OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE OF GOD By Gale Maiden
Founder of Father’s Heart Ministry – Moravian Falls, NC

REKINDLING THE FIRE OF LIFE WITHIN

When Christ died and rose to live again (REVIVED FROM THE DEAD), the fire of God was released to destroy the world (cosmos i.e. the evil world systems). The Son of God appeared for this purpose that He might destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8b). The Apostle Peter wrote, “But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved (kept in store) for FIRE, kept for the day of judgment (choice) and destruction of ungodly men.” (2 Pet 3:7, emphasis and parenthesis added, NAS)

The present heavens and earth are now somewhat chaotic as was the heavens and earth in the day in which God decided to renew them. The first Biblical baptism as we understand it happened when God baptized a chaotic, void and dark earth into the Spirit of God. On that creation day. The earth, full of chaos and darkness was baptized into the Spirit of God. God said, “Let there be light.” The earth came out gloriously illuminated and God said, “It is GOOD”.

                       

AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

Godly baptisms are always for the purpose of bringing something or someone from darkness into light; so it is with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be as we progress toward the consummation of all darkness and sin. Noah received the second major water baptism in the earth. The immersion by water (Noah’s flood) destroyed evil and darkness bringing forth light out of a dark and evil world. We know that the earth will not be baptized again by water but by FIRE. Jesus the Christ has baptized us with the Holy Spirit and FIRE again bringing us into Himself who is the light of the world.

THE FIRE FOR HEAVEN AND EARTH RENEWAL IS AT HAND

The Apostle Peter in his second recorded epistle to the church was declaring the then and now available REVIVAL FIRE of God. Peter was a recipient of the life giving revival fire of God on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of our Lord Jesus the Christ. Fifty days after Christ’s resurrection on the day of Pentecost, the evidence of the available revival fire to consume world systems and to again bring light and life (REVIVAL) was witnessed upon the 120 saints in the upper room.

Pentecost was the first of two key outpourings of the Holy Spirit upon mankind. At the first outpouring called Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Jews. The Holy Spirit was poured out about three and one half years later to the Gentiles (The end of the Prophet Daniel’s seventieth week). After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit also to the Gentiles the power of God was in position (available) to bring forth the one-new man…Jew and Gentile (<Ephesians 2:15>; Galatians 3:26-29).

The 120 saints tarrying in the upper room were commanded prior to the Feast of Pentecost to wait in Jerusalem and were told, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NAS)

THE NATURE OF THE HOLY GHOST AND FIRE

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is described as a noise like a violent rushing wind which filled the whole house where they (120 saints) were sitting. TONGUES AS OF FIRE appeared and rested on each of them. The Holy Spirit filled each of them and they began to speak with other tongues and the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.

And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them TONGUES AS OF FIRE distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4, emphasis added, NAS)

The word of God is all power. It is easily seen that the purpose of the Holy Spirit is communication and power. The holy God inspired word of God is a powerful consuming fire. In Acts 1:8 (see above) we are told the purpose of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to truthfully attest to (be an actual witness) of the person of Jesus the Christ of God in His people throughout the earth.

END OF THE WORLD…WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

This gospel or good news of the availability of the Holy Spirit and fire in Jesus the Christ will be attested to throughout the earth and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14). The same Peter which received the Holy Spirit and FIRE later wrote, “For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to {the will of} God. THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober {spirit} for the purpose of prayer.” (1 Pet 4:6-7, emphasis added, NAS)

The phrase at hand was used by both Jesus and John the Baptist to describe the Kingdom of God. We know that the Kingdom of God was at hand when both Jesus and John were preaching such. The same at hand phrase is used by Peter to denote that the end of all things is at hand. We know that if anything is described as being at hand it means that we can reach out and hold or grasp it.

The Apostle Peter wrote almost exclusively concerning the finished work of the cross. The major theme of Peter’s writings is the vicarious death of Jesus on the cross which we know provided total freedom from sin. Peter wrote that we have been totally REVIVED into life and are no longer under the influence of sin. Peter wrote, “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh HAS CEASED FROM SIN, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (I Pet 4:1-2, emphasis added, NAS)              

IS GOD GOING TO POUR OUT AGAIN

HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE TO THE CHURCH?

Is there another outpouring remaining or were these two outpourings sufficient to bring an end to the present evil world systems? The FIRE of God given on the Day of Pentecost to the Jew and subsequent FIRE given to the Gentile has been and is now available to bring an end to sin and death and to REVIVE all who will receive the Holy Spirit and FIRE.

Is it Biblical to pray for subsequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit such as were witnessed on the Day of Pentecost and to the Gentile? Again, were those two outpourings sufficient to empower the body of Christ to overcome sin and death? I believe we must rethink our current understanding concerning the Holy Ghost and fire revival desired by so many precious saints. We often criticize societies’ “instant everything” mentality yet subsequent to the two outpourings of the Holy Spirit we may NOW (instantly) rekindle the Holy Spirit and FIRE of God within us at any time we choose. How instant is now? Wow…wasn’t that quick?

The word of God tells us that, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2, emphasis added, NKJ)

Yes is the answer to the above question, “Is it Biblical to pray for subsequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit?” My hope is that this type of prayer will bring a deeper revelation from God that the Holy Spirit and fire of God is in us and only needs rekindling and maintenance. Those crying out for revival obviously believe that God wants to revive us but the stumbling block is that they do not know that revival has been available since the two outpourings described above and now resides in us. The Spirit of Grace and fire for revival is in place and God is simply saying to us that we are not to receive this grace in vain but to realize that NOW is the accepted time…TODAY is the day of salvation (See scripture above).

STIR INTO FLAMES OF FIRE THE LIFE OF GOD

FOUND IN HIS GRACE

In view of the frequent modern use of "revive" and "revival," which use mostly lends itself to a future event, it is worthy of notice that The Apostle Paul, a true spiritual father, wrote to his spiritual son Timothy the following: “And for this reason I remind you to KINDLE AFRESH THE GIFT (CHARIS / GRACE) OF GOD WHICH IS IN YOU through the laying on of my hands.” (II Timothy 1:6, emphasis added, NAS)

Kindle means to: catch fire; cause to start burning; call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses). To kindle afresh in this verse is the Greek word anazopureo and is derived from two words respectively meaning to stir up the fire or rekindle the fire bringing forth life. The word fire used here is the same Greek word used by John the Baptist when he said that Jesus would baptize us in the Holy Ghost and fire.

We too often merely pray for revivals, forgetting that it is for us to stir into flame and fire the gift of the Spirit of life which we have already received of God. It is ours from Him, but we let it lie dormant, as a mere slumbering ember.

A REVIVAL OF THE FATHERS AND CHILDR)EN –

REKINDLING THE FIRE

Since the two outpourings of the Holy Spirit, God has seen to it that we presently have a foundational flame which we are to rekindle and maintain. Generational flames i.e. the eternal flame of the Spirit of God has never gone out. This flame is to be rekindled and maintained as declared by father Paul to his son Timothy. The first major or significant dream given to me by God many years ago, I was shown that the flame of God in the Methodist Church brought forth by John Wesley and others has not gone out. This flame will be rekindled bringing forth great light.

The father and son relationship demonstrated by the Apostle Paul with his spiritual son Timothy is a clear picture of the ongoing revival fire needed to bring every believer and non-believer into a full salvation. Malachi’s prophecy of the present spirit of Elijah which is now turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children’s hearts to the fathers was fervently working in the days of Paul and Timothy. Oh what intimacy and love demonstrated by Paul to Timothy and vice versa.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy {and} peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the WAY MY FOREFATHERS DID, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. (II Timothy 1:1-4, emphasis & parenthesis added, NAS)

The Apostle Paul made sure to remind Timothy that the generational eternal flame of God had not gone out. The holy spirit of faith had been imparted to timothy from both his grandmother and mother.

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that {it is} in you as well. (I Timothy 1:5, NAS)

The Gift of which Paul is asking Timothy to rekindle is the Greek word charis which is grace. The flame or FIRE of LIFE AND REVIVAL is called the GRACE OF GOD.

And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the GIFT (GRACE) of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (II Timothy 1:6, emphasis added, NAS)

Why are we waiting on REVIVAL? John 1:14-16 says that Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth and that of His fullness have we received grace for grace. My Lord and my God…revival fire is in us and it is called grace! Grace is the ability of God in us to accomplish all that He desires in our lives.  Our God of grace is also the God of truth. As we abide in the word of God we know the truth and the truth makes us FREE. REVIVAL is freedom from sin and death wrought by the grace of God…grace in fullness which abides in us. REVIVAL is to again have life and freedom. REVIVAL is to walk free of condemnation, guilt and shame.

SHAME…THE ENEMY OF REVIVAL

Paul next in his letter to Timothy tells us that the perennial (repeated) enemy of REVIVAL is shame.

For God has not given us a SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY (shamefacedness), but (a spirit) of power and (a spirit of) love and (a spirit of) discipline. Therefore DO NOT BE ASHAMED of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with {me} in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. (II Timothy 1:7-8, emphasis added, NAS)

Because of the revival fire of grace in us we have a spirit of power (dunamis), a spirit of love and a spirit of discipline. Therefore we do not have to be ashamed of our sufferings because our sufferings are according to (in accordance with) the power of God. What in the world does this mean? It means that the very victorious nature of the revival fire power of grace exposes us to temptation which is Biblical suffering. Know this…that we win by the always sufficient grace of God. Where sin abounds…grace (REVIVAL FIRE) does always abound more. The consuming fire of God’s grace always destroys the wood, hay and stubble which have been built on another foundation other than that which is laid…the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember…the greatest killer of God’s people is shame; but know that god did not give us this spirit! We are loving, powerful and disciplined.

WHAT ABOUT PAST REVIVALS?

My wife and I helped to establish a church in Virginia in 1987. We prayed for revival and God honored our prayers. God touched the heart of a Pastor from out of town to come and help minister. This revival changed the whole atmosphere in the area and continues to this day to bear good fruit. We therefore know that crying out for revival does move the heart of God.

I am not saying that God cannot use brief revelations and manifestations of Himself. I am saying that from my perspective, I see revival as a way of life. I see revival as a family and whole body of Christ life style. Real revival is the result of constantly provoking the body of Christ to rekindle and maintain the already in the heart LIFE FIRE OF GOD. This real revival is now being led by fathers with the heart of God for the children.

The revivals of old like Cain Ridge, the Welsh revival and others continue imparting life and fire to this day. We are all recipients in some manner of the Holy Spirit impartations rekindled initially and maintained. Revival does not cease because the external manifestations and appearances change. Our attempts to box God into a modus operandi (an unvarying or habitual method) for revival will not work. Again, I am saying that revival is a life style and should reflect the unique infinite life giving attributes of God’s personalities inherit in His creation.

WE SHOULD LIVE IN CONSTANT REVIVAL

A few good hearted people recently suggested that I go to Lakeland, Florida for an impartation of the “revival fire”. First of all, I bore no Holy Spirit witness that I was to go. This does not mean that others were not called to go.  As we all know there was a strange fire in at least some of the leadership over this “revival”. I know as well that many who truly love God and believed God for an impartation truly received God’s fire from these meetings.

CHARGE – Rekindling the Fire

As I have said, there is a father to children and children to father revival that is happening. We as fathers are to constantly rekindle our flames of life giving grace and are to remind and provoke all to do the same. I have preached the grace of God for nearly a quarter of a century and now I know that I am a true revivalist and so are you. Stir up the grace of God that is in you and stir others. REVIVAL is here!

Why is it important to heed this revelation of revival fire/life in His Grace? Because it is a FULL SALVATION that is the prize of the high calling of God on our lives. Full salvation is wrought only in his grace which produces resurrection now from the dead.

The Apostle Paul boldly declared the reason for his Holy Spirit and fire boldness was that God had saved us, called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and GRACE which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all of eternity. Paul then said that this grace unto a full salvation has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, WHO ABOLISHED DEATH, and brought LIFE AND IMMORTALITY to light through the gospel (II Timothy 1:9-12). Paul then says that therefore he is not ashamed of the gospel for the gospel is the FIREPOWER AND LIFE of God unto a full salvation.

CHARGE – Maintaining the Fire

The Apostle Paul told Timothy, as we have expounded, to REKINDLE THE GRACE within. Paul on another occasion wrote the following most important exhortation to Timothy. This exhortation will guarantee all a full salvation if heeded. We are saved by the rekindled fire of life…grace! We keep the fire burning by doing the following.

I Timothy 4:14-16 (NAS, emphasis & parenthesis added)

14           Do not neglect the spiritual gift (grace – the rekindled fire of life) within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

15           Take pains with these things; be {absorbed} in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.

16           Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this…

you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.