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Set Us On Fire!
If you have been paying any attention to the news lately, I’m sure that you have heard or seen something concerning the forest fires in Nevada and California.
One of the worst forest fires on record took place in 1988 around Yellowstone National Park. Wildfire engulfed 1.4 million acres of beautiful forestland. Although local civilians and thousands of the National Guard fire fighters with the availability of all modern fire fighting equipment fought to put the fire out, they found it to be an impossible task. The conditions, winds, temperatures, dryness, and years of fallen limbs and trees made the forest vulnerable to the destruction of the fire.
It was speculated that lightning ignited the fire. Early on the fire was small. If discovered early enough it possibly could have been contained, but in the matter of a few brief minutes it built into a vicious, gigantic forest fire. Driven by winds the fire ignited into a burning inferno creating its own vacuum of twirling winds. The intense heat devoured everything in its path. The wind-driven heat was so intense that aged trees, hundreds of feet tall and enormous in diameter, exploded from inside out before the flames ever touched them. Fire fighters could only hope the uncontrollable fire would burn itself out by reaching areas of limited vegetation where the surface was covered by shale or rocks.
As I read this story, my mind began to race back century after century, to one of the greatest fires that was ever ignited.
But this fire was not a fire that enflamed houses and trees, it was a fire that set ablaze the hearts of men, women and children everywhere it went!
John the Baptist prophesied it’s coming in Luke 3:16 and Matthew 3:11 when he said, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
How could this happen? It certainly was not technology, for they had none, no phones, on internet, but yet it spread at an unimaginable rate!
It seemed that everything and every person that was in the path of this mighty FIRE was consumed.
The heat was so intense, the FIRE so hot!
However, it was a different kind of FIRE. Its origin was heaven-sent by God himself, and consumed everything it touched.
It was the FIRE John spoke about in Luke 3:16 and Matthew 3:11!
This baptism of fire was the force that propelled the early Christians to fulfill Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
It forced them to fulfill Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
They were as torches of fire with zeal, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the whole world. It was through the power of the Holy Ghost and FIRE!
The Baptism of FIRE possessed by the early Church could not be extinguished by all the demonic and satanic fire fighters of the world.
Though Satan and his imps would try to douse the flames of revival, the more they tried the hotter and brighter the fire would burn.
Everywhere the disciples went the saw miracles take place and hundreds even thousands come to God and be set on fire themselves by the Holy Ghost!
· I feel in my spirit that God is lighting a match and is about to ignite a fire in these last days that will be greater than the fire of Pentecost in the beginning…
Three conditions must exist to create a fire, fuel, something to kindle with, and oxygen. First, there must be a fuel, a substance that will burn.
The fuel must then be heated to a kindling temperature. This is the temperature at which oxygen will rapidly unite with the fuel.
Then there must be plenty of oxygen. The supply of oxygen for a fire usually comes from the air, which is about 1/5th oxygen.
If enough oxygen is not available, then the normal procedure is to fan the fire to move more air to it.
The three things needed for a FIRE to be started were present on the Day of Pentecost: Fuel, kindling, and oxygen.
· The Fuel: 120 people (The substance that could burn.)
· Kindling for Heat: Fervent prayer and worship to God.
· Oxygen: The Mighty rushing wind.
When the rushing mighty wind of the Spirit, the breath of God, blew through that room and cloven tongues like as of FIRE sat upon each one, spontaneous combustion took place that ignited into a worldwide revival. The FIRE of the Spirit became uncontrollable, unpredictable, and irresistible to those who felt its power.
The Sanhedrin Court could not control the FIRE
The Pharisees and Sadducees couldn’t predict where the FIRE would break out next.
It was a raging, massive FIRE that could not be quenched by persecution, false accusations, or even death!
I pray God we want a fire to break out in our world like that, and greater…
· (Preach what you want to happen)
· If it is to be, it must begin in me!
I believe it was John Wesley that made the statement, “I want God to set me on fire, so that people will come from miles around to watch me burn!”
God set Harvest Church on fire!
Hebrews 1:7 …Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Every one of us is a minister, and God wants to make everyone of His ministers a flame of fire!
Let a fire be ignited in everyone of our hearts that the enemy cannot put out!
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Let the fire spread from Harvest Church until it completely consumes our city! (Set us on fire!)
