On Friday night, a group of about ten of us gathered at Sean and Jen’s home for a night of ministry on the streets of Mount Joy. We began with a time of prayer and listening to what God was saying. During this time of listening, Kathleen had the idea to go to a certain shop in Mount Joy. When she later shared this idea, Bonnie said that she had heard the name of the shop’s owner. That was a neat confirmation of God’s leading! Jen also received the name of an individual she didn’t know.
After the prayer time, we split into three teams. One stayed at the Achey’s to intercede, while the other two teams hit the streets! One team visited the shop to which the Lord had directed us. Kathleen had the chance to talk to the owner and bless her. Meanwhile, Jason and I met a mutual friend outside of the shop. She introduced us to two of her grandchildren and we realized that her grandson’s name was the name given to Jen during our prayer time! We got to talk to him and although he didn’t want us to pray with him, we prayed for him as we continued to walk. We are thanking the Lord for the way He moved in that situation to bring us together and move us to pray!
After talking to this family, Jason prayed for a man who had a knee injury. By the end of their interaction, the man’s knee was completely healed! Meanwhile, on the other team, Josiah was praying for another man who had problems with his feet. He also experienced God’s healing! Praise the Lord!
Back at the house, the intercession team received a number of words and pictures. One person saw the picture of a boat slowly turning. We later realized that the town of Mount Joy was named after a boat. The sense was that the boat was a symbol of the town and that although it was turning slowly, it was turning at the right speed. Another word that was received was that there are “Josephs” in this area. Considering the impact that Joseph had on the world of his day, this is very exciting!
We all returned to the Achey’s home around 9:00pm to share stories and testimonies. The intercession team also shared words that were given for the individual members of the ministry teams. All in all, the night was very encouraging and fun! We praise God for all that He did and is doing among us! May He continue to be glorified in this place!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Firestarters Lead Hinkletown Mennonite Church Worship Retreat - By Jen Achey
We were excited to have the opportunity to lead a worship retreat for Hinkletown Mennonite Church this weekend. The retreat was from May 15-17. It was at a beautiful cabin in a place called Waterloo.
The theme of the weekend was "A New Thing" and the theme verse was Isaiah 43:19. Jen did most of the teaching for a change since she is a worship leader and this retreat was focused on worship. She taught a lot about being ready to perceive the new things God is doing, about recognizing and learning from what God has done, but not getting so stuck there that we miss what God is doing right now. We dove into the context surrounding our theme verse to see these very concepts clearly spoken in this prophecy.
Jen taught about various spiritual aspects of worship leading and team leading. She also taught on practical things like music theory, team dynamics, and "techie stuff" like sound systems and projectors (Sean led that part!)...
Then on Saturday night we had a time of "hands on" learning and experience in "Inspirational worship". Everyone in the group got a chance to do something new and perform it for the rest of the group to inspire others to worship. It was fun!
Sunday morning was our last session and Sean spoke about God's ramah and logos words. We ended with a time of inspirational worship and individual listening for God's ramah words. Then we went around the group and welcomed everyone to share any ramah words God spoke to them during that time. Every single person in the group shared a ramah word God had given them. Some of the words were significantly life changing and led to release of spiritual gifts. There was ministry and prayer and a wonderfully sweet spirit there that morning.
We left encouraged about the good work God did in and through us this weekend and we also were glad for the new friendships we formed!
The theme of the weekend was "A New Thing" and the theme verse was Isaiah 43:19. Jen did most of the teaching for a change since she is a worship leader and this retreat was focused on worship. She taught a lot about being ready to perceive the new things God is doing, about recognizing and learning from what God has done, but not getting so stuck there that we miss what God is doing right now. We dove into the context surrounding our theme verse to see these very concepts clearly spoken in this prophecy.
Jen taught about various spiritual aspects of worship leading and team leading. She also taught on practical things like music theory, team dynamics, and "techie stuff" like sound systems and projectors (Sean led that part!)...
Then on Saturday night we had a time of "hands on" learning and experience in "Inspirational worship". Everyone in the group got a chance to do something new and perform it for the rest of the group to inspire others to worship. It was fun!
Sunday morning was our last session and Sean spoke about God's ramah and logos words. We ended with a time of inspirational worship and individual listening for God's ramah words. Then we went around the group and welcomed everyone to share any ramah words God spoke to them during that time. Every single person in the group shared a ramah word God had given them. Some of the words were significantly life changing and led to release of spiritual gifts. There was ministry and prayer and a wonderfully sweet spirit there that morning.
We left encouraged about the good work God did in and through us this weekend and we also were glad for the new friendships we formed!
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Fire Station ~ By Alicia Kanode
We gathered together on Friday night for the last Fire Station at the Upper Room. We had another wonderful time of worship! Jen encouraged us to let go of all the things we were carrying from the week and to just focus on God and on worshiping Him. There was a wonderful atmosphere of freedom as we all came before the Lord together!
Sean then spoke briefly from 1 Kings 18, which is the theme passage for Firestarters. The chapter tells the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, when he built an altar and asked the Lord to send the fire. Sean commented on verse 33, where Elijah says to the people, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." They did so three times - and this was during a drought! Sean said that sometimes we need to lay it all on the table, holding nothing back. "Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench" (verse 38). Sean said that when the fire of God comes, it comes not just to take the "sacrifice" - whatever we are offering - but to take it all! He also said that when we make room for Him, God wants to show up!
After Sean shared, he invited anyone who was there to give testimonies of how God had met them through Firestarters. There were numerous testimonies of healings, financial provision, release in worship, etc. Dean Benner, owner of the Upper Room, also shared what a blessing it has been to him and his family to have been able to host the Fire Station in their building for the past nine months. We are very grateful to them for allowing us to use their facility and especially to God for meeting us in this place every time we have gathered to worship Him!
Even though the Fire Station, in its current form, is now ending, we are excited to see what else God has in store as we seek to keep in step with His Spirit!
Sean then spoke briefly from 1 Kings 18, which is the theme passage for Firestarters. The chapter tells the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, when he built an altar and asked the Lord to send the fire. Sean commented on verse 33, where Elijah says to the people, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." They did so three times - and this was during a drought! Sean said that sometimes we need to lay it all on the table, holding nothing back. "Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench" (verse 38). Sean said that when the fire of God comes, it comes not just to take the "sacrifice" - whatever we are offering - but to take it all! He also said that when we make room for Him, God wants to show up!
After Sean shared, he invited anyone who was there to give testimonies of how God had met them through Firestarters. There were numerous testimonies of healings, financial provision, release in worship, etc. Dean Benner, owner of the Upper Room, also shared what a blessing it has been to him and his family to have been able to host the Fire Station in their building for the past nine months. We are very grateful to them for allowing us to use their facility and especially to God for meeting us in this place every time we have gathered to worship Him!
Even though the Fire Station, in its current form, is now ending, we are excited to see what else God has in store as we seek to keep in step with His Spirit!
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Fire Station - By Joanie Nissley
Breakthrough, deliverance, testimonies, intimacy with God...that's what this Fire Station was about! During worship, there was a time of sitting at Jesus' feet, seeking him, and receiving his love and grace washing over us. Some had a picture of a river flowing all around us, or sitting under a waterfall, letting the water rain on us. It was an intimate experience with God and we were touched by His manifest presence.
Jason shared a testimony of praying for someone at Lowe's who had arthritis in her knee, and she experienced God's goodness and His healing touch! We are witnesses to healings that happen at Fire Station and want to take it out to others around us, wherever we go.
Sean taught on unbelief, which is a lack of faith, trust and obedience. Belief is the exact opposite. Almost all of us have some kind of unbelief, and you may even be believing that God will do something for others, but not for you. There are two types of unbelief. First of all, unbelief that is without expectation; looking at the logical and not experience. The second type is unbelief that has expectation, and having a desire to believe. (like in Mark 9: 17 -24 where the father of a demon possessed boy told Jesus 'I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.') Unbelief with expectation leads to an experience with God. The world is ready for people who live what the Bible says! Let's take God at His Word!
Jason shared a testimony of praying for someone at Lowe's who had arthritis in her knee, and she experienced God's goodness and His healing touch! We are witnesses to healings that happen at Fire Station and want to take it out to others around us, wherever we go.
Sean taught on unbelief, which is a lack of faith, trust and obedience. Belief is the exact opposite. Almost all of us have some kind of unbelief, and you may even be believing that God will do something for others, but not for you. There are two types of unbelief. First of all, unbelief that is without expectation; looking at the logical and not experience. The second type is unbelief that has expectation, and having a desire to believe. (like in Mark 9: 17 -24 where the father of a demon possessed boy told Jesus 'I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.') Unbelief with expectation leads to an experience with God. The world is ready for people who live what the Bible says! Let's take God at His Word!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Fire Station ~ By Alicia Kanode
We experienced an amazing time of worship led by Jen and the band on Friday night! God’s Presence was real among us and He spoke to a number of us. As Karen said later, Worship is just enjoying God’s Presence, which is what we were doing! Sean said he knew God was smiling down on us!
After this intense time of worship, Karen spoke to us about Finding Joy in the Face of God. She shared that during worship she had seen an open heaven and a horse and rider coming on a cloud with the angels behind them. The rider was holding a banner, but it was folded. The Lord said to her, “I am the Banner who goes out before you.” She asked Him why the banner was not unfolded and He said that it would be unfolded as we receive it.
As Karen spoke about joy, she reminded us that it is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Some synonyms for joy: Bliss, celebration, delight, happiness, rejoicing – all words that convey a sense of freedom! His exceeding joy is our strength! Karen brought up many good points…Here are a few:
If there’s fear, you’re listening to the wrong voice.
We were created for the purpose of intimacy (Psalm 139). God wants to restore the intimate relationship that He had with Adam.
We will encounter God to the degree that we open our heart to Him.
Spending time in God’s Word, fellowship and prayer are all forms of worship. Worship is the way to God’s heart.
Whatever we focus on will consume us.
Wherever He has Lordship, His Kingdom has come.
When the anointing of the Spirit comes, all things are possible and no sacrifice is too big.
We need to be living from the realm of what we know is true. Faith is not what is, what is promised.
What does the face of God look like to you? ...
Jesus is the face of God.
Karen shared many other things as well, but these were some highlights! Afterward she, Jen and Sean prayed for various people for breakthrough and healing, while various band members led in worship. Thank You, Father, for all that you did and are doing among us!
After this intense time of worship, Karen spoke to us about Finding Joy in the Face of God. She shared that during worship she had seen an open heaven and a horse and rider coming on a cloud with the angels behind them. The rider was holding a banner, but it was folded. The Lord said to her, “I am the Banner who goes out before you.” She asked Him why the banner was not unfolded and He said that it would be unfolded as we receive it.
As Karen spoke about joy, she reminded us that it is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Some synonyms for joy: Bliss, celebration, delight, happiness, rejoicing – all words that convey a sense of freedom! His exceeding joy is our strength! Karen brought up many good points…Here are a few:
If there’s fear, you’re listening to the wrong voice.
We were created for the purpose of intimacy (Psalm 139). God wants to restore the intimate relationship that He had with Adam.
We will encounter God to the degree that we open our heart to Him.
Spending time in God’s Word, fellowship and prayer are all forms of worship. Worship is the way to God’s heart.
Whatever we focus on will consume us.
Wherever He has Lordship, His Kingdom has come.
When the anointing of the Spirit comes, all things are possible and no sacrifice is too big.
We need to be living from the realm of what we know is true. Faith is not what is, what is promised.
What does the face of God look like to you? ...
Jesus is the face of God.
Karen shared many other things as well, but these were some highlights! Afterward she, Jen and Sean prayed for various people for breakthrough and healing, while various band members led in worship. Thank You, Father, for all that you did and are doing among us!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Fire Station ~ By Alicia Kanode
Deanna led us in worship on Friday night, singing amazing songs like “God of this City,” “Consuming Fire,” and one she wrote herself called “Prepare.” We are continually blessed by the new worship songs that God is birthing among us! We truly believe that “greater things have yet to come,” as Chris Tomlin says in “God of this City.” After worship, a couple people shared pictures and words that they felt the Lord gave to them, as well as numerous testimonies of healing and of God’s goodness!
Then Sean and Jen led a Question and Answer time, during which anyone could ask questions about revival, healing, deliverance or the gifts of the Spirit. We ended up focusing mostly on healing and spiritual gifts. A number of questions were asked and answered. I will try to summarize some of those as best as I can.
Q: Why doesn’t everyone get healed?
A: We don’t always know. We do know that everyone who came to Jesus was healed. There are numerous examples of this, including Matthew 8:16 and Luke 4:40. However, there were also times when a lack of faith prevented this: “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith” – Mark 6:5-6, NIV). Sometimes, but NOT always, sin issues prevent healing. Other times, it may be that we simply have not pressed in enough. Jen shared a story from Mozambique where God told someone to go and pray for a person who had died. They were raised from the dead – after seven or eight hours of prayer! How often do we continue to pray until we see the answer? Jen said, “When I see it [healing, answer to prayer], I’ll praise God. When I don’t see it, I’ll keep pressing in.”
Q: How should we respond to friends, especially unbelievers, who have lost loved ones and are looking to us for answers?
A: Jen pointed out that when something bad happens, we tend to point at God, but we don’t often acknowledge Him for all the good things in our lives. We often hone in on one difficulty, instead of seeing the good. None of us would even be alive without God giving us breath. She also said that our friends don’t always need the “right” answers as much as they need to see God’s loving care in us. Sean talked about how God gave us the ability to choose between Him and evil. Sometimes there are natural consequences – either from our actions or the actions of others. As Sean said, if God had taken away our ability to choose evil, He would also have removed our ability to choose Him. Finally, Jen shared a revelation that God had given her, that death is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a person. She told us about one of the Firestarters board members who lost both her husband and son. As she was heavily grieving, her son actually appeared to her and told her, “Mommy, stop calling me back! I love it here!”
Q: You seem to say that anything bad is from the devil. What is the difference between what you are teaching and prosperity theology? How do we classify what is “bad”?
A: Jen said that many people accept any hard situation, illness, etc. as being “God working” in them. She referred to this as a fatalistic mindset. She also said that because many people don’t see healing, they try to create a theology to explain why. Her take is that if our experience level doesn’t match a Biblical level, we still need to keep our theology at a Biblical level. As she has done that, she has seen her level of experience rise. However, she was quick to say that not everything is a demon and mentioned how sometimes when she prays, “God, heal me,” she gets a response like, “You’re not taking care of yourself.” Sometimes, there is a demonic attack that we need to rebuke and sometimes there is a natural cause that we need to address through lifestyle change, etc. Jen and Sean clarified that they do not believe in some of the extremes taught as prosperity theology, but they also want to leave behind a poverty mindset. As believers, we are to set our standards high – “Our Father in heaven…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10, NIV).
Other questions dealt with the gifts of healing and prophecy. After the discussion was brought to a close, Sean and Jen offered a time of prayer and personal ministry for anyone who wanted it. God truly used the evening to bring truth and build faith! Praise Him!
Then Sean and Jen led a Question and Answer time, during which anyone could ask questions about revival, healing, deliverance or the gifts of the Spirit. We ended up focusing mostly on healing and spiritual gifts. A number of questions were asked and answered. I will try to summarize some of those as best as I can.
Q: Why doesn’t everyone get healed?
A: We don’t always know. We do know that everyone who came to Jesus was healed. There are numerous examples of this, including Matthew 8:16 and Luke 4:40. However, there were also times when a lack of faith prevented this: “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith” – Mark 6:5-6, NIV). Sometimes, but NOT always, sin issues prevent healing. Other times, it may be that we simply have not pressed in enough. Jen shared a story from Mozambique where God told someone to go and pray for a person who had died. They were raised from the dead – after seven or eight hours of prayer! How often do we continue to pray until we see the answer? Jen said, “When I see it [healing, answer to prayer], I’ll praise God. When I don’t see it, I’ll keep pressing in.”
Q: How should we respond to friends, especially unbelievers, who have lost loved ones and are looking to us for answers?
A: Jen pointed out that when something bad happens, we tend to point at God, but we don’t often acknowledge Him for all the good things in our lives. We often hone in on one difficulty, instead of seeing the good. None of us would even be alive without God giving us breath. She also said that our friends don’t always need the “right” answers as much as they need to see God’s loving care in us. Sean talked about how God gave us the ability to choose between Him and evil. Sometimes there are natural consequences – either from our actions or the actions of others. As Sean said, if God had taken away our ability to choose evil, He would also have removed our ability to choose Him. Finally, Jen shared a revelation that God had given her, that death is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a person. She told us about one of the Firestarters board members who lost both her husband and son. As she was heavily grieving, her son actually appeared to her and told her, “Mommy, stop calling me back! I love it here!”
Q: You seem to say that anything bad is from the devil. What is the difference between what you are teaching and prosperity theology? How do we classify what is “bad”?
A: Jen said that many people accept any hard situation, illness, etc. as being “God working” in them. She referred to this as a fatalistic mindset. She also said that because many people don’t see healing, they try to create a theology to explain why. Her take is that if our experience level doesn’t match a Biblical level, we still need to keep our theology at a Biblical level. As she has done that, she has seen her level of experience rise. However, she was quick to say that not everything is a demon and mentioned how sometimes when she prays, “God, heal me,” she gets a response like, “You’re not taking care of yourself.” Sometimes, there is a demonic attack that we need to rebuke and sometimes there is a natural cause that we need to address through lifestyle change, etc. Jen and Sean clarified that they do not believe in some of the extremes taught as prosperity theology, but they also want to leave behind a poverty mindset. As believers, we are to set our standards high – “Our Father in heaven…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10, NIV).
Other questions dealt with the gifts of healing and prophecy. After the discussion was brought to a close, Sean and Jen offered a time of prayer and personal ministry for anyone who wanted it. God truly used the evening to bring truth and build faith! Praise Him!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Fire Station ~ By Diane Kanode
WORSHIP, AUTHORITY & POWER
Worship, worship, worship…sing praises to our Lord! Worship of the Lord at Fire Station is deep, pure and free. God is constantly surprising us with new songs and gifts to give back to Him. How awesome and mighty is our God! We are so excited to see God constantly bringing new people to join us each time as well as many who return regularly to get “fired up” for God!
We received teaching on Friday from Jason Nissley about our God-given authority, our legal right in Christ to use this authority and our responsibility to ask and call forth the will of God. We are to press into God, agree with the reality of what is true in heaven and understand that our circumstances can rise to those in the heavenlies! To do this, we must renew our minds, change the way we think, remove the lies and allow God to bring revelation and revolution to our hearts and minds.
We need to understand who Jesus is and who we are in Him. We are to proclaim the kingdom of heaven and destroy the works of the devil. God’s desire is for us to continue the works of Jesus through His Spirit, to pray His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! We need to listen for the Father’s voice and do the things we see the Father doing, just as Jesus did when He was on earth. We are kings and priests and need to walk in the authority and power of our inheritance through Christ. We are Christ’s ambassadors appointed to declare His will. We are mandated to use Jesus’ authority and power to advance and enforce the Kingdom of God.
We need to break any agreements we have made with Satan with regards to sickness, depression, worry, lies, etc. We need to combat his lies with God’s Word of Truth. We must ask God to change the way we think, help us to walk in the truth and turn away from sin. We must focus on the truth of God versus the natural reality that our eyes see. We need to live from the unseen realm. Faith takes and believes what is our legal right in Christ. Faith is the avenue that brings the realities of heaven to earth.
After receiving this teaching from Jason, Sean led us to take authority in prayer for the areas of our lives where we have given Satan access, authority and/or have agreed with his lies. He declared that Christians were never designed to live under bondage, but should have lives that show forth the evidence of God’s Kingdom at work. All were invited to come up for prayer, as they felt led.
How amazing it is that He, the God and Creator of the universe, loves us so intensely and has given us authority to continue the ministry of His Son on earth.
Worship, worship, worship…sing praises to our Lord! Worship of the Lord at Fire Station is deep, pure and free. God is constantly surprising us with new songs and gifts to give back to Him. How awesome and mighty is our God! We are so excited to see God constantly bringing new people to join us each time as well as many who return regularly to get “fired up” for God!
We received teaching on Friday from Jason Nissley about our God-given authority, our legal right in Christ to use this authority and our responsibility to ask and call forth the will of God. We are to press into God, agree with the reality of what is true in heaven and understand that our circumstances can rise to those in the heavenlies! To do this, we must renew our minds, change the way we think, remove the lies and allow God to bring revelation and revolution to our hearts and minds.
We need to understand who Jesus is and who we are in Him. We are to proclaim the kingdom of heaven and destroy the works of the devil. God’s desire is for us to continue the works of Jesus through His Spirit, to pray His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! We need to listen for the Father’s voice and do the things we see the Father doing, just as Jesus did when He was on earth. We are kings and priests and need to walk in the authority and power of our inheritance through Christ. We are Christ’s ambassadors appointed to declare His will. We are mandated to use Jesus’ authority and power to advance and enforce the Kingdom of God.
We need to break any agreements we have made with Satan with regards to sickness, depression, worry, lies, etc. We need to combat his lies with God’s Word of Truth. We must ask God to change the way we think, help us to walk in the truth and turn away from sin. We must focus on the truth of God versus the natural reality that our eyes see. We need to live from the unseen realm. Faith takes and believes what is our legal right in Christ. Faith is the avenue that brings the realities of heaven to earth.
After receiving this teaching from Jason, Sean led us to take authority in prayer for the areas of our lives where we have given Satan access, authority and/or have agreed with his lies. He declared that Christians were never designed to live under bondage, but should have lives that show forth the evidence of God’s Kingdom at work. All were invited to come up for prayer, as they felt led.
How amazing it is that He, the God and Creator of the universe, loves us so intensely and has given us authority to continue the ministry of His Son on earth.
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