God has chosen fire to be the symbol of his presence
Throughout history, Revival has always been associated with fire
To ask God for Revival is to pray for Fire From Above
No one knew how to start a fire like Elijah!
I love the fact that Elijah made Ahab a “proposition.”
He told old Ahab “Bring all the people to Mount Carmel along with the prophets of Baal & Asherah”.
So Ahab did it. And when they were gathered up on the mountain, Elijah with a holy boldness urged the people to make a commitment. 1 Kings 18:21
Elijah challenged Baal himself. He said have the prophets of ball place a bull on the alter,and then pray to your God and let Baal set fire to the bull himself.
So the show began: the pagan prophets cried and cut themselves all day but there was no answer.
I love the fact that the bible tells us that Elijah made fun of them. I can just hear him yelling to these dudes out there dancing and cutting themselves. You know they had to be all bloody and sweaty…He shouted “Maybe you should pray louder. Maybe he is busy or traveling or sleeping. Maybe praying louder will wake him.
But nothing worked
I can just see Elijah stand up brush off his backside where he had been sitting on the groud watching the show. And saying “Now it is the true God’s turn”.
Elijah rebuilt God’s altar, dug a trench around it, and had the fellas prepared a bull and drenched all of it in water.
Elijah then called on God to show His power.
Elijah called for God to LET HIS FIRE FALL DOWN from above and the fire not only consumed the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar and the dust around it.
After seeing this amazing display the True Gods power the people fell on their knees and proclaimed “The Lord he is God! The Lord he is God!”
In this time of great moral decline, Revival Broke Out!
We must get on our knees like Elijah and pray for a personal and congregational Revival!
It is not church that people are looking for, PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND CHURCH.
What people are looking for is God and they will come to God when they see Fire From Above first in our hearts and lives and secondly in our churches. Because if it’s in our hearts it will fill our church!
In this Awesome display of Revival, God shows us that he wants his people to
1. Confront Sin,
2. Be Committed
3. Be Converted.
So here’s the question for you…..
When we’re praying to God, what are we asking? what’s in your mind when you’re wanting him to meet with you? Are we asking for more money? Are we asking for a job? For a better life? For a new car? Why don’t we ask for what we really need from him, to come down and fill us with his glory. For him to show us his heart, to show us his way as we try to embark in ours. to be filled with a burning desire, with a burning love that we can apply to others, and in doing so show God to those we come across.
TO SEND A REVIVAL: ONE THAT”S NOT WORKED UP BUT TRUE FIRE FROM ABOVE!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZpPIKmiMuo]
Fire fall down
You bought my life with the
Blood that You shed on the cross
When You died for the sins of men
And You let out a cry
Crucified now alive in me
These hands are Yours
Teach them to serve as You please
And I’ll reach out desperate to see
All the greatness of God
May my soul rest assured in You
I’ll never be the same
No I’ll never be the same
‘Cause I know that You’re alive
You came to fix my broken life
And I sing to glorify
Your holy Name
Jesus Christ
You’ve changed it all
You broke down the wall
When I spoke and confessed
In You I’m blessed
Now I walk in the light
In victorious sight of You
Your fire fall down
Fire fall down
On us we pray
As we seek
Show me Your heart
Show me Your way
Show me Your glory
Preached this sermon @ the Church @ Catoosa back in August.