We continue to talk about God’s baptism of fire in our lives. As we read the vision of Christ we read that His eyes are a flame of fire. Our eyes also should not be dull, but flaming with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Other ways the fire moves in our lives are...

3. THE FIRE MOVES UPWARD

The flames of fire always move upward. The fire of the Holy Spirit will lead our hearts and souls upwards toward God. We will be less concerned about the things of this earthly life and more drawn to the heavenly. And we will lead my husband and children toward the heavenly. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

PRAY WITH ME:
“Lord, keep my heart from being taken up with the fleshly things of this life. Draw my heart more and more to you, to your thoughts and to your ways. Amen.”

4. THE FIRE GIVES ILLUMINATION

Fire lightens up the dark night and the fire of the Holy Spirit lightens our dark minds. Without the illumination of the Holy Spirit we can stay in the rut of our deceptive thinking. But there is nothing more thrilling than the revelation of truth to our souls as the Holy Spirit comes and enlightens the Word of God. Convicting or encouraging, it lights up the darkness in our hearts. Do you remember how the disciples confessed to one another?  “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

We cannot be baptized in the Holy Spirit’s fire and still think humanistically. If we are baptized in the Holy Spirit’s fire we will think God’s thoughts for the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. (Read Isaiah 55: 8-9; John 14:26; 15:26 and 16:13). If we are listening to Him, He will continually expose our deceptions as He leads us more and more to the light. And consequently, we will fill our homes with His light.

PRAY WITH ME:
“Oh God, please illuminate me with the revelation of your truth. I don’t want a tiny bit of the Holy Spirit’s fire in my life. I want to be totally immersed in the Holy Spirit. I want to be dripping with the revelation of God’s heart and truth. I want to be cleansed from all earthly, humanistic thinking. I want you to baptize my mind so fully that I will constantly be enlightened by God’s timeless truths. Thank you, Lord. Amen.”

5. THE FIRE MAKES EVERYTHING LIKE ITSELF

Fire burns up everything consumable and it becomes the fire. When Christ baptizes us with the Holy Spirit’s fire, He makes us to be like Jesus. The more sin and dross that is burned up in our lives, the more we will become like Him. Romans 8:29 tells us that God’s agenda is to confirm us to the image of His Son. (Read also 2 Corinthians 3:18)

PRAY WITH ME:
“Lord, I want to become more and more like you, until people can look in the flames and see Jesus in me—just as King Nebuchadnezzer looked in the fire and saw one “like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24-25)

6. THE FIRE BEGETS FIRE

Unless you use means to put it out, fire always spreads. The fire of God in our lives will extend to others. It will influence our husband and children. They will also be enveloped by the fire. They may run from the fire but the fire will affect them one way or another.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit will makes us witnesses for Jesus and His truth. Acts 1:8 reads, “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

PRAY WITH ME:
“Oh Lord, please let everyone around me catch the fire. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit so that I will be a witness in my home and to all I meet. Amen.”

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

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THE FIRE OF GOD

Part 1

I rose early Sunday morning. It was 5.00 am and I put the beans, which had been soaking over night, on the stove to cook. They needed time to cook in order for me to prepare the food for Fellowship Meal after church. After putting on the beans I went downstairs to the office, thinking that I’d go back up to turn the element down in a few moments.

I opened the Word of God and began to meditate. I became so absorbed that I forgot all about the beans—until I smelt something burning! Where could it be coming from? I then remembered the beans on the stove! Help! I rushed upstairs to find the whole house full of smoke! It took a day or more to get rid of the smell of smoke from the house!

And what was I meditating on? Fire! Can you believe it?

Jesus said He would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Greek word for baptize means “to drench, to plunge.” When someone comes out of the waters of baptism, they drip with water. In the same way, we should be dripping with the anointing of the Holy Spirit—in our home and our daily lives.

Theadore Robinson comments on this Scripture: “As John had immersed men in physical water, the Christ would plunge them into the very Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit—the source of all inspiration and the energy behind all goodness. This would fill them, overwhelm them, control them, transform them. From ancient days he who had come under the influence of that Spirit had “become another man”, and so it would begin again...” It will take the fire of the Spirit of God to bring this about.

1.    THE FIRE BURNS

The fire burns up all the dross and everything that is consumable. The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of judgement and the Spirit of burning.” (Isaiah 4:14) Talking about the fire, Matthew Henry says, "It is the Spirit’s operation upon the soul—searching, consuming, refining, sublimating...” The fire is painful. It is relentless. It purifies us through trials and difficulties. 1 Peter 1:7 says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

The fire keeps on burning until all the chaff is burned up. Matthew 3:12 says, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat unto the garner: but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The fire does not give up until all the trash is consumed. I want to be wheat and not chaff, don’t you? (Ezekiel 22:17-22)

PRAY WITH ME:
“Oh Spirit of judgment and burning, please burn up all that is sinful and fleshly in my life. Lord, I want to be a pure vessel of gold where all dross and impurities are burned away. Amen.”

2.    THE FIRE WARMS AND COMFORTS

The fire warms the cold heart and shivering soul. He comforts the tired heart. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, He puts heat back into our lives. That’s why we need one another. A coal burning alone will soon go out and become cold. But when you put the coal back on the fire with the other coals, it begins to burn again. We are challenged again by the words of Jesus, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16)

PRAY WITH ME:
“Lord, please warm my cold heart. Make me burning hot for you. I want you to become the consuming passion of my life. Amen.”

More coming next week.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

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THE BANQUET

Song of Songs 2:4, “He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.”

Did you know that God loves feasts and banquets? He invites us to come to His table of food, feasting and fellowship?

Actually, the word ‘banqueting house’ in this Scripture is yayin and means ‘to effervesce, fermented wine, intoxication.’ The New English Bible translates it, “He took me into the wine garden…” Isaiah 25:6 tells of a great feast that God is one day going to prepare for all His people in Jerusalem, “And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” Who is going to make this feast? The Lord of hosts himself! Does this sound like the God that you know? Yes, this is your God. God’s house is a house of nourishment and His table is laden with abundant food and intoxicating joy. Moffat’s translation describes it, “a banquet of rich food and of rare wines, of marrowy dainties and of choice old wines…” Read the description of Solomon’s table (who was a type of Christ) in 2 Chronicles 9:4-5.

Not only does the Bible describe God as a chef preparing delectable delicacies to nourish our bodies and delight our taste buds, but with rich food to nurture our souls and spirits. Proverbs 9:1-6 says, “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table.” Do you lack wisdom? God’s table is filled with wisdom. Do you seek after knowledge? All knowledge, understanding and revelation are in God and Christ and He lavishly spreads his table for you.

But you have to come. I have to come. We don’t automatically receive without coming to dine at His table. Let’s feel God’s heart as we read the Message Bible of Proverbs 9, “The banquet meal is ready to be served, lamb roasted, wine poured out, table set with silver and flowers… Are you confused about life, don’t know what’s going on? Come with me, oh come, have dinner with me! I’ve prepared a wonderful spread—fresh-baked bread, roast lamb, carefully selected wines. Leave your impoverished confusion and live.”

We read the same invitation in Isaiah 55:1-2, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price… hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”

When I come to God’s table, the table of His rich Word, I can delight myself in fatness. I don’t have to be impoverished. I don’t have to be hungry and thirsty in my soul. I don’t have to be malnourished in my spirit. I can eat ‘till I’m full. There’s more than I need. The table is laden! But I have to come. I have to sit at the table. I have to dine. This table is not for fast foodists.

Oh how sad to live an impoverished life when God has provided a table that is dripping with all we need. Will you come and feast each day?

God’s table is also an example for the way we should spread our table. Food is to be eaten at a table, not in front of the TV, on the sofa, or in the car looking at the back of someone’s head. God planned for us to sit at a table where we can not only eat leisurely but look at one another and communicate.

God sets His table. Do you set your table? The New Living Translation says, “Wisdom has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table…” If God, the God of Wisdom takes time to prepare delicious food and set His table, don’t you think it would be wise for us to do the same? Preparing food for our family and setting the table beautifully is not a chore. It’s a God thing. It’s a ministry. When we sit at the table together as a family, not only do we feed our physical bodies, but we provide opportunity to feed the soul and the spirit too. Especially, of course, as we crown the meal with the Family Altar, opening the Word of God and praying together.

As God furnishes a delightful table for you, will you prepare and set a delightful table for your family?

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL, ABOVE RUBIES

PRAYER:

“Oh God, please save me from passing by your bountiful table of wisdom and knowledge. I don’t want to be an impoverished soul. I want to be filled to overflowing so I can bless others too. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m setting the table for my wonderful brood,

I’m furnishing it with love and nourishing food,

I’m making it a place where they all love to be,

A place of enrichment, joy and a lasting legacy!

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.

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TRAINING CHILDREN TO SPEAK
Part 3

Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

The word “witness” is martus which means “one who knows or one who bears record to what he has seen or heard.” We can’t be a witness for the Lord unless we know what we are talking about. We must know His truth to communicate it. The English word, martyr is derived from this word because he bears witness by his death. In many countries of the word believers are martyred for witnessing to the truth. A true witness will not back down in the face of persecution.

We continue to look at more ways to prepare our children to speak.

DELVE DEAPER

When a child says, “God is the biggest God in the world!” ask another question, “Why do you think that?” or “How do you know that?” It will cause them to think a little more and give you an opportunity to add another precept of truth. Remember, this is not a lecture, just a question or two as they go their merry way. You can do this with many statements they make.

POEM NIGHTS/MEMORY VERSES

Every so often we have Poem Night with all the grandchildren. Each one has to memorize a poem and recite it to the audience of uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents. It is good practice for speaking and they are growing more confident each time. You can do the same thing with Scripture Memory Verses. You may not have the audience on hand that we have but you could do it by gathering a few families together.

SPEECH NIGHTS

As our children were growing and especially when they got into their teen years, we frequently had Speech Nights. Sometimes they had to prepare a speech on a given subject with time to study and prepare. Other times we wrote different subjects on paper and put them in a hat. After taking a subject from the hat, the children would then have to give an impromptu three minute speech on that subject.

We also did this with the Scriptures. Sometimes they had to prepare a talk on a certain Scripture or passage; other times we would put the Scripture in the hat and they would have to give an impromptu exhortation on it.

PREACHING NIGHTS

Our children were mostly in their teens when we lived on the Gold Coast of Australia. They loved to preach in the open air mall in Surfers Paradise. To prepare for this they had practice preaching nights where our children and their friends would practice. They would preach for a few minutes and then the next one would carry on. And this is how they did it in the open air mall. One would preach and before they ran out of what to say, the next one would run out and start preaching.. They could keep going like this for an hour or more and many crowded around to hear the gospel. Rocklyn was only 13 years, and in bare feet and jeans, would gather crowds as he preached like a fiery evangelist.

SHARING AT CHURCH

Unfortunately not many young people have the opportunity to share at church. Fortunately, we do have this opportunity at our church fellowship. Firstly, we start the service with prayer, not the pastor giving one prayer, but at least half an hour of prayer where everyone is encouraged to pray. Most of the children, even down to the five year olds get up and pray—and they know how to pray! After a short message, the service is opened up to testimony and sharing the Word. We believe in the premise of 1 Corinthians 14:26, “How is it then, brethren, when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” It is wonderful to see the young people sharing insights from the Word of God.

APOLOGETICS NIGHTS

We are now planning to start Apologetics Nights with the older grandchildren and the other young people in the fellowship. We will give them a certain subject to study. When we come together, one of the fathers will challenge them with certain aspects of truth on that subject which they will have to contend for and defend in front of everyone. This will be good training for them. I am not sure yet which subject they are starting with. However, if you would like to do something this, you could get them to defend such questions as:

Why is Jesus Christ the only way to Heaven?

Did dinosaurs really exist?

The Bible says God created the earth in six days? How does this line up with the fact that scientists say it is millions of years old?

How can you prove that there was a world-wide flood?

How can you prove the Bible is the inspired Word of God?

How do you view the land of Israel versus Replacement Theology?

If we all came from Adam, how come there are so many different races of people?

How do you explain Global Warming? Is it truth or fiction?

The above are just the beginning of questions that our children should know how to factually answer. Are we adequately training them?

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL, ABOVE RUBIES

PRAYER:

“Lord, help me be to be constantly aware that I am preparing my children to speak for you and defend the faith. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:
I am a faith-defender and I am training my children to be the same.

FURTHER STUDY:
Since beginning this series on Training our Children to Speak a most informative book came into my possession. If you have not already read it, I would encourage you to check the internet and get hold of this book—“Already Gone (Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it)” by Ken Ham & Britt Beemer.

Check the web page, www.aboverubies.org for further ideas of discussions for your Family Meal Table. Check out QUOTES FROM PRESIDENTS FOR DISCUSSION AT YOUR TABLE.

If you don’t have books on Apologetics, check out the Internet, or go to www.answersingenesis.org


Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.