Momentum (Christ – centred, Spirit – empowered, Mission – focused)
Dave Hearn, President of the C&MA Canada
John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)
My daughter and son-in-law have a wood-burning stove in their basement that heats their entire house. The stove is a great source of heat, but it requires a lot of work to get started. Once it is going, though, the blaze heats everything.
The key is to not let the fire go out. This is not only great wisdom for heating your home, but also for keeping your heart ablaze with the presence and power of Jesus.
Is it possible for a community of faith to experience continuous revival/renewal? In other words, is it possible to live with such a profound sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that the moment we start to drift we are driven to humble repentance and deep surrender?
A.B. Simpson, founder of the C&MA, writes,
“It is much easier to keep the fire burning than to rekindle a new flame after it has gone out.”
It is easy to drift from a place of deep sensitivity to the Holy Spirit to one of distraction and distance. The key to keeping my personal fire burning is to recognize when the flame is starting to die. The following warning signs have become helpful in my own self-awareness:
- A loss of compassion—people become irritating.
- An absence of humility—I am defensive.
- A lack of peace—I feel unsettled and anxious.
- Low passion—my love for God and others is dwindling.
- Impaired listening—I do not hear God’s voice clearly.
- Unmanaged stress—I feel frantic and out of control.
Recently, my fire was dwindling, so I withdrew into a place of solitude and asked God to put another “log on the fire.”
I acknowledged my frustration and surrendered my need to control. I was warmed by a deep peace and serenity; the fire was growing.
I am challenging each of us as believers to lead the way in continuous renewal, to live with profound sensitivity to the Holy Spirit expressed in a humble heart and quick obedience. It is from this posture that we will advance the Kingdom.
Could it be that God wants to change the atmosphere in the Alliance, opening the way for us to breathe the air of revival as a normal part of our everyday lives? Just think of the possibilities. Keep the fire burning!
Please find the original version in C&MA website