A few days later I came home from work and there, leaning against my door was a brand new stick with a bow on it. The note said, “Now you can play.” And I did.

You can’t play hockey without a stick. It enables you to move the puck “down ice”, to “stick-handle” around the opposition, to defend your goal and to shoot at the opponent’s goal – to score! But most importantly, it is used to pass the puck to others. It is never to be used for my benefit alone. The gift was given to me to participate on the team.

Jesus said to the disciples in Acts 1:6-8 that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit” came upon them and “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”.

The work of those who follow Jesus (the church) and the Holy Spirit go hand in hand. True, the Holy Spirit does give us a fresh sense of God’s presence, comfort and hope. But God’s Spirit was given to enable His followers to take into all the world, the news that Jesus is Lord and empower us to the task of implementing the Kingdom of God – to live as God’s people. Today, we share in the life and continuing work of Jesus. His work is redemptive, bringing healing and hope to the sick and the poor, and justice and freedom to the oppressed. We serve as He served.

The gift of the hockey stick was not given just for me. It allowed me to participate in “feeding” the puck to others so that the team could prevail.

We have missed the point if we think that the gift of the Holy Spirit was given for “our” benefit alone. We are enabled and empowered to live on behalf of the world – God’s world. Look around. The needs are everywhere. God is reclaiming His world. And you and I, through the leading and empowering of the Holy Spirit, share in that work.

Ablaze for God - Day 34 Devotional

2008-10-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

“His Anointing Brings Special Blessings”
Submitted by Karri Weller
Key text: Psalm 23:5

You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
As I walk thru the valley
I look for you, Lord
For you are waiting for me
And will see me thru.
As my enemies follow close behind
My cup spills over, and I start to cry
With enemies nipping at my heels
I find myself getting closer to you
I fall at your feet
As I look up to see
What you prepared for me
Plates are over flowing
With promises, hope, love and dreams
You reach down and anoint my head
Your energy flows thru me
You fill my cup
And help me up.
As we sit at the table and talk
I realize I have not done my part
For You are there each and everyday
Filling me up, showing me the way
Making promises and blessing come true
Giving me hopes dreams and love too.
No matter where or what I do.
You are always there to see it thru
So Lord I thank you,
Never being able to do enough
To show you how much I appreciate your love.
Thank each and everyday,
I will do my best to worship you!

As a wife and a mother of three, the Lord has filled my life in ways I could never imagined. And, with each passing day I thank Him for all He has done and all that He does. For, no matter how bad a day may seem, I am grateful. For even thru all the struggles of each day I know he has prepared promises, hopes, dreams, love, faith and my cup each day as I try not to spill it throughout the day.

Ablaze for God - Day 33 Devotional

2008-10-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

“You Can Be an Anointed Leader”
Submitted by Kathy Schroeder
Key text: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

Before giving a retreat on the names of Jesus, several ladies gathered to pray about the weekend and for each attendee, asking the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to who Jesus wanted to be in their lives and to heal any brokenness within. We also asked to anoint the leader to be sensitive to His leading. Sending the ladies off to research the names given them, I looked up to see one woman with a tearful face. She shared that she had been struggling with pride and perfectionism, and when Jesus was presented as Friend and Prince of Peace, she hungered for forgiveness and a new walk. By searching the Scriptures and praying together, she came to believe Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV.

Finding the right verses, praying with anyone in a time of need should be prefaced by prayer for anointing and accepting the challenge to share God’s Word in a worthy manner, trusting Him to bring it alive to the needy heart. Jesus is the Great Shepherd and He has asked His pastors to send forth workers to lead His people. What joy fills our hearts when someone comes forth hungry and you are allowed to feed them the Holy Scriptures with His healing touch. So often a story comes to your mind that fits perfectly or something that happened in your own life meshes seamlessly with what the other is dealing with. You recognize that God may have allowed some situation to occur in your life precisely for this anointed time.

God is the "God of all comfort" and wants you to share what you have learned with others: “..so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God.” When you are willing to serve God very few situations, especially the difficult ones, will go unused in your ministry.

Ablaze for God - Day 32 Devotional

2008-10-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Jesus, the Lord’s Anointed”
Submitted by Jeremy Mavis
Key text: Luke 4:18

Whenever I interview baptism candidates (which is usually children), I always ask them this question: What is the difference between getting baptized and getting wet? Does every time you go swimming mean you are getting baptized? Usually the child looks at me kind of funny at first and then says something like “I swim to have fun, I get baptized because I’m at church.”

I eventually tell them that getting baptized is a symbol on the outside of what you have already done on the inside. Whenever the Bible talks about anointing it is usually the same thing—it is not the “anointing” that does it, rather it is the condition of the heart that is being anointed that gives credence to the “anointing.”

King David was anointed because he was a man after God’s heart. Jesus was anointed because he was God’s heart! Being anointed usually meant that the Holy Spirit was “resting” upon you, kind of like a special mark or stamp of approval. Having the Holy Spirit rest upon you gave one power that can only come from God.

Jesus was anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about a complete renewal of heart and focus for God’s people—Israel. Jesus was empowered through this anointing not through a place of honor and power (like a king or president), rather Jesus displayed his anointing though serving others. Jesus was living a characteristic of the kingdom of God by doing the opposite of what the world tells us to do to get ahead.

I tell children and youth this concept often: the way to live the kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven” is to do the opposite of what your natural, human reaction would be. Almost always, the opposite response is the supernatural, God-intended, anointed reaction… isn’t it?

Can you imagine a world where people lived in a supernatural, anointed way like Jesus? Well, it would almost look like heaven!

Ablaze for God - Day 31 Devotional

2008-10-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

“The One Who Anoints”
Submitted by Loretta Sunderland
Key text: John 16:12-14

My heart starts beating ninety miles an hour with excitement as I read about the anointing of the Holy Spirit, especially at Pentecost. When the “breath of the spirit” fell, he fell upon ALL flesh, bringing to pass the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32. And we know that without the power of the Holy Spirit’s anointing, all of life is just empty ritual.

As I sit and ponder the workings of the Holy Spirit through history, my mind is taken back to the creation account in Genesis where it states that the Spirit hovered over the unfinished creation. I’m struck by the reality that the Spirit who was present during the construction of the cosmos, is the same Spirit who equipped the heroes’ of faith for His work, is the same Spirit who descended upon Jesus like a dove at his time of baptism, is the same Spirit who fell on the believers gathered in the upper room at Pentecost and. . .is the same Spirit who anoints us with divine power for life.

This has to excite your hearts!

The Spirit of God was active in creation, and his creative power continues today. For the “Spirit of Truth” enables each of us to live out Christ’s teachings in ways that we could never create on our own.

I don’t know about you, but I love the knowledge I have that the Holy Spirit leads, fills, and anoints my life. I believe if we make ourselves available, God will use each of us in mighty ways for His kingdom.

Amen? Amen!

Ablaze for God - Day 30 Devotional

2008-10-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

“What is an Anointing?”
Submitted by Ben Drown
Key text: 2 Corinthians 1:21-22,
1 John 2:20 & 27

What is an Anointing? In 300 words or less? Certainly! – or at least we’ll try.

The word “anointing” is a word that is part of the ceremony of “setting apart” a person as a king, prophet or priest. Such persons were “anointed” with oil designating them as ones uniquely set apart for God and His service. The practice of anointing occurs frequently in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament the “anointing oil” symbolized the Holy Spirit coming upon believers to set them apart for service and also give them special divine enablement. It has often been referred to as the “oil of the Spirit.”

Now add to the concept of anointing to the word “Christ” – the Greek word which is “messiah” in Hebrew. Both words mean “anointed one”. That my friends is “Jesus Christ” – prophesied as the One to be born in human flesh and called Jesus, also called “The Christ.” Yes, Jesus Christ, our Anointed One.

When we receive Jesus as our Savior – where does He come to us? He enters our hearts. He becomes part of us. When we make our profession of faith – we identify ourselves as a follower of Christ – Christ-Ones – or Christians! He becomes a part of us and we become a part of Him. WE ARE ANOINTED WITH THE SPIRIT!

Note again the Key Text: Anointed of God/sealed by the Spirit/people of promise! And from 1 John: “anointing from the Holy One” . . . the anointing you received from Him abides in you”. Believer, you are a special person. You have been anointed. You have uniquely been set apart for God’s service.

Pray With All Your Might

2008-10-13T17:14:00.000-05:00

You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God...This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame.
- William Booth

Ablaze for God - Day 29 Devotional

2008-10-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Your Responsibility to Pray for the
Kingdom of God to be Realized”
Submitted by Dee Davis
Key text: Revelation 22:20

It’s a Miracle!!!

Isn’t that what we say after staring into the face of a newborn baby?? It boggles our minds how it all happens! God uses the ordinary and creates the extraordinary. That is what He continually does! But why does God choose to give us such amazing influence and responsibility?? And why does God use ordinary people like you and me to birth His kingdom?

It is truly mind boggling that God actually entrusts ordinary you and me with procreation AND the opportunity of playing a reproductive role within His redemptive story as well. Ironically, in either case, the result is the same …a new birth. A beautiful new baby girl or boy is born!! What a powerful thought…we are never too old to give birth to a new little one!!

What a privilege to be part of God’s redemptive plan. He certainly does not need us to carry out His will…but He chooses to do just that. Procreation in God’s kingdom begins by sowing seeds of prayerful love. Prayer always prefaces new birth in the kingdom of God. Jesus commanded us to pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be routinely manifested in people’s lives right here and now.

My redemptive story, as I am sure yours does too, includes ordinary people who did an extraordinary thing… they prayed, sowed seeds of God’s love, and as a result new creation was birthed. Miraculous!!!

So, keep in mind, whenever the ordinary power of man is coupled with the extraordinary power of God… a miracle happens. His kingdom comes!! So be prepared for labor and delivery … and expect a miracle today!

Ablaze for God - Day 28 Devotional

2008-10-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Your Ministry of Tears
Submitted by Candy Yoder
Key text: 2 Corinthians 2:4

Tears of Ministry can be embodied in many ways. There are tears of rejoicing with others, tears of anguish as we burden and labor for lost souls, and also tears for God’s people that are hurting and broken-hearted.

Many years ago I remember begging God to remove my tears. I didn’t want to be burdened for people that were hurting, care about unfair things happening to God’s people, or troubled by loved ones rejecting the Father’s love. God answered my prayer. He dried up my tears. And, it felt good for a season. I felt liberated and more in control. However, I began to notice I no longer cared about things that broke my Father’s heart. My prayer life dwindled and I didn’t like who I had become. I asked God to restore my heart and He did.

As we grow in relationship and communion with God, He enables our hearts to be burdened for the things that break His heart. As we intercede on behalf of others our tears become tears of release. In releasing our burdens to God on behalf of another He mysteriously imparts peace, vision, hope and strength to our lives.

Through tearful intercession we are saying to God “I care and I stand in the gap for my brothers and sisters.” In that sacred place of prayerful intimacy we can communicate our deepest longings for another through tears. What a blessed place to be!

Oh God, we live in a broken world, a world that so desperately needs you. May we be humbled and available for Your ministry in hearts that need Your divine touch. May we cry out Abba Father use me. Give me Your vision, a heart that follows hard after You and thinks bigger than myself. Release Your power and provision, so that lives will be transformed into your image starting with my own. May my tears be used to edify You and Your people as only You can do. Give me more of Your love and a heart of compassion for the things You love most of all-Your people!

Ablaze for God - Day 27 Devotional

2008-10-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Your Responsibility to Intercede for Others”
Submitted by Anne Kuehl
Key text: Colossians 4:12-13

This has been the summer of my dreams. Nearly every morning I have woken up before my children to sit quietly and pray on my patio overlooking our property. The warm light, the primary colors, the fresh smells, and the quaint sounds of songbirds have been so nurturing. My days have been productive and balanced. My children are thriving, and getting along with each other. My husband is succeeding in his business despite the recession. I have the most interesting, mature, and loving friends. And most recently, I have been blessed with the birth of a perfectly healthy baby girl. Life is so very good right now; sometimes I just shake my head in awe at the abundance of blessings God has given me. I feel like there is a supernatural glow and smoothness infiltrating every part of my life.

Before I go on, let me offer an important disclaimer: there is nothing special or holy about me that warrants this level of blessing. I cannot take credit for it. I remember years when I exerted more effort for far less results, simply because God had withdrawn His presence and power from my life for the purpose of refining me. No matter what I did, it failed, and my life was in total chaos. At that time, the season of blessing I am experiencing now seemed impossible.

A couple of weeks ago, I asked God what He wanted me to do with all this goodness. Do I just absorb it for myself? What came to my mind is to pray deliberately for all the people God has brought into my life so that they can experience what I am experiencing. Over the last two years, God has brought the most interesting and diverse group of friends my way. Some don’t know Jesus at all, some do but are stuck in dysfunction, others are more mature believers than me but are “going through the ringer.” God reminded me that when I have been stuck, I have relied on others’ prayer to be able to take a victorious step. There were times I was so anxious and depressed that I could not even read my Bible and pray until my mom’s noon hour prayer group met to pray for me each week.

Prayer works, gang. Let’s not assume victory is a one-man show of valiant effort, that with enough willpower an individual can do anything. The truth is, we need each other; our survival, our victory, depends on our deliberate investment in one another. Let’s get in the game with the expectation that together we will win. God’s kingdom will come in our lives and the lives of those around us. The prayer of a righteous man avails much! (James 5:16)

Ablaze for God - Day 26 Devotional

2008-10-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Your Prayer Must Saturate Your Ministry”
Submitted by Ben Drown
Key text: Matthew 12:34

“Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Never is the scripture more true than when the Apostle Paul says, “We are laborers together with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) The truth be told – when we pray more, we can say more with fewer words! The length of a speech may indicate a lack of prayer!

Effective ministry is more than intelligence and command of Biblical language. We are directed to “speak, as the very Words of God” (1 Peter 4:11). It’s intimate conversations with God that matter most. Prayer challenges and fills our hearts in such a way that His message flows out of our abundance.

Effective ministry comes from effective praying. It takes time, practice, discipline, persistence and “passionate patience”. It takes “praying ourselves full” if we would be “poured out” out in ministry.

Charles G. Finney, the evangelist and preacher emphasized that truth by itself will never produce spiritual results. It takes the Spirit of God setting truth aflame, empowering and applying truth to those who hear.

It has been said, “ A people of God set ablaze by the Spirit will attract a crowd.” And may I add: Cold hearts won’t do. Pray your heart hot!

Ablaze for God - Day 25 Devotional

2008-10-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

“Your Prayer Controls Your Work”
Submitted by Russell Buck
Key text: Colossians 3:17

There is no task great or small that we are adequately prepared to do until we have very humbly and sincerely prayed over it. Prayer is not a substitute for work, nor an excuse to not get at the task at hand. It is the way to make God a very real part of your work - in fact it is allowing Him, yes, welcoming Him to be the boss on the job. God wants to lead us and show us the most effective way to accomplish the work at hand.

In the last church I served I began the practice of going early to the church on Sunday morning, sitting in the sanctuary and praying for every family of our constituency by name, remembering their special needs. Through prayer God used this practice to help me better minister in His name. This was no substitute for adequate sermon preparation, nor was it a substitute for calls and contacts and all of the rest that is part of pastoral ministry.

No matter what our work, secular or religious, God stands ready to assist and direct. He completely understands every one of us and the work that is a daily part of our lives and our responsibility.

As you seek Him, He will guide you to become more productive and effective on the job, and in time you will learn the discipline of practicing His presence as you go about your daily tasks. He will guide us so that we will not become a workaholic nor a slacker, but a very efficient and effective servant of His.

Col. 3:17 gives us good direction here, “and whatsoever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the father through Him."

Ablaze for God - Day 24 Devotional

2008-10-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

“Your Prayer Life as a Leader”
Submitted by Dana Jalovick
Key text: Acts 6:4

All spiritual leadership has at its core the simplicity of dialogue with God. It is our relationship with Him that will be the example to those we lead, and it will be the source of our guidance and insight into the ministry of the word to them.

1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood . . . a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” When we become saved we are all given the priestly work of prayer. It is because of Christ’s atonement, what He did for us on the cross, that we have been given this privilege of prayer on the behalf of others. Because of Christ’s atonement we are complete in him; and so now we can do what Jesus did . . . pray (see John 14 – 17). It is our ministry to intercede for others.

When the apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), what he is telling us it that our prayer is not just a spiritual exercise, but is as much a reality of our life as the blood that flows and the heart that beats within. We may not always be conscious of it, but it is always going on. This is how we stay in touch with reality. If we are only praying when things go wrong we aren’t really in touch with God. But if we are truly a child of God, we will be like a child - continually talking and listening to him. We can start by asking God to help us see people and situations the way He does, to help us form the mind of Christ within. When we seek the mind of Christ we will begin to see people and circumstances from His point of view, and so our prayers will flow out from a whole new perspective.

Water The Harvest

2008-10-08T05:59:00.000-05:00

Prayer is your way, often the only way, to water the harvest. By prayer you can bring the Holy Spirit's blessing on any gospel effort anywhere in the world.
-- Wesley Duewel

Ablaze for God - Day 23 Devotional

2008-10-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

“Your Prayer Reflects Your Intimacy with God”
Submitted by Evy Pixley
Key text: Deuteronomy 4:7

God is available for me each and every instant and second in my life. NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED. I have access to the inner circle. I have His ear.

He has repeatedly answered my prayers over and over. . . I believe it is to prove to me His power and love.

He has given me his words and when I use the few words that have become a part of my life and my heart.. when I examine and meditate on them and incorporate them into my daily life, He has shown his power.

When a few short years ago I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I heard other people talking about intimacy with God it; seemed unattainable. Then I started praying .. really praying to God. No longer was I repeating memorized prayers hoping that by a multitude of repetitions I would earn the answer to my prayers. No longer did I pray with fear.

I began to express my own thoughts to God. Then, at the encouragement of a woman who had gone on a mission trip, I began to listen for God to speak to me. I never thought it would really happen. But God began to speak to me in specific ways in which He would get my attention. He made Himself credible to me. I know He gave me such positive reinforcement because He wants me to continue to seek a relationship through prayer with him.

With such results I sought a deeper relationship. Only recently have I been blessed with the most wondrous of experiences while listening for God to talk to me. I have thanked God and praised Him. I have learned that intercessory prayer for others is a privilege to which God has given me full and complete access. I can pray for family, for friends, even for strangers. The ability comes to me from the Holy Spirit. I have felt a swelling in my heart, a love. In a sense it is as romantic as the love I share with the husband with whom God has blessed me. It is not an everyday occurrence yet. But, I believe that with more cultivation through prayer and Scripture and on-going discipleship it is available to me and to each of us desiring such a relationship. And I thank God for it.

Ablaze for God - Day 22 Devotional

2008-10-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

“You are Accountable for the Stewardship
of Your Time and Possessions”
Submitted by Jim January
Key text: Ephesians 5:15

Reading through a child psychology article recently I was surprised to see that what most children wanted from their parents was not time but quality time. Somehow children are intuitive enough to understand the connection between time and possessions and relationships. This is probably why Jesus reminds us that to receive the kingdom of God we must become like children. How do we become like children? Read through the Scriptures (click on "photo") below and pray that you would see the kingdom of heaven through the eyes of a child.

Ablaze for God - Day 21 Devotional

2008-10-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

“You Will Be Accountable for Feeding
Others the Word of God”
Submitted by Jeremy Mavis
Key text: 2 Timothy 4:2

Before you feed others the Word of God, you need to know the Word of God for yourself. So how well do you know the Word? Could you describe the Word if someone were to ask you what it is all about? Could you tell someone what was contained in the Word? Could you communicate knowledge of the Word or passion for the Word? What is the Word of God? If you thought I was talking about the Bible, you are mistaken. I was referring to Jesus as the Word of God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Knowing the Word of God is often thought of as an ability to accumulate a bunch of facts and knowledge about God and the Bible. Rather, knowing the Word of God should be a continual pursuit of knowing—intimately and personally—the God revealed in Jesus. Sure that “knowing” can come to light through reading the Bible. Knowing the Scriptures is vital to a growing relationship with Christ. However, reading the Bible should not become an end in and of itself. Reading the Bible should ALWAYS lead us to worship. And, I don’t mean swaying back and forth with your hands in the air to some worship CD. By worship I mean drop down on your face, heart ablaze with intense reverence and fervor to pursue and follow the Lord! This should be our pursuit.

Does this mean that EVERY time you read your Bible you should peel yourself from the floor? Not necessarily always your body, but definitely always your heart. Knowing Jesus and following him leads us to a deep and abiding relationship with God the Father.

Feeding other people the Word of God means less about “teaching” children Bible stories, and way more about being an active and engaged Jesus person who lives out the character and ethic of the kingdom of God in everyday life.

The checkout lady at Wal-Mart needs a dose of Jesus, the Word of God, as she is scanning your Oreo cookies. She may not make it to the church building on Sunday morning, but she can sure be fed by the Word of God—Jesus—by the way you interact and bring blessing to her for those brief moments you are in her lane. A simple act of grace in the express lane can be transformed into a momentary “feeding” frenzy on the Word as Jesus is fleshed out in our daily lives.

Ablaze for God - Day 20 Devotional

2008-10-04T06:00:00.006-05:00

“You will be Accountable for Preparing
Your People for Eternal Reward”
Submitted by Nate Yoder
Key text: Colossians 1:28

Most reward ceremonies last for a short time. It is here today and then forgotten tomorrow. “Eternal” rewards? They sound foreign. We are living in an age where hell, heaven, the judgment and our eternal reward are seldom given any thought.

In John 14, Jesus said “I will go to prepare a place for you.” That was over 2000 years ago. We may plan or make preparation for the upcoming year-maybe a bit longer to buy a house, or get a new vehicle, etc.

I’m thinking that the place He is preparing must be quite a place if it has been in the making for 2000 years. Streets of gold? Maybe. . .yet maybe not. Maybe it will have a lake, streams, mountains, abundant fish and wildlife where the fawn will lay down with the bear. Maybe the golden streets will be as the leaves in northern Wisconsin. I’m not sure what it will be like. I do know it must be awesome. After all…..He’s been at work for over 2000 years!

We talk with anticipation about the next game, the next hunt, the next party or shopping trip. We continue to plan as if there is no end in sight. Yet, when was the last you talked about heaven? Or even heard the word hell used within the right context?

John 14 says not only that He is preparing a place for us but that He will come back. Have you ever watched a lightning storm? Those streaks of lightning are actually cracks in the sky and we get to see just a little glimpse of heaven. The thunder is just the beginning of the trumpet call for the great reward ceremony. Okay, okay….maybe that is not all exactly scriptural but one day He will roll back the sky and we will meet Him in the air!

Scripture teaches us in Hebrews 9:27 that we all will die and then face the judgment. Philippians 2:10,11 says, “Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Do we really believe that? If so, when was the last time you prayed for your lost family members, your work partners, your friends? When was the last time you prayed for God to help you see others through His eyes?

The question is, what will you, choose? When all of life’s work is done and we take that final walk, will you hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Receive your reward."?

168 Prayer

2008-10-03T17:43:00.003-05:00

We have filled up every hour with prayer during our Ablaze for God series. 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- someone is on "prayer watch". If you are one of these prayer champions, we thank you! God is going to bless these efforts.

The 168 Prayer Watch will continue through November 3.

If you did not sign up, it's not to late to join us! Just pick a specific hour and pray! Pray for our church, community, nation and world. You can use the resources on the sidebar of this blog to help you in this mighty prayer endeavor.

We'd love to know if you decide to join us in the 168 Prayer Movement. E-mail us at hwc@cheqnet.net, or contact the church office.

The church moves forward on its knees!

Ablaze Devotional - Day 19 Devotional

2008-10-03T06:00:00.003-05:00

“You will be Accountable for Your Example”
Submitted by Ben Drown
Key Text: 1 Corinthians 11:1

There is no room in the arena of Christ followers for anyone to total independence from the family! We are not free to say: “No one is going to tell me what to do!!!”

A Native American leader told a group some time ago, “What our churches and families need most is role models”. What those who are young in life or in faith need most is someone they can follow to Christ. We all look up to someone. Why not find someone who is transparent in their faith and living with integrity?

Paul taught that precept very well. “Be followers of me”, he stated, “even as I am of Christ”.

Jesus taught us by example and commanded, “Follow Me.” However, you and I probably will not get far with commanding or demanding others to follow. Rather, Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Oh, just in case you wondered, there are promised blessings for obedience to the Word of God. There are dire consequences for disobedience.

What a blessing your life can be to your family – your Church – and your community if you will be a faithful example to others as one who follows Christ.

Dr.Wesley Duewel

2008-10-02T15:40:00.003-05:00

Great news!!

We just received confirmation that Dr. Wesley Duewel, author of Ablaze for God, will be coming to Hayward Wesleyan Church on November 9!

Dr. Duewel, age 92, is a spiritual giant -- mighty in prayer! It is a tremendous honor for us to have him come. Please pray for him as he prepares to share what God has laid upon his heart.

Ablaze for God - Day 18 Devotional

2008-10-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

“You are Accountable to Lead with
Attention and Intention”
Submitted by Heath Davis
Key text: Acts 20:27-28

I hear that sheep are generally stupid. Guess that’s why God likens us to them. Sheep need shepherds. And so do we. The Scripture is clear that shepherding is essential in the Church. While God gives specific shepherding responsibilities to pastors and overseers within the body, the fact is that each of us is responsible to shepherd someone.

Bad shepherding is dealt with severely in the Scriptures. “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves. I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock” (Ezekiel 34: 2-3, 10). In this text, bad shepherds are marked by self-consumption and apathy towards those they lead.

So what makes a good shepherd? The two indispensable marks of shepherds are attention and intention.

Shepherds must lead with attention. A few years ago when I was going through a difficult time in my life a good friend put his hand on my shoulder and said, “I’ve got your back, man”. Just the knowledge that this brother would be keeping an eye out for me made all the difference. God wants His shepherds to “have the backs” of those they lead. In order to protect the sheep the shepherd must be attentive to the needs of the sheep. Our gaze must be fixed in their direction. In a world that turns a blind eye to the needs of others, the eyes of the shepherd are open wide to the specific life circumstances of his/her sheep.

Shepherds must lead with intention. Ponder Jesus’ friendship with Peter. Perhaps it could be dubbed “Intentional Shepherding 101”. From the get go Jesus is deeply committed to this man’s growth. Jesus’ intentional investment in Peter’s life helps carve this rough-hewn fisherman into one of the greatest shapers in church history. Intentional shepherds have plans, hopes, dreams and goals for those they lead. They intend for growth to occur and plan accordingly. They often see in their sheep what the sheep cannot begin to see in themselves. Oh, that we would shepherd others with such intention today! What great works of God might emerge from the lives of our children, friends and those in our circles of influence if you and I took time to shepherd with the intentionality of Jesus.

Two questions now remain, shepherd. Get some pen and paper and write down your answers. First, who is your flock? And, second, in what ways are you leading this flock with attention and intention?

Ablaze for God - Day 17 Devotional

2008-10-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

“You are Accountable to Shepherd Others”
Submitted by Mike Hansen
Key text: Ezekiel 34:9-10

Though the Lord is ultimately the “Great Shepherd” (John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20) and we the ‘sheep of His pasture” (Psalm 79:13) He has, without a doubt, delegated “shepherding” responsibilities to His people here on earth. Chances are as you read this you’re thinking of the pastor or priest of the local church you attend and not yourself. Though you and I may not hold the official title or credentials of a pastor we are indeed each responsible to “Shepherd” those dear ones that have been entrusted to us. Perhaps a spouse, child, small group, friend or a neighbor in need.

When you consider the role of a shepherd the task may be more practical than you think. A shepherd simply cares for the needs of his flock (those people within your life-sphere). He leads them to nourishment. He protects them from danger. He ultimately places their best interests above his own. (Psalm 23:1-6) The thought of you and I being accountable to shepherd others may seem overwhelming or even impossible, but let's bring it down home and see what happens.

First: Realize that each one of us indeed has a sphere of life that we function in day by day. Take a moment and make a mental list of the people that are in your life sphere today—tomorrow.

Second: As you have come to know the Great Shepherd and his gracious provisions, think of how you as an “under-shepherd” may help lead others to the same care and provision that you have discovered in your life. (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4)

The bottom line: It’s all about loving, caring and helping others to discover the relationship with their Creator that He desires to have with every man, woman, and child.

“Freely you have received-freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Holy Club Questions

2008-09-30T07:15:00.001-05:00

You can find a list of John Wesley's Holy Club Questions here.

Ablaze for God - Day 16 Devotional

2008-09-30T06:00:00.003-05:00

“Everyone Accountable for Someone”
Submitted by Linda Gerich
Key text: Genesis 4

I remember as a young girl in middle school choir, learning the song, “No man is an island, No man stands alone….Each man’s joy is joy to me, Each man’s grief is my own….”

God has created us to feel a connection, one to another. Even before birth, each one of us depended on our mother taking care of herself physically – eating the right foods, taking her prenatal vitamins, and visiting her doctor regularly. Think of how we grew up, depending on our parents for practically everything. We depended on our siblings and friends for our social and emotional development. Teachers, neighbors, our church and community – all have had a part in shaping us and fulfilling basic needs that we have.

It is humbling to think that, not only do I need others, but others need me! And, I am thankful to have people in my life who not only share my joys and sorrows, but would lovingly rebuke me if I was living in sinful disobedience to God.

In Genesis 4, Cain allowed his jealous anger to degenerate into outright murder. After he killed his brother, Abel, the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother, Abel?” Cain replied, “I don’t know! Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord saw fit to punish Cain severely for this attitude and behavior.

Whenever the needs of others seem overwhelming, remember this: We can’t do everything, but we can all do something! Whether it’s just being there for a friend who has lost a loved one, or praying for people overseas, we can all use our connections with other people to be Jesus’ hands and feet.

God meant for us to be in community with others. We do need each other. Am I my brother’s keeper? YES!

Ablaze for God - Day 15 Devotional

2008-09-29T06:00:00.003-05:00

“The Shepherd’s Heart”
Submitted by Tim Young
Key text: 1 Peter 5:2-4

As a child, we raised sheep on our farm. I’d help with the daily feeding and watering of the sheep, and watch over those that were sick, or injured. Also, I’d keep track of those that had wandered off from the herd heading towards a patch of grass or wanting to wander aimlessly in the pasture.

Mom and Dad taught me you have to build trust amongst the herd, so they respond to you later. Your interaction and daily presence gave them the assurance you were not a threat to them, but a provider. Someone they could trust, looking out for their best interests.
I was taught one sheep was no more important than another. One that wandered away was of the utmost importance to make sure that lone sheep was brought back to the flock. There were always predators roaming around waiting to single one out. The loss of even one sheep was devastating to not only the herd, but to our family, because that represented loss of income, and loss of generations of breeding stock.

Interaction helped you to pick out the different personalities or tendencies of each sheep. Sometimes having to shoo away the more dominant ones, so the more passive ones got something to eat or drink. Also, finding the one or two that have the leadership qualities (I know it sounds weird!); the leader of the flock would bring them in from the pasture for the night, or steer them away from danger.

Are you building a relationship and trust among the flock you lead? Is one person more important than another? Are you constantly worried about predators separating the herd? Is there someone who has strayed from the herd, waiting for you to go out into the pasture, gather them in your arms and bring them back safely? Do you know a black sheep who longs to follow The Great Shepherd?

Ablaze for God - Day 14 Devotional

2008-09-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

“Ablaze with a Passion for the Church”
Submitted by Heath Davis
Key text: Ephesians 5:25-27

The body of Jesus walks with a limp. He stumbled on the road to Golgotha beaten and broken by the hands of men. Not much has changed in 2000 years. Today the Body of Christ, the Church, still walks with a dehibilitating gate. His Body still struggles and staggers weak and broken in the eyes of men.

Weak bodies are always an easy target of criticism. Any organism full of deformities and imperfections is assumed to be less than what we desire. I’m not sure about you, but I’ve pointed at Jesus’ Body and scorned His handicaps. I’m disgusted at His deformities. I loathe His limp. Until I look in the mirror and am reminded that I am the reason Christ still walks with a limp. And, so are you.

One of the verses of Scripture that has provoked me deeply is Paul’s mysterious words in Colossians 1:24. He writes, “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the Church.”

Instead of pointing a finger and poking fun at the feeble and frail body of Jesus, Paul realizes that his own life is not divorced from the life of the Body. He concludes that his own blood, sweat, and tears on behalf of the Body are somehow helping to rehabilitate this body that limps along. Instead of criticizing the Church, Paul is willing to receive blows on her behalf, realizing that the weight of his own suffering is in some mysterious way being used by God to strengthen Jesus Body and to present it to God, whole and without blemish.

Yes, His Body still limps along. It IS frail, it IS feeble. But, let us never forget whose body this is. This is Jesus Christ’s body. We are His ears, eyes, hands and lips and his feet that limp along. We may not have a perfect figure, but we are His own. We are the body of Christ!

Let’s be like Paul. A man able to respond to a church still lacking, by believing that IF I give my all, Jesus will use my life towards the greater good of His Body. Today I am hoping that just as Jesus gave His Body for my life, that I would be able to give my life for His Body.

May you embrace His limp.

Ablaze for God - Day 13 Devotional

2008-09-27T06:00:00.002-05:00

“Love for the Lost and Broken”
Submitted by Mark O. Wilson
Key test: Luke 19:10

Here’s a challenge for you. Throughout this week, make a special effort to look at each person you meet through “love-colored glasses.” In other words, as you come in contact with individuals, pray that you will see them through the eyes of Christ.

If we view others through the eyes of Jesus, we will realize how precious and priceless they are.

Lost and broken people matter to God. They matter so much that Jesus came to this earth and died on a cross for them. If they matter this much to Jesus, then they certainly ought to matter to us.

If we have the love of God in our hearts, then we have no choice but to love deeply from the heart. We can’t be picky about who we love. Our Lord loves everybody – and we are called to do the same.

Sadly, many broken people feel alienated and judged by church people. Instead of feeling love flowing from us, they feel condemnation. My prayer is that our neighbors and friends will describe us as the most loving people they know.

God depends on you and me to pass on His love. Every Christian has a debt to discharge that he can repay in no other way.

One of the greatest ways to love broken and hurting people is to remember them by name in prayer. You can provide blessing, encouragement, strength, and hope to your friends by lifting them up in prayer before the Lord.

Of course, it’s good to follow up and put feet to your prayers as well. Let us love with our actions as well as our words.

Love is nothing until you give it away, and tennis is the only place where love means nothing!

Ablaze for God - Day 12 Devotional

2008-09-26T06:00:00.003-05:00

“Ablaze with a Passion for People”
Submitted by Eunice LaCoy
Key text: Luke 14:21,23

“You have not drunk deeply of Christ if you do not share His tears over the unsaved who are blindly hastening to an eternity forever separated from the love of God”.

As I read these words, I cannot but think of my father – he is the very embodiment of “passion for people’s souls”. He is by profession a doctor, but the true passion of his life is for people’s eternal salvation. Every person he ever spends any time with, the people he meets at the YMCA, all of his large extended family, the UPS man, the bug exterminator, the clerk at the hardware store, his seatmate on every plane trip - everyone he gets a chance to talk to, knows that he cares deeply about the state of their soul. He wants everyone to know the love of Jesus. He wants them to experience a relationship with God. He never pretends to be perfect, but he is so appreciative of the mercy and forgiveness of God in his own life, that he wants everyone else to know it also. He wants them to know the delight of the hope of eternal life. He goes to yard sales, and flea markets, and buys Bibles to give to the people he talks with. He gives so much of his income to mission work that he was audited three times by the IRS – they couldn’t believe anyone would give so much of their earthly goods to the work of the church. His dream was always to spend his retirement in mission work, but his health won’t allow that.

My own life was touched with this passion in many ways, but one time in particular stands out. I will never forget the day when my own soul was engaged in the battle of surrendering to Christ, and he knelt beside me, with tears streaming down his face, as he begged me to open my heart to God’s love, forgiveness, and the wonder of a relationship with Him…

Heavenly Father, give to me this passion for people in my own life. Please use me in each person’s life that I come in contact with…. Might every moment of my life bring others close to You…

Further reading: Matthew 28: 19-20

Preparation for Sunday

2008-09-25T14:41:00.004-05:00

Brothers and Sisters,

This week in our daily meditations and Sunday/Monday services we are posturing our hearts towards "Your Love".
The doctrine of the trinity teaches that at the core God is a self-sufficient community of loving persons (Father, Son and Spirit). Within this divine community, we discover a vast, unmeasured, boundless love that cannot fully realized or appreciated by mortal man. God IS love. And, sometimes we simply need to re-imagine what this actually implies about this Triune God that we worship and serve.
So, as we enter into the second week of Ablaze, my desire for you is that you would take time in prayer and meditation to re-imagine the love sourced within the trinity.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God".
-Ephesians 3:16-19
An old hymn whose lyrics engage the mind and heart to imagine this love. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/othedeep.htm

Ablaze for God - Day 11 Devotional

2008-09-25T06:00:00.003-05:00

“How Love Infects Us”
Submitted by Joan D. Correll
Key text: Matthew 25:40

Most changes in our lives take place when we are in crisis. As a young missionary wife God began to shine the light of the Holy Spirit on my heart and mind and I was found wanting. I would have done just about anything for the pain to go away. His light revealed an attitude of pride, selfishness, stubbornness, and hatred and fear. I didn’t like what I saw.

I remember the day I bowed before Him and asked Jesus to plant within my heart the seeds of love. I asked Him to teach me how to love as He loved. I sought His mind through study of the Word, and the more I read the more I realized that unless I was always connected to Him I wouldn’t be able to do it.

Some of the truths that I came to see and understand are:
He is the Vine…it is through and from Him we receive
our life. We can’t love if we aren’t connected to the Vine.
It’s His love flowing through me I came to long for.
Scriptures say, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” When you experience the mind of Christ you forgive…you lift up the fallen…you don’t condemn…you perform acts of kindness….you don’t see color, race, or condition you only see someone just like yourself for whom Jesus died…you challenge and confront with a humble spirit wanting only the best for the other. You learn to listen – to really listen – to hear the depth of the heart of someone. You let them know they matter, and when they see they matter to you then they begin to understand how much they matter to the Father.

Many, many years ago God gave me a special verse. It’s from the book of Samuel and from the King James Version. I Sam 2:5 - It’s a strange verse, but when I read it the first time I knew it was a message for me. “They that were full have hired themselves out for Bread and they that were hungry have ceased.” That has been my desire in God’s kingdom….to be bread to those who are hungry.

Ablaze for God - Day 10 Devotional

2008-09-24T06:00:00.003-05:00

“Ablaze with a Passion for Christ”
Submitted by Jeremy Mavis
Key text: Philippians 3:8

I got this idea from a book I’ve been reading…

Christianity is like a waking up one day and finding yourself on an oval race track with the rest of humanity. For some reason you realize you are on the starting line, but no one can figure out what they are supposed to do. So, everyone begins to lay out blankets by the starting line, break out the thermos and coffee, and begin to laugh and play and enjoy themselves.

Somewhere along the way, someone is wandering down the track and crosses the 100-yard line. They discover that this is the point of salvation. This person assumes correctly that everyone else needs to cross this 100-yard line because this is what humanity was made for—salvation. So she heads back to the starting line and begins “preaching” to people that the purpose of life on this track is to run the 100-yard dash! She convinces some, others make it to the 90-yard line, and still others only go so far as the 20-yard line. Some don’t move at all. Pretty soon, the “Christians” that crossed the 100-yard line break out their thermos and coffee and begin to laugh and play and enjoy themselves because they think they have done what they were made to do—they’ve crossed the 100-yard line!

However, one day, someone in the 100-yard line club takes a look at the continuation of the track and begins to wonder to himself what is around the bend further on down the track. So he takes a stroll around the corner. Soon he realizes that there is even a fuller life than just crossing the 100 yard line and a deeper experience that goes with it. As he makes his way around the loop he crosses the starting line again and then the 100-yard line club. As he passes he preaches to them to get moving. Human life is about a continual journey and a constant relationship not merely a 100-yard salvation dash. He emphasizes a marathon path instead of a sprint and relax one.

Realizing your need for Christ in salvation is important, vital actually. However, far too many Christians park themselves in a church and rest easy in their “fire insurance” contract, or their “get-out-of-hell-free-card.” Being a follower of Jesus, one whose heart that is ablaze with passion for Him, requires a commitment towards a journey in Christ-likeness fostered through a continual relationship with Jesus. Such a commitment looks more like a marathon than a dash. I encourage you today to take a gander of the kind of life waiting just around the bend. . .

Prayers for the Youth Group

2008-09-24T05:59:00.001-05:00

Tonight our youth group meets. Pray for Pastors Loretta and Jeremy, as they minister to the young people. Please pray that there will be a special anointing on these meetings, and that God will do a special, transforming work in the hearts of our teens.

Ablaze for God - Day 9 Devotional

2008-09-23T06:00:00.004-05:00

“Love—The Secret of Your Leadership”
Submitted by Ben Drown
Key text: I John 4:10

Love is the “mark” of the believer. Watch carefully – without hearts filled with love we have no power to receive from God or give to others.

One of the most familiar scenarios that I deal with in counseling with Christians is – hearts that are hurt or hardened with unforgiveness. I hear, “I can’t forgive” or “I won’t forgive” or “I’ve been hurt too badly, too often . . .”

St. John writes in 1 John 4:20-21 “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God must love his brother also.”

Jesus said, “. . . as I have loved you, you also love one another.” (John 13:34b) Jesus died on the cross to give us forgiveness of our sins. Since we have received forgiveness, we must be people willing to offer it as well.

One of the most loving things we can do to restore fellowship with our brother and to maintain fellowship in the body of Christ is to “forgive one another even as Christ has forgiven you!”

Once we have cleared that block from our hearts God’s love can begin to flow into our lives –and without that blemish is free to flow out to others as well.

Ablaze for God - Day 8 Devotional

2008-09-22T06:00:00.004-05:00

“Confronting the Powers”
Submitted by Tom Correll
Key text: Ephesians 6:13

The apostle Paul described our struggle as Jesus followers using the language of war. Arrayed in strongholds against us are the “rulers, authorities and powers of this dark world – spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”. He instructs us to arm ourselves with protective and offensive equipment, each symbolic of disciplines that will “demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.

The sword is a weapon of war, designed to inflict pain and death on opponents. In the spiritual war the Lord provides a sword as well. (Eph 6:17) This weapon is “of the Spirit” – meaning “belonging to the Spirit”. It is the sword Jesus used when battling Satan in the wilderness.

Paul clearly states that this sword is the Word of God. There are three Greek words used to describe the Word of God: Jesus is called the logos of God, the Scriptures are called the biblios of God, and the sword is called the hrema of God. So we have Jesus the living Word of God, the Bible the written Word of God, and the sword of the Spirit – the spoken Word.

When Jesus spoke the Scriptures to Satan, He used the Sword of the Spirit. It is of utmost importance that we speak the Scriptures to our adversary Satan and to the principalities and powers.

In the record of John’s vision we read that the brethren overcame the devil by three things: (1) the blood of the Lamb – that is the legal ground and authority for resisting the enemy, (2) the (spoken) word of their testimony – that is our identification with Christ’s triumph on the Cross, and (3) because they loved not their lives unto the death – the term for lives here is soul or self life, indicating their self-denial.

In the conflict, God’s promise is that we will have the power in Christ to be overcomers. His instruction to us is to ”stand our ground”, and faithfully “to stand”, and to “stand firm” – unscathed by the worst the spiritual powers may bring.

Pastor Mark's Prayer Request

2008-09-22T05:59:00.000-05:00

Please pray for Pastor Mark, as he teaches FLAME Courses (ministerial preparation for non-traditional students) this week in Denton, Maryland.

Pray that God will move powerfully in his classes: Church Leadership (Mon - Wed) and Spiritual Formation (Wed - Fri.)

Pray that the students will be refreshed and renewed in spirit. Pray that they will be open to God's deepening. Pray that this will be a point of transformation, rather than merely an academic exercise.

Pray that the "Ablaze for God" flame will spread from these students to their churches in several states around the nation.

Ablaze for God - Day 7 Devotional

2008-09-21T06:00:00.004-05:00

“Renewing Our Power”
Submitted by Ben Drown
Key Text: Ephesians 5:18

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about their lives as Believers. In order to fully feel what he is talking about we need to understand the situation. In simple words: they lived in a city that was totally immersed in pagan religion with all its idolatry & immorality. The government controlled and demanded adherence to a form of pagan worship and had little tolerance for any dissent. To be a Christian in this culture was to have your life in danger.

The Apostles had received the infilling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They went into all the world to preach the Gospel – including Ephesus. They expended much spiritual energy in this city and needed refueling!! It took all great spiritual power just to survive the demands of this pagan city. So Paul’s words in his letter to the church in Ephesus are apt. . . “be filled with the Spirit.”

The Ephesians were not called to “just get by” or merely survive. Nor are we! Like the Ephesians, we too can feel the pressure of the world around us increasing. What’s a body to do???

Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ challenges us with the literal translation of Eph. 5:18. “Be ye being filled with the Spirit.” This statement suggests a “continuous action”.

A continuous prayer for us today: “With Thy Spirit, fill me.”

Tomorrow Night

2008-09-21T05:59:00.000-05:00

Please pray for the Ablaze for God Gathering tomorrow night (Sept. 22) at 7:00 p.m. Pray that God will draw us all closer to Him, and that we may KNOW his mighty power.

Come -- even if you haven't signed up -- you can still come. Follow the prompting in your heart.

Ablaze for God - Day 6 Devotional

2008-09-20T06:00:00.007-05:00

"We Need Power to Extend the Kingdom of God”
Submitted by Mark O. Wilson
Key text: 1 Corinthians 4:20

“The Kingdom of God” is a major Bible theme proclaimed by the Old Testament prophets and mentioned repeatedly by Jesus Christ himself.

From creation (Genesis) to the cross (Gospels), continuing through the community of faith (today) – God’s Kingdom IS wherever He reigns (Thy Kingdom come). It is an ever-expanding Kingdom, which will ultimately rule over the whole world. Some day, all wrong will be set right and the crooked will be made straight (on earth as it is in heaven.)

Until then, we are called to bring the Kingdom wherever we go.

“The Kingdom of God. is a divine act, not a human accomplishment, not even the accomplishment of dedicated Christians. The power of the Kingdom is operative in and through God’s representatives. But the power is not THEIR power – it is the power of God.”

“Our best efforts of themselves do not build or advance the Kingdom. Christian effort is not sufficient. Even the best endeavor of the Spirit-filled is totally inadequate.” Nothing less than the Holy Spirit guiding, empowering and using our best efforts can extend Christ’s reign in any heart or any group.

The Kingdom of God is built through people who have the power of the Lord upon them. “This Kingdom must be built, advanced and manifest on the level of the divine empowerment of the human. It must be God working through us.”

How important is it to you to have the power of Christ remaining upon you? How is the Kingdom advancing through you? What have you experienced of this holy power?

Ablaze for God - Day 5 Devotional

2008-09-19T06:00:00.003-05:00

“The All-essential Power”
Submitted by Kristin Kingsolver
Key text: Luke 24:48, 49

Receiving the power of Christ is about allowing the Holy Spirit to touch our entire being and opening ourselves up completely to Him. We need to be fully devoted and hungry for Christ’s empowering of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We are told in Luke 24:48-49, “You are witnesses…but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

We must make sure that we have received His power, before we can share His power with others. Not only do we need to make sure that we are right in our relationship with God, but we also need to have an understanding and knowledge of what it means to receive the power of Christ.

Imagine a surgeon who wants to perform surgery, but has never gone to med school and has no experience. Obviously, we are not going to go to such a surgeon! In the same way, a Christian must have both first-hand knowledge and experience with the life transforming power of the Spirit before attempting to impart it to others.

Are you at the spot in your Christian walk where you believe in Christ, but do not have a clear understanding of what it means to be clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit?

I suggest you start by opening up your heart and life to Christ asking His Spirit to begin a work in and through you. God does not force Himself upon us, but He does his work when our hearts are humble and willing.

As we open up our heart to His transforming power we will find that the change will move from the inside out. Over time we will move to a place where we can impart what we’ve experienced to other lives as well.

A Note From Pastor Tim

2008-09-19T05:59:00.001-05:00

In order for us to have Divine power, there must first come human weakness. The emptying of our own "junk ", then allows us to refill with "treasure". We will explore this Sunday the struggle humankind has with the abuse of power and how we can better use the Spiritual authority that God has given as His followers. We will be looking at the model for which we try to live our own lives--- Jesus Christ. We will talk about how Jesus' moment of weakness were actually Divine appointments for Holy power!
We encourage you to come, bring friends, and join us this Sunday in worship. See you then!

Ablaze for God - Day 4 Devotional

2008-09-18T06:00:00.004-05:00

“The Extended Hand”
Submitted by Tim Young
Key text: Ezra 8:22

There is something in the immense power of Hurricanes like Gustav or Katrina, (which I witnessed firsthand through cleanup and rebuilding) that strangely reminds me of my Dad.

Maybe this happens to most kids when they’re little, but I thought my Dad was the strongest man alive. Not that he was a body builder with muscles that were grotesquely huge. Rather, Dad knew how to use leverage and harness force to produce the power he possessed. And, his strength gave our family a sense of security and protection. I just knew that with Dad around I would be safe, provided for and secure.

Even as I grew up and into adulthood, I saw Dad as a man who could move mountains. Was he perfect? Nope. As we both got older, Dad was no longer capable of moving mountains. And, I came to realize he possessed a different kind of power. The power of influence. As I look back today I’m reminded that the power he left behind was in his wise counsel, his experience and his love.

Now that Dad is gone, the first thing that comes to mind is not a weak man lying in a fetal position in a nursing home ravaged by disease, but a man as strong as a ox in more ways than one!

We as Christians are empowered to be people of influence, capable of moving mountains. God has placed His hand on us to be the kind of person that other people come to, for strength, for discernment, and most important--- for love.

To keep God’s hand upon us, we need to make sure that we are staying in His will by reading daily His Word, by keeping in constant communication with Him in prayer, and by having the eyes and hearts of Jesus for those who have not yet felt God’s hand upon them.

If you haven’t felt God’s hand upon you yet, I encourage you to seek Him. But be ready, because the kind of power He distributes will make you as strong as a ox, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. You will indeed move mountains and leave in your wake the power of godly influence!

Prayer Vigil

2008-09-18T05:59:00.000-05:00

From midnight Friday (Sept. 19) through midnight Saturday (Sept. 20) the church sanctuary will be open for prayer.

We encourage you to stop by anytime and spend a while with the Lord. Prayer guides will be available. Also, prayer requests may be left at the church -- and those praying will remember them (This is called intercession -- praying for others.)

There are still a few slots available for our "around the clock" prayer. It's not too late for you to sign up for an hour (a specific time in the week -- one hour per week for the duration of our Ablaze for God series.) Just call the church office 715-634-4613, and we will gladly include you!

Ablaze for God - Day 3 Devotional

2008-09-17T06:00:00.006-05:00

“Do you long for power?”
Submitted by Loretta Sunderland
Key text: 2 Peter 1:3

So many times I have sought the Lords face with this question: “God, can I do BIG things for Your kingdom?” That’s all I want; is to do BIG things for His kingdom. Have any of you ever felt this in your spirit? It’s okay, you know, to have this longing, for it’s a God-given longing placed within our soul by the Holy Spirit. However, in my desire to do BIG things how many times have I tried to accomplish them in my own human power? Too many times! This summer while attending youth camp, God reminded me that everything I need for life and godliness has already been given. Peter says “His divine power” (this dynamic, explosive power of the Holy Spirit) “has given us everything we need for life and godliness."

Let’s remember that Jesus came to give us life, life more abundant, with everything accomplished at the cross. As we surrender our all to God this desire in our hearts, for MORE of Him, is presently accessible.

As I ponder what has already been given to me, these words of Elizabeth Browning strike a chord:

“Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common
bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes
off his shoes; the rest sit around it and
pluck blackberries. . .”

Today ask and seek for that which God has already made available to you.

Lacks Power

2008-09-17T05:59:00.002-05:00

Over many a Christian leader's record could be stamped these words: LACKS POWER. Why do so many ministers and lay leaders have a vague restless awareness that something is lacking in their leadership?
-- Wesley Duewel, Ablaze for God, p. 78

. . . perhaps the greatest lack in most Christian leadership and ministry is this divine bestowal, the Spirit's empowerment. . . . Perhaps the greatest, and most revolutionary change that could happen to your leadership would be for you to receive and continually experience the divine dimension. Once you receive it and experience the difference it makes, you will not want to minister without it.
-- Duewel, Ablaze, p. 79

168 Prayer Watch

2008-09-16T13:36:00.006-05:00

Starting Sunday, September 21, and continuing through our Ablaze for God series (Nov 3), we will have someone on "Prayer Watch" 24 hours a day, seven days a week

There are 168 hours in a week, and we are signing people up to commit to praying during a specific hour on a weekly basis. (See Psalm 16:8)

I (Pastor Mark) passed the sign-up sheet around in the services on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, in the first two services, the sheet didn't get very far before the service ended.

We passed it earlier in the third service, and thus, I'm glad to report -- two thirds of the Prayer Times have been filled!

111 prayer hours have been taken. We have 57 to go.

If you have not signed up, I wonder if you would call the church office 715-634-4613 or e-mail us at hwc@cheqnet.net so you can participate! We will also have the sign up available at the welcome center this Sunday morning.

Currently, the open time slots are:

Sunday: 9:00 a.m., noon, 1:00 p.m.
Monday: 2:00 a.m., noon, 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 2:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 1:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 1:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6 & 11:00 p.m.
Friday: 1,2, 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11:00 a.m., noon, 1, 3, 4, 6, & 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 1,2,3,4, 10 & 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 11:00 p.m.

Let's work together to fill them all and saturate every moment of these special days with fervent and focused praying.

Ablaze for God - Day 2 Devotional

2008-09-16T06:00:00.003-05:00

“The Source of All Power”
Submitted by Heath Davis
Key text: Psalm 28:8

“We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!” Growing up my mom had this deep seated desire to indoctrinate my sister and I with the Wizard of Oz. Each year watching this classic movie became ritual in the Davis household as we ate pop-corn and admired munchkins. Little did I realize, behind red slippers, yellow bricks and wicked witches The Wizard of Oz offered us a glimpse at a puzzling philosophical question. “Where does ultimate power and authority reside?” Dorothy and friends put their hopes in a road that would lead to the great wizard whose absolute sovereignty would right all wrongs and get Dorothy back home to Kansas. But, what they discovered beyond the veil of power was not an omnipotent wizard but an insecure, helpless little man. Toto and the gang had sniffed out a fraud!

How true of our own lives. Like the wizard we spend many of our days convincing ourselves and others that we are in control. Behind the protective curtains of our well managed world, we tend to believe that we pull are pulling the levers in the control room of life. Past victories and present success often solidify the illusion that we are powerful people.

Then disaster hits. In less than a minute the curtain of our seeming self-made world is torn in two revealing our own interior helplessness. Like the great Oz, when push comes to shove we quickly find ourselves strangely powerless.

Powerlessness is a difficult place to dwell. We feel weak, insecure and helpless. Ironically, human powerlessness is exactly where God wishes to lead us. You see there is a elementary spiritual truth in the Bible that teaches until we admit our own frailty we cannot truly depend upon divine strength. The apostle Paul affirms this truth. “God’s power”, he once stated, “is made perfect in human weakness”. Are you in a place of powerlessness? Is there a specific circumstance that appears to be beyond your ability to manage or control? If so, today you are in a great place for God’s power to be manifested in your life.

May our own powerlessness lead us on a road towards the Omnipotent One in whom all power and authority reside. “It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the LORD Almighty”.

Too Easily Satisfied

2008-09-16T05:59:00.000-05:00

We are too easily satisfied and glory in occasional past moments when God touched us by His power. God is delighted to empower us as often as we need Him, and we need Him more often than we realize.
-- Wesley Duewel (Ablaze for God, p. 37)

God showed up?

2008-09-15T11:18:00.005-05:00

We hear many comments today about "God showing up". The fact is that our Great Lord showed up 2000 years ago in a way that simply staggers the imagination. The King took on flesh and dwelt among us! He lived with us and died for us. . .but He didn't stop there.

Jesus reminded his followers that He would not leave them as orphans. He gave a gift for which the prophets themselves dreamed. . .the gift of His Holy Spirit. God establishing permanent residence within our own spirit. Oh, what a gift. Jesus' last words were true. "Lo, I am with you always". No, he doesn't have to show up. In actuality, God is much closer than we think.

Our longing for God to show up today reveals the inner distance we often feel between His world and our own. But, it is not He who has distanced Himself. It is you and me.

God's dwelling is among us. His divine presence literally permeates the landscape of our lives. His kingdom is among us. The great need of our spiritual lives is not one of presence. Rather, the great need is for sight. We must be remedied from our interior blindness. We must open our eyes afresh and anew to His kind of world.

The Ablaze for God series is ultimately about recognizing God's presence among us. It's about opening the eyes of our heart and realizing that this is a God-permeated, God-saturated world. It's about embracing His presence and His person as the most meaningful and most-real reality in our lives. It's about emptying ourselves to be filled by and through Him completely.

He is presently willing. May we choose to see that His Presence already within your reach today.

Hymns from last Sunday

2008-09-15T07:32:00.003-05:00

I encourage you to prayerfully reflect on the lyrics of these beautiful hymns of consecration:

Search Me O God

Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart

Ablaze for God - Day 1 Devotional

2008-09-15T06:00:00.006-05:00

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Matthew 3:11

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how
I wish it were already kindled”
Luke 12:49

A word from Pastor Mark:

Welcome to the “Ablaze for God” journey. In the next 50 days, we are going to seek a fresh outpouring of God’s presence on our lives and in our congregation.

Together, we will experience significant spiritual breakthroughs. We will find our hearts refreshed and renewed. We will examine our lives, and make things right. God is going to show up in a powerful way.

Our daily devotionals, the Sunday morning messages, and Monday night gatherings will be based on a mighty book, Ablaze for God, written by Dr. Wesley Duewel.

I consider it a favorite classic in my library. Over the years, this little book has provided spiritual strength and inspiration for me. Although written primarily for ministers, I heartily recommend Ablaze for God for any follower of Jesus who desires to be “on fire” and rise above the ordinary.

You can obtain a copy of the book at God’s Country Christian Bookstore. Here, we provide devotionals for the next 50 days. Written by members of our own congregation, they express the heart of what we sense God is calling us to be as church.

Please pray that God will do a mighty work among us. Pray that God will prepare your heart to receive ALL He wants to give you. Don’t let busy living, burdens, or annoyances hinder you from receiving God’s best!

Ask God to set your heart aflame with love and spiritual passion. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Watch! Dive in! Join us on the adventure! Something good is going to happen.

Revival Movements

2008-09-14T17:06:00.004-05:00

The great revival movements of history had the following similarities:
(from research by J. Edwin Orr)

1. Genuine conviction and repentance for sin.
2. Prevailing prayer
3. Unity -- people came together in love
4. Involvement of young people

Fire in the Bible

2008-09-14T16:59:00.000-05:00

In Scripture, fire is often a symbol of God's presence and power.

1. First command -- "Let there be light" -- and there was light. God's radiant light. (Gen 1)
2. Abraham -- God appeared as a blazing torch (Gen 15)
3. Moses -- the burning bush (Ex. 3)
4. Children of Israel -- Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire (Ex. 13)
5. Mt. Sinai -- smoke, lightening, fire (Ex. 19 & 24)
6. Priests ordered to never let the holy flame go out (Lev. 6:12)
7. Elijah -- called down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18)
8. Isaiah -- in temple glory of Lord filled it -- smoke, fire (Isa 6)
9. John the Baptist said Jesus would baptize with Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16)
10. In the upper room, filled with Holy Spirit, flames of fire came upon their heads (Acts 2)
11. Our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)

How to Pray for an Hour

2008-09-14T16:40:00.000-05:00

Spend five minutes in each section of this prayer wheel. (From Dick Eastman's Hour That Changes the World.)

A Note from Pastor Mark

2008-09-12T10:23:00.003-05:00

Dear Hayward Wesleyan Church Family,

In all my years of ministry, I have never more eagerly anticipated the coming weeks than now! God is up to something wonderful. Let's join Him!

Thank you to all who participated in the unusual prayer services last Sunday. Literally hundreds of prayers went up before the Lord. Together, we sought His face. I know this was pleasing to Him. We've had several reports of significant spiritual breakthroughs as a direct result of what we did on Sunday. I'm certainly glad we followed the prompting.

This Sunday, we are officially launching the Ablaze for God series. I ask you to pause right now and pray for our church. Pray that we will all sense the presence of God in fullness, and that our hearts will turn towards Him. Pray that needs will be met, new commitments will be made, hearts will be set right and lives will be transformed. God moves in answer to prayer! He moves US!

Our Ablaze for God Series will include the Following:

1) Sunday Mornings: We will cover the major themes from a powerful little book called Ablaze for God, by Dr. Wesley Duewel. (available at God's Country Christian Bookstore)

The themes are:
* Your Life Aflame
* Your Power
* Your Love
* Your Accountability
* Your Prayer
* Your Anointing
* Your Integrity
* Your Infilling

Please make it your aim to attend all these services, if at all possible. If you are unable to attend due to travel or illness, we encourage you to get the cd of the message, or you might be able to listen to it online via our church website: http://www.haywardwesleyan.org/ (Under Resources, then Sermons -- still working on the technology)

2) Monday Evenings:
Sept. 22 - Nov 3, we will meet at the church from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be deeper teaching on the theme from the weekend, as well as small group discussion. This is a great way to discover what small groups are about. I encourage you to make every effort to attend these meetings.

3) Daily Devotionals:
Starting Monday, Sept. 15, we will provide daily "Your Life Ablaze" devotionals, written by members of our congregation. The devotional booklets are hot off the press and will be available at church this Sunday. You can also pick up a copy at the welcome center or church office any time. We will post the daily devotional here on our Ablaze for God blog:

4) Ablaze for God blog:
Speaking of the Ablaze for God blog, besides the daily devotionals, there will be other inspiring posts to help you in the spiritual quest. I encourage you to bookmark it, and visit every day.

5) Prayer Effort:
Recognizing the importance of prayer in an endeavor like this, we are calling our congregation to a special season of focused prayer.

* Prayer Vigil:
We will launch our special prayer effort with a 24 hour prayer vigil, starting midnight, Friday, Sept. 19 and continuing through midnight, Saturday, Sept. 20. You are invited to come to the sanctuary any time during those hours and join your heart in prayer with the others who have gathered.

* 168 Prayer:
Coming out of the prayer vigil, we are planning to have someone praying 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the entire Ablaze for God series. There are 168 hours in a week -- so we are looking for 168 "prayer warriors" who are willing to devote an hour a week to this mighty cause. We will provide guides and resources to help you in your praying.

Sign up at church this Sunday, or call the church office: 634-4613. Together, let's saturate these next few weeks with our prayers! See Psalm 16:8!

* Weekly Prayers:
As the Holy Spirit orchestrates, some will gather for prayer at various times throughout the week. Watch the church bulletin and the Ablaze for God blog for a listing of the available prayer gatherings.

It is exciting to see what God is doing. Don't miss the blessing.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." I Cor. 2:9

A Special Call To Prayer

2008-09-12T07:04:00.003-05:00

The heart of our "Ablaze for God" series is prevailing prayer. "Call on my and I will answer you," declares the Lord (Jer.33:3)

So, dear Hayward Wesleyan Church family, we are calling on you to pray! Let's not just talk about prayer -- let's enter into it.

We are going to enter a special season of prayer during the Ablaze for God series. This is a time to be more intentional and focused in our praying:

1) Prayer Vigil, Sept. 19-20:
We will hold a Prayer Vigil at the church from midnight (Friday night), Sept. 19 - to midnight (Saturday night), Sept. 20. The sanctuary will be open for prayer. We encourage you to stop by any time during that 24 hour period to join in the prayer.

2) 168 Prayer:
Coming out of the prayer vigil, we plan to have someone praying 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the Ablaze for God series. As there are 168 hours in a week, we are looking for 168 people who will commit one hour a week to pray -- for special needs and spiritual renewal for our own hearts, our families, our congregation, our community, our nation, and our world. Sign up at the Welcome Center, contacting the church office (715-634-4613.)

Helpful material will be available to assist and guide you in this important prayer effort.

When God wants to do a mighty work, He sets his people to praying!

Sail On!

2008-09-11T11:33:00.001-05:00

Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships were made for

Set Us Afire

2008-09-10T06:47:00.004-05:00

Set us afire, Lord, stir us, we pray!
While the world perishes, we go our way
Purposeless, passionless, day after day!
Set us afire, Lord, stir us, we pray!
-- Bishop Ralph Spaulding Cushman

Prayer Foundation

2008-09-09T06:04:00.005-05:00

"When God wants to send revival, He sets his people to praying."
-- J. Edwin Orr

"There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.'

-- A. T. Pierson

Lord, Change Me

2008-09-07T07:32:00.000-05:00

I have discovered through the years that surprising things happen when I pray ‘Lord change me – don’t change my husband, don’t change my children, don’t change the other people around me – change me!

This doesn’t mean that I approve or even condone everything they do, but rather that I concentrate on how I handle my actions and reactions.
More and more the fact comes into focus that they, and not I, are responsible to God for their actions, but I am responsible for the changes that need to be made in me.

-- Evelyn Christianson

Ablaze for God

2008-09-06T06:47:00.007-05:00

A post from Revitalize Your Church

Our church is launching a special series called "Ablaze for God" It's a time to focus on prayer, renewal and deepening our spiritual commitment to the Lord, based loosely on a powerful little book by Dr. Wesley Duewel entitled, "Ablaze for God."

Themes include: Your Life Aflame, Your Power, Your Love, Your Prayer, Your Accountability, Your Anointing, Your Integrity and Your Infilling.

Starting September 14, this special series will continue through the first week of November
This will, of course, be our emphasis on Sunday mornings.
On Monday evenings, we will gather again for a deeper teaching on the same subject. (Sort of like a spiritual Monday Night Football!)
Also on Mondays, at the conclusion of the teaching, we will break into small groups to discuss the theme of the day. This is a great place to ask questions, share your insights, or to merely listen in.
There will be a daily devotional, launching September 15. We will have it in booklet form at the church -- but you can also read the 50 devotionals at the Ablaze for God Blog. (I created it a few days ago, just for this special purpose.)
We will have a special prayer focus during these days -- and I encourage our friends, far and near to join us in prayer as we seek the heart of God.

Pray! Pray!

2008-09-06T06:38:00.000-05:00

P -- Prepare
R -- Repent
A -- Ask
Y -- Yield

P -- Praise
R -- Rejoice
A -- Accept
Y -- YES!!

Your Deepest Prayer

2008-09-04T12:17:00.000-05:00

What is the deepest prayer of your heart? Bring it to church this Sunday and offer it to God.

We are going to have a very unusual service this week. . . with the entire morning devoted to prayer. We won't have three identical worship services. We won't have two sets of worship songs and a sermon. We won't have any announcements.

Instead, we're just going to pray together. I believe God wants to do something special for us.

Come, seek the Lord with me. This will be a powerful experience if you come with your cup right side up!

"Call on me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things."
--Jeremiah 33:3

"If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
-- II Chronicles 7:14

"Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."
--II Chronicles 7:15

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Ask and it shall be given unto you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7