Fanning the Flames of
Fanning the Flames of...Revival, Healing and Faith
Which flame and what do we mean “the Flame?”
How do you fan a flame?
I thought of kissing my wife passionately. That is fanning the flame of our love.
Matt 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (NIV) Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, John 1:26-27 + 33, Acts 11:16 Seven different places in the New Testament1
WHY does he fill us with his Spirit? To talk in tongues, or belong to certain group, or have power to do great things, why?
Isa 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Luke 4:18-29
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'" 24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-- only Naaman the Syrian." 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
Many have heard the call to be restorers in this time. Is 58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. (NIV)
"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Today that is what YOU are supposed to be doing! Today is the time to live what I just read to you! Today….
They looked at him and “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips.”
o We see that the people were not hearing what he meant only what he said.
No prophet is accepted in his hometown "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
o Isn’t this Joseph’s son WE DOUBT THE PEOPLE WE KNOW!
o Do here in your hometown WE DOUBT IN THE PLACE WE LIVE!
Everyone one else will see the Power of God before you do!
o Have you ever wondered why there is revival everywhere in the world but not where you live?
The people became so mad at Jesus because he confronted their comfort and traditions that they tried to kill him.
· The Church of Jesus Christ is a Spirit Baptized Church. Can we with all the evidence before us settle for a church that is not spirit filled? How can we do the works of God? How can we fulfill the call of God on our lives?
· A restoring Church, that is our calling, but, we will never be a restoring, Building, raising up, repairing, joyful, beautiful, praising, preaching, proclaiming, releasing, comforting Church without the Holy Spirit!
· The Holy Spirit is not a name tag, a title! Only if we boldly, fully give ourselves to the Spirit of God will we experience his fullness.