Let Revival Fire Fall (Full Service)

There's good news for the captive. Good news for the shame. Good news for the one who walked away. There's good news for the doubter. The one religion failed. For the good Lord has come to seek and save. He's our rescuer. He's our rescuer. We are free from sin forevermore. Oh, how sweet the sound. Oh, how grace abounds. We will praise the Lord, our rescuer. He is beauty for the blind man. Riches for the poor. He is friendship for the one the world ignores. He is passion for the weary. Rest for those who strive. Oh, the good Lord is the way, the truth, the life. Yes, the good Lord is the way, the truth, the life. He's our rescuer. He's our rescuer. We are free from sin forevermore. Oh, how sweet the sound. Oh, how grace abounds. We will praise the Lord, our rescuer. So come and be chainless. Come and be fearless. Come to the book of Calvary. There is redemption for every affliction. Here at the book of Calvary. So come and be chainless. Come and be fearless. Come to the book of Calvary. There is redemption for every affliction. Here at the book of Calvary. He's our rescuer. He's our rescuer. We are free from sin forevermore. Oh, how sweet the sound. Oh, how grace abounds. We will praise the Lord, our rescuer. We will praise the Lord, our rescuer. Who am I that the highest King would welcome me? I was lost, but He brought me in. Oh, His love for me. Yes, His love for me. The Son sets free. Oh, He's free indeed. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. Free at last. He has ransomed me. His grace runs deep. While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me. Yes, He died for me. The Son sets free. Oh, He's free indeed. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. In my Father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who You say I am. You are for me, not against me. I am who You say I am. I am chosen, not forsaken. I am who You say I am. You are for me, not against me. The Son sets free. Oh, He's free indeed. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. In my Father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. The Son sets free. Oh, He's free indeed. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. In my Father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. The Son sets free. Oh, He's free indeed. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. In my Father's house, there's a place for me. I'm a child of God. Yes, I am. You were reaching through the storm, walking on the water, even when I could not see. In the middle of it all, when I thought you were a thousand miles away, not for a moment did you forsake me. Not for a moment did you forsake me. You were reaching through the storm, walking on the water, even when I could not see. In the middle of it all, when I thought you were a thousand miles away, not for a moment did you forsake me. Not for a moment did you forsake me. After all, you are content. After all, you are only good. After all, you are sovereign. Not for a moment will you forsake me. Not for a moment will you forsake me. You were singing in the dark, whispering your promise, even when I could not hear. I was held in your arms, carried for a thousand miles to show, not for a moment did you forsake me. Not for a moment did you forsake me. After all, you are content. After all, you are only good. After all, you are sovereign. Not for a moment did you forsake me. Not for a moment did you forsake me. Every step, every breath you are there. Every tear, every cry, every breath. In my head, at my worst, when my world falls down. Not for a moment will you forsake me. Not for a moment will you forsake me. After all, you are constant. After all, you are only good. After all, you are sovereign. Not for a moment will you forsake me. After all, you are constant. After all, you are only good. After all, you are sovereign. Not for a moment will you forsake me. Not for a moment will you forsake me. They say sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some. Right now, right now I'm losing back. I stood on the stage night after night reminding the broken it'll be alright. Right now, alright now I just can't. It's easy to sing when there's nothing to bring me down. What will I say when I'm held to the flame like I am right now. I know you're able and I know you can save through the fire with your mighty hand. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. They say it only takes a little faith to move a mountain. Well good thing little faith is all I have right now. God when you choose to leave mountains unmovable please give me the strength to be able to see it is well with my soul. I know you're able and I know you can save through the fire with your mighty hand. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. I know the sorrow and I know the hurt will all go away if you just say the word. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. You've been faithful you've been good all my days. Jesus I will cling to you come what may. You've been faithful you've been good for all my days. Jesus I will cling to you come what may. Cause I know you're able and I know you can. Oh I know you're able I know you can save through the fire with your mighty hand. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. I know the sorrow I know the hurt will all go away if you just say the word. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. Cause I know you're able I know you can save through the fire with your mighty hand. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. I know the sorrow I know the hurt will all go away if you just say the word. But even if you draw my hope is you alone. It is well with my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well with my soul. It is well It is well with my soul. It is well It is well with my soul. I'll set you as a seal upon my heart As a seal upon my heart For there is love that is as strong as death Jealousy demanding as the grave And many waters cannot quench this love I'll set you as a seal upon my heart As a seal upon my heart For there is love that is as strong as death Jealousy demanding as the grave And many waters cannot quench this love Together in love Oh, together, together Come be the fire inside of me Come be the flame upon my heart Come be the fire inside of me Until you and I are one Come be the fire inside of me Come be the flame upon my heart Come be the fire inside of me Until you and I are one Come be the fire inside of me Come be the flame upon my heart Come be the fire inside of me Until you and I are one Until you and I are one I don't wanna talk about you Like you're not in the room I wanna look right at you Wanna sing right to you I don't wanna talk about you Like you're not in the room I wanna look right at you Wanna sing right to you I don't wanna talk about you Like you're not in the room I wanna look right at you, wanna sing right to you I don't wanna talk about you, like you're not in the room I wanna look right at you, wanna sing right to you Won't relent until you have it all My heart is yours, my heart is yours Won't relent until you have it all My heart is yours, my heart is yours Jesus, oh Jesus, my heart is yours I set you as a seal upon my heart As a seal upon my heart For there is love that is as strong as death Jealousy demanding as the grave And many waters cannot quench this love You won't relent until you have it all My heart is yours, my heart is yours Won't relent until you have it all My heart is yours, my heart is yours You know, at the first service I introduced this next song And I would say apart from salvation The most important topic for all of us in this room Is the fully surrendered life Being filled with God's spirit I think we can agree on that In order for the fire of God to fall You have to put your body on the altar As a living sacrifice Not partial obedience, not partial sacrifice To receive the fullness of God You have to surrender everything You have to ask God to fill you up Lord, let me present my body as a living sacrifice When I bring the sacrifice, Lord, you bring the fire That's how it works We want the fire of God, but not the sacrifice And God is often conditional If you do this, I'll do this If you humble yourself If you put your body on the altar Not physically, metaphorically speaking Just giving God everything My finances, my marriage, my life Lord, everything is yours My health, my destiny, everything is put in your hands I'm giving you, myself A living sacrifice on the altar And then watch out because the fire of God can fall Because now there's a sacrifice And I'll explain that in a little bit But I thought it would be good just to set this song up To put things in perspective And I think there's many people Who need to lay it all down Anyone getting tired of laying it half down? Or partially surrendering? Or maybe someday I would encourage you this morning To just lay it down and let God fill you You provide the fire And I'll provide the sacrifice You provide the spirit I will open up inside You provide the fire And I'll provide the sacrifice Sacrifice You provide the spirit And I'll open up inside Fill me up Fill me up You provide the fire And I'll provide the sacrifice Yes, I will, Lord You provide the spirit And I will open up inside You provide the fire You provide it And I'll provide the sacrifice Yes, I will You provide the spirit And I will open up inside Fill me up Fill me up Fill me up Till I overflow I wanna go over I wanna run over Fill me up Till I overflow I wanna run over I wanna run over Fill me up Till I overflow I wanna run over I wanna run over Fill me up Till I overflow I wanna run over I wanna run over Yes, you provide the fire And I'll provide the sacrifice You provide the spirit And I will open up inside You provide the fire I'll provide the sacrifice Sacrifice You provide the spirit Your spirit, God And I will open up inside Fill me up Fill me up Please fill me up I want to run over, I want to run over Fill me up till I overflow I want to run over, I want to run over Fill me up God, fill me up God I'm so full I can't be filled by nothing else I don't want nothing else in me But your spirit Lord, spirit Lord, spirit Lord Please fill me up, fill me up God I want to run over, I want to run over Fill me up till I overflow I want to run over, I want to run over Lord as we look to your word this morning I pray for Lord just direction, where to take this topic that you would bring into our hearts and ultimately to our homes that people would leave here different than when they arrived Lord we need a supernatural act of your spirit in this place to infuse your truth into our hearts and we pray this in Jesus name, Amen Amen You guys can be seated while the kids exit The message this morning, some of you are aware I've been, we've been promoting it a little bit The topic is Let Revival Fire Fall Let Revival Fire Fall and what I need to do first though is clarify this term, Revival because some people will think it's not what it is if you come from a conservative background those who might come from a hyper charismatic or Pentecostal background or those like many of us caught in the middle, right? What is Revival? Revival is not having a conference Revival is not being loud, right? Have you heard those loud preachers before? They think the louder you get the more God will hear us and there's nothing wrong with being loud if it fits Revival is not somebody acting weird It's not just bizarre things happening It's not what a lot of people think Here is what Revival is from a biblical definition God reviving His people That sound good? 11 o'clock is going to need some coffee I think I don't know, we're going to have to pass that around Reviving His people, exactly what we need this morning maybe, right? God reviving His people Will thou not revive us again? Why? So that we may rejoice in you Reviving is releasing, recovering, rebuilding renewing, realigning, refreshing, restarting, resupplying, readjusting our lives according to what God wants because you've heard me comment before spiritual resuscitation, right? Many of us need that I think second only to salvation this is the most important topic a Christian can face Have I fully surrendered my life? Am I filled with God's Spirit? Is there Revival fire? So that word's not bad and I remember at a conference a few years ago that the speakers would poke fun at those who prayed Lord, send Revival Send fire actually, send fire They'd say, oh don't pray that, look at those weird people Well yeah, if you're praying for God's judgment that's a sign of fire, God judging but it's also a sign of His presence it's also a sign of His power it's also a sign of His anointing, His unction God moving when the fire comes and those who are concerned about this maybe have not experienced it and they also will poke fun at songs like Fill Me Up, God Oh, you're just brainwashing yourself What do you want me to pray? Don't fill me up Keep me dry Keep me dead Keep me non-emotional Don't do too much in my life Just quench the Spirit God forbid we pray, fill me up, God Lord, fill me up beyond capacity I want to overflow into the lives of others That's how you actually That's a normative Christian life in the New Testament Disciples, men and women filled with the Spirit of God filled with the fire of God because what happens is the fire catches on, doesn't it? It catches, it burns and it continues to move So yes, fire is destructive It can be a sign of judgment but it's also a purifier God's presence is often linked to God's fire John the Baptist said He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and snow and the Holy Spirit and ice and the Holy Spirit and meekness or gentleness No, the Holy Spirit and fire That's what Christ will do He will baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire And isn't it interesting? People don't like that term either Oh, baptism in the fire It's in the Bible It's in Matthew John the Baptist said I can't even carry this man's shoes I'm baptizing you unto repentance but there's somebody coming greater than me He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire See, the Christian without the fire is not New Testament Christianity We have to have that fire Isaiah wasn't afraid of this fire You know the prophet Isaiah, right? He said, and I don't think he said it calmly Oh, that you would rend the heavens I can picture Isaiah, you know just scruffily not shaved probably maybe just ate some locusts and wild honey like John the Baptist You know these guys? He said, would you rend the heavens? You know what that means? Would you rip open the heavens and would you come down among your people that even the mountains would shake at your presence Drive by Mount Whitney 17,000 feet That would shake in His presence Mount Everest, double that size 34,000 feet They would shake at the presence of God See, that's nothing to be feared That's nothing to be mocked That's something to be desired God, would you rip open heaven and would you come down and revive your people? I'm not afraid to pray that prayer If the heart is right If the heart is right If the heart's not right Watch out Get away from it Cause you know God's consuming fire God said in Hebrews I am a consuming fire That's who He is and that was coming as judgment But there's something wonderful when God visits His people in a supernatural, powerful way that is not normative It's not normal And it doesn't happen all the time But you have to provide an environment for this Let me just whet your appetite for just a minute This is from the book When Fire Fell I've got a lot of books on revival They'll document in South America You have in Africa South Africa with Andrew Murray You have in Welsh in the islands there in Scotland You have the Great Awakenings When Fire Fell Here's just a few examples Jonathan Edwards gave himself to prayer in the ministry of the Word He was there for 8 years Not 8 days God, you're not moving quick enough I've been praying for 8 minutes There's a pressing in There's a knocking There's a seeking There's an asking It's a continual Lord, even if you don't move today I'm seeking you tomorrow Even if this week is tough I'm seeking you tomorrow I'm not going to give up If God's saying How bad do you want it? Show me how bad you want that relationship So anyway, he was laboring for 8 years Then suddenly the fire fell in his congregation Mr. Shearer gives a graphic picture of the scenes that were witnessed as the Spirit of God came down upon the people In the early months of 1735 the people were pressed into the church daily Daily And for a time North Hampton was literally filled with the presence of God In almost every house parents were rejoicing over their children And in the sanctuary the tears of repentance and new found joy and deep compassion flowed freely The whole congregation became like a heavenly choir and praise was sweet and holy as the sacrifice fell as the fire fell In Scotland, 1630 a young minister by the name of John Livingston was invited to preach to a great assembly of people Realizing the importance of the meeting groups of Christians formed themselves into little companies and spent the night in earnest prayer When was the last time we did that? For two and a half hours after this the young man spoke with burning lips to a great audience The heavenly fire fell upon the multitude and the scene was like another Pentecost David Brainerd who ministered among the Native Americans the Indians it was said of this that he realized more and more that it was only through the mighty power of God that he would reach the Indians and fire falling from heaven He decided to give himself unreservedly unreservedly sorry to intercessory prayer and it was said that he spent the whole night spent in prayer agonizing in the dark woods his clothes drenched with the sweat of his travail As a result of such intense fervent prayer it's little wonder that the windows of heaven were open and the fire fell I could keep you here all afternoon of God moving God's fire falling and I found that those who mock this have never experienced this or they're not open to this they want to keep God in a box remember like I've told you before we've got the Father the Son and the Holy Word no, no, no we're not going to talk about the Holy Spirit that's where you get weird no, that's where you get bold that's where the fire comes from He will baptize you with the power of the Holy Spirit that over-compasses and over-shadows and over-empowers our lives and out of that spiritual experience comes ministry you will not find anybody doing something worth God who doesn't have a little bit of that fire deep within them that little bit of that boldness that is rising up so one thing we see throughout the Old Testament one thing we see throughout the New Testament and all the books that I've been reading is this prayer and humility prayer and humility and we need to pray and humble ourselves as if revival depends upon it because it does the only way we're going to experience the powerful move of God is through prayer and humility and laying ourselves on the altar isn't that so true? God you provide the fire you have to all I can provide is a sacrifice that's all I can give to God I can't give God I can't buy Him off I can't work it off I just have to lay down my life as do you as a sacrifice and let the fire of God fall for our God is a consuming fire and there's an interesting story in 2 Kings 18 many of you know this where Elisha faced off the prophets of Baal and he said okay fake God Baal real God the God of Israel let's see whose God is God let the God who is really God answer by fire let that God be God so the prophets of Baal danced and they shouted all day long they got up on the altar they cut themselves where's your God? Elisha mocked them where's he at? is he sleeping? is he going to the bathroom? is he on vacation? where's your God? and nothing happened because nothing will ever happen without the true God you go into a church that's not filled with the Spirit of God nothing happens you go to a religion void of the Spirit of God nothing happens it's mere religion going through the motions but when the fire of God comes it changes the place so Elisha said put water on it put water on it again put more water on it and around it dig a trough or a little ravine here put water, water, water and then the Bible says God said Elisha said let the God who answers by fire let Him be God and fire came down it consumed everything it even licked up the dust that's the fire of God that's the power of God and that's what it should do in our own lives as you submit as you surrender as you fully surrender your life to God that fire comes and it consumes it gets rid of the impurities it gets rid of the carnality it gets rid of the hypocrisy and then you say I have to do something for God why? because the fire fell think about this for a minute I've read this I've quoted this before and we've talked about this before but it fits perfectly the Bible says Jesus actually said if you believe on Me as the Scriptures say out of your belly will flow rivers of living water so it begs the question where are where is this river of living water? where is it? it's not it's absent in the life of most people can we agree? it's not coming out there's anything but living water coming out Jeremiah His word is in my heart like a burning fire it's shut up in my bones I can't hold it back try holding back a dam getting ready to burst it's the same way there's this fire there's this desire John the Baptist again said He's coming after me He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire see it's not weirdness it's not some bizarre things we see on YouTube it's fire it's passion for the things of God it's passion for purity and for holiness let the revival fire fall the key word in the title is let in case you haven't caught that see you have to provide the atmosphere or the environment for fire to fall you see all these forest fires right? going on in California how many do you see in the dead of winter? I think right? some of you might have an exception to that but for the most part there's nothing no smoke no fires why? because the environment is not conducive to fire you've got 14 feet of snow there's not going to be a fire some people let the snow melt in their own lives and in their own hearts the coldness the frigidness it needs to melt so the fire of God can move and it can devour it can consume see here's what you have to do you have to create the atmosphere you have to create the atmosphere for it Charles Finney wrote a book on revivals he caught some heat from it I wouldn't agree with everything he did because he said if you create a certain environment God has to honor that and God will bring revival and he was instrumental I believe it was the second great awakening Billy Sunday and Charles Finney before after D.L. Moody and people like that but anyway he's part right because if you provide the scriptural model if you provide the environment for the fire to come God will deliver God says if you seek me you find me if you lay down your body as a living sacrifice on the altar you will meet God in a powerful way if you empty yourself you will be filled with God's spirit so we can create an atmosphere an environment for the fire to fall and God's fire if we had time we could go to Solomon David when they would make a sacrifice the fire would fall no sacrifice no fire how much and more in our own lives no sacrifice individually no fire see if we were to be honest the majority of the church in America is dead there I said it the majority of Christians are not on fire for God one of the largest denominations in our nation did a survey and less than 1% in their denomination has ever led anyone to the Lord they are not in ministry they are not involved we want to come to church that's what good people do but there's no fire of God in us we have the fire of the world we're hungry for the things of the world can't wait to get and watch Netflix tonight can't wait to do the things that were fulfilled with the wrong thing so to let revival fire some conditions have to be met you have to honestly people will say this it's easy to say but hard to do we have to lay down our lives our bodies as a living sacrifice basically saying God this life this body is not yours I'm not sorry not mine that's what the flesh wants to say doesn't it that's what the flesh does this body is not mine Lord my finances what do you want to do this church what do you want to do and what God does is not my plan this was not my plan okay I'll just tell you right now marriage children Lord everything is yours would you guide me would you lead me many of the new translations say servant we are God's servant right and think about 300 years ago 200 years ago they started to translate the word doulos from slave to servant it's really slave we are God's slave I have no problem saying that I am he is my master I am his slave do I struggle absolutely am I perfect no many of you can attest to this but we want to lay down our body kicking and screaming doesn't it it goes kicking and screaming you're getting up on that altar you're getting up you stay there and we pin it down and we let God unless you move we are lost unless you change our nation we are lost let revival fire fall Romans 12.1 therefore I urge you Paul is saying I urge you I beseech you brothers and sisters in the view of God's mercy look at what God has done for you to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice that's how fire falls holy and pleasing to God so see this is another look into this here's how we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing in God's sight that's the sacrifice holiness is the sacrifice Lord I'm going to live in such a way that honors you I'm putting my body on the altar wanting that fire to fall wanting you to fill me with your spirit when fire falls it consumes the old when fire falls it purifies and removes contaminants when the fire falls it changes the landscape forever let me just tell you I've told you before by personal testimony knew the Lord in my twenties could care less about Him though let's be honest I'll go to church now and then if it wasn't the Super Bowl it wasn't NASCAR it wasn't NFL I was a Christian but then when fire fell the whole landscape changed it burnt up the hypocrisy the impurities God's boring now I can't get enough of God I don't want to have really much to do with God now I want everything to do with God what happened? fire falls have you ever been I don't know if you have you know anybody who's been burned really bad? they're changed there's scars there's a change that takes place fire does the same thing to our flesh it consumes the work of the flesh in the scripture I read earlier Matthew 3, 1 I baptize you with water for repentance but after me comes one who is more powerful than I whose sandals I'm not even worthy to carry he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire isn't it interesting? conservative churches if you say that some weirdo well the Bible says it I'm just reading the Bible he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire don't let some weird hyper-Pentecostal church hijack God's word that's what it says Paul was baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire Peter was baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire all the disciples 120 in an upper room were baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire all baptized means is overwhelmed overwhelmed with the Spirit of God now how is that a bad thing? but you watch people on YouTube oh look how bad that is well don't watch YouTube look at the Bible no I don't care about YouTube I don't want to see another video of somebody acting weird I want to read the Bible I want to follow New Testament Christianity I want the fire of God like A.W. Tozer said I want the presence of God himself or I don't want anything to do with religion amen? we didn't just come to play church, did we? I hope maybe some did but hopefully you'll leave here different different that's why people are anxious and upset often and fearful and don't have peace because they're running from God not to Him and the reason they run is they say now I won't have fun God's going to send me to Uganda I'm going to do what Shane does or something this is not going to be fun but they're miserable the flesh has got them the enemy's got them right where he wants them the most miserable Christian is a Christian outside of God's will who's not fully surrendered their life because the Christian who surrenders their life doesn't have a lot to worry about financial issues Lord, I'm your slave I can't do anything you're the master relational issues Lord, it's your problem not mine church growth Lord, it's your church you grow it you add to the church see, it relieves a lot of stress I don't care what attendance records are I don't need to see that Lord, it's your church if I'm just doing what you've called me to do this is your problem, not mine I don't say that mocking it's true, right? they're His problems but people get so concerned about their problems because they're outside of God's will they're trying to keep everything together in their own strength and just, okay Lord, everything is yours bad report from the doctor Lord you're slave got a bad report can you do something? it's you my life is yours and that's how we have to look at things so this is theology on fire it's God's Word on fire with the Holy Spirit so let me ask you a question Bible student have you received this fire? Bible student that's who I'm talking to you love to study but have you received the fire? you have a master's degree in church history I don't know if they offer that but it sounded good but do you have fire? you love to lecture everyone else about homiletics and hermeneutics but do you have fire? I mean, it just cracks me up people like to sit at home and pick apart a sermon they don't have fire they're armchair quarterbacks who like to pick apart every sermon I want to say, you get up here for an hour and I'll tear you apart because you're going to miss things that's in the flesh see, they don't have the fire of God they have theology but it's dead straight as a gun barrel theologically, but just as empty see, the Holy Spirit puts a round in the chamber let me grab that 3 inch mag with buckshot come on you guys, you know let me put that in there now the gun has power see, without that, it's just an empty barrel that's all it is and there's a lot of empty barrels from the pulpit just spouting out theology and again, I love theology don't misunderstand here but if you don't have the power you have nothing and if all you do is focus on Holy Spirit weirdness and you have no theology you're off balance you are confusing people you're not grounded let me just pick a piece just pick on somebody here I won't say names I won't say anything but there's a group of people not at this church as I've seen over the years this is where they give the Holy Spirit's fire a bad reputation a bad name they just Holy Spirit but they don't pay people back they foreclose on their home they keep things they take advantage they put a little sign of the fish on their business card and they'll mess you over but they're always talking about the Holy Spirit and always acting spiritual but they have no character see, I run from those people just as much as I run from the other side because that's just religiosity that's just show you've got to have the Holy Spirit and theology and power and character see, God falls upon me and you when we're humble and broken and we're emptied of ourselves mom, dad, do you have you received the fire? church member, have you received the fire? that's why I said, let revival fall let revival fire fall make the atmosphere conducive for fire think of tumbleweeds tumbleweeds, right? it's 110, I'll get tumbleweeds and spray some lighter fluid all over don't do it physically I'm just giving you a picture here spiritually you have to present your bodies as living sacrifices that's the fuel I want that fuel to be able to start up so quick the littlest spark, God's going to spark it and you create that atmosphere Lord, you provide the fire and I will provide the sacrifice they used to say, Lord, bend us Lord, break us Lord, let your fire fall consume mediocrity crush my carnality it's interesting, on this issue of theology I forgot about, but I just remembered that from a hundred years ago some of the books I read a hundred years ago a lot of church history, you'll look back when they would go to call a pastor they did it a little bit differently than they do now about 12 years ago, I went to a church here locally and they had a youth pastor position open up or a young adult and I said, hey, I'm interested in that I think God's called me to do this and they said, well, we can't even consider you what? why not? you know why? no seminary haha, I'll show you, right? well, that's a hundred years ago they would ask one question considering a pastor, they would say has he received his baptism of fire? it's in old books hey, we've got this person has he received his baptism of fire? no, well, we don't want him well, he's got a PhD in this, I don't care because, see, that's just a Pharisee that's intellectual that's coming to the pulpit to impress knowledge knowledge puffs up the letter kills it's the spirit who gives life and infuses the power there it was interesting before they would consider anybody they would ask, has he received his baptism of fire? now, of course, is he theologically sound? is he grounded? is he a person of character? but first and foremost they better have the fire because as the pulpit goes, right? so goes the pew if we want the pew on fire it needs to start right here it was said of John Wesley as he was building the Methodist movement how are you doing this? he said, brother, you just light yourself on fire and others will come to see you burn and that's the whole point that's how you get the pew on fire you get on fire for God because it's contagious isn't it? that passion is contagious don't you want to be around passionate people that love the Lord and want to do things from God? or do you want to sit next to Sal or Sally? Sal or Sally hopefully there's nobody named Sally here I don't know but just like gossiping and backbiting and slandering and always complaining and critical spirit you wouldn't know a move of God if it came up and slapped you on the face but those who are on fire for God it's contagious however this is why a good majority of people leave spirit filled churches they say, I don't want fire I want comfort this Shane guy is trying to train me for the CrossFit games I want to be a couch potato you ever see those things? these guys are crazy but that's training that's how we Christians should be not physically but there should be some some soldier in you some fight in you some warfare this is how we fight our battles in worship, in prayer with the fire of God this isn't a bad thing Jesus received the fire of the Holy Spirit Shane, can you prove that? sure, just start in the Gospels after his baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus epi, E-P-I it's a preposition, Greek preposition meaning upon fully immersing Jesus in the power of the Spirit he came up out of the wilderness after fasting and was filled with the Spirit of God the fire of God everything he did everything he touched was because he was filled with God's Spirit now we will never reach the level Christ was at because we don't know God's will we're not, we're still sin is still in us and fighting against us but we can be filled with God's Spirit the Old Testament prophets used to say I set my heart to seek God or I engage my heart to follow God there is a seeking there is an engaging that's how you set back to the title let revival fire fall you have to set your heart on the things of God you have to let it fall it's ready to fall but are you ready? most people aren't ready we have our comfort and our convenience but think about this what man condemned to death would not fully surrender his life to the one who set him free? think about that what man, what woman wouldn't fully surrender their life if you're condemned to death to the person who set you free? that's exactly what happened to believers as a Christian we were given the penalty of sin and death and judgment and Christ set us free it's just a foolish question why wouldn't we fully surrender our life? and it's not an evil task, Master it's a good God it's a good God who gives good gifts to His children if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who love Him that want to follow Him it's a good gift God's a good Father yes, there might be difficulty there might be challenges there will be ups there will be downs welcome to life but I want God holding my hand where Daddy? where's next? what's the next step? you got this, right? you know how when you're little in school and you always like your older brother or cousin next to you couple years older you know, for fights it's the same thing, God you're with me I'm going to trust in you so what we're doing today the first of the month we're doing communion service and this is a time where we do remember what Jesus did we remember the cross we remember the life that He gave for us so if you don't know Him we don't encourage taking communion we don't want you to take communion unless you have repented and you believed in Jesus Christ then you can take communion you can partake in His sufferings you can partake in what He has done for you but also what I want to do is use this time as an opportunity for those who maybe have strayed from God those who need to fully surrender their lives let this be a renewal and say, Lord, I'm remembering what you did I am fully surrendering my life the Bible even says don't take this in an unworthy manner meaning, if we're going to continue on holding on sin it looks like this I know God wants me to work on this but I don't care I don't care I'm not going to listen to God but I'm going to go take communion get the heart right Paul actually said that's why some of you are sick and have died because you take the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner you actually mock what Jesus did on the cross if we see Jesus dying and we say, I know what you're doing but I'm going to go ahead and sin right in front of you who would do that? it doesn't make sense so that's what Paul said Shane, this is pretty serious yeah, it is read it for yourself tonight when Paul talks about taking communion in an unworthy manner and you're bringing judgment on your own soul because you're going to say thank you for shedding your blood thank you for dying for me I'm going to do this in remembrance of that but I'm not going to repent I'm not going to give this up I'm going to be in rebellion and still take communion not a good spot to be so you want to clean your heart and just say God not perfect nobody's going to go take perfect communion in a perfect state because there's sin there there's consequences and different things but you can pray and say Lord, help me I want to clean my heart in this area I want to fully surrender my life to you I want this fire to fall upon this altar and I'm going to remember what you did on the cross and I believe God will answer that prayer I believe that fire can fall if we provide the right atmosphere so let me just end in prayer Lord, as we go into worship and communion I know there's many here who need to surrender their lives they have not done that yet Lord, they're just kind of going through the motions I pray that you would show them Lord, their need for you I pray that they would just be I don't know, Lord broken before you humbled before you God, that they would see that they have religion maybe and not a relationship Lord, that maybe they've been playing church they haven't fully surrendered because they think they'll lose money they think they'll lose having fun they think they'll have to give up everything when really they don't understand that you gave up everything to save us that we should surrender our lives to you so Lord, speak to them this morning and we pray this in Jesus' name Amen well, what we're going to do we're going to start worship and during worship how we do communion here is you can come up during the first song or the second song or the third song and take communion it's up front here up front in the balcony as well and you can go back to your seat and pray with your spouse just go back and contemplate and I'm not going to come back up and lead us through what the juice represents what the bread represents you just take it at your leisure and do business with God pray, get your hearts right and do communion during worship it's a great time of reflection so with that said we can go ahead and stand and we're going to do that now so during this first song second song you can come forward and take communion we're also going to have the prayer team available so how many of you need prayer in here? I bet everybody in this room needs prayer from healing to be set free for deliverance for direction anybody need direction? or just me? right? Lord, direct this church direct my family direct Lord, I need you to protect my marriage and my children and this church and there's so many prayer needs let's be a church that prays not in a hurry God, we're going to sit we're going to pull down heaven we're going to pray we're going to believe we're going to trust in you if two or three are gathered they're in my name there I am in their midst and easily a three-fold cord is not easily broken Satan hates when believers come together and pray he doesn't mind if they come to church I'm convinced of that what is going to church do if it doesn't prompt us to prayer doesn't prompt us to worship there's many churches that come together as a church but they don't have the power of God my house shall be called the house of prayer so let's pray we're going to have the prayer team next door if you guys are on the prayer team you guys can you can please make your way over there right now put on the badges so people know who you are and then if you need prayer come over during the first song second song we're not going to be in a hurry we'll wait for you thank you yes you called me out of darkness and you silenced every lie oh the voice will find me cause I belong to you I belong to you know the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you know the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you by your blood I've been adopted I've taken on your name and I need to be reminded I belong to you I belong to you know the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you know the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you cause greater are you who's in me than he who's in the world the words you have spoken are stronger than the curse greater are you who's in me than he who's in the world the words you have spoken are stronger than the curse stronger than the curse oh cause the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you yeah know the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you know the enemy can take what I have change who I am I belong to you piano plays oh oh oh I see your face in every sunrise the colors of the morning are inside your eyes the world awakens in the light of the day you look up to the sky and you say you're beautiful oh so beautiful oh I see your power in the moonlit night where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright we are amazed in the light of the stars it's all proclaiming who you are you're beautiful oh oh so beautiful oh oh I see you there hanging on a tree you bled and then you died and then you rose again for me now you are sitting on your heavenly throne soon we will be coming home you're beautiful oh beautiful God oh oh when we arrive at eternity's shore where death is just a memory and tears are no more we'll enter in as the wedding bells ring your bride will come together and we'll sing you're beautiful oh so beautiful oh you're beautiful oh oh oh oh you're beautiful oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh piano plays I send you as a seal upon my heart as a seal upon my arm for there is love that is as strong as death jealousy demanding as the grave and many waters cannot quench this love oh oh you won't relent until you have it all my heart is yours you won't relent until you have it all my heart is yours I send you as a seal upon my heart as a seal upon my arm for there is love that is as strong as death jealousy demanding as the grave and many waters cannot quench this love you cannot quench this love see the fire inside of me come be the flame upon my heart come be the fire inside of me until you and I are one come be the fire inside of me come be the flame upon my heart come be the fire inside of me until you and I are one come be the fire inside of me come be the flame upon my heart come be the fire inside of me until you and I are one are one are one until you and I I don't wanna talk about you like you're not in the room wanna look right at you wanna sing right to you I don't wanna talk about you like you're not in the room wanna look right at you wanna sing right to you I don't wanna talk about you like you're not in the room wanna look right at you wanna sing right to you I don't wanna talk about you like you're not in the room wanna look right at you wanna sing right to you won't be left until you won't be left until you have it all won't be left until you have it all Lord as we leave here this morning I pray that these commitments will not be short lived God that we will surrender everything all of us have something to work on Lord but we need your help we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit the conviction of the Spirit the power of the Spirit Lord I even pray for the anointing of the Spirit that just means that you are upon us and have called us to do certain tasks and have anointed us have equipped us have empowered us to do that Lord I pray that revival would be sparked here that this spark would set a flame on the valley on the state of California and ultimately the nation Lord something only you can do but we ask, we beseech, we pray we petition our Father and we trust you Lord be with these people this morning guide them Lord there's major decisions that need to be made would you direct them? encourage them? disappointments that have come up this week would you build them up? bad news from the doctor would you turn that into good news? what the enemy is intending for evil Lord that you would turn around and make it for good and we pray all this in Jesus name Amen, Amen alright we end a little bit early for fellowship so say hello to five people you don't know how's that? or at least three so try the fellowship and we'll see you next week thank you