Worship

“Fresh Fire” by Maverick City Music featuring Brandon Lake and Naomi Raine

Scripture

“Each morning I prepare my sacrifice to you and watch for your fire to fall on my heart.” -Psalm 5:3, ESV

“He makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.” -Psalm 104:3-4, ESV

Fire in Scripture: Old Testament Examples

Fire is one of the greatest symbols that God uses in Scripture. It is the evidence of something in the natural becoming consumed by the supernatural to put His power on display. All through the Old Testament, God showed up in fire!

• Moses stood on holy ground at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-5).
• The Israelites were guided by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day (Exodus 13:21).
• God descended on Mount Sinai in fire before giving Moses the 10 Commandments (Exodus 19:18).
• Gideon prepared a sacrifice before the Lord, and God consumed it with fire (Judges 6:20-21).
• David built an altar to the Lord, and fire fell and consumed it (1 Chronicles 21:26)
• Elijah filled the altar with water before the prophets of Baal; fire fell and consumed it (1 Kings 18:32-39).
• Solomon finished praying in preparation for the dedication of the temple, and fire came down and consumed the sacrifice, and the glory of God filled the temple (2 Chronicles 7:1).

The Israelites would have recounted these stories and many others as they told their children about the power of God. Generations would have recounted His ways and His glory displayed to His people. But then we reach a period in history when everything was about to change. Fire would no longer be just a supernatural phenomenon outside of God’s people but an internal source of power!

The New Testament Transformation

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” -Acts 2:1-4

This was the moment where the fire of God fell in Scripture for the very last time! From here on out, we would carry the fire of God INSIDE of us! He would not need to consume sacrifices on the altar because we became living sacrifices, full of the fire of God. He came to rest not on wood and lambs or rocks or bushes or mountains but rather on His people. From this moment in Scripture, we see no more references to the fire of God falling. How profound is that?

His fire is now inside of us, burning for all the world to see!

Understanding Our Identity in Christ

“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

What God consumes with Himself, He sets on fire. He sets us ablaze with His power and His glory for all the world to see. Will you allow Him to consume you today? We cry out for more of Him, and yet He has given us all of Himself—nothing held back or reserved! What He’s looking for is for us to give Him more of ourselves. No reservations and no hesitations because He is good and He is kind and He fills everything with the fullness of Himself!

“Do you know where the hope for your city is? It’s sitting in your chair right now. God’s plan of revival for your city is in you—Him working in you and through you. There’s no need to wait for something else to come. You’ve come. And because you’ve come, Christ has shown up. I pray that you believe that. I pray that you grab hold of God’s promises for you. Christ came to seek and to save what was lost and to destroy the works of the enemy. Because taking His power and presence to the streets is important to Him, it’s got to be important to you and me.” -Robby Dawkins, “Do What Jesus Did”

An Invitation to Deeper Faith

As this Arise women’s movement grows from one city to 70 cities, women are becoming so gloriously ablaze with the fire of God. It’s on them, and it’s in them. I have watched women courageously defy COVID-19 fear and step into cities to share the gospel. I have watched women in their 70s come alive for the sake of the gospel—that they would live out the rest of their days declaring the saving grace and love of Jesus. These are some of the precious faces of revival who are not only bringing revival to cities and nations but coming close to other women and watching them catch fire!

I am going to invite you to do something with me. Will you ask the Lord to stir up a fresh fire in you, that you would love Him with passion and GO wherever He says to go? Will you go into the field with me in the next year either nationally or internationally? In September, we are going to do another 30 days in the secret place with Jesus. Will you consider who you are going to invite to do that with you. Some of you reading this are going to become city leaders for Arise!

God is raising up an army of fiery and passionate revivalists, and the invitation is before you in this hour! Will you say, “YES,” to a life of joyous adventure with the Lover of your soul?

Take my hands, and let’s pray together with all that we are for the sake of His glory and His goodness.

Lord, I thank You that where You once fell with fire to consume something as an offering, You now reside in us. We have become the offering set ablaze with the Spirit of God! I pray that those reading these words would have an encounter with You, Jesus, that sets them on a new trajectory of revival. I pray that these ones fold their lives into You, Jesus, and lay it all down. I pray for hearts and dreams and desires to change in Your presence. I pray for places that need healing to be touched with the power of God. I pray for minds to be changed and wills to be submitted to the very Lover of their souls. I pray for this army of revivalists to arise in this hour and put You on display. Take us, like Paul, to cities and nations to proclaim the gospel with fearlessness and courage and joy! Stir it up, Lord. Stir up Your Spirit inside of us, and set their precious feet running to the rhythm of Your heart for the world! In the powerful name of Jesus, AMEN!

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A Few Key Notes

• Two new Arise studies will begin this summer! Join in-person or over Zoom as we dive deeper into our identities as children of God and learn to wield the weapons the Lord has given us. Sign up by emailing me at [email protected].

Forged for Battle: Battle Training to Stand Your Ground in a Turbulent World

Led by Patrice Vines

Dates: June 10-July 22

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Lewisville, Texas

“The Supernatural Ways of Royalty” by Kris Vallotton and Bill Johnson

Led by Julie King

Dates: June 18-July 16

Time: 10-11:15 a.m.

Location: The Hope Center, Plano, Texas

• Join Arise for a night of worship and prayer this summer! Worship will be led by Jourdan Gaudet, Lizzy King, and Julie King. Email me at [email protected] for details.

Dates: July 13 and August 10

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Lewisville, Texas

• Arise is looking for French and Spanish speakers to join us for two upcoming short-term mission teams. Join us in sharing the love of Jesus with those in Europe!

Europe teams

September 17-26: Apply online.

October 13-23: RSVP by emailing Alli Despres at [email protected].

• Join us July 10 as we share the love of Jesus with others in Waco, Texas, for Harvest Day! You can RSVP by emailing Kristin Hill at [email protected].
• If you are interested in hearing what it means to be a city leader for Arise, please contact me at [email protected].