Ablaze for God - Day 21 Devotional

“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

“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

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

“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

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

“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

“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).