Preparing for New Fire

As you take time to read the posting on this Blogspot about the 1857 Revival you will discover that it was the "Prayer Meeting Revival". One particular evidence given by Pratney was the one of Jeremiah Lamphier in New York City. Mr. Lamphier sold his business to become a street missionary. Lead by the Holy Spirit he invited business men to prayer over lunch time. From a very small beginning with six men plus himself it grew to over 10,000 men praying at lunch time in New York City. From there and other cities the Revival ignited hearts to come to God.

It was a like a great fire burning. It all began with a small spark.

If you have ever built a camp fire when in the out of doors you will vividly see this illustration. Last night it became very real to the folks in our prayer meeting.

To build a fire the fire builder clears a spot (a fire pit perhaps where a fire once burned) of the old wet wood, old debris and un-burnable things. There might well be rotting and wet wood in the fire pit. Anything that is not dry and ready will have to be removed. With his hand the fire builder takes away the material that cannot be lit again.

Think of the fire pit at last summer's camp ground - the afternoon you moved on to the site. The last campers left a mess.

After the hands of the fire builder has cleared the site he then chooses small, dry pieces of wood. Along with that he will find dry leaves along with larger twigs that are dry. Forming a small "A" shaped pile of wood he continues to build more and more material around it. This pile grows with loosely piled dry material - closely placed to together yet with enough breathing room for clean air to flow through. The building continues with larger sticks and then logs laid close to the original "A" shape.

Next is the vital step for a good fire. The fire builder strikes one match and applies it to the center of the "A" shape of the small dry pieces of wood. Within seconds flames leap from one small dry sliver of wood to the dry leaves and then to larger sticks. It takes no time at all before the larger branches and even larger logs are aflame.

Every good fire builder looks for small dry pieces of wood to start the best fires - and then applies one spark or one match to get it going.

This powerful image is lived out in the smallest church... and in the individual life - that may be dry and ready for the Fire Builder - God Himself.

He has cleaned and cleared the site of old and unburnable material. He has taken away the once upon a time charred items. He has plucked out the old garbage from yesterday and the refuse of today. Then he begins to rebuild and prepare for a new fire.

Read through the book of Habakkuk and see the condition of the people - then listen to what God has to say....
Habakkuk 1:55 "Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.(NIV)

Joel 2:28-2928 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.(NIV)

Our prayer today is to be ready and dry waiting for God to touch our lives - lite us with His Fire.
Are you hungry and thirsty?

You can read more about Jeremiah Lamphier in New York City . Or go to Gospelcom.net for more detail. Also try in a Google Search type in "The 1857 Revival"