America is on fire –literally! Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico have suffered recently and are still suffering today. Fires are raging dangerously close to Los Alamos, New Mexico where the atom bomb was developed and thousands of barrels of nuclear waste are still stored. They have evacuated the area and assure us all is well. We know the devastation of tornadoes very well in Oklahoma, as well as the damaging effects of fire. Fire is very unforgiving – it destroys everything combustible it its path and even chars metals often beyond use.

In Pastor Jim Cymbal’s book, You Were Made For More, he reminds us how the Holy Spirit is described by the term “Fire.” “John the Baptist foretold that on the day of Pentecost the early Christians would be baptized ‘with the Holy Spirit and fire’ (Matt. 3:11). That in fact, is what appeared that day as tongues of fire hovered above the 120 disciples. Fire, has at least three remarkable properties that helps us understand the work of the Spirit;

1. Fire penetrates whatever it touches. Fire goes deep below the surface and alters the very molecular structure of whatever it invades. The Spirit has a way of penetrating to essentials below the surface of our lives. "The Spirit searches all things.”(I Cor. 2:10). When the Spirit helps us to pray, he penetrates deep inside us, enabling us to give expression to the deepest desires of our heart.

2. Fire serves as a light. That is how the Israelites got through the trackless desert. A pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire led the way (Ex. 13:21-22). The Holy Spirit is a bright and shining guide for us. Are we following him, or are we meandering off on our own side getting lost, we have no one to blame but ourselves. The fire of the Spirit knows the best course for each of us and lives today to guide us.

3. Fire is contagious! It spreads from one location to the next. Wherever there is willing fuel, it leaps up. If we are ablaze with God’s Spirit, we are bound to affect other people. Whose life are you affecting for Jesus these days? Is your love for Christ and others contagious? I am very excited about teaching a course this Fall at First Church called, “Becoming a Contagious Christian!” It is absolutely the very best course on sharing your faith in a natural way that I have ever seen! I learned so much from this course and can’t wait to share it with you! More details coming in a few weeks!

Do you know the motto of The Salvation Army?  Blood and Fire!  Sounds like a new video game. You might think it stands for courage like “blood and guts” since their ministry has often been to people living on the streets. But that’s not what it means at all. According to the Founder General William Booth, “The blood is the blood of Christ, and the fire is the fire of the Holy Ghost.” By the way, ‘Happy Birthday!” to the Salvation Army. They began next week July 5 in London in the year 1865.

The Lord gave me a vision of fire one night. It was a picture like the old introduction to “Bonanza” with a burning map that began in the center and spread in every direction. I saw OKC as the Center of the state and the United States with revival fires burning in every direction. May it be Lord Jesus! We are positioned for such an opportunity!
Let’s join together on our knees this Sunday as we pray for America and revival!

Yours in Christ,

Mark

PS –Please keep Hardy and Tammy Patton and their family in prayer, as Hardy’s Dad
went home to be with the Lord this week. Thanks -