Billy Burns Ministries

Maximizing Your Ministry

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Have you noticed how watching just a few minutes of the local and national news programs can leave a person feeling depressed and fearful? After watching Charlie Gibson on ABC's World News Tonight, I asked Vickie, "Isn't there any good news to report?" The media’s cry of recession and gloom can leave a person feeling so helpless.

What is my answer to their report? I refuse to become fearful. If there is a recession, I have chosen to not participate in it. Instead of being fearful, I have chosen to maximize life. I have chosen to consciously examine how to maximize my money, time, and resources. It's too easy to be wasteful with what we possess. By maximizing, I can get the most for my money, accomplish more in the same amount of time, and do more with the same amount of fuel. By maximizing, recession is a non-issue!

Have you ever stopped to examine whether or not that you are maximizing your ministry? Each week, we have an allotted amount of time to impact children's lives. For many children, the 60 or 90 minutes that we have with them is the only ministry that they receive all week.

How can we maximize our ministry? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 14:2.

“For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].” (The Amplified Translation)

As we prepare throughout the week looking for new, fresh ways to communicate the Gospel, we can maximize our efforts by praying in our heavenly prayer language. By praying in a language that bypasses your mind, the Holy Spirit is enabling you to pray divine secrets (Moffatt translation) that brings heaven into the preparation process. The Holy Spirit is helping you to pray by giving you utterance in your spirit, utterances that the devil can’t understand or prepare to thwart.

Can you see how this opens up a whole new dimension of preparation? The mysteries (KJV) spoken from your spirit are opening the door for God to prepare you and the children for His Spirit to manifest. Your limitations are pushed aside. Your creativity is heavenly enhanced. Your anointing is increased. The children are prepared for the upcoming ministry. By taking advantage of this maximizer, the fruit of your preparation will grow exponentially.

Ignite Conference Registration Web Discount

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:29:00 +0000

I trust that you are making plans to attend the 2009 Ignite the Supernatural Conference. I guarantee that there isn't another conference like this in the nation. We are expecting children's ministry leaders and volunteers from around the globe to gather for a time of impartation, revelation, and refreshing. In looking at the listing of speakers and workshop titles/descriptions, you'll want to start packing your bags now. Take a minute and go to www.ignite-conference.com and I believe that you will register today!

Here is a one-time, internet-only special for those registering by midnight (Eastern Standard Time) on Sunday, November 16th ...

25% off of the published registration price

To receive this special price, enter the coupon code: BLOG.

The Holy Spirit on Assignment - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:58:00 +0000

Confession time ... one of my greatest frustrations each week is that I want to communicate my passion for the Holy Spirit and help enable children's ministry leaders to know Him and flow together with Him and yet I know that people's reading capacity can't keep up with the level of my passion. I could write pages and pages each week and just scratch the surface of what I want to communicate. I guess that my only recourse is to get to work on the books that I have hidden inside of me. I would LOVE to have one or two published by the 2009 Ignite the Supernatural Conference in February.

I concluded last week's blog promising that I would continue discussing the assignment of the Holy Spirit in the next posting. Before I continue, let me direct you to two previous posts that show other portions of the Holy Spirit's portfolio. They are a part of a teaching that I do in our conferences under the The Holy Spirit on Assignment teaching. Please take a few minutes and read the post on August 10, 2008 Lessons from a Gardener and the August 5, 2008 post The Holy Spirit Will Show You Things to Come.

Here's a way to ease my frustration and still be somewhat brief. I won't share the teaching on each portion of His portfolio. Rather, I will share the list that I use in my teaching and supporting scripture and allow you to complete the teaching yourself. Hopefully, I will have this teaching available by CD (this will include the audio teaching, my teaching notes, and a handout for your students) in a few weeks.

As you and I learn to commune with the Holy Spirit and learn the importance of praying in our heavenly prayer language, the Holy Spirit will be allowed to fulfill His assignment. He will:

Prepare you for the ministry. Jude 20 (See last week's blog)
Prepare the children for your ministry. Romans 8:26 (See the Aug. 10, 2008 blog)
Be your co-teacher. John 14:26
Be your guide. John 16:13 (See the Aug. 5, 2008 blog)
Be your super-charger, super-energizer. Acts 1:8
Be your prayer limit breaker. 1 Corinthians 14:2, 14

The Holy Spirit on Assignment - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:26:00 +0000

As I travel and teach in our Ignite & Unite Conferences, I LOVE teaching about working together with the Holy Spirit and seeing children's ministry workers begin to understand how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. For far too long, we haven't understood that the Holy Spirit was sent to this earth with an assignment. He isn't just biding time until Jesus returns. This Paraclete (the One who has been assigned to walk alongside us) is looking for opportunities to manifest His presence and power in us and through us. He has been assigned to each and every one of us to enable us to fulfill our God-given assignments.

This week, allow me to briefly share His first assignment in those of us who work in children's ministry ... the Holy Spirit is assigned to prepare us for the ministry that is set before us.

Every great athlete knows the value of preparing their body before they attempt their physical feat. Before competing in a race, you will see the athlete bending, twisting, and loosening up their body. Why? They know the importance of having a body ready for the upcoming race. Every great vocalist knows the value of preparing their voice before they walk onto the platform to sing. Why? They know that the greatest performance will come as their vocal chords are warmed up.

Sadly, many children's workers have failed to learn this lesson. They haven't learned that just being animated and having a war chest of brilliant ideas aren't enough. These alone won't produce lasting fruit. Preparation isn't complete until the Holy Spirit is allowed to prepare us for what God has prepared for that time of ministry.

How is this accomplished? As we pray in our heavenly prayer language throughout the week, we are working together with the Holy Spirit as He builds us up (Jude 20) and edifies us (1 Corinthians 14:4) preparing us for the ministry task that lies ahead of us. Each time of praying in tongues fortifies our inner man. The end result is that we walk into the ministry session fully prepared, Satan is pushing his panic button, and great results are just minutes away!

I'll continue this next week with the next assignment of the Holy Spirit … the Holy Spirit is assigned to prepare the children for the upcoming ministry.

Lord, Send Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:10:00 +0000

Let me set the scene ...

> The nation's focus centered on its bleak economy after a stock market crash.
> The failure of several banks and transportation systems pointed towards an economic meltdown.
> Living conditions were deteriorating.
> Unemployment was rampant.
> Poverty was everywhere.
> The political scene was in turmoil.

Does it sound like current headlines from the USA Today newspaper? The list shown above actually reflected America's headlines in the fall of 1857.

What was the answer to virtual collapse of a nation? One man named Jeremiah Lamphier began to pray.

Rather than recount the story, allow me to share the following couple of paragraphs from Wesley Duewal's Revival Fire (Zondervan Publishing House).

"Lamphier felt led by God to start a noon-time weekly prayer meeting in which business people could meet for prayer. Anyone could attend, for a few minutes or for the entire hour. Prayers were to be comparatively brief. Lamphier's group met on the third floor of the old North Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street in New York. Lamphier printed some handbills announcing the prayer meetings with the title, "How Often Should I Pray?" He left these in some offices and warehouses. He also put one on the door of the church on the street side.

The first day, September 23, 1857, Lamphier prayed alone for half an hour. But by the end of the hour, six men from at least four denominational backgrounds joined him. The next Wednesday there were twenty. On October 7 there were nearly forty. The meeting was so blessed that they decided to meet daily. One week later there were over one hundred present, including many unsaved who were convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sin."

What was the end result? Revival spread across our nation. What began in New York began to spread across our nation. Soon, noon prayer meetings sprang up all across America. God was on the move once again in America. As many as 50,000 people a week were being converted.

What happened 151 years ago can happen again. It doesn't take a committee. It doesn't take a denomination. It only takes one desperate, passionate person to ignite a fire that will spread across a nation and bring a much needed move of God's Spirit.

Will you be the one?

The Prerequisite of Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:34:00 +0000

I stumbled across a quote that is so timely for those pursuing a move of God. It would be good to copy, paste, and send this on to fellow Igniters.

Robert Sample wrote in an article entitled "Effective Preaching" in The Presbyterian and Reformed Review in April 1897:

"The great want of today is a holier ministry. We do not need more stalwart polemics (the art or practice of arguing passionately and strongly for or against something), more mighty apologists, or preachers who compass a wider range of natural knowledge, important as these are; but men of God who bring the atmosphere of heaven with them into the pulpit and speak from the borders of another world."

This doesn't sound like the words from one who picked up a curriculum or lesson plan just before entering into the classroom, does it? This doesn't sound like the words from one who relied just upon giftings, talents, or abilities, does it?

My prayer today is that I bring into each ministry opportunity the atmosphere of heaven. My cry is that each ministry opportunity carries the voice of one speaking from the borders of another world. Selah.

A Suggestion

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:30:00 +0000

After reading through my 60+ blog entries you will find that 90% are my insights about revival and flowing in the supernatural, 5% tell of upcoming conferences, and 5% are pictures and updates about the Burns family.

This week, allow me to digress from my usual format and use this entry to make a suggestion. If you have not done so, purchase and read Rick Renner's The Dynamic Duo: The Holy Spirit and You. In reading my blogs or attending our Ignite Conferences, you've heard me say that the Holy Spirit will never be real through you until He is real to you. Renner's Dynamic Duo is one of the greatest resources for assisting the reader to develop an intimate, working relationship with the Holy Spirit. The book is filled with great illustrations and helpful insights from the New Testament's original Greek language. After reading the book, I guarantee that you will write me to thank me for my recommendation. The book is available at many Christian bookstores or through our website www.billyburnsministries.com.

The 2009 Ignite the Supernatural Conference Update

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:23:00 +0000

The website for the 2009 national Ignite the Supernatural Conference is up and running. In placing the listing of the speakers and workshop descriptions/schedules on the site, I wanted February 5 - 7, 2009 to be here right now! I am so honored to have Mark Harper, Esther Ilnisky, Pat Holland, and Grant Foster to minister alongside Vickie and me.

This conference is a gathering of dissatisfied, desperate, daring, and determined children's ministry leaders and workers who realize that there must be more to children's ministry than fun games and good stories. From around the globe, Holy Spirit Igniters will gather in Orlando on February 5 - 7 for an impartation and revelation that will forever change them, their ministries and children.

3 days of learning to flow together with the Holy Spirit
24 Workshops * 5 General Sessions
Senior Pastors Come Free!

Take a couple of minutes to visit the website and you will quickly agree with me when I guarantee that there is not another conference like Ignite in the nation! At www.ignite-conference.com you will discover a listing of the speakers, workshop titles and discriptions, costs, etc. You can even download the conference brochure and then distribute it to your children's ministry staff. Even better, print out several copies, those for your staff and one for your senior pastor. Visit our website to see how your pastor and spouse can have free registration.

Hurry. The very best individual and group registration rates are in effect right now!

The Key to Longevity - Connect!

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:14:00 +0000

Here is an observation from 29+ years of children's ministry. Many children's workers fail to make it for the long haul. The children's ministry grave yard is filled with the remains of those who passed from the scene with little fanfare. Their departure was as pronounced as their time of ministry. No one knew that they were there or that they left.

Why am I still around? How have I eluded the children's ministry graveyard? Early in my ministry I learned this secret ... I need you. I learned that my survival is contingent upon my reminding myself that I am utterly and helplessly incomplete without you!

Have you ever noticed that we are called the Body of Christ and not the cell of Christ? When I stand and function alone, I am merely a disconnected cell. The disconnected cell has no source of outside strength and nutrients to draw from. By only drawing from the limited resources within itself, the disconnected, isolated cell is doomed to a short lifespan. It is only when the cells (that's you and me) are interwoven and connected that the Body is formed and able to function and survive.

Sadly, so many children’s ministry workers feel so disconnected and alone. The size of the church or the children’s ministry has no bearing on this situation. It is possible and probable that an individual can operate in a multi-person children’s ministry staff and feel as though that they are merely someone filling a gap in the organizational chart.

Come on, let’s connect. There are fellow children's ministry workers working alongside of you in your church or in your area that needs more than an occasional passing greeting. They need to draw from the giftings, talents, and anointing that resides within you. And, in turn, you will benefit from the deposit that God has placed within them.

Come on, let’s be purposeful and intentional. Relationships often aren’t convenient. Someone (that’s you) has to take the initiative to pick up the telephone and call. It takes someone to offer to make time to get together for coffee or a meal.

Come on, let’s change the isolationalist mentality of the children’s ministry workers in your church and city. It is a travesty for individuals with the same passion and assignment to only talk while passing in the hallway or at a denominational meeting. We need each other.

Connect and relate. Connect and affirm. Connect and appreciate. Connect and listen. Connect and be the Body of Christ. Selah!

I Don't Plan to Ever Quit the Children's Ministry!

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:53:00 +0000

Many things have changed in the 29 years that Vickie and I have been in full-time children's ministry. I just caught myself writing full-time as though there is a part-time alternative. We all know that it is full-time to do all that is required to effectively minister to children. Many leaders put in full-time hours and energy for the children's ministry and receive their finances from an 8 to 5 job.

While many things have changed over the years, there is one thing that hasn't changed. Every children's ministry is always in need of additional staff, right? I haven't heard of anyone with a waiting list of those biding time until an opening pops open.

I am convinced that this could change if you were allowed just a few minutes to share why you are in children's ministry and don't plan to quit. Many people aren't involved because of the fact that they just don't know what is going on in each of your services!

If I were allowed to address your congregation, I could list ten reasons that I am in this ministry and don't plan to quit. This isn't just hype. I have 29 years of being in this ministry and 19 years of being the children's pastor in one church. I live for each and every opportunity to touch the lives of children.

Allow me to list four of these reasons. I apologize for not having the space to elaborate on each reason. However (here comes an unapologetic promotion) I can provide the entire teaching and my notes that I use to teach this lesson by having you visit the Billy Burns Ministries website http://www.billyburnsministries.com/ to purchase either the CD teaching that can be mailed to you or downloadable teaching that you have within in couple of minutes.

Here are the first four reasons. Each when I step into the classroom,

I am a supernatural interruption to the plans of the enemy.
I am commissioned to eliminate the need for spiritual hospitals (otherwise known as support groups).
I get to be a spiritual tour guide to our kids.
I set the pattern for the future of the church.

One more thing as I close this week's blog ... the website for the 2009 Ignite the Supernatural Conference is up and running. Take a minute and go to http://www.ignite-conference.com/ to learn about a global gathering of leaders and volunteers longing to see Joel's prophecy fulfilled in their children. The dates are February 5-7, 2009. The price is so affordable! And, you can check on the website to learn how your senior pastor and spouse can have free registration!!!

The Greater the Sensitivity, the Greater the Power

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:16:00 +0000

If you have been in children's ministry for any length of time, you will agree that this is an on-the-job training ministry. At the beginning, mistakes are plentiful. As you continue through the School of Hard Knocks, you soon earn your bachelor's degree and the mistakes become fewer and fewer.

One of the dangers of being a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks is that, after a while, it is so easy to begin to operate off of previous experience. There is security in having done things before. In our ministry, we know what works, what to do/what not to do, etc. There can't be many mistakes made if we always follow the lessons learned from experience. The downside of experience is that it can cause us to develop a cruise control mentality. In our ministries, we can begin to work off of an auto-pilot mentality. What is the end result? Instead of being Charismatic, we can become cruise-a-matic.

Thank God for the experience and formulas. But, to accomplish our ultimate call, at times, we must push the safety net aside and, having heard the voice of the Spirit of God, leave the comfort zone behind and walk into uncharted territories.

For those who see true moves of God, vulnerability, or perhaps best said "sensitivity", will cause us to join the ranks of the Abrahams who will leave family behind to go on an uncharted journey of faith, the Moseses' who will dare to lead an at times uncooperative group to a land of promise, the Esther's who will risk it all to stand in the gap for her people.

Today, there is an inward voice calling for us to push the safety net aside and step out of the boat, walk on waters thought impossible by man. There is a voice crying out for us to become dependent upon our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's voice in our services. There are places in the Spirit that our children haven't been. There are things that they haven't seen. There is a freedom that they haven't experienced. There are Gifts of the Spirit that they haven't operated in.

Remember, the greater the sensitivity, the greater the power!

They are Children!

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:32:00 +0000

After moving from South Texas to South Florida in 1989, we began to behave like the Israelites after they left Egypt and began to crave the foods that are peculiar to back home. (Forgive me fellow Texans. In no way is Texas like Egypt. It is just a biblical example to make me look studious.) We longed for GOOD Tex-Mex, Dr. Pepper in every restaurant, and real Texas BBQ.

Not long after moving to Florida, we were blessed with a smoker (the kind that is used to smoke meat ... don't go and try to ruin my testimony). Soon, we were smoking brisket and once again enjoying hickory or mesquite smoked meat that was so juicy and tender that you could literally cut it with a fork. For parties, we would smoke 40 to 50 pounds of brisket. For days after the party, we would enjoy the leftovers (the meat that I hid so that there would be leftovers).

One thing that I noticed after a few days of eating the Texas delicacy ... as good as it was, it somehow or another lost its specialness. After the third day, I just didn't enjoy what was once a feast. After several days of consistently eating brisket, I'd gladly take a bowl of soup over a brisket sandwich.

Here's the thought for this week's blog. In ministering to children, I am ministering to a triune being, spirit, soul, and body and variety is the key to being successful in this ministry. If each and every service is a glory hallelujah service, after a while the specialness will dissipate. If however, after several weeks of teaching and touching a child's spirit I change the focus of ministry and touch his soul and body through a memory-making Super Sloppy Double Dare Sunday or a Wild and Wacky, Don't Be Tacky Sunday or a Deal or No Deal Sunday, soon the child will once again appreciate go-after-God ministry.

Let's not over "brisketize" our boys and girls. Sure, we need to put out the meat and potatoes. But occasionally and often, let's give the children some variety. Variety is truly the spice of life. Let's not forsake the movement of the Holy Spirit but from time-to-time let's touch the other two parts of the triune being by bringing out the games and videos, throw a whipped cream pie, make a human pizza by rolling a child around in pizza sauce and sprinkling on the cheese and pepperonis.

Remember, if you fail to impact the whole child (spirit, soul, and body), you will fail to impact the child as a whole and will lose them!

The Greater the Dependence, the Greater the Power

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:37:00 +0000

One of the traps of longevity in children's ministry is that we can become so good and self-sufficient that we don’t need His presence and power. In the natural, no challenge is too difficult, no circumstance is insurmountable.

It would be wise for us to learn from the apostle Paul in this matter. We all know that Paul had credentials and qualifications second to none. And yet we read in 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NCV) "We are not saying that we can do this work ourselves. It is God who makes us able to do all that we do."

Here's the reason for this blog. The measure of your dependence will determine the measure of His power. In saying that, please understand that this doesn't give license for you to not prepare and do your part. Paul instructed Timothy to study to show himself approved unto God. We are to walk into ministry knowing that we have done everything that we can do. We have thought of creative ways to communicate the gospel. We have sought after fresh, new ideas to capture the attention of our children. And yet, with all of our training and preparation, we must walk into each occasion of ministry with a cry of desperation for His anointing and presence. We must be helplessly dependent upon Him to do everything that He can do.

This dependency might even require that we cast aside all of our preparation so that we follow Him step by step through the ministry. It might require that the expensive object lesson be shelved for a later date, the much rehearsed skit be placed back into the filing system for a later performance.

As your dependency increases, so will the anointing. Learn to depend upon His leading and prompting. Learn to decrease so that He can increase. One more time ... the greater the dependence, the greater the power.

Priorities in Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 03:16:00 +0000

Here are a couple of thoughts about priorities in revival ...

* Desperation will cause you to let go of the LESSER so that you can grab ahold of the GREATER. Your desperation for a move of God, an outpouring of His precious Holy Spirit will cause you to change your priorities. Finding time to be in His presence will no longer be an issue. The things that are unimportant will yeild to things of eternal significance.

* Withdrawing from the masses must become a priority so that you can become effective to the masses. Your time alone with His Spirit will determine your availability for Him to use you. Your intimate time in private will determine the measure of His ministry in public.

A Family Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:35:00 +0000

As I write this week's blog, it is Monday morning August 25. One year ago on this date, God placed the most beautiful baby boy into our lives, William Joseph (Joey) Burns. What a difference a year can make! Allow me to use this week's blog to celebrate this gift and show a few pictures of our favorite grandson.

Batteries Not Included - The Series!

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:09:00 +0000

Sometimes in Children's Ministry, we fall into the trap of thinking that we have to have flashy techno gadgets to bring the message home. Allow me to use this week's blog to share a powerful teaching that would be great for a Sunday school class, a mid-week Bible club, or a children's church service only using a simple household item, a flashlight. In fact, you could teach the four part series that we completed yesterday Batteries Not Included with just this one prop. Remember that this could all be taught in just one lesson or broken down into a series using each of the following four points as individual lessons.

1. We are fearfully and wonderfully created by God (Psalm 139:14) and placed on this earth with an assignment (Jeremiah 1:5). The manufacturer took great care in creating a flashlight. Every contour of its design, every item of its electrical system was carefully planned (Psalm 139:14) so that the flashlight could perform its desired function (Jeremiah 1:5).

2. The power has been provided (Acts 1:8). In shopping for a flashlight, you will never find a flashlight sold by itself. The manufacturer always provides the required batteries in the product's packaging. Why? Without the batteries, the flashlight will still be a flashlight but will never be able to perform its job. Knowing that His children would never be able to perform their individual assignments, the manufacturer (God) provided and made available heaven's power (the Holy Spirit) for insertion!

3. Heaven's power is rechargeable (Jude 20, 1 Corinthians 14:4,18). While some batteries are disposable, the best batteries are created to be rechargeable. Our manufacturer made it possible to optimize our power by creating a way for a constant recharging!

4. Do your job (John 14:12). The flashlight has been carefully designed. The batteries have been inserted and are fully charged. Now, it is time to fulfill the assignment. Flip the switch. Allow the power to flow through you and make a difference in a dark world. With the power of heaven's battery (the Holy Spirit), we can maximize the creativity of our designer (God) to fulfill and even outperform (John 14:12) what people think that we are able to do!

Please do me two favors. Pass this week's blog on to other children’s ministry leaders and workers. It is too good to keep to yourself. Secondly, write me at billy@billyburnsministries.com to let me know about the fruit of this lesson(s). I know that for our ministry, we had powerful altar times in our 3 services this past weekend with many children being baptized in the Holy Spirit!

Lessons from a Gardener

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:50:00 +0000

Though I was raised in a small city, we still had enough country in us that our family always planted a garden each Spring. From those days, I learned that long before the seed is planted into the soil, the size of the crop is being established. How? The smart gardener knows not to throw the seed upon a dry, crusty ground. He knows the value of tilling the soil, removing the weeds, fertilizing, etc.

Sadly, many children's ministry leaders and workers haven't learned this valuable principle. They haven't learned that the success of their ministry time is determined long before they walk into the classroom. They haven’t learned the importance of preparing the ground in which the seed will be planted. Consequently, teachers are facing what appears to be cold, indifferent settings where those in the class seem unresponsive to the message. The hearts are hard thus making it difficult for the Word to penetrate and take root.

How do we till the soil? How do we prepare our students for the ministry of the Word? By praying in the Spirit. The receptivity of our class will change as we begin to pray in the Holy Spirit BEFORE teaching the class. By praying in our heavenly language, we are asking the Holy Spirit to pray through us for our students so that hearts will be tilled, hard and apathetic hearts will be broken up and prepared for the planting of the seed of God's Word. By praying and interceding in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit intervenes through us touching on issues within children's lives, coming against principalities and powers that would hinder the proclamation and reception of God's Word.

Why should we pray in other tongues? We really don't have a clue about how to pray for our children and upcoming ministry. We don’t see the complete picture of what is needed. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 tells us that He partners together with us as we pray and helps us surpass our restrictions as He makes intercession through us. "The Spirit also helps us in our present limitations. For example, we do not know how to pray worthily, but his Spirit within us is actually praying for us in those agonizing longings which cannot find words." (The New Testament in Modern English, J.B. Phillips)

The Holy Spirit Will Show You Things to Come

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:53:00 +0000

The Bible is an amazing book. No matter how many times that I read it, I constantly discover "nuggets" that I have never seen before.

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading John 16:13 and a phrase jumped off the page that I've really never overly paid attention to. I have always emphasized the "guide you into all truth" and the "whatever He hears, He speaks" portion of the verse. On that Sunday morning, the Holy Spirit emphasized the phrase "and He will show you things to come."

When I read those words, there came an excitement and new-found passion for the Holy Spirit. In studying this phrase, I discovered that the word "show" in the original Greek comes from a word that means a guide who shows a traveler the safest course through an unknown country.

As a person who is called to minister to children, I discovered an extra benefit of having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. When I walk into a ministry opportunity, I am walking into uncharted territories. It may be the same children each week. The natural mind would tell me that it is the same kids/different week. The reality is that it has possibly been 168 hours since I've last seen these children. Some children may have walked through a literal hell during those last 7 days. Others have faced battles and obstacles that are a part of being a child. According to this verse, the Holy Spirit knows what is ahead and can prepare/warn/instruct me on how to effectively navigate through this uncharted terrain. In military terms, the Holy Spirit is to run a reconnaissance mission for me before I ever walk into my ministry assignment. He knows who will be in the class. He knows the exact need of each and every child. He knows what word/tool is needed to bring about His desired goals for that ministry opportunity.

Thank God for the Holy Spirit! Let's allow and welcome Him to prepare us for what is ahead of us.

The Move of God is Waiting on a Move of Man

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:00:00 +0000

Some blogs take 200 to 300 words to bring clarity to a thought. This week's blog really is self-explanatory. This is one of those marinating type of thoughts that needs to allow the juices to slowly sink into the meat. Ponder this ...

So many are waiting for a move of God. Have you considered the truth that God is waiting for a move of man?

Make a move towards Him. Passionately seek His face. Take bold steps of faith in leading your children's ministry. Get out of the boat of comfort. Dare to believe that God meant what He promised in Joel 2 about your children. If you'll make a move THEN He will make His move!

Batteries Not Included

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:50:00 +0000

Rather than give a leadership/motivation/teaching thought this week, allow me to jump start your creativity with an idea for your children's ministry.

This past weekend, we began a four-part series with our children entitled Batteries Not Included. We taught our first lesson yesterday showing that while each and every child is fearfully and wonderfully (amazingly and miraculously God's Word for Today) made (Psalms 139:14) and are placed on this earth with an assignment (Jeremiah 1:5), each child is placed on this earth with batteries not included.

To illustrate this, we used a television remote control and a garage door opener. Both are specifically created and crafted to perform a task. And while both are similar in that they both have circuitry on the inside and buttons on the outside, each was formed by its maker to do a task that only they can do. The television remote cannot open/close a garage door and the garage door opener cannot turn off/on the television or raise/lower the television's volume. With our children, God has created them for a task that will greatly impact the world. While each child may have similar features as other children (2 hands, 2 feet, a mouth, 2 eyes, etc.) they are so unique. Their circuitry (personality, passions, physical features) were formed making them a wonderfully complex individual. (Psalms 139:14, The Living Bible). God designed this individuality or uniqueness for a task explicitly for that specific child.

As great and needful as the television remote control is, this device will never fulfill its assignment without the required batteries. The same can be said about the garage door opener. Jesus made the same claim. No individual will fulfill their God-given assignment without the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) for we too come with batteries not included.

Hopefully these thoughts will jump start your creativity and help you provide the opportunity for children to receive heaven’s gift of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

I'm Only Human

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:43:00 +0000

Please forgive me. I'm only human. I know that pride comes before a fall. So, hopefully, you'll push aside the possibility that I've fallen into the entrapment of pride and consider this to be a mild case of being a grandparent.

I know that many of you receive the monthly Billy Burns Ministries Ignite Connection and see pictures of Joey. I just couldn't wait for the next email newsletter to be sent to you. If you don't get the newsletter, send me an email at billy@billyburnsministries.com.

If deliverance prayers are in order for me, go for it. If congrats on having one gorgeous grandson are in order, go for it!

The Questions of Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:12:00 +0000

For the past four weeks, I've been teaching our boys and girls about revival. Feel relieved, I'm not using today's blog to reteach all four lessons. It has been an awesome four weeks. I love seeing the children go after the Reviver. Another benefit of the series is it has prepared our children for the next four lessons that I'll teach as we look at the subject "Batteries Not Included." Hopefully in the near future I'll have both of these teaching series available for download at the www.billyburnsministries.com website.

In today's blog, I want to ask two questions that have been a big part of the revival teaching. These are two questions that I have repeatedly, tenaciously asked myself. During the last four weeks, I've used these questions to challenge our children to passionately pursue the Reviver.

Here are the questions:
1. If not now, then when?
2. If not here, then where?

I'll let the questions speak for themselves. Ask yourself the questions over and over again. I pray that they will produce a resolve within you and your children for the Reviver to manifest His presence in YOUR ministry EVERY time that you meet.

Two suggestions to keep this before your eyes …
1. It might be good to create these questions to be screen savers for your computer.
2. Place the questions on index cards and post the cards on places that you'll be visiting throughout the day (i.e., on mirrors or on your refrigerator door).

Seek the Reviver

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:26:00 +0000

A man came to Socrates and asked him for wisdom. Socrates quickly dismissed him, telling him to come back when he really wanted wisdom. This experience repeated itself several times, with the man coming back and asking for wisdom, until Socrates took the man down to a body of water and stuck his head under the water.

After holding him under for about 10 seconds Socrates pulls the man back up and asks, "What do you want?" to which the man replied, "I want wisdom great teacher." Socrates put the man’s head under the water again, this time holding him under for 30 seconds. Pulling the man up he asks again, "What is it that you want?" The man once again replies, "I want wisdom great teacher." Socrates holds him under the water again this time for much longer.

The man began struggling, and choking, and gasping for air. At the point that he was about to fall unconscious, Socrates pulled him out of the water and asks one final time, "What is it that you want?" This time all the man can scream is, "I want air, I want air!"

Socrates leaves the man saying, "When you want wisdom as much as you wanted air, you will find it."

How does this apply to revival in our children's ministry? A lot of people give lip service about revival. It's the "thing" right now, the buzz word of the Church.

A mistake that many are making today with this religious trend is that many are going after revival rather than the Reviver. Here's the key … when we become consumed with desperation for seeking the Reviver more than the revival, the revival will always be there. When we seek His face, His hands will always be seen.

The man with his head held below the water couldn't hide his desperation. Are you passionately going after the Reviver? Is your desperation showing in your private time and your public time of ministry? Again, when we desperately seek Him, His presence (revival) will always manifest.

Bring Back the Testimonies!

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:48:00 +0000

When I grew up in a small South Texas Assemblies of God church, the testimony service was an important part of each gathering. Sister Evans might stand up and tell of the miracle that God had performed during the past week. Sydney Smith might stand up and dance a Holy Ghost dance as he told about how God had saved a family member. Almost weekly, there would be someone who would testify of a healing that had taken place.

I miss that portion of the church service. Sadly, our time together each week has become so regulated and/or the crowds have become so large that our people are sporadically hearing testimonies given only as a faith-builder before the offering is to be received or as an occasional illustration in the preacher's message.

In our children's classes, testimony services are almost nonexistent. Like the adult services, its absence could be due to having too much to do in such a limited, regulated time structure. Or, even worse, it could be due to the fact that there's nothing to tell about. The few testimonies given are often about what God did years ago in other moves of God or about what God is doing elsewhere in other revivals.

Where are our testimonies? Are we giving our boys and girls an opportunity to answer God's challenge of "prove me now"? Are we daring to actually pray for the sick in our services and expecting a miracle as we pray? Are giving our children the opportunity to call out to God the names of their unsaved family members or the ungodly kid down the street and expecting salvation testimonies in the days to come?

I'm thankful for what God did in kids in the Welch Revival and the Azuza Street Revival. I'm thrilled at what I see happening with boys and girls in the Lakeland Healing Outpouring. But each of these moves are either from a different date in history or a different zip code.

Let's bring back the testimony service. Let's make room for God to move supernaturally at 33463 or whatever your zip code might be. If you make room for Him, He will always show up!

The Power of Solitude

noreply@blogger.com (Billy Burns Ministries) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Sadly, in our pursuit of God's power and glory, we often have mistaken activity for hunger. We feel as though that we need to go to one more meeting or read one more book or listen to one more CD teaching. The glory doesn't come through activity. It comes through solitude.

God's instructions in Psalm 46:10 still rings true in 2008. "Be still, and know that I am God."

Meditate on these words ...

"We live in a noisy, busy world. Silence and solitude are not 20th Century words. They fit the era of Victorian lace and high-buttoned shoes and kerosene lamps better than the age of television, video arcades, internet, and jogger's wired earphones. We have become a people with an aversion to quite and an uneasiness with being alone." Gene Fleming Finding Focus in a Whirlwind World

“I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, and crowd. Satan is quite aware of the power of solitude.” Jim Elliot (recorded in his personal journal)