“The Fire of Heaven in 07”
Thesis: New Life Community Church is praying for the Lord to send “The Fire of Heaven in 07” and we must do 4 spiritual disciplines to ignite it and to keep it burning. We must let it guide us, we must keep the fire burning, we must understand that it is a consuming fire and will bring sin into the open to be dealt with and we must not ever quench it.
Introduction:
Our theme for the New Year is actually a prayer “Lord, send the fire of Heaven in 07!”
In the past year of 2006 we had the theme and the task of getting a “Fix in 06.” The focus was on repairing the broken elements of the church, our families and our own personal lives. We cried out to God to “Fix us in 06” so that we could be repaired and prepared for “The Fire of Heaven in 07.” Over the last several months many people have been sharing their testimonies about how the Lord has done a fix in their personal lives, in there family lives, and even in our church. I shared about how the Lord did a fix in my own heart and mind about the call on my life to continue following my call and pastoring. So the Lord has been fixing many dimensions in us at New Life Community Church over the past year.
Is there more work to be done in all of us? Absolutely but I also believe that over the last few months God has been sending down his fire from heaven to us. The revival type atmosphere and the tangible presence of the Lord has manifested in our services. Many have noted to me how they have been feeling the presence of the Lord in our services. Our youth have been set on fire for the Lord and are doing awesome. So I stand at the threshold of 2006 and I look back over the year and I can say that the Lord has done a lot of repairing and fixing here at New Life. But as I turn around and look a head my heart actually leaps for joy because I do believe this will be a year of revival at New Life. I believe that when the Lord gave me the prophetic word for this church he promised that revival and the fire of Heaven was moving into New Life to set it ablaze for the Kingdom of God. This morning I want to reread the prophetic message for this church because I do believe it is tied in with receiving, “The Fire of Heaven in 07!”
The Prophetic Word: The prophetic message to share with New Life Community Church for Nov. 5, 2006:
Illustration: SAVING THE SHIP, REMEMBERING THE PAST
"Their hair is gray, their shoulders are slumped and they walk with the shuffle of the aged. Their ship, a rusty antique, wallowed through the Atlantic, battered by a winter storm. For the elderly crew of LST-325, a creaking World War II troop ship that had been taken out of service in 1946, it was the last chance to recapture their youth--and to preserve their exploits for future generations. Ironically, the U.S. Coast Guard deemed the voyage from Greece to Mobile, Alabama unsafe. The same daring that lead these men to ignore deadly enemy fire lead them to ignore the Coast Guard warnings. The ship, now safe at harbor in Alabama, will be the first memorial to the heroism of the amphibious land craft crews. The crew of WWII battled ancient equipment, 110 degree heat, cockroaches, governmental regulations and the death of a crewmember to secure the old vessel and make it seaworthy. ’They tried to stop us at times, but we knew that we could do it.’ LST-325 will serve as a double-memorial to the men who served bravely under fire during the war, and then fought once again to reclaim her from the scrap heap."
SOURCE: Bruce Howell. Citation: Newsweek, January 22, 2001, p. 12. Contributed by: Sermon Central
I read this story and the anointing of the Holy Spirit came over me in my office and revealed the following prophetic word to me. The Lord impressed in to my heart that I must share this with New Life’s community of believers:
* The church crew is being called to restore the rusty old ship – New Life has been called a rusty old ship but God is sending the crew to restore it as memorial to Jesus Christ.
* The ships is going to be put out into the sea to save the one’s drowning from the storms of life.
* The ship will require a lot of hard work to restore it for its mission to this county.
* The crew will be criticized for restoring the ship and putting it out to sea but do it any way.
* Some will die from the churches mission but it is the best way to go.
* But the ship will succeed in its mission and it will become a living memorial to the cause of Jesus Christ.
Here is more of what the Lord burned into my heart for New Life -- Nov. 5th 2006.
Mike the church must remember the past – this means understanding the importance of Communion and its vital message – You must remember all the battles that were fought for the cause of Christ from the past! The Lord’s Supper performed by Jesus should take us to the past and remind us of the ultimate battle and its victory – (Note to congregation) “We have been reading about all the battles revealed in the book of Acts!” – The Lord reminds us that we must be willing to get into the ship and put it out into the sea so as to rescue those who are drowning from the storms of life. We must at New Life go to war against the enemy of Polk County and its people and see this county ignited for the cause of Jesus Christ.
The Lord is prompting my heart to say the following thoughts today: I believe this is what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to New Life Community Church today: I am going to speak as if the Lord is saying this because I really believe He is – so be prayerful and thoughtful to the messages and open up your hearts!
• I will help you save 1,000 of people from drowning in the flood of sin- if you keep a Spirit of humility and boldly share my Word with them.
• I will see to it that they are delivered from the bondages of drugs and alcohol.
This will be done by my power and by my Spirit.
This will be done not by human wisdom and understanding but by my delivering power.
For this to keep happening my name must be called the “The cure!”
• I will rise up men and women who will be my faithful witnesses in Polk County.
If you submit and resist the lies of the enemy 100’s will be raised up and sent out.
Stand for the truth and resist “The Bait of Satan” the spirit of offense.
• The schools in Polk County will experience the fire of my Holy Spirit.
It will burn through them like a wild fire! It will jump and cross over to all the schools saving many young people and delivering them from sexual immorality, suicide, drugs, alcohol, depression, sin filled lives and hopelessness.
As my young people share about me this will happen - if you remain silent then the fire will go out.
• Places of work will experience the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit as you my people share the power and the truth of my Word with your fellow workers.
You are to share the testimonies that will be birthed over the next year through this outpouring with your co-workers and it will melt their hard hearts.
My Word will flow from your mouths as you surrender it to me and speak for me.
My Spirit will empower you to start new Bible Studies and Prayer groups in these places of work.
• I will speak through my Word to their hearts and minds.
• I will answer their prayers as a testimony to my power.
You will say that as a testimony to all who ask - “The Lord Jesus has brought this renewal of lives to Polk County.” Yes, your places of work will be transformed and they will be revived for my cause and for my Kingdom.
If you refuse to share about what I am doing then my fire will go out!
• I will save 1,000 through this church and it will explode with new converts and with new people seeking and wanting more of my Spirit.
New Life will be filled with the power of my Holy Spirit.
• Services will be awe inspiring – my presence will be tangible!
People will come from far and wide and from other countries to have power encounters with me in these services – I the great “I AM!” will be touching – filling and empowering them as they come.
If this church becomes prideful or arrogant then my Spirit will depart this place because “I Am” the one doing the power encounters not you!
• I am to be the focus not individuals!
• I will open the door to the professionals in your community.
They too will be touched and set free.
• Their intellectual mindset will be infused with my truth and my love and my grace.
They will have heart transforming encounters with me and my holy fire will be set ablaze with in them.
They will be purified and empowered to serve for my Kingdom.
They will serve me and give from there abundance to finance this mighty move of my Spirit.
• All who give will be blessed in abundance and I will open up the flood gates of Heaven in their lives as they give sacrificially.
If this church fails to share the truth of my message with the professional community then the finances will dry up and the revival will burn out.
• Get ready New Life Community Church for I am going to unleash my Spirit through all of you today – it is coming as a mighty wind and as a fire from the Heavens – Open your hearts and receive it. Close your hearts and you will miss it!
• Today is the beginning of the NW Wisconsin Revival prophesied for this region for years at IHOP and at other places of worship and prayer --- this is the Day!
You are my witnesses!
You are the Acts New Testament Church!
Receive the Fire and the Wind of the Spirit!
• The Lord told me to pause here and say “Prepare your hearts for His outpouring it will happen during communion – get ready!”
o Some need to repent of their sins.
o Some need to confess their unbelief.
o Some need to crucify the flesh.
o Some need to repent of the “Spirit of offense.”
o Some need to die to their pride.
o Some need to forgive others.
o Some need to go to others to clear the offense away and embrace the way of forgiveness.
• Now when you are ignited you must go and boldly tell others that I love them and I have died for their sins. They must repent from there wicked ways and ask for forgiveness and I will heal them and this land of Polk County. Tell the officials, the newspapers, the media that I will do the following as a sign of my power:
Marriages will be healed and restored.
Men will return to their families to serve as Godly leaders to their families.
Divorce will be driven back in this county.
Suicide will be driven back in this county.
Families will be baptized and transformed together in the 100’s.
Those with criminal records and with a heart toward crime will be delivered and turned into model citizens of the Kingdom of God and of this society.
I am coming today as a flood into this county and I am rushing in like a mighty flood over the young, the middle aged and the old.
Churches will be planted trough this ministry and many planted throughout this county.
Godly leaders will be raised up in this county from this chosen ministry and sent to all regions of the world.
This will come to pass starting today and over the next year so get ready now – guard your hearts with my Word and with humility and surrender your life and your way to me this day.
Today I am pouring out my Spirit on you and I will give you the promised land of Polk County.
If you want more -- open your hearts and invite me to take root and to take control!
• You must invite me into you life and into your family for me to come in this new way. I am only coming in if I am invited!
• So ask me now to come to restore to heal and to deliver!
As I prayed and pondered the word the Lord gave me and the promise of “The Fire of Heaven in 07.” My heart was drawn to the Bible to look up as many texts as I could on the manifestation of fire from Heaven.
Scripture Texts:
Exodus 13:21, 22: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Ex 13:21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
Ex 13:22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
Leviticus 6:12, 1: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Lev 6:12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.
Lev 6:13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
Isaiah 30:25-31: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Isa 30:25 In the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall, streams of water will flow on every high mountain and every lofty hill.
Isa 30:26 The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.
Isa 30:27 See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and
dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming
fire.
Isa 30:28 His breath is like a rushing torrent, rising up to the neck. He shakes the
nations in the sieve of destruction; he places in the jaws of the peoples a bit
that leads them astray.
Isa 30:29 And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your
hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the
LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
Isa 30:30 The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice and will make them
see his arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire, with cloudburst,
thunderstorm and hail.
Isa 30:31 The voice of the LORD will shatter Assyria; with his scepter he will strike them down.
Jeremiah 23:8 - 32: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Jer 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD.
Jer 23:29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Jer 23:30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.
Jer 23:31 Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’
Jer 23:32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD.
Matthew 3:11 - The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Mt 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Acts 2:1-4: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Ac 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Ac 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Ac 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Ac 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 Corinthians 3:11-14: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
1Co 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
1Co 3:13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.
1Co 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 – 24: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
1Th 5:12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
1Th 5:13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
1Th 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
1Th 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
1Th 5:16 Be joyful always;
1Th 5:17 pray continually;
1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1Th 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;
1Th 5:20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.
1Th 5:21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
1Th 5:22 Avoid every kind of evil.
1Th 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
Key verse to start with and read -- Hebrews 12:28, 29: The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Heb 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
T.S. – Here are some personal thoughts that came to me as I read through some of Scripture texts , stories and some of the spiritual thoughts about the element of a fire from Heaven.
I. The fire of Heaven is to be our guide throughout this up and coming year.
a. In Exodus 13:21, 22 it states, “By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
b. As I read about the Israelites and how God led them through the desert I was amazed at what the Word revealed to me. It notes that when the pillar of fire or the cloud moved they followed it wherever it led them. If it was not moving then they were not moving.
i. I bought this picture many years ago in Lancaster Penna. Because I felt such a presence of the Lord when I looked at the camp of Israel and saw what the pillar looked liked to these newly delivered slaves from Egypt.
1. This is what New Life is to do this year – see the fire of Heaven and follow it!
2. The point is we must allow the Spirit of the Lord to lead us and guide us this year.
a. If we do He will lead us through the wilderness to the Promised Land.
c. If you recall we have been studying the book of Acts and we have been learning what an Acts New Testament church looks like. One of the biggest lessons I learned from the study of Acts is that we as a church body and as individuals are to be led and guided by the Holy Spirit.
i. We are not to lead ourselves but instead we are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
1. He is to be our guide through the wilderness of life.
ii. Blackaby states this about “Experiencing God” from his book by the same name:
1. Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name. He will teach you all things” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit of God will be your personal Teacher. He is the One who will guide you to apply these principles according to God’s will. He will be at work revealing God, His purposes, and His ways to you. Jesus said, ‘If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak My own authority” (John 7:17)(3).
2. His book covers the seven realities of Experiencing God listen to his now famous 7 realities:
a. God is always at work around you.
b. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
c. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
d. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
e. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
f. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
g. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you (page, 32).
iii. The 7 Realities of Experiencing God by Blackaby -- Diagram page 33:
d. The Israelites had to choose to follow the pillar of fire at night or the cloud during the day when it moved.
i. The same choice applies to us today – we have to choose to follow the leading of the Spirit – when the fire says move we move – when the fire says stay we stay!
ii. We have to choose to obey even if it causes a crisis of belief on our part – we have to learn to adjust to God and follow Him and His path.
e. The promise from the Lord is that He will lead this church to the Promised Land but we must be willing to go when He says go and stay when He says stay!
f. We must be willing to be obedient to His guidance and do what He instructs us to do!
T.S. – The fire of Heaven will guide us this year if we are obedient to follow where it leads us to go. The fire of Heaven will be ignited in our hearts more so this year and we have the responsibility to keep it burning.
II. The Fire of Heaven must be kept burning on the altars of our hearts.
a. NIV -- Leviticus 6:8-14:
i. “The LORD said to Moses: "Give Aaron and his sons this command: These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar. Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”
ii. I have often said pay attention to the Bible’s teachings when the Lord repeats instructions over and over.
1. The fire on this altar was to remain burning!
b. The continual fire on the altar has significant meanings for us today (Lev. 6:8-13).
i. The first question we can ask ourselves is, “How did the fire get started?”
1. It was originally started by Aaron by the instruction of the Lord. He was to offer the first sacrifice and when it started burning in Lev. 9:24 it states, “That fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the Burnt offering.”
a. From this time forward the fire on the altar was not to go out Lev. 6:9, 12.
b. The flame burned for 860 years from 1,446-586BC.
c. The scenario shows us that God started the fire and it came from Heaven.
i. God starts the fire – then we are to do our part by keeping it burning!
ii. Note: It is not God’s responsibility to keep the fire burning in our hearts it’s ours!
ii. You may be thinking to yourself today “How do I get a fire like this started in my own heart today?”
1. 1st you have to decide to give yourself to Jesus – you need to become a living sacrifice.
2. 2nd repent of your sins and ask for forgiveness.
3. Then believe and let Jesus flood into your heart and watch Him light the fire.
4. Our text tells us - actually it warns us - to never let the fire go out!
a. This altar fire was never to go out because the daily sacrifices constantly burning on the altar symbolized the unceasing worship of God by Israel, and the gracious acceptance of Israel by God. The ever burning sacrifice was the token of the people being in communion with God (Pulpit, 90).
b. The idea here is to obey God’s command and quench not the Spirit (Lev. 6:13) so that the fire may never go out.
c. When the fire went out it was because the nation of Israel had fallen into sin and the result was they where carried off into captivity because of their sinful ways and rejection of God.
d. This is why the fire on the altar which consumed the Burnt Offering was to be carefully preserved so that it would not go out!
e. This meant that everyday the ashes where to be removed and taken to a place for proper disposal (Lev. 6:11).
f. Why so much maintenance? These ashes represented what would not ascend in the fire, and were a fitting symbol of the dross and corruption which attaches to all human services.
i. Key to understand – everything which would prevent the fire from burning was to be removed – daily!
5. Our text tells us in a symbolic way that the fire on the altar is the Holy Spirit- He comes from God –the Lord sent Him as a fire to our time in Acts 2.
a. The point to grasp here is –the continual cleaning and feeding of the altar-fire is to be done regularly so as to remove everything which would hinder or would quench the free action of the Spirit within us.
b. The purer we try to be, the freer will the movements of the Holy Spirit be within us. On the other hand, negligence in life must interrupt the spiritual action. Let us diligently use every means, like the Priests who kept the fire clean and continue to clear away anything from the altar that would hinder the fire burning bright-hot and intense in our hearts for God.
i. The 1st point is to keep the fire clean but second the priests also had the duty to place the proper fuel on the fire.
ii. They had to go out daily and get the firewood and fuel for it to burn intensely.
iii. In the care that the Rabbis went through for selecting fuel for the fire it is said that they would not allow any rotten sticks because they wanted proper fuel to make it burn bright, hot and intense.
1. They wanted only what was the best for God’s fire.
2. They wanted it to keep burning – so they did what they had to do – What about you?
c. The promise from the Lord is that He has ignited the flames in our hearts but it is now our responsibility to keep it burning. If we allow apathy or the business of life to choke out God’s fire in our life then we will lose it and it will go out.
i. The fire from Heaven must be attended to properly or it will go out!
T.S. – The fire of heaven must be kept burning by keeping it cleaned out and properly fueled if we fail to do this then it will go out. The fire of Heaven is also a consuming fire which will burn up all works that are not rooted in Him. This type of fire from heaven is revelatory fire of truth verses deception.
III. The fire of Heaven is a consuming fire.
a. Scripture texts:
i. Isaiah 30:27: See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.
1. The truth is the Lord is returning sooner than most of us think and that day will reveal what is of God and what is not of God by the power of His Word which is a consuming fire.
ii. 1 Cor. 3:11-14: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
iii. Hebrews 12:28, 29: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
b. God’s fire from Heaven is associated with His Word and His Truth.
i. These divinely inspired manifestations of God’s fire reveal what is true and what is false.
ii. They judge the world and those in it.
iii. They expose the darkness and bring it out into the light.
iv. He will deal with sin and deception and show it for what it is – evil!
c. The Lord is telling us that this year many things that have been done in secret will be exposed by His light this year.
i. God’s fire from Heaven will be poured out at New Life to expose sin and to bring a cleansing to the body so that Revival will move forward.
ii. When we ask for revival and we pray for The Fire of Heaven in 07 it means sin will be exposed for the purpose of repentance and for revival.
iii. Malachi 2:17-3:5:
1. You have wearied the LORD with your words. “How have we wearied him?” you ask. By saying, “All who do evil are good in the eyes of the LORD, and he is pleased with them” or “Where is the God of justice?” “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years. “So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty.
a. This text warns us that God’s fire is a refining fire and He will purify His church and His people. Their delusion of being right with Him will be exposed – they think that those who do evil are still good in His eyes. He is telling them “No you are not!”
b. He names the types of people living under the delusion and lies of sin and says Judgment is coming.
i. He is going to testify against those who practice sorcery, those who commit adultery.
ii. Their secret sin is going to be revealed!
iii. Numbers 32:23, “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. “
iv. He says those who perjurer – lie – steal - scam and fraud others out of their hard earned wages will be exposed and judged by His holy fire.
d. The Promise of God throughout His Word and in association with “Fire from heaven” is that He will judge sin and expose it openly so that it is dealt with properly so that revival can come forth.
i. Thought – Is it up to the Christian to receive revival? If I were to ask you this question, “In your opinion, what percentage of the average church members are out of fellowship with the Lord on any given Sunday?” What would your answer be?
1. The statistic by Dr. Wilkinson is 50-80% on the average.
2. This statistic is rather revealing isn’t it?
ii. Let me ask you another question, “What do you think of when you hear the word revival?
1. Great Crusades?
2. People slain in the spirit?
3. Laughing?
4. Spiritual gifts being manifested?
5. Supernatural miracles?
6. Week long evangelistic crusades?
a. In the New Testament, revival is a translation of the compound word anazao, which means “to live again”. It is used in the spiritual sense of bringing life to a Christian who has fallen into sin and is living in disobedience to the Word of God.
e. The story of David, Bathsheba and Nathan in 2 Samuel 11, 12 teaches us some spiritual lessons about the Word of God being a consuming fire from heaven. In this historical passage we learn some of the steps toward revival which are associated with “Fire from heaven.”
i. Step one of revival is that God commissioned Nathan to go to David to start the process of revival (2 Samuel 12:1a).
1. Key here is God sent Nathan to deal with the sinful situation.
a. God could have spoken to David directly and used His majesty and might to do so. But, instead he chose to send a person.
b. Nathan had been commissioned by God to be his spokesperson.
i. The definition of commissioned means to be given authority to carry out the task at hand. Nathan was granted certain power and position by God to deal with the sinful deceptive King.
1. When Nathan stepped in front of David, he knew that he was doing the will of God.
2. His commission is what gave him the conviction and the courage to do God’s clear command to bring God’s Word as a consuming fire on to David.
ii. The second step of revival is to confront - 2 Samuel 12:1b-9.
1. In the second step of revival our step focuses on revealing the problem and letting the person know that they must take responsibility for their sinful behavior and problem.
a. God has never allowed anyone to get off with sin without repentance and confession.
2. In Latin – confront means to have a common border, and eventually came to mean an agreement between two that points out that a boundary has been broken or overrun by another.
3. Nathan helped David to see himself in God’s true light and the King’s sense of conviction took over and was overpowering.
a. The prophet led David through three discoveries by revealing the truth through God’s eyes:
i. Confront through the telling of stories (1b-6).
ii. Confront through describing the nature of God. (7-8)
iii. Confront through listing specific sins. (12:9-10).
4. Nathan knew that to be effective in Biblical confrontation, you must be direct, specific and truthful. He did not beat around the bush. He marched right in and spoke the truth to David at the risk of his own life and ministry.
a. Truth is confrontation is not easy for anyone, but the Lord admonishes all of us to “speak the truth in love.”
i. Two keys when confronting a sin in another person:
1. Always use the Biblical word for their sin.
2. Do not move beyond the step of confrontation until the person openly admits their sin. (See verse 13)
ii. Wilkerson states, “Perhaps the greatest hindrance to honest confrontation is the ‘Fear of Man’ rather than the ‘Fear of God’. We are afraid of the pain we will suffer by speaking the truth” (346).
1. But we must be obedient to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit if we want ‘Fire from heaven in 07!”
iii. Step three in revival is about the commandments of Scripture (2 Samuel 12:9a).
1. The foundation of all Christian confrontation must be Biblical.
a. We should confront people when we are sure they have broken a clear commandment of Scripture.
b. The key is when a person has chosen to step across the boundaries drawn by God then there has to be repentance.
i. The Bible draws many boundaries and he expects His people to stay with in them.
ii. The truth is without the Bible then we have no absolutes. But when we have the Bible we know what sin is and what sin is not.
c. The Bible establishes the boundaries of sin not man or his rules and regulations.
i. See - 2 Samuel 12:9a
2. Revival then must include the sinner’s repentance from breaking the will of God as well as the heart of God.
a. The truth is the sinner must admit that they have broken the commandments of God.
b. Too many today live in denial and refuse to admit that they do anything wrong. This attitude does not lead to revival!
iv. Step four of revival is Consequences (2 Samuel 12:10-14).
1. The goal of this whole process is to restore the person who has sinned. But note there will still be the consequences of the sin which will be applied by God.
a. When a person disobeys God’s Words, he underestimates two important things:
i. The seriousness of sin.
ii. The negative impact of sin to himself and to others (even to the Lord himself).
iii. As confrontation helps the individual to see the past and its sinful act. Consequences help the person see the present and future harm of the result of sin.
b. According to Wilkerson Nathan used five categories of consequences:
i. Consequences to ourselves.
ii. Consequences to our immediate family
iii. Consequences to the Christian community.
iv. Consequences to the non-Christian community.
v. Consequences to the Lord and the Kingdom of God.
1. I actually wonder if the person who experiences the most pain when we sin is not the Lord himself.
c. The bottom line is that consequences are the simple reminders why a person should not commit sin!
v. Step five of revival is confession (2 Samuel 12:13)
1. To confess means to undeniably make known to others, one’s error or wrongdoing. This is why David stated, “I have sinned against the Lord.”
a. Confession is the first step on the positive side of revival, and represents the hinge pin between revival and rebellion.
b. David’s full confession is found in Psalm 51 and his story reveals the sad fact of the consequences of sin but yet also the forgiveness of God.
2. Many believe that revival is only up to God but in reality revival has to do with our own actions (2 Chronicles 7:14).
a. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
i. 4 things are pointed out for revival fires to come on us:
1. Will we humble ourselves?
2. Will we pray?
3. Will we seek God’s face?
4. Will we turn from our wicked ways?
b. Wilkerson states, “But how could turning from my wicked ways be a condition of revival? I had always thought acts of repentance and obedience were the results of revival, not the conditions for it. I had incorrectly thought that when God finally decided, in his sovereignty, to send revival, then I’d finally have the power to overcome my sins. So ultimately, then, who was I blaming for my wicked ways? In my confusion, who did I feel was responsible for not sending revival and solving all my problems? God! I sought for away to escape full responsibility for my action and found none. If I wanted God to ‘hear, forgive and heal,” then I must first turn from my wicked ways. Could revival be that clear? Could revival be within the grasp of any of us who choose to obey God’s conditions? Yes, 2 Chronicles 7:14 forever answers the question of who is responsible to act so that revival can and will occur” (353).
i. The point is we are responsible for revival in our lives and God is willing and waiting to pour it out on us if we repent and follow His path to revival.
ii. The point being made here is that once you have confession then you are on the path to restoration.
iii. See Galatians 6:1-10 CEV: 1My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself. 2You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand. 3If you think you are better than others, when you really aren’t, you are wrong. 4Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don’t compare yourself with others. 5We each must carry our own load.6Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said. 7You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. 9Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up. 10We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
T.S. – The fire of heaven is a consuming fire which brings judgment on sin and charges us to confess our sins and to repent. If we choose to confess and repent then revival will happen but if we refuse to repent and confess our sins then it will not ignite and it will also put out the spirit’s fire if it was ignited.
IV. The fire of Heaven is not to be quenched or put out!
a. I Thess. 5:19: “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire…” (NIV).
i. The whole section reads as follows:
1. See 1 Thess. 5: 12-24 CEV: Final Instructions and Greetings--12My friends, we ask you to be thoughtful of your leaders who work hard and tell you how to live for the Lord. 13Show them great respect and love because of their work. Try to get along with each other. 14My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn’t living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone. 15Don’t be hateful to people, just because they are hateful to you. Rather, be good to each other and to everyone else.16Always be joyful 17and never stop praying. 18Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.19Don’t turn away God’s Spirit 20or ignore prophecies. 21Put everything to the test. Accept what is good 22and don’t have anything to do with evil. 23I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 24The one who chose you can be trusted, and he will do this.
ii. This text is clear that doing the wrong thing and having the wrong attitudes can quench the fire of the Holy Spirit. The 2 point in my sermon addressed the danger of apathy in connection to the Spirit’s fire but this point addresses the open rebellion and opposition to the truth’s found in God’s Word. This sin refuses to follow the Spirit’s Word and even sets itself up against the Word of God.
1. Let’s list just a few actions that will quench the Spirit’s fire according to Paul:
a. We have talked about the first one which is hidden sin!
b. Lack of respect for leadership!
c. Idleness!
d. Disharmony!
e. Revenge!
f. Un-forgiveness!
g. No joy!
h. No prayer!
i. Ungrateful heart!
j. Treating prophetic words with contempt!
k. Clinging to evil!
b. Share the story from the Light and The Glory about how not only apathy caused the Spirit’s fire to go out in colonial America but open rebellion and contempt for the church and the Word of God ignited a war with the Indians and a cry to God for deliverance. The Puritans and Christians called on all to start fasting, praying and repenting for the Lord to deliver them and He did.
i. Manuel, and Marshall state, “One of the greatest mysteries that we faced in our search was the question of what finally became of the Puritans. They had seemed to be prospering in every way-the hard times were behind them, there was plenty of good land and plenty to eat, spacious houses and they were living in peace with the Indians. Spiritually, for the most part, they were deeply committed, obedient, and fulfilling the terms of the covenant. And God was blessing them beyond all measure…Then, like a fire slowly dying down, the spiritual light began to dim, until, by the beginning of the 1700’s, what had been a blazing light of the Gospel of Christ had become only a faint glow from smoldering embers. What had gone wrong?...We found our answers mostly between the lines of a number of sad accounts of such compromises as the Half-Way Covenant, and increasingly vehement sermons which fell on increasingly deaf ears. And we found something else: countless recorded instances of what Puritans called Divine Providence-the extraordinary intervention of God on behalf of His people when they are in covenant with Him. Time after time. God would pour out His grace and mercy on the Puritans and protect them from dangers they could not for see. But we also discovered some sobering examples of Divine Justice when those who had been in covenant openly scorned their commitment by the word and deed. And we gained a better understanding of the judgments of God- those major and minor calamities which a loving Father permits in order to get the attention of His wayward children and cause them to turn back to Him (209, 210).
ii. Some stories of quenching the Spirit’s fire by open rebellion at Plymouth and Salem:
1. The story of Ann Hutchinson pages 199-205:
a. She caused division and started Heresy:
i. She wooed Rev. Cotton the minister to her side by flattery and deceptive words of praise. Then upon pulling him into her web of deceit and support she started her own house meetings after the Sunday morning services. Once she had her crowd she started sharing her own distorted beliefs with the followers and these beliefs did not align with the Word of God. She subtly and indirectly proceeded to put each one of the other New England ministers down in her comments. She planted thoughts of deception, lies, and doubt about the other spiritual leaders. When she was confronted about this evil she denied it. Marshall notes this about her diabolical spirit of heresy – “Heresy begins when one takes a basic truth and pushes it slightly out of balance with the rest of the body of truths which together comprise the essence of the Christian faith” (200). She was clever and extremely deceptive and cunning.
ii. When she was finally confronted she openly declared that all the ministers except Cotton were unfit to preach the Gospel, because the Holy Spirit told her that none of them were even saved. The result of her sin and deception was she was excommunicated from the Body of Christ.
iii. She was tried and banished from the settlement for heresy and causing division and dissension in the colony. She was also charged with open rebellion against the Word of God and its truthful teachings. She was exposed for distorting the Word of God
1. She departed to Rhode Island settled near Pelham and in Sept. of 1643 she and her family where cut down as one of the first victims of the Indian uprisings and her slaying set in motion the Indian wars which would rock the settlements for years (202).
c. The promise from the Lord is that if we do not quench the Spirit’s fire then revival will continue. For the “Fire of Heaven to continue we must respect it and revere it so that the fire will burn bigger, brighter and continue to spread throughout this whole region of Wisconsin.
T.S. – We must make sure that we do not quench the Spirit’s fire but allow the Holy Spirit to have full reign in our hearts and lives. We must revere the Lord and His Word and follow it with our whole hearts and lives. We must be open and reverential to the move of the Holy Spirit if we want “The Fire of Heaven in 07.
Conclusion:
The fire of Heaven is connected to the Holy Spirit and our study of the Book of Acts has verified this fact. The Bible connects the two together in Acts chapter 2 and in Matthew 3:11 which states, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
For “The Fire of Heaven in 07” to be unleashed on New Life Community Church will require that we open up our hearts to the Holy Spirit this year like never before. It will require a commitment on our part to the Lord and His Word. Let’s recall what we learned about how to unleash “The Fire of Heaven in 07!”
Summary of the points:
1. The fire of Heaven is to be our guide this up and coming year because it will lead us into the Promised Land.
2. The fire of Heaven must be kept burning on the altars of our hearts. This means we must keep the fire cleaned out and properly fueled.
3. The fire of Heaven is a consuming fire and it judges others by the Word of Truth. This judgment will cause people to repent and confess their sins so that revival will be ignited.
4. The fire of Heaven is not to be quenched or put out by an attitude of contempt and or rebellion toward the Word of God.
Closing Quote:
What do I think revival is? The best definition that I’ve heard is "God stepping down from heaven" (read Isaiah 64:1-3). It is God coming to earth in all of His power, glory, holiness and love to cleanse and empower His Church, and to save the lost. Jonathan Edwards, speaking of the revival in 1740 in Northampton, said that you could feel the presence of God in the town. Charles Finney tells of towns which were experiencing revival who said people crossing into the border of the town could feel the presence of God. Dr. Kingsley Priddy, a staff member of the Bible College of Wales, said in the book Rees Howells, Intercessor, that during the visitation that came to the college in the 1930’s people would walk in the garden talking in whispers because the presence of the Holy Spirit was so near.
Some revivals are nice and calm; such as, Asbury in 1970 and the Hebrides in 1949. Others are wild; such as, Azusa in 1906 and the camp meeting revivals in Kentucky in 1800. Revival, I guess, really can’t be defined by what happens. It is more easily defined by its source—God.
Quote from Stephen’s stuff -- http://www.smithworks.org/stephen/revival/whatis.html
Revival is ignited by God showing up in a tangible way and we falling on our knees in reverence to Him and surrendering our lives to His way!
