'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.' Hebrews 12:28-29
A fire gutted St Barnabas Church in Sydney several years ago. Bad news for St Barnabas but over time, the church was able to find the finances to rebuild. The new church building at the same location was completed some years later. One can say that St Barnabas rose out of the ashes of the fire. I took the photograph outside the church a year after the fire; St Barnabas is still on fire! This is good Christian witness!
Still burning for Jesus speaks of Revivals. One such revival started recently in Asbury Kentucky USA on the 8 February 2023. The Asbury Revival started when students of Asbury University, a Christian university, spontaneously continued to stay behind in the Hughes Auditorium after a regular chapel service. Many others joined them in worship that seemed never to end. The President of the university, Kevin Brown sent out an email, "There's worship happening in Hughes. You're welcome to join." The news spread like wild fire and soon many descended onto the auditorium joining in worship, many from the surrounding cities and universities. The video below are testimonies of witnesses to the revival
A Christian revival is the work of the Holy Spirit, who touches the hearts and spirits of individuals, churches and communities in a most inexplicable and unexpected manner, stirring them towards piety, worship and commitment. “We want to be true to how the Holy Spirit showed up with our students,” said Baldwin, the vice president of student life. “We experienced joy. We experienced love. We experienced peace. There was lots of singing and testimonies. Those became our signposts. This is how, in front of our eyes, we are seeing the Holy Spirit come upon our students, and we want to honor that.”
Revival occurs when a Christian community undergoes revitalisation. It is a religious awakening, a renewed interest in the spiritual and a strengthening of faith. In words of the St Barnabas Church of Sydney, "On fire for Jesus."
We acknowledge that God moves in mysterious ways. Jesus said
'The Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit.' John 3:6b and 8 (NLT).
Jesus tells us that the Spirit blows where it wills (John 3:8). And sometimes God does what Jonathan Edwards called “surprising work” and John Wesley referred to an “extraordinary” ministry.
The university is named after Francis Asbury, an early Methodist Bishop, who himself experienced many revivals. The Methodist Church has a long tradition of how to to nurture an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a theology that teaches us to wait and watch for a divine wind to blow, a movement of the Holy Spirit.
When the emotions subside, the music fade and the praise and worship cease, what will remain is the longer term impact of this movement of the Holy Spirit. Revival will
- Restore our relationship with God
- Humble us in the presence, glory and majesty of God
- Turn us to obeying God
- Turn us away from sin
- Lead us to find God's will
- Improve our relationship with others
- Imbue us with a sense of mission, service and discipleship
The Church needs an awakening and reawakening from time to time. We need to be on fire with God and not turn lukewarm like the church in Laodicea.
"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' But you don't realise that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Revelations 3:3:15-17
So let us 'Catch the Fire!'
Won't You, Lord, take a look at our hands
Everything we have, use it for your plan
Won't You, Lord, take a look at our hearts
Mold it, refine it as You set us apart
We want to run to the altar and catch the fire
To stand in the gap between the living and the dead
Give us a heart of compassion for a world without vision
We will make a difference bringing hope to our land
We will answer the call to build this church without walls
Let Your glory be shown, bring salvation to the lost
To the lost.
Lionel
