1 Kings 18:24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
I’ve always been fascinated by fire, as a child my first encounter with fire was (matches) I accidentally set the trash can on fire.
Next I found out I could use a magnifying glass and start a fire (wow) the power to create fire.
Then as I grew older I started playing with fire and gasoline, again I set the garage on fire.
Then when I got older still, I found out that I could take a match, put it in front of a hair spray can and make a torch, (wow).
Fire has always fascinated me, it still does (only today my fascination is not with natural fire, it’s with the supernatural fire of God)
And my hearts cry for myself and for the church of the living God is (Lord send The Fire.)
The Fire is heavens solution to our weakness (Our impotency).
It’s heavens solution to apathy, and lukewarmness, and indifference.
It’s heavens solution to worldliness, and materiality, and carnality.
The main thing that indicated the presence of God in The midst of his people was Supernatural Fire.
God Supernaturally Manifested himself to the Children of Israel as a pillar of Fire.
At the dedication of Solomon’s temple the supernatural fire of God fell from heaven and consumed the offering and the sacrifices.
2 Chronicles 7:1 ¶ Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, (the fire came down from heaven,) and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
If there was one thing that I could say the church is more in need of today than anything else I would say (FIRE from Heaven)
When we talk about the fire we are talking about that which originates with God and comes forth from God.
Nothing that man can do even comes close to it.
This fire is the essence of Heaven that enters the human spirit, sanctifies and purifies and glorifies our being till it can be truthfully said (My Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost).
This Fire illuminates, it motivates, it empowers us to do what is humanly impossible.
The Fire attracts:
The Fire Convicts:
The Fire Delivers:
The Fire Devours:
The Fire of God is that which lifts us into the Realm of God where the invisible becomes visible, where the untouchable becomes tangible, the unspeakable is spoken and the impossible becomes possible
First the Fire gets in us then it fills us then it changes us, then it flows out of us.
When the fire of God gets in a man (his words are on fire)
His song is on fire, his testimony is on fire.
When we speak of the fire of God, we are not simply speaking of enthusiasm or emotionalism, or being energetic.
No sir “ We are speaking of that presence of God which embodies and communicates to us all the supernatural dimension of the Christian life.
We cannot speak of this flame of Heaven and not include the gifts of the Spirit
The gifts of the Spirit communicate this divine flame to us and through us.
They are a manifestation of the fire of God
They are of supernatural origin (they are divine in nature) they communicate to us the will and the power of God.
There is only one thing that will bring cold indifferent worldly minded Christians back to their first love and it is the Fire of God.
Note: “No repentance until the fire fell”
Everything was in Place, the altar was restored, the wood was in order, the sacrifice was slain, but nothing changed until the Fire fell.
This was no gentle, gradual, mild, comfortable, containable, and confined fire:
It was Instant and it was complete and It was Consuming.
It could not be mistaken and it could not be overlooked.
It could not be duplicated and it could not be manipulated.
Elijah saw the need for the fire of God: Can we look today, at the spirit of this age, and the condition of this society, and the low state of spiritual power in our churches and not agree with Elijah “ We need the Fire”
It is still true (It’s not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord).
Elijah Prayed:
Elijah expected the Fire:
Do we expect the fire? Do we anticipate the fire? Do we desire the fire?
How many times do we come to church, expecting another routine service, (open in prayer) (song service) (offering time) (special songs) (preacher preaches and go home).
How long has it been since you walked in the doors, with a sense (something supernatural is getting ready to happen)?
How long has it been since you arrived at church with a divine anticipation that God almighty was going to show up in your midst and life would never be the same again?
Elijah anticipated the fire:
Elijah expected the fire:
Elijah wanted the fire:
How do we know Elijah wanted the fire ? (He made preparation).
(1) He rebuilt the altar – (2) He put the wood in order (3) He placed the sacrifice on the altar as required (4) He poured water on the altar- sacrifice
It’s still true today: No water- No fire:
The fire will fall when the wood is wet.
Most of our altars today are dry, our altars seldom witness tears anymore.
The trench around the altar that would contain two measures of seed, speaks to us of a penetrating work, a deep work, a searching work.
Much of what happens around the altar today is very shallow, and superficial, we are more concerned today with the blessing, than with the transformation.
The Fire Transforms things, When the Fire of God Falls things change, Things are altered, You think differently, you speak differently, you walk differently, you talk differently.
The God that answers by fire let him be God.
Our God still (answers) by fire,
The question is: Is anybody asking for it?
The sad truth today is, generally speaking Christians are more concerned with being comfortable than being consumed.
The fire of God is that undeniable indisputable tangible manifestation of the essence of heaven, that so fills a life that anyone who is looking on recognizes (This is God).
The fire is not religion, it is not religious activity, In fact the fire of God will actually destroy much of our religious activity.
Many times in an (honest) effort to produce the fire, we go through many programs, and activities, trying to hit the right combination.
But when the fire comes all of our programs are un-necessary.
Because when the fire comes the only program we are concerned about is: How do we keep this burning?
What does God want me to do?
I believe the greatest need of the church today is a fresh fire from heaven, is there anyone who will join Elijah and myself in praying (Lord Send The Fire?)
