TOPIC: LIKE THE DAY OF PENTECOST VI
MEMORIZE:
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. name. 2 Chronicles 7:1
READ: 1 Kings 18:30-39
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
MESSAGE
Today, as I continue my discussion on the events of the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, I want to examine the implication of the fire that appeared and sat on each of the disciples. In today's Bible reading, we see that Elijah's prayer that caused fire to fall from heaven majorly filled with praises. In the atmosphere of praise, God answers prayers by fire. When the fire fell, idol worship stopped in the land. The reason the agenda of the devil appears to be thriving in certain places is that the necessary conditions for revival have not been met.
Another thing Elijah did before the fire fell in today’s Bible reading was to repair the broken altar. When we repair our broken altars of prayer, praise, and worship. God's fire will fall. We cannot be lukewarm and expect God to send His fire. The disciples tarried in the upper room before God's fire fell-they were busy praying and setting the stage for His fire (Acts 2:1-2). After Elijah repaired the broken altar, he put the wood in order and prepared the sacrifice (1 Kings 18:33). We cannot be disorderly and expect God's fire to fall.
Elijah also asked the people to pour four barrels of water thrice on the sacrifice. Note that it hadn't rained for three and a half years; therefore, pouring such an amount of water was a huge sacrifice on its own. The people poured a scarce commodity in preparation for rain. No wonder God was in a hurry to send down His fire. Wherever God sees unusual sacrifice, He sends His fire. In 2 Chronicles 5, after completing the temple, Solomon gathered all the Levites, priests, and Israelites, and they sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told or numbered for multitude. After this great sacrifice, God's presence filled the temple such that the priests could not stand to minister. Then, as soon as Solomon finished praying, fire fell from heaven and consumed the offering and sacrifices (2 Chronicles 7:1). God's fire of preservation, increase, and unusual miracles falls in atmospheres of prayer and sacrificial giving.
Beloved, do you desire God's fire? Don't hold back in giving Him your heart, time, and resources. Give sacrificially and pray consistently; you will be visited by the fire of God's power, provision, and glory.
PRAYER POINT
Father, I will not withhold anything from You. Please help me to give sacrificially to attract Your fire, in Jesus'
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 17-19
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 23: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
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