Nothing can take the place of true revival and our God, the consuming fire! Revival is not just longer and louder services. It’s not even the freedom that comes with a looser, more energetic atmosphere. It’s true that the church should be a place of freedom, where believers see their chains broken off! But, revival reaches much deeper than that.
A Life-Altering Encounter
I know because I experienced a life-altering encounter with the Living God, and was consumed by Him. I had reached a point where he felt broken, empty, and hurting inside. This caused me to began fervently seeking God, studying the Word and crying out to the Lord all day, and attending another church’s revival services at night.
One night, I saw a man come down to the altar, fall on the floor, and wail in deep anguish. Through that man’s actions, I began to understand what desperation for God really looked like. I said to myself, “That’s what I need. Maybe I can be revived and come back to life again.” Seeing that man so desperate restored hope, and when I returned to the church I was pastoring a move of God broke out. A move known around the world as the Smithton Outpouring. (Listen to episode 1 to hear more about Steve’s personal God encounter and the Smithton Revival.)
“God just wants to consume all that you are. He wantsallof you.”
-Steve Gray
Consumed By God
Hebrews 12:28-29 describes revival and what it is to meet the presence of God: “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.” The presence of God is so strong, both wonderful and terrifying. We must be in reverence and awe and run headlong into our God the Consuming Fire.
Jesus brought baptism of the Holy Spirit, and with fire! To be transformed by the power of God is to give yourself wholly over to Him, burn for Him, and be utterly consumed by Him. Do not be misled and miss out. Some people say they want revival but then do not want to be consumed. They just want to go to heaven after they die and avoid going to hell. If we are consumed by God, then we will not be consumed by this world and the evil of this age.
Now is the time to get hungry. God’s power, presence, and glory can come. But we need God and ALL that He is: the all-consuming fire.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”
Questions:
What was a time when you were the most desperate for God?
Are you open and yielded to God so that He can consume you?
What will you do or change in your life to make more room for God—to increase your hunger?
ACTION POINT: Know and remind yourself what you need—God’s consuming fire—and pray fervently for it!
Quotes To Remember:
6:48The presence of God was wonderful and terrifying, all at the same time.
8:10People say they need revival but don’t know what they’re asking for.
8:47God just wants to consume all that you are. He wants all of you.
9:10With all that’s going on in the world today, are we going to be able to escape the evil that’s coming into the world today without being consumed by God? Can we go a quarter of the way, a third of the way, a half of the way with God and be filled with enough of power and presence to come against evil people that are consumed with evil?
10:08Most people did not come with the intention of being consumed by the fire of God. A lot of people only came into this because they didn’t want to be consumed by the fire of hell.
12:07As you pray for revival, know what you’re praying for and know what you need to have. You need to have the all-consuming fire. Because He is a consuming fire.
