Who Are Spirit Filled People

Ken Horn the Editor of the Pentecostal Evangel wrote recently about the Characteristics of Spirit Filled people. I thought the list was an excellent reminder of the distinctives of Pentecostal people.

Ken said Pentecostals are .....

1. Expectant...... they expect God to do great things.
2. Prayerful....Pentecostals should not be afraid to pray about anything. Pray with endurance and practice "praying through".
3. Focused....one of the reasons we are so missions minded is the fact that we are focused on souls.
4. Godly....Holiness is not a dirty word....but should be desired by Pentecostal people.
5. Joyful.....Pentecostals should be full of the joy of the Lord. It's when we look our best.

What a great list! Spirit filled people there should be something different about us that sets us apart. Be filled with the spirit and the the spirit fill your life.

Pastor Kevin

Acknowlege the Holy Spirt Everyday

I'm back to blogging. During the next several weeks we are studying the Holy Spirit in our sermon series we've titled "3rd Person".

I've been reading several books concerning the Holy Spirit over the past several days in preparation for this sermon series. One of the best reminders we can have concerning the Holy Spirit is based on Romans 8:27, "He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." I' don't know about you, but I find the thought of the Spirit of God praying for me according to the will of God extremely comforting. (taken from The Forgotten God by Francis Chan)

Many times I don't know what to pray, how to pray, or what to do. Yet we have a promise that the Holy Spirit knows and when I pray within the confines of the Holy Spirit I'm always praying in the will of God. That is a beautiful promise.

Don't forget your prayer this week,
Dear Holy Spirit,
I need you in my life. I want to know you better. Show me who you are. I need your help in my home, my family, my relationships and in my church. Please fill me with all the power and all the gifts you have for me. Make me more like Jesus. Amen

Acknowlege the Holy Spirt Everyday

As God for Discernment

Someone has been on my heart the past few days. I've missed them at church and couldn't get away from that nagging feeling I should check on them. Today when I came to the office and called to check with them they burst into tears and began to tell me some of the things they were going through. How they had been in the emergency room last night and have really been going through a hard time. They are some of the best people in the whole world.

Which reminded me about the gift of discernment and how important it can be in our lives. A.W. Tozer stated, Discernment is one of the most practical of all the spiritual gifts available to the spiritual leader today.

My experience today reminded me I need to listen, be alert, and follow the promptings God gives me. Let me ask the question, what are you being prompted to do. Is there someone you need to call? Check up on someone, or stop by for an unexpected visit.

Follow those promptings. They can make all the difference in the world.

Now that the 21 Day fast is over I want to transition my blog to a between Sundays thought or devotional. Writing a blog is a chore in itself and I have no interest in making it an everyday event.

Yet I would like to take the opportunity to encourage you "Between Sundays" for just a few minutes. You can make a difference in the world.

With that in mind I'm reminded that we never know what the people we associate are going through. Just this past week I sat down to talk to a person who has been attending our church for a few weeks and they began to pour their heart out to me and share with me some of the issues they were facing in their family. I sat in my office with my mouth open not believing what I was hearing from this person who I believed gave every appearance of having it together. I prayed with them and continue to pray for them. My heart breaks for their situation.

Which brings me to the point. How many times do we really know what the people around us are going through. The situation I mentioned above can be repeated over and over again in my life. How many times do the people we associate with that appear to have it all together when you peel back the layers there is heartbreak, pain, and real life problems. I want to assure you it's more than we think.

So let me encourage you. God says he is near to the brokenhearted. Shouldn't we look for those opportunities as well. When people are really hearting are the times we can really minister.

Just a thought.

Pastor Kevin

Try Something New

Tonight we tried something completely new. Black Bean Burgers. Very Interesting and honestly not too bad. I would have never tried it if I hadn't been partaking in the Daniel Fast. Why would I? But because I"m tired of eating the same thing I stretched myself and tried something new.

Which is a reminder about Faith. Sometime we should step out of our comfort zone and try something different. Stretch our faith and do something new. That's the way faith grows. That's the way we expand our horizons.

The Daniel fast causes me to try something new, and hopefully inspire my faith to try something different as well.

Pastor Kevin

Thank the Lord for What you have

Last night it happened. For the first time since the begining of my Daniel fast I thought I really would like some meat. Another Baked Potoato just didn't seem to cut it and to be honest I'm kind of tired of Salad honestly between you and me I want a hamburger. That doesn't sound spiritual but it's true.

Which causes me to think and understand this I should be thankful for what I have to eat. Thank you Lord for this food bless and nourish it to my body in Jesus name amen. That's the standard prayer at the Ward house. How many times are we really thankful for the food we have, the blessing of good food, and the nourishment it brings.

I have a good friend who is struggling now to keep food down. He's lost tons of weight and down to 122 pounds. He would be so grateful for food now. I look at the people on TV in Haiti and think they would be so thankful for any food right now. Maybe the Daniel fast should be a reminder to all of us. Thank you Lord for this food.

Just a thought.

Pastor Kevin