A big church caught fire some time ago and an infidel in the town came and made himself available to fight the fire. As the crowd was leaving, a lady approached him and said, "This is the first time I have seen you in our church." He said, "This is the first time the church has ever been on fire."
Fire is a proven tool for getting the attention of men in every generation. For instance, when God wanted to get the attention of Moses at the back side of the desert, he set the bush on fire (Exodus 3:1-4). When God wanted to draw the attention of unbelievers to the church in Jerusalem, He set the church on fire (Acts 2:3-6). So, fire is the only proven tool or medium for advertising God's agenda for man (Luke 24:49). The disciples waited in the upper room until God set them on fire and the multitude began to troop in. Even without creative jingles, large banners, huge church social responsibility (CRS) budget, the good news went round the city of Jerusalem like wild fire and thousands were brought to the saving knowledge of Christ.
The truth is, God has not changed his method of getting the attention of sinners. He wants His church to be on fire at all times. There are multitudes outside the church that will not come in unless they see the fire of God burning fiercely upon the souls of believers in the church. Many Moses' at the back side of the desert today will never encounter God unless there is fire on the pulpit and pew. God expects us to be carriers and mobile dispensers of His blazing fire like the disciples of old. Unfortunately, we are carrying fire extinguishers around in the church today. The wall of our souls are decorated with the fire extinguishers of prayerlessness, disunity, disobedience, arrogance, impurity and others. We cleverly cover up our lack of fire by deploying comedy, gimmick, psychology, gorgeous dresses, massive cathedrals to woo unbelievers to Christ. Are these methods really working? The answer is "no". Unbelievers are not coming because the church is not on fire.
Beloved, when the fire falls on the pew and pulpit, we would not need to use any other worldly methods to get the attention of sinners. They will come from far and near to catch a glimpse of the devil-driving and sin-killing blazing fire of God. How I wish every believer could be on fire for God like those devoted disciples of old. How I wish ministers of the gospel could rely more on the blazing fire of God more than their oratory skills and their good command of the English language. How I wish the choristers, Sunday School and Children Church teachers can pray more that God should set their tongues on fire before they minister. How I wish the ushers and protocol officials will henceforth prefer to be dressed in the robe of blazing fire than their usual Italian suits, ties or hats before serving in church.
This wonderful hymn below describes how the blazing fire fell in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago.
PENTECOSTAL FIRE IS FALLING by George Bennard
We are told of pentecost,
How the blessed Lord’s disciples
Tarried for the Holy Ghost.
Pentecostal fire fell on them,
Burning up their sin and dross,
Filling them with pow’r for service,
Making them a mighty host.
Refrain:
Pentecostal fire is falling,
Praise the Lord, it fell on me,
Pentecostal fire is falling,
Brother, it will fall on thee.
Pentecost can be repeated,
For the Lord is just the same,
Yesterday, today, forever,
Glory to His precious name!
Saints of God can be victorious
Over sin and death and hell;
Have a full and free salvation,
And the blessed story tell.
When the Church of Jesus tarries,
Pentecostal fire will fall;
Sin and wrong will be defeated,
Sinners on the Lord will call.
She will march to glorious vict’ry,
Over ev’ry land and sea,
Lifting high the blood-stained banner,
Holiness her motto be.
May the Pentecostal fire fall afresh upon us and cause multitude to keep running to the feet of the cross in Jesus name, Amen.
On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord- Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I would like to invite all ministers and workers in RCCG to the year 2025 Province Based Ministers & Workers Conference with the theme: REVIVING THE FLAME. Venue: All RCCG Provincial Headquarters. Date: Saturday 18th October 2025. Time: 8am. It is going to be an unforgettable upper room encounter. Please don't miss it.
Good day & God bless you
Maranatha!
Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo
https://okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com
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