"THE HOUSE STILL BURNS"
 
The following "Comfort Zone" in part is from a sermon I delivered forty years ago.  I feel in my heart this message needs to be shared with my "Comfort Zone" brothers and sisters;  and that God will work in your life in a mighty way.  Read your Bible, pray, and listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks,  then reach out into the region where you live.  We are living in perilous days;  God's Word needs to be preached and we need to live as He wants to lead us.
 
In October of 1972, I attended the meeting of Synod  at Hopewell Church;  Birmingham Presbytery.  At this meeting five people talked with me about becoming their pastor.  I remember how we prayed; and after two weeks I accepted the call;  and I remember the first fellowship meeting meal, in a small cramped fellowship hall.
 
I was installed as pastor, and the Minister preached the installation message;  "Standing in the Gap, and he read from Ezekiel 22: 13-31.  The next nineteen months I went from Mt. Hermon, the Mt. of Transfiguration, to "the valley of the shadow of death."  Our attendance decreased in the services;  and I left the church one Sunday evening questioning my call to the ministry.
 
When my wife Kitty, son Jim and self  went to the manse, we got out of the car and I walked over to the side of the carport, and there I stood for about fifteen - twenty minutes, pouring my heart out to God about the church, and my own spiritual needs.  I remember praying; "Lord, I know I have been saved, but I also know something is missing in my life.  Lord, I need everything You have for me if I am to pastor this church."  After Kitty prepared the meal, we ate, watched the ten P.M. news, and went to bed.  Beloved, what I am about to share with you, I believe needs to be said.  Why? Because the Scriptures tells us to; Deuteronomy 6: 1-9.
 
Later in the night, around   2 AM. I started to dream.  Joel said  "..old men shall dream dreams ...  young men shall see visions."  Beloved, without a vision we perish.
 
In my dream, Kitty, Jim and I came home from church.  I stood on the carport,  looking up into the Eastern sky that was aglow;  it was a beautiful sight.   After some time Kitty called me for our meal;  and I asked her to come look at the bright, beautiful sight.  She came to my side, and we were amazed at the brightness of the light.  After some time Kitty said, "Maybe we should go and see if this is some of our church people's house on fire.  We got in the car and followed the light.
 
As we approached  the light, indeed it was a house burning,  totally  engulfed in flames, and there was a large number of people around the house.  We got out of the car, and I saw an old wagon near, so I helped Kitty into the wagon so we could get a better view, and this is what I saw.
 
The house "burned with fire, and the house  was remaining complete.  Tongues of flames licked out the cornice work;  there were people walking around in the house, unhurt by the fire; and there must have been a thousand people around the house; some on their knees, some prostate, some standing, with hands raised; all were rejoicing, singing, shouting praise to God."
 
At this point Kitty and I are standing in awe;  and I heard God call out to me: "Roy, Roy, the place where on thou stand is holy ground."  And I fell on my knees with my head bowed and hands out stretched.  This  is not the end of the message to me.  Kitty told me the rest.
 
I woke her up while I was on my knees, in bed, hands raised and giving glory and praise to God.  Kitty also said, I could hear you speaking, but I could not understand a thing you were saying.  You were speaking in a language unknown to me.
 
After several minutes, it seemed, on my knees, praising God; I could hear Kitty calling, Roy, Roy. I was aware that she took her  hands and patted my face; she was crying; because she did not know what was happening to me.
 
Then, just like you would turn off the light, I was conscious of her presence; her fear. I told Kitty what I had experienced.  The following Wednesday I told the Session, and the next Sunday I told the church.  That house still burns in my heart and soul.
 
If you know that you are saved and walking through "the valley of the shadow of death," and you want help;  then pour your heart out to God,  ask Him for divine guidance.  Peter said, Repent, be baptized and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost;  for the promise is unto you, and to your children."
 
The main purpose of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit;  that we would be witnesses unto Him;  to be able to witness effectively for Christ.
 
This happened to me. I asked as a child of God, and I received.  The fire is still burning, for which I pray till Jesus come.  Be blessed Brother's and sisters.
 
In "His" Service,
Roy
  
(I realize this devotion will not be received by all, but it happened to me.  Please give the devotion some personal attention.)