IGNYTE I will ignite the kingdom life within you,a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out -Matthew 3:11-

READ

Luke 9: 51-56

THINK

A few days ago we read about telling other people good news. Sometimes though, people aren't interested in listening to you, or they think your news isn't important.

How does that make you feel?

• Disappointed?
• Pleased?
• Hurt?
• Confused?
• Let down?
• Angry?

Were the people in the Samaritan village interested in Jesus (v. 53)?

Yes No

Jesus was a Jew, and at that time there was a lot of bad feeling between the Samaritans and the Jews. But, whatever the reason, it made James and John angry (v. 54)!

Sometimes our friends won't want to listen when we talk about Jesus, or they might say things against him that make us sad or angry, like the disciples were. Jesus is important to us, and it hurts when others don't want to know.

PRAY

Thank Jesus that He understands how we feel when people don't care about Him.

READ

Luke 9:46-50

Jesus isn't saying that young people are more important than old people, or the other way round. He's talking about how we treat each other - that when we're kind and loving, or unkind and hurtful to someone, it's as though we're behaving like that to Jesus.

WRITE down the name of:

• a close friend
• someone you don't get on with
• someone you think is less important than you are
• someone you think is treated better than you are

We're all equally important to Jesus too, so we should try to treat everyone - even people who don't seem to be on Jesus' side - the same.

PRAY

. . . for the people whose names you wrote down. Ask Jesus to help you treat them the same.

Hey guys,

Yesterday, we came across some hard sayings of Jesus about "dying to self" in Luke 9: 18-27. Here is a powerful testimony of five guys who literally "die to self". They gave their lives for the gospel sake.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep . . . to gain what he cannot lose."

That's a strange saying - what do we give? And what do we gain?

It was written by Jim Elliot, who was a missionary to people in Equador. He very much wanted the Auca Indians there to hear about God's love, even though they were dangerous people. He and four other men began to make contact, but before they got very far they were all ambushed and killed by the Aucas. Jim was only twenty-nine when he died - but he knew that it was very important to give his life to God (giving what he couldn't keep). He also knew that whatever happened to him, he had everlasting life with God (gaining what he couldn't lose).

Look back at Luke 9:24. Do you see the connection?

READ

Luke 9: 18-27

There are some hard things to consider in the last part of the reading (vv. 23-26).

• Forgetting ourselves
• Taking up our cross
• Saving our lives by losing them.

How do they make you feel?

• Scared?
• Happy?
• Worried?
• Other?

A person carrying a cross was on his way to die. Part of following Jesus is about "dying to self". That's a strange phrase, but, to put it simply, it means that the selfish things in us that don't please God have to die so that there's more room for him. Things like bad temper, always wanting our own way, showing off, or not telling the truth.

Because Jesus overcame everything sinful and death itself, and then came back to life, he can help me - and you - to "die" to the selfish things in our lives, and live more like him. We can't do it by ourselves, but the living power of Jesus in us can.

That is good news!

PRAY

Thank Jesus that He can help you live in a way that pleases Him.

What's the best news you've heard recently? Who was the first person you told?

_______ Mum or Dad?

______ Your teacher?

______ A close friend?

Whenever I get good news, I ring my mum up straightaway!

READ

Luke 9: 1-6, 10

Good news is hard to keep to yourself. What two things did Jesus send his disciples to do (v. 2)?

1. ___________________________________

2. ____________________________________

what did he them to help them (v.1)?

1. ___________

2. _____________

Although we might not be doing what the disciples did, it's good to know that the power and authority of Jesus are for us, too. Jesus wants us to tell our friends about Him. Sometimes it will be easy - sometimes not (vv. 4,5), but he will help us, and we should tell him how we get on (v. 10). Jesus is the best news we can ever tell anybody!

PRAY

Ask Jesus to help you tell somebody about Him.

Hi!

Over the next two weeks we'll be reading from Luke and learning about being a DISCIPLE. Christians - people who follow Jesus- are called His disciples. Each day's readings will help us to find out more about what Jesus wants from us - and how to be faithful disciples.

READ

Luke 5:27-32

THINK

. . . about your best friend. Write down some of the reasons why you like them and want to spend time with them.




Levi was obviously so impressed with Jesus that when Jesus called him, he "left everything and followed him" (v.28). No ifs or buts or maybes - he just went!

What did Levi do next (v.29)?



The feast was held so that Levi could introduce his friends to Jesus, too. That's what part of being a disciple is about - being so impressed with Jesus that when we get to know and follow him, we want our friends to know and follow him, too - like Levi did.

What things do you like best about Jesus?



Levi followed Jesus when he was alive on earth, but we can't do that. So how can we follow him? One of the things I do is what you're doing now - I try to read a little bit about Jesus every day so I can find out what he's like.

PRAY

Ask Jesus to help you follow him day by day.

Today at Ignyte we discuss about how to break free from the lies of the devil. I came across this illustration which is very powerful and especially for those who are computer savvy out there you will understand this very well.

Our minds are like the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer. Satan's lies and God's truth are like the program or software that run the computer. The computer's operation depends on the software being used.

If the software is defective (Satan's lies) the output will also be defective (ungodly feelings and deeds). But if the software is perfect (God's truth) the output will be as well (godly feelings and deeds)

So Right Thinking produces right feelings which poduce right actions.

So beware of the 'software" you put in your mind! "You are what you THINK!"

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." (Poverbs 23:7)

SCENE EIGHT

Setting: After the storm

READ

Job 42: 1-6

Job has learnt his lesson. Asking God questions is fine. But listening to him is essential if he wants to understand God better (v. 4).

THINK

Are you too busy thinking of questions to hear God's anwers?

ENCORE

The story doesn't end with Job saying sorry to God (v.6).l God made it a very happy ending for Job (v. 12)!

PRAY

Help me, Lord, to have a faith that goes on trusting you through thick or thin.

SCENE SEVEN

Setting: A Storm

READ

Job 38: 1-11, 19-21

Asking questions is easy. Answering is usually much harder. And understanding the answer can be almost impossible! Sometimes you just have to believe the expert, even though it doesn't seem to make sense.

That's what God was telling Job (v. 5). After all, He had been there a lot longer than Job had!

THINK

All the time we are accepting things we don't understand. I don't really understand electricity, and I certainly don't understand how my computer works. But I still use them. Fortunately, someone else understands them better than me.

Job was learning the hard way that God knows the best thing for us, even if it is hard to take.

PRAY

. . . for anyone you know who is doubting God's love because of the bad things that have happened to them.

SCENE SIX

THINK

. . . of all the things that had happened to Job. In the end he had lost everything. No wonder he was angry and frustrated (look back at the last scene). But what did he think about God? Had he stopped believing? Had he given up on his faith?

READ

Job 19: 23-27 (Ya, we fast forward to chapter 19)

Job wasn't dead yet, but he wanted to be remembered by more than his name (vv. 23, 24).

He knew that the worst thing that could happen to him would not stop him seeing God (vv. 26, 27). That was more important to him than all the things he had lost.

PRAY

Thank you, Father, that you will still be there, even if I lose everything that matters to me. Help me to follow you whatever happens.

THINK

Job's request was answered (v. 24, 25). We are still reading his words now!

Have you ever done that? If you open a can of drink that's been shaken up, it goes everywhere! You can't keep the pressure in. That's like what happens to Job in the next scene of the play.

SCENE FIVE

Job speaks.

READ

Job 3: 1, 11-26

You can't bottle up the pressure for ever. When things are at their worst, you have to be able to say how you feel. That's why I like this passage! It show that it's all right to be completely honest with God.

Some people think that they can't say these kinds of things to God. Perhaps they think he can't cope! But he is the one person who we can be sure will be able to cope with the way we feel. And anyway, it's pointless hiding it from him - he knows how we feel already!

PRAY

Is there anything which is making you frustrated right now? Tell God how you feel about it.

SCENE THREE

Setting: Behind the scenes.

READ

Job 2: 1-6

There was more happening than Job realised. Satan still didn't believe what God said (v. 3). So once again God gave him permission to test Job.

SCENE FOUR

Setting: The local rubbish heap.

READ

Job 2: 7-10

Job must have felt awful (vv. 7,8). No wonder he went to sit by the rubbish heap!

THINK

What people say can sometimes be even worse than the things we suffer. For example, they may say, "You're still a Christian? God didn't even get you through the exam!" Job's wife didn't seem to be much help (v. 9). But Job's answer was good (v. 10).

READ

Job 2: 11-13

Job's three friends were stuck for words (v. 13). But that can be the best thing of all when someone is suffering. Words don't always help.

PRAY

. . . for someone who is suffering now. You don't have to use lots of words!

When I am a young Christian, I am like most of the youth in our church. At that time, I know nothing about praying in spirit! When people are praying in spirit… I stand straight and dont know what to do, then i notice a lot of peoples was healed physically and spiritually….. But there is an urge in my heart which i wish to be part of them…

So, one day a pastor pray for me (forget who di) in tongue, i feel that my spirit have an urge to pray like the pastor… Then, I let my holy spirit to take control of my mind and my mouth start to flow out tongue like the pastor… This is the first time i pray in tongue…. It is a good experience.

Pray in tongue is a simple and totally a spiritual acts. You can not use your mind to think how you could do that. When you use your mind to think how to speak in tongue what is the following “pronunciation” for my tongue then you are not speaking in tongue…. because speaking in tongue is praying in spirit which is means just let your spirit to speak what He want to speak!! Let your spirit take control then let your mouth flow out what your spirit wish to speak!! It is so simple; nothing complex; just let your holy spirit take control!

 

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Jude 20

Jude encouraged the Christians to build themselves up in the faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. Praying in the Holy Spirit means praying in tongues and speaking the words that the Holy Spirit gives to your spirit-man (1 Cor. 14:2, 14-15). Like an athlete who builds muscles through regular disciplined workout in the gym, a Christian can grow strong spiritually through praying in the Spirit.

What happens when you pray in tongues?

(1) Your prayer becomes Spirit-empowered. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26-27). All believers without the Holy Spirit have the weakness of not knowing how to pray in accordance with God’s will. But the Holy Spirit helps us by praying and interceding through us. This kind of prayer is far above the level of the believer’s own natural understanding or ability.

(2) You refresh yourself. “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). Paul advocated the believers to be constantly fi lled with the Spirit, praying and singing in the Spirit. Praying in tongues can revive that dryness and thirst of the spirit. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

(3) You become spiritually active for battle. Ephesians 6 tells us that the only way to withstand in the evil day is for every Christian to put on the armor of God. For the armor of God to be complete and effective, Paul said that we are to pray always in the spirit. “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:17-18). To live a life of victory, it is inevitable for a believer to discipline and train himself to pray always in the spirit. Take sometime now to focus on the Lord and pray in the spirit.

SCENE TWO

Setting: Job's home.

READ

Job 1: 13-22

DISASTER ONE

Your oxen and donkeys have been stolen! The servants have been killed!

DISASTER TWO

Your sheep and shpehred have been killed!

DISASTER THREE

Your camels and more servants have been killed!


DISASTER FOUR

Your children have been killed!

THINK

Was Satan right? Did Job give up on God when things went wrong? Find out from verses 21 and 22.

SCENE ONE

READ

Job 1: 6-10

Job didn't know it, but he was about to become the centre of attention.


But let's find out what was going on behind the scenes . . .

Satan, God's enemy, once one of God's best angels, couldn't believe that Job could be loyal to God no matter what happened to him. He told God that Job was in it just for what he got out of it (v.9). When things began to go wrong, Job would soon forget God.


Not surprisingly, God knew better! So he gave Satan permission to find out. But he also put a limit on what Satan could do to Job (v. 12)

THINK

Are people really as selfish as Satan said? Try to think of people you know who are generous to other people. You could be an example of one yourself!

PRAY

Dear God, please help me to serve you because I love you, and not just for what you give me. Amen.

Chorus:

But the voice of truth tells me a different story

The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant

With just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors

Shaking in their armor

Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name

And he laughs at me

Reminding me of all the times

I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me

Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"

"You'll never win!"

Bridge:

But the stone was just the right size

To put the giant on the ground

And the waves they don't seem so high

From on top of them looking down

I will soar with the wings of eagles

When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus

Singing over me

Hey everybody! If you are following the reading chart, you should be reading the book of Job. Thought I should write something about this book. I came across these articles from a bible study book by Scripture Union. So . . . .

Some people think that the book of Job is more like a drama than a story. In fact, it was once produced as a radio play. It's all about one of the hardest questions people ever ask.

Why do bad things happen to people? Why do good people suffer? why does God allow terrible things to happen? Well, Job is about all of these things. And it's not just theory, either. It's the story of a man who loved God, and how he felt when suffering came along.

Reading Job probably won't answer all your questions. But it will help you to understand a bit more. So, settle back in your seat . . . the play is about to begin!

THE CAST

Let's start with the main character - we'll meet the others later.

READ

Job 1: 1-5

Job was one of the richest man in the East. He seemed to have it all. He was rich (v.3). He had more animals and servants than anyone else. And he had a wonderful family (v. 4). Most important of all, he was a good man who worshipped God (v. 1)

THINK

It's easy to forget God when things are going well. But Job didn't. Even though he was rich, he wasn't too proud to say sorry to God. In fact, he even said sorry for what other people had done (v. 5)!

PRAY

Follow Job's example - say thank you and sorry to God.

Hi everybody!

Have been missing for some time from this blog! How is your journalling getting on? I did not get any comments from you all concerning the Songs of Solomon. Looks like Chee Foo's cakes have got us all carried away - Too fooled (or is it too full).

Just want your feedback. We finish the Songs of Solomon today and tomorrow we should begin on Job. Would you like me to photocopy the Revolve (New Century Version BibleZine) on the book of Job? Give me your comments. Thanks.

Last Sunday Ps. Henry and I attended the 4oth anniversary of Canaan church, our home church. It was a nosthalgic and overwhelming experience to see the first and second generations side by side passionately and enthusiastically serving God. One father was the organizing chairman, while the son was the M.C. Another father and son team up to worship lead. My sister introduced us, while her two sons are actively serving in the working committee. The list goes on . . .

Hey, guys! It is wonderful to see the baton passing on to the next generation. Will you stretch out your hand as the baton is passed on to you? Rise up! Rise up! You people of POWER!

Good devotion words for you all!!! Transfer from Kong Hee blogs!  Youth, you can discover your dream talent and etc in the church! Do spent time to read it……

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! Psalm 84:1

Psalm 84 was written by the sons of Asaph, who were the youth serving in the temple. The psalm portrays the type of young people God wants to raise up today—youth who are passionate for the house of the Lord. The sons of Asaph are saying in this psalm, “We love church; it is the most exciting place for us to be in!” You should seek to cultivate that same appreciation for God’s presence in your life. You should look forward to every church service with great anticipation. The youth longed for God’s presence so much that it consumed their hearts: “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my fl esh cry out for the living God” (84:2).

The house of the Lord is a dream center. “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God” (84:3). It is a place where your “dream eggs” can be hatched. Even the most insignificant person (symbolized by the sparrow) can receive visions for his life in the presence of the Lord.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage” (84:5). One of the most precious truths of your faith is that you can partake of God’s divine strength. Paul writes in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” But that power is reserved exclusively for those whose hearts are set on following Jesus’ footsteps.

“As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools” (Ps. 84:6). As you journey with the Lord, you will discover that the way of the cross can be really tough. Baca is the Hebrew word for “sorrow.” Yet even in the lowest pit of sorrow, God will pour the rain of His Holy Spirit upon you (84:6). His presence and His power will overwhelm you. “They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion” (84:7). God uses the storms of life to lift you from one level of glory to another. And as you gain new heights every day, you will ascend to the glory of spiritual Mount Zion. Both the Septuagint andLatin Vulgate translate the second half of verse 7 as “the God of gods shall be seen.” That means that the glory of the Lord will be manifested through you. All these are promised to those who are passionately in love with the house of the Lord; not to casual, lukewarm believers. It will happen for those who say, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (84:10).