What Kind of World Will Your Child Grow Up In?

What Kind of World Will Your Child Grow Up In?

Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.  41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.  42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.  43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.  44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.   45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.   46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.   47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.   48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.   49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?  50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.  51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.  52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

All of us who are observers of the passing scene get more nervous each day.  I’m sure you have remarked at one time or another that you are afraid of the world into which parents are bringing their children.   It is said that we are saddling our children with a $50 trillion debt!  And that’s a conservative estimate.  Our government now owes more money than all of us in the country put together possess. We now owe nearly $57 trillion while our net worth is $56.5 trillion.

We are worried about the steady dismantling of standards of decency and morality in our society.   This culture that shows such profound disrespect for life and liberty cannot hold much good for future generations.

The world Jesus grew up in.

This is the only glimpse we have into the childhood of Jesus.  Doctor Luke gives it to us, probably after talking with Mary, the mother of Jesus.  In my imagination, I can hear Luke asking Mary about some outstanding event when Jesus was growing up. 

“Well,” she said, “I’ll never forget the scare he gave us when he was about twelve years old!” She then proceeds to tell this story.  The “three days” mentioned refers to one day traveling back home, one day returning to Jerusalem, and finding Jesus in the temple the third day.

There is great significance to where they eventually found Jesus and what he was doing, but my focus today is part of the story where Jesus was missing.  It seems strange to us that he was gone for three days and there is no mention of reporting him to the authorities.  We are not told that Mary and Joseph were panicked.  Before we judge them too harshly, this incident tells us much about the age in which Jesus was raised.

Society’s values were different.  Throughout Israel, families were not just respected, the family unit was stronger than any government agency.  People were honored.  Children were considered a heritage of the Lord.  Divorce was rare, crime was low and people had self-control. 

The kind of world that I grew up in.

Left home in the morning, played all day, came home for supper.  Went back out after supper, played some more, came home at dark.  Played baseball, football, basketball in neighborhoods three or four blocks away. 

Many days, rode bike two to five miles away.  No helmut, no knee pads, no elbow pads.   Ate in other people’s houses w/o my parents knowing it.  Didn’t have an expensive navigator, waterproof watch.  Didn’t have cell phones to keep track of each other.  Our communication was mom or dad standing out on the back porch shouting my name. 

No one ever thought anything about it.  If I didn’t behave, there was something called a switch.  Young people think a switch is the little lever you flip to turn the lights on or off. 

It was a simpler time.  There was little danger for children in middle America.  People looked out for each other.  It was a time when you could bite into this thing called freedom and let the juices run out of the corners of your mouth.  We didn’t know how good we had it.

Today’s world

Fast forward to 2009.  We live in a much different day.  Drugs, abuse, crime, perversion and other evils have so wrecked our society that we wouldn’t dare allow the kind of free activity for our children that was once so common.  Here are a few terms that have become familiar to us:

            Amber Alert

The AMBER Alert System is an early warning program designed to help quickly locate abducted children in local communities. It works like this: following an abduction, law enforcement notifies broadcasters and transportation officials, who interrupt transmissions to get the word out. AMBER stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response and was created in Texas as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped and killed in 1996. Today, all 50 states have AMBER plans. For details, see the federal government’s AMBER Alert website.  In some communities, the new digital billboards are flashing Amber Alerts as well.

            Missing children

The U.S. Department of Justice reports 797,500 children (younger than 18) were reported missing in a one-year period of time studied resulting in an average of 2,185 children being reported missing each day.

203,900 children were the victims of family abductions.

58,200 children were the victims of non-family abductions.

115 children were the victims of “stereotypical” kidnapping. (These crimes involve someone the child does not know or someone of slight acquaintance, who holds the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, demands ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently.)

Online predators:

A new CCRC study finds dramatic growth nationwide in arrests of online predators who solicited law enforcement investigators posing online as juveniles, the numbers nearly quintupling from 644 in 2000 to 3,100 in 2006.

During the same period, arrests of individuals for soliciting juveniles themselves grew 21%,  from an estimated 508 arrests in 2000 to an estimated 615 in 2006.  Arrests of online predators in 2006 constituted about 1 percent of all arrests for sex crimes committed against children and youth.

            Megan’s Law (Reporting of Sex Offenders)

Alicia’s Law (Increased power to track down and punish online predators)

            Child Online Protection Act (Pending)

Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act

Keeping Children and Families Safe Act

None of these laws were on the books when I was a child.  When society  breaks down on the outside it’s because society has broken down on the inside!  We heading toward a world in which we will be afraid to go to the store, go to the bank or put our children on the school bus!

It’s not likely to get much better.  Paul wrote to Timothy about these times: 

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

This is  convenient time for me to remind you that Jesus is coming soon.  I have never been so focused on the world scene as I have been in the last few months.  There is something different today about the political climate, the international turmoil and the radical nature of conflict between persons and nations.  Jesus warned us about these times.

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

You cannot control the world around you.  Here’s what you can do:

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John Schmidt in his series “The Parenting Challenge” says:  “The first responsibility in parenting is to model what it means to have a God-centered life; to model it even before we speak it. This is a reality check. You know, no amount of talking, no amount of bringing people to church, no amount of paying high tuition to send your kids to good school is going to make up for the fact that you don’t model what it means to be a Christian family. Now, we can look at some obvious things, you know the parents who drive up to church and drop their kids off to go to Sunday school and to church and then they go over to Starbucks. They are modeling something. They are modeling the fact that church and religious things are for kids and when they grow up this is what they will be doing. Now, I can’t preach to those people because they are at Starbucks right now.”

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Do you have a children’s bible in your house?  If not, get one.  They cost about third less than a Cedar Point ticket and two/thirds less than a pair of toddlers Nike Little Cortez sneakers.

They cost much less than an 52” HDTV, and X-Box 360, A Wii, a Playstation 3, or a GameCube.  They cost much less than an iPhone or and iPod. 

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I thank God for the children we have been baptizing lately and those who have received the Holy Ghost.  But it is the parents who make it possible.  You are the ones who can make it easier or harder for your children. 

Let me say this at the expense of upsetting some people.  If you brought a child into this world, you must shoulder the main responsibility for raising him or her.  In my opinion, your own childhood is over when you have a child.  Some parents say, “Well my life isn’t over just because I have a baby.”  No, but it is different.  You are not the most important person to consider in this new life.  You are not on the top of the priority list. 

When you make sure your child is cared for—not just physically with food, clothing and shelter—but also spiritually, you will reap benefits later on in your life that can come no other way. 

Of the woman whose price is far above rubies in Proverbs 31 the bible says: “She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  28  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also , and he praiseth her.”  The rising of her children are a direct result of the way she raised them!

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The prayer of dedication is not just for your child.  You must also dedicate yourselves to be the godly kind of parent that your role and responsibility calls for.  Your child will have many instructors, but only one mother and one father.  This is a sacred moment. 

(Prayer of dedication)

Fire on the Earth

Luke 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.  48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?  50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

This is one of those passages of scripture that makes people sit on the edge of their seats; that makes us look back over our shoulders with a sense that something strange is about to happen.  Who are these servants that are not prepared for their master to come?  Who are these who know full well that he was coming and didn’t seem to care? 

Much is given to someone; much will be required.  Much has been committed to someone; much will be asked of them.

Jesus sets up a scenario that introduces anticipation and hope, but also fear and dread.  We could speculate whether He is speaking about the Jews of His day or the church of our day.  There are some things that apply to both.

“I am come to send fire on the earth!”  That is not a statement intended to rock us to sleep.  To the contrary, it is meant to shake us out of our sleep.  Jesus was not trying to smooth over ruffled feathers or calm ruffled feelings.  He was waving a red flag in full view of the entire world that something was about to happen that would shake the world to its very foundations!

 “I am come to send fire on the earth!”  Another translation says, “I am come to send fire on the earth; how I wish it were already kindled!”  Immediately after saying this, He said, “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” 

He may have meant something like this:  “I am looking at something so terrible that I wish it was history instead of the future!  I have an ordeal ahead of me and I am extremely stressed out until it is over!”

I don’t think we fully appreciate what Jesus went through.  You see, He knew how He was going to die.  He knew it from the moment He entered this world.  He said to Pilate in John 18:37, “To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

Calvary did not take Jesus by surprise.  He lived its torment and felt its pain every day of his life, not just when it actually happened.  Yet, he kept going forward, moving inexorably toward that purpose.   That’s why the writer to the Hebrews said, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2.

But it is this haunting statement that captures my attention today.  “I am come to send fire on the earth!”  In saying this, Jesus drew a circle around His entire band of disciples and included them all.  No, they were not going to suffer the crucifixion as He did, but they were going to pay a price for believing in Him.

I don’t want anyone to be under any illusions.  True belief in Jesus Christ is not an insignificant decision in life.  It is the most profound, costly and demanding thing you can do.  That’s why it takes a new birth.  It’s not for sunshine patriots or fair-weather fans.  It is the most expensive decision you will ever make.  But let me warn you—the only thing more costly than believing in Jesus is NOT believing in Jesus. 

Why?  Because Jesus said, “I am come to send a fire on the earth!”  The outcome, not the process, is what’s at stake.  2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 “I am come to send fire on the earth!”

Fire means wrath.  God rained down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.  Fire means decisive action.  God rained down fire on the sacrifice of Elijah.  Fire means judgment.  God rained down fire on the false prophets of Baal.  But fire also means something positive.  “I counsel…to buy gold tried in the fire.”

The fire of God is not an accidental conflagration resulting from a careless act.  God knows what He is doing.  He has come to send fire in a very purposeful way.

There are people here in all sorts of moods, mindsets and attitudes.  You may have a bone to pick with the pastor, the church or with God.  You may be sad, angry, depressed, belligerent or disrespectful.  You may feel cheated, betrayed, hurt or rejected. 

Please understand something about the fire that God sends on the earth.  The wildfires of California have taught us that nothing stands in the way of a raging fire.  The fire doesn’t ask how long the tree has been standing or how expensive the house may be.  There is no immunity to the fires of God.

I hope when you leave here this morning, you will sobered back into the reality of a real God who has this world in his all-powerful grasp.

First, we may very well be seeing fire on the earth in terms of current events.

• The global economic outlook looks worse today than any time in our history.
• The U-6 unemployment rate represents real world conditions and is now at 13.5%
• If the current rate was calculated like it was 80 years ago (1929), it would be 17.5%
• In 1930, the unemployment rate was 8.9%, about half what it is today.

2010: The year of bankrupt gov’ts

By RALPH PETERS Last Updated: 3:23 AM, December 25, 2009 Posted: 1:35 AM, December 23, 2009

“For spendthrift governments around the world, the new year’s going to bring massive defaults. The new globalization may be the globalization of a second wave of financial crises.

The world economy is not convalescing. It’s just been pumped full of unaffordable medicines. Borrowing madly, countries as diverse as Greece and Dubai have been buying time, not fiscal health.

In Ireland and Spain, housing bubbles created the illusion of roaring economies — and pandering governments inflated already generous social programs. In Italy and Greece, state giveaways, bubble economies and rabid corruption created national debts in excess of GDP. Even in this age of globalization and complex financial instruments, one law of the financial jungle remains brutally true: The bills come due eventually.

Dubai’s bankrupt, but frightened investors pretend otherwise. Greece is bankrupt, and the other Euro-currency states don’t know what to do: The strict fiscal-policy rules for the Euro-zone are crumbling.

And after Greece, what about Spain? With 20 percent unemployment and an economy strangled by disincentives to job creation, Spain counts on being considered too big to fail.

The Baltic states’ economies are tubercular. Central Europe’s headed for the post-modern equivalent of debtors’ prison. And even Britain (and the global bankers’ fortress, the City of London) is still in deep treacle.

Then there’s California (and New York).

Taken in isolation, any of these problems could be managed. But these “local” crises refuse to be isolated. Toss in suspect statistics from other troubled states and hollow economies from Argentina to Russia, and 2010 looks unpredictable, to put it gently.

Chain reactions could devastate European banks and budgets .

Venezuela’s also in serious economic trouble.

Then there are the great unknowns, a Russian economy that may be far more fragile than anyone wants to admit, as well as China, opaque and insatiable.

The best scenario we could see in the global economy in 2010? Rescue-package fire brigades rushing to deal with these crises individually. What’s the worst? A chain reaction that leads to a rash of national defaults, followed by a world banking and liquidity crisis, Part II.

What of our own country, with its soaring debt, congressional irresponsibility and an administration whose No. 1 priority is expanding unaffordable entitlement programs? Draw your own conclusions.”

There is a website called the U.S. National Debt Clock that has a running calculation of the debt of the United States.

U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK

The Outstanding Public Debt as of 27 Dec 2009 at 03:40:33 AM GMT is:

$12,114,865,277,518.91

The estimated population of the United States is 307,541,093
so each citizen’s share of this debt is $39,392.67.

The dollar is falling and may not be the standard world currency much longer.  There is regular talk of a global currency, a global police force, and global initiatives in many areas.

In areas of foreign policy: 

• Iran is drawing ever closer to acquiring nuclear weapons.
• The regime of Ahmadinejab has just tested a long range missile reaching for 1200 miles.
• The crazed leader of North Korea tested a nuclear blast in July of this year.
• The big news on Christmas Day was a terrorist who was overcome trying to bring down a Delta flight landing in Detroit.

I have never seen the world in this much tension and turmoil.  A fire is breaking out in every corner of the earth. 

You will see fire in terms of trials in your life.

I speak in terms of 2009.

This has been one of the most difficult years I have faced for many reasons.  One of the reasons is that we lost the patriarch of this church, Bro. Kinzie on February 8.  I have been in process of bringing some of his unpublished works into completion for printing.  I don’t think this church should allow his memory to fade because he instilled some rock-solid qualities into it that make us what we are today.  Fiery trials were a part of his life as God brought him to a point of usefulness in the kingdom.  Here are several portions of his book on Timothy that explains what this meant to him:

Faith acts. “Abraham went out not knowing whither he went” (Hebrews 11:8). Genuine faith takes God at His word and acts upon it.  A personal illustration may help you understand. Before I really committed myself to the ministry, I was hospitalized in Pensacola, Florida with rheumatic fever. I had been there for twenty-three days when I promised God in an early morning fervent prayer, that if He would heal me, I would leave the farm and go preach. That day, without any assurance that I would be healed except a peace that flooded my heart, I requested my wife to write two letters. One was to my parents informing them I’d be leaving the farm; the other to my brother-in-law proposing to sell out to him when I returned home.  This was pure faith! Suffice it to say I was healed the next morning, went home, sold out and set out on a journey of ministry that has lasted fifty-nine years so far.

Also, there is this story.

Visiting Toledo before accepting the pastorate, I realized there was no way the church could support us. I was sure I would have to supplement what the church could supply. We were in Orange, Texas conducting a meeting. One morning, as I was praying about a job in Toledo, the Lord distinctly spoke to me that He would take care of us. I never doubted it. We held a two weeks meeting immediately upon coming to Toledo and five people came to the Lord. Everyone of them started paying tithes. That did it! Although we faced many difficult times, it was always there just in time.

Then this:

When I came to Toledo as pastor, within my first month I encountered a serious situation that had previously troubled the church.  This situation would cause me much anxiety for several years until it finally broke. These things disturb a pastor’s nervous system and cause fear and uneasiness. Trusting in the Lord works them out, but the wait sometimes seems endless. For sure, they are unwanted grace developers.

I am preaching to people this morning who feel themselves wilting beneath the load, fading under the stress and giving ground back to the enemy.  2009 has been a tough year for you and the prospects for 2010 don’t look much better. 

I am here to remind you of the scripture:  1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

You will be tested by fire. 

You may feel the fires of persecution.  You will feel the fires of temptation, the attacks of Satan against you, the constant irritants of false friends and hostile family members.  Stand up to the fire.  The fire will not destroy you.  It will purify you.  It will purge you from the dross and impurities that lie within you.

(Have the youth stand up.)  You must not get discouraged because of the fire.  God is not your enemy.  The church is not your enemy.  You are serving God in the middle of hostile territory.  Your role models are not rock stars, sports heroes or Hollywood icons.  Stand up to the peer pressure.  Stand up to the subtle criticism of professors, teachers and bosses.  Joseph made it.  Daniel made it.  Timothy made it—and so can you.  It is better to be known in the annals of heaven than the halls of fame on earth. 

(Have the women stand up.)    You must not get discouraged because of the fire.  You are women professing godliness.  You respect who you are; you respect your bodies, your minds, your souls.  You put your families first; you make sure that Christ is in the center of your home.  Stand up to the pressure to be like the world, to look like the world, to have “fun” like the world.  Too many who have done that have discovered that the fun was a mile wide but an inch deep.  When the glamour faded and the friends disappeared, they had nothing to show for their foolishness.  Be the kind of woman whose children will someday rise up and call you blessed!

(Have the men stand up.)  You must not get discouraged because of the fire.  You are men lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.  Resist the temptations of the alcohol and drugs, the gambling and wild living, the shady deals and compromises of your integrity.  Stand up to the buddies who want to influence you to do all the wrong things.  Lead your homes into spiritual ways; take responsibility for doing the right things.

This may not qualify for great preaching, but it is good, solid advice! 

There will be fire that will consume the earth in the last days!

It has already begun.  The word “meltdown” is now frequently used to describe what is happening.

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

But we have a hope in Christ that lifts us up above all the cataclysmic events that will take place on the earth.  We will be in heaven observing all these things from above; not on earth going through the tribulations.

Revelation 18:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

The fire is coming.  Are you ready for the fire?  There is a fire that you need.  It is a holy fire, a fire that burns within you.  It is the Holy Ghost and fire!

The Prophet Comes to Zarephath

1 Kings 17:8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,  ⁹  Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 

Elijah was probably the most feared and bold prophet of the New Testament. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ, but Elijah was the forerunner of John. Elijah called fire down from heaven, he embarrassed 450 prophets of Baal, he slew them all, and commanded the rain to fall from heaven. But before these events, God sent Elijah to Zarephath

The reason Elijah went to Zarephath was the drought in the land. The reason there was a drought in the land was the command of Elijah. The reason God sent a drought to Israel was the sin of Ahab. “He did more the provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel that were gone before him.” (1 Kings 16:33)

· Sometimes it seems that the reason you are in a difficult situation is because you were following God and God led you there.

· God may never lead you into temptation, but he may lead you into the valley of the shadow of death.

· Some people say “God, Lead Me!” Then they proceed to tell God where to lead them and where not to lead them. The whole purpose of leadership is to take you where you wouldn’t go yourself, to face an enemy that you don’t want to face, and to gain a victory that you never would have won otherwise.

· With the same breath you ask God to take over your life, you also tell your flesh to submit to God. There is no leadership without followership!

· James said, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

¹⁰  So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 

Ever wonder why God so often picks on “widow women” to do his bidding? Why not some burley, robust man? Why not a wealthy landowner or prince? (Woman with the issue of blood; the widow who cast two mites into the temple offering; the Syrophoenician woman who wanted her daughter healed.) Because the widow woman lives with no cushion in her life. She has learned to utterly depend on God. She has no other recourse.

The first thing Elijah asked for was for her to fetch him a little water in a vessel.

Water the prophet

The prophet cannot live without water. This reference to the prophet is not to exalt the man, Elijah, but to magnify the office that he filled. In a larger sense, it was to keep the Word of God alive in your life. It is a confession of our weakness and his strength, of our utter dependence on God.

2 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

Sometimes we think that God demands too much from us. Do you know how much water the earth demands for its plant life each day? Answer: 914 km³ per day or 914 trillion liters (914,000,000,000,000 L) or 241,450,000,000,000 gallons (US). That’s 500 billion cubic kilometers every year.

That’s why we need to praise him lavishly, abundantly, exceedingly. Keep the spigot turned on full blast. Water the prophet.

Psalm 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

Feed the Prophet

¹¹  And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.  ¹²  And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.  ¹³  And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

The widow woman was going to do the bidding of the prophet. She hadn’t yet gotten it done when he called out for something more. “Bring me some bread too.”

This struck her as asking a little too much. “I’m okay with getting you some water. But now you are going too far. If I feed you, I am going to die myself and my son along with me. In fact, you are stealing my last meal from me. How could this be the will of God?”

She was more in need of a handout herself than to entertain others.

The flesh will never be able to understand how God works. If you expect your flesh to understand spiritual things, you are taking a long walk off a short pier. It will never happen.

The Apostle Paul told the Galatians: Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

To the Romans he wrote: Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

After you have watered the prophet, you need to understand that you’ve only started to serve him. Now you have to feed him.

Around the world bread is a staple in almost every single diet. Throughout history bread has been recognized as an important part of society’s survival. There have been wars started over the land on which the grains grow that are used to make the breads of a country or region.

· Water represents life; bread represents strength.

· Water represents your love, affection, praise, adoration and worship to God.

· Bread represents giving him your time, your tithes, your offerings, your energy, your relationships, your goals, your dreams, your purposes.

· Water represents how you are feeling towards God; bread represents what you are willing to do for God.

Judas was willing to give Jesus his love and affection; he was not willing to give him is dreams and purposes.

Many people are willing to flirt with Jesus. When it comes to a marriage commitment, they back out of it.

Notice that the woman did not have any bread, but she did have the ingredients to make it. She had the sticks, the flour and the oil. When God asks you for something, you cannot use the excuse that you don’t have it to give. You have all the necessary components to meet his request.

Elijah said, “Bake my cake first!” Do not ask God to wait his turn. He always goes to the front of the line.

Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) Jesus is the first and the last. If he can’t be first in your life, he won’t be the last. I want Jesus to have the last word in my life. But if he is going to have the last word, he’s got to have the first word!

Finally, the miracle shows up!

 ¹⁴  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth  ^d  rain upon the earth.  ¹⁵  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. ¹⁶  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah. 

When you water and feed the prophet, you begin to see the miraculous power of God come to life!

It cannot be any other way. The barrel of meal and the cruse of oil could not be replenished until they were challenged. The blessing of God eludes the takers and the tightwads. It is always on the givers.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Final Stage of Giving

This final segment of the story reveals the hardest part of the woman’s dealings with the prophet.

17  And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.  18  And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?  19  And he said unto her, Give me thy son.

She was asked to give water. She gave water.

She was asked to give bread. She gave bread at a great sacrifice.

Now she was asked to give her son.

I will never forget the time I left home and went to Bible College. I was excited, confident, determined. I put all of my earthly belongings into the 1962 Pontiac Tempest convertible, backed out of the driveway into Monroe St., waved bye and took off. I left my parents standing there by the house. I never understood how they must have felt until I waved goodbye to my son as he left for Bible College. My mother said that my Dad moped around for a week and would hardly look at my room, let alone go in it. Twenty-eight years later, I felt his pain.

My mother and father also said goodbye to a daughter and son-in-law, along with three grandkids as they left for the country of Uruguay, S. A. in 1976.

God takes us through the water experience and the bread experience so he can lead us to the son experience.

At some point in your life, whether sooner or later, God is going to lead you to the point where you will have to make the toughest decision of your life.

You are going to have to give up the thing that means the most to you. This is not water or bread for God. This is your life for God.

This is the point where anyone who desires the depths of God’s power must go. The great Apostle Paul had to go to this point.

Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

God’s Remarkable Gift

When you allow God to take you to the depths, he will then take you to the heights.

19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.  20  And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?  21  And he stretched  f  himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again.  22  And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.  23  And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.  24  And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. 

The woman did not first express gratitude for the resurrection of her son as you might expect. She first realized that she was in the presence of the man of God. She understood that truth was more important than anything else in her life.

The peace of God comes at the end of the conflict between you and your flesh. When you battle the will of the flesh to the very end, when you refuse to give up the struggle because it is too painful, when something within you will not let you stop, then you will be overwhelmed by the peace that passeth all understanding. Eternal purposes are settled in the crucible of time.

Bro. Kinzie is one of the greatest illustrations of the sacrifice of a dream for the cause of Christ. (Pensacola FL incident.) He gave up his farm. God gave him a world-wide ministry and a loving congregation that he was part of until the day he died.

Zarepheth is Toledo; Sylvania; Perrysburg; Walbridge; Bedford; Fulton County; The prophet is coming to your house. Expect him. Do his bidding. There you will find the miracle that will give ultimate meaning to your life.

---

d sendeth: Heb. giveth

f stretched: Heb. measured

The Triumph of Pentecost

1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

John Darby’s commentary asks, “Had the Galatians received the Spirit through works done on the principle of law, or through a testimony received by faith? Having begun by the power of the Spirit, would they carry the thing on to perfection by the wretched flesh?

They had suffered for the gospel, for the pure gospel, unadulterated with Judaism and the law: was it then all in vain?

We know how the church began on the Day of Pentecost.

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

We know that they were interested in things other than the Holy Spirit, but Jesus brought the attention back to the Spirit.

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We know that they followed through with these instructions of Jesus.

They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, just as Jesus said they would.

This event was in the midst of a feast of the Jews, the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus knew that it would draw attention to the establishment of the New Testament church.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

From that spectacular beginning, the paradigm shifted:

From Law to Grace

From Flesh to Spirit

From the Nation of Israel to the Entire World

From God above us to God within us.

From the blood of lambs to the Blood of The Lamb

From rituals to real

From prophecy projected to prophecy fulfilled

I still don’t think we understand the full significance of this shift. Ezekiel sheds some light on it for us.

Eze. 4:6. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT, saith the LORD of hosts.

Again, in Eze. 36:26 he said, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

This is the way the church operated after the Day of Pentecost.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led BY THE SPIRIT of God, they are the sons of God.

1 Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and BY THE SPIRIT of our God.

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, BY THE SPIRIT which he hath given us.

It was only a matter of time until the rise of the Age of the Spirit would reach a state where it could no longer be ignored by the world. We are there now.

Holy Spirit’s Reach Studied

Paul Steven Ghiringhelli News - Featured News  

A Los Angeles-based university was awarded a $6.9 million grant this week to establish a Pentecostal and charismatic research center in the birthplace city of American Pentecostalism.  

Feb. 24, 2009 - This week the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles received a $6.9 million grant to study Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity — one of the world’s fastest growing religious movements.

Awarded by the John Templeton Foundation, a natural and social sciences philanthropy, the grant is the largest amount ever given towards Pentecostal-charismatic research and will be used to establish the Pentecostal and Charismatic Research Initiative (PCRI) at USC.

“The growth of global Pentecostalism is one of the most remarkable religious transformations of the last century,” said Kimon Sargeant, vice president of human sciences at the John Templeton Foundation.

“The goal of this project is to further a better understanding of its significance in the social sciences in areas ranging from social capital to economic development and more.”

With as many as 600 million Christians worldwide claiming to be Spirit-filled, observers say Pentecostalism’s profound effect on cultures has forced the academic community to take note.

“We are excited that with the continued growth of the charismatic-Pentecostal movement around the world, scholars and universities are continuing to try to understand this phenomenon,” said the Rev. Billy Wilson, executive director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal and chairman of the Commission on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21^st Century, which is examining the future of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement in partnership with Oral Roberts University.

“Our prayer is that this research will not only help people understand the charismatic-Pentecostal movement, but will also help more believers around the world be engaged in the Spirit-filled life,” Wilson said.

USC officials said the initiative would foster social science research in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the former Soviet Union, while continuing to study Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity in Los Angeles.

“Our goal is to inspire research partnerships around the globe and fund projects that will shape the discussion for years to come,” said Donald Miller, executive director of USC’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture and author of Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Christian Social Engagement.

“We are interested in understanding why Pentecostalism is growing so rapidly, what impact it is having on society and how it is different in various cultural settings.”

With the largest charismatic populations in the “global South,” including nations such as Brazil, Guatemala, Kenya and the Philippines, scholars say the movement is making Christian converts ubiquitous, which in turn affects not just cultures but governments too.

The Pentecostal-charismatic movement “has far-reaching implications for international politics and interactions among religious groups,” said Brie Loskota, program officer at PCRI. “Studying Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity is critical to understanding the ways in which religion shapes our world.”

John Green, senior fellow at the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, agrees that the research initiative will allow for a more in-depth study of global Spirit-filled movements. “It will expand the boundaries of knowledge about these key religious developments that are central to the spread of Christianity in the 21st century,” Green said. —-Paul Steven Ghiringhelli

 I agree with you as far as American or Western Pentecostalism, however I think if one looks at Pentecostalism in other countries one will see that it is the Pentecostals who are making a huge impact especially in missions. Other more traditional denominations are scared to use the gifts and/or cast out demons but this is the very thing that people are looking for in those countries to believe there truly is a God who answers by fire. They do not have the doctors we have or other things… they run to God and He answers their prayers with power. There are so many testimonies of supernatural water, deliverance, salvation, dreams in Muslim countries… the good about Pentecostals is that we are fine with these things happening.

 I believe it is time for the true Pentecostals to rise up.

We have too long looked at ourselves as stepchildren, outsiders, pretenders to the traditional Christian church.

 If God is truly moving in the world today, it is through his Spirit, not through denominational, “orthodox” Christianity.

 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 There are those among us who want to return to the old style of Spirit-less church.

Intellectually-driven

Hermeneutically accepted

Socially approved

Culturally relevant

 But this article and this funded-study shows that the relevance of the church has nothing to do with being “green.” It has nothing to do with being accepted with the “ivy-league” mentality.

 If these people wanted to study traditional Christianity, they have more than enough evidences of that to keep them busy for the next decade. They don’t want to study that because nothing is happening in traditional Christianity.

 Indeed, traditional Christianity, evangelicalism, is collapsing. It is going nowhere. People are leaving the mainline denominations by the droves. Methodists dropped by 0.8% in 2008. The UCC was down a full 6% last year. Only about 10% of the 1 billion Catholics in the world attend church regularly.

 August was a month of harvesting in Guyana, South America! In this beautiful, Caribbean cultured country in the north-east corner of South America, we had a Holy Ghost explosion unlike any seen here in many years! In the months preceding our National Crusade the churches of the United Pentecostal Church of Guyana prayed, fasted, gave and did months of outreach in order to have an outpouring of the Holy Ghost. The harvesting was a total corporate effort. Funds for this crusade in the capital city of Georgetown had been sacrificially given at the General Conference of the UPCI in Columbus, Ohio.

The Apostolic Youth Corp from the Youth Division of the UPCI led by our Youth President Shay Mann and a group of 22 other like-minded young adults came and helped canvas almost every area where we have UPC churches in the Georgetown area. While they were here over 8,000 flyers were passed out advertising the crusade. Each of churches got on board and helped with the outreach and mobilization of buses to bring people out to the Holy Ghost Explosion. Evangelist Felix Crowder from Indianapolis, Indiana came in as the special crusade speaker. And then, it happened! On August 6, 7 and 8 the Holy Ghost fell. On the first night we had an attendance of around 700 with 25 receiving the Holy Ghost. On the second night there were around 600 in attendance with 41 receiving the Holy Ghost. Then on the last night with an attendance of around 1,100 we had 46 receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! We also had around 20 that were water baptized in Jesus’ Name! We had 8 more receive the Holy Ghost the Sunday morning following the crusade in the headquarters church bringing all to a total of 120 receiving the Holy Ghost! Thank the Lord Jesus for our own personal Pentecost! We are so very thankful for those who gave to sponsor our crusade. We thank everyone who prayed and fasted with us. We thank every AYCer and the Manns for coming and helping with outreach. We thank Evangelist Crowder for coming and blessing us again with his ministry. And we thank Jesus for pouring out the rivers of the Holy Ghost on Guyana, the “Land of Many Waters”!

The Tallinn church has really been struggling due to a lack of leadership in place, but Andres one of the men in the church just started teaching some Bible studies and has a couple ready for baptism, and is coordinating this effort with Vadim. Through this another home group will be started in Tallinn.

We had a leadership seminar in Riga in January and four people came from the Tallinn church, and three Trinitarian ministers came from three other churches. The three young men have received the revelation of the Oneness of God, and baptism in Jesus’ Name. One of these young men has been seeking after the baptism of the Holy Ghost for a long time. He said that many people prayed for him to receive the Holy Ghost and nothing happened. I felt that this was a great opportunity for the truth to be confirmed to these young men and I stepped out in faith, and in a few minutes that young man was speaking in tongues as God filled him with His Spirit. These men are talking about getting baptized this March in our next seminar.

 So, what do we believe?

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

I believe in a Gospel that works.

I believe in a church filled with the Spirit of God.

I believe in a prayer-life that is bursting with Holy Ghost power.

The greatest need for Pentecostals is for our practices to catch up with our beliefs!

I can preach only so much about forgiveness. It is time for us to ACT forgiven!

I can preach only so much about worship. It is time for us to reap the benefits of worship and praise!

I believe it is time for us to bind together and pray for revival!

Young people, Men, Women. Form groups and pray

Our God Is A Consuming Fire

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Hebrews 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

The fire that destroyed Sister Pat Caudill’s trailer blew out both ends of the trailer. She suffered third degree burns over 70% of her body. Lost her hair, had skin grafts on her face and neck. She lost 90% of the use of her hands.

Fire is one of our most important tools, and holds a prominent place in many ancient philosophies and religions.

The ancient Greeks believed that fire–along with earth, water, and air–was one of the four essential elements that made up the world. We now know that the world is a lot more complicated, with over a hundred elements of matter which can be combined in a tremendous variety of ways. So, what exactly is fire?

Watching a flame dance through the air, you might conclude that fire’s a gas, like oxygen or carbon dioxide. It’s not. Fire can burn fuel that’s a gas, or a liquid, or even a solid–as in the case of glowing charcoal. But the fire itself isn’t any of these things. In fact, fire isn’t any thing at all. It’s not its own type of matter; it’s something that matter can do. Fire is the outward sign that something inside is happening. In the case of Holy Ghost fire, the fire of zeal and joy indicates that there is a reaction to a change happening in the soul!

What makes a fire burn? A fire needs oxygen and some kind of fuel. This fuel–whether it’s candle wax, wood, or gasoline–usually contains big molecules that have carbon atoms inside them. You can think of these molecules as little containers of energy. When they’re allowed to combine with oxygen, this energy is released as heat and light. When faith is released toward God, a fire is going to break out. Like the song says, “It’s all over me and it’s keeping me alive!”

Scientifically speaking, fire is a rapid chemical reaction known as oxidation. Inside a fire, oxygen molecules break bigger molecules apart into carbon dioxide and water vapor. All the heat and light of a fire comes from big, carbon-based molecules combining with oxygen. When the right substances are present, and when the temperature reaches an ignition point, a fire starts. Fire changes whatever it burns into a different substance. That’s why the Bible says that “Our God is a consuming fire.” You cannot experience the one true and living God without a change. “If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.”

So what is fire? It’s not the fuel or the oxygen or the heat or the light. Fire is what happens between all these things. It’s a chemical reaction. Neither can you put your finger on the form or substance of God. God is a Spirit. God is omnipresent. God is big enough to fill all space, yet he pours himself into a living soul with the greatest of ease.

We speak of raging fire. Wild fire. Fast fire. Bonfire. Inferno. Blazes. Flames. Conflagration. Combustion. Out-of-control fires cause unbelievable devastation. In the Great Chicago fire of 1871, the so-called “Burnt District,” a map of which appeared in virtually every account of the fire, encompassed an area four miles long and an average of three-quarters of a mile wide—more than two thousand acres—including over twenty-eight miles of streets, 120 miles of sidewalks, and over 2,000 lampposts, along with countless trees, shrubs, and flowering plants in “the Garden City of the West.” Gone were eighteen thousand buildings and some two hundred million dollars in property, about a third of the valuation of the entire city. Around half of this was insured, but the failure of numerous companies cut the actual payments in half again. One hundred thousand Chicagoans lost their homes, an uncounted number their places of work.

When we say that our God is a consuming fire then, it is no small thing.

You cannot adequately tell the story of the Bible without talking about fire. Everywhere you look, you see fire or the evidence of fire.  

The fire of Judgment. Genesis 19:24  “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”

God will judge the world and every person in the world on the last day.

Just because judgment does not happen immediately doesn’t mean that it won’t.

Galatians 6:7 says “Be not deceived, God is not mocked…”

“Foolish men imagine that because judgment for an evil thing is delayed, there is no justice; but only accident here below. Judgment for an evil thing is many times delayed some day or two, some century or two, but it is sure as life, it is sure as death.”  Thomas Carlyle

The fire of sacrifice. Genesis 22:6  “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.”

A life with no sacrifice for God has no relationship with God.

James said, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” In other words, WE want to be the consuming fire, not God!

Ignite the fire of sacrifice somewhere in your life. Destroy something for God. He will give you back something infinitely more precious.

The fire of the call of God. Exodus 3:2  “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”

Fire changes things. The bush may not have been changed, but Moses was. When something strange happens to you, you need to stop and ask if God is trying to get your attention.

Trust God and he will reveal himself to you. Don’t ask for the revelation in order to believe; believe first and you will get the revelation.

The fire of service. Exodus 12:8  “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”

Maybe this is where we get the phrase, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Just a an uncontrolled fire causes judgment or devastation, a fire that is contained improves the quality of life. The Spirit and power of God just makes your life better.

The fire of Revelation. Exodus 13:21  “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.”

Israel was in the wilderness without a map or compass. They had to look to God for their direction.

God does not just point the way. God becomes the way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

I believe that the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire were the same pillar. In the daytime, God was concealed. In the night time, however, the cloud disappeared and they saw the fire in the midst of the cloud.

This is a wonderful lesson on the Godhead. 1 Timothy 3:16 says “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

God was manifest in the flesh. The Father was made visible in the Son. When you see Jesus, you see the Father.

John 14:8-9 “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

The fire of demonstration. 1 Kings 18:38  “Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

This is one of the most spectacular of the Old Testament miracles. Elijah on one side; the 400 prophets of Baal on the other. Out-numbered 400 to 1. How do you like those odds?

Satan’s greatest boast is that he is in the majority. He plays the numbers game.

God people have always been in the minority.

Guess what? You—plus God—always outnumbers the majority!

The priest of Baal found that out. Their ceremonies were fantastic; their worship was sincere; their intentions were honest. It is just that their God had no response.

Do not challenge God. He will declare himself among the heathen.

God’s New Plan

All of these Old Testament reference to fire is not without purpose. God has always had something in mind.

In the Old Testament, he operated through without a body in signs, wonders and miracles. In the New Testament, he fashioned a body for himself and he operated through the agency of sinless flesh.

Now, his plan is to build a church and inhabit his people with his presence and power.

Ezekiel 36:24-27 says, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

The only way this could happen is for God—who is a consuming fire—to robe himself in his church. The fire on the outside had to become the fire on the inside.

Jeremiah spoke about it in 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.”

The Psalmist said in Psalm 104:4  “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.”  I believe this was a veiled reference to us as his messenger ministers in the church.

Now, let’s go past the major and minor prophets. Let’s go past the 400 year of silence between the testaments. A strange figure comes out of the wilderness. His name was John. The Pharisees called him John the Baptist because he baptized his converts unto repentance.

He had a new message. In Matthew 3:11 we read, “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.”

And with fire! We have known the Holy Ghost as living water. Now we need to know him as the fire of God. Fire and water; water and fire. Both in the same experience.

But don’t let this confuse you. God operates in ways we humans find contradictory. Visible and invisible. Heaven and earth. Time and eternity. Flesh and Spirit. The Mighty God in Christ.

But the church had to have something supernatural to compensate for the flesh.

Acts 1:6-8. “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” 

Now, the challenge was to put this fire in the church.

Acts 2:1-4. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

There is the fire! It sat upon each of them.

When the Holy Ghost makes his entrance, there is not only a rush of wind, there is a rush of power! It’s the fire that didn’t consume the bush. It’s the fire inside the cloud. It’s the fire shut up on your bones.

It is the fire of judgment on sin.

It is the fire of sacrifice.

It is the fire of the call.

It is the fire of service.

It is the fire of revelation.

It is the fire of demonstration.

There is no way God can operate in you without manifesting himself as a fire. A life-changing, power-giving, miracle-working fire!

One of the things about the fire in the Old Testament. It was never allowed to go out. The tabernacle had fire burning in it continually.

God has never let the fire go out of his tabernacle, the church. In the book of Revelation, John describes Jesus. He tells us where he is and what he looks like.

Revelation 1:12-13. “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

This is why the Pentecostal church gives such emphasis to the infilling of the Holy Ghost. This need for Holy Ghost power is greater today than ever before.

Do you have the fire?

Do you have the power?

Do you have the baptism?

You can have it today!