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The following program is sponsored by friends and partners of Kingdom Connection. Now more than ever, Jensen Franklin and Kingdom Connection partners around the globe are helping spread the good news that Jesus is coming again. And we are believing for a revival to be sparked in the very heart of Israel through the celebration center in Jerusalem. You can be a part of helping the Jewish people receive the Messiah and open the doors of worldwide revival when you sew your best gift into the ministry this month. When you send a gift of $30 or more, you may request Jensen Franklin's brand new book, Why the Holy Spirit. In this teaching, you will learn through scripture about the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. If God is calling you to make a difference for his people in a greater way, with a gift of $1,000 or more, we will send you our celebration center kit, which includes why the Holy Spirit along with a special gift selected just for you. A beautiful Jerusalem stone gift commemorating your support of Israel through the celebration center in Jerusalem. God is calling you to be a part of his outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all nations. Call now and spark revival around the world by giving [Music] today.
I want to share with you what happens when the fire falls. What happens when the fire falls? Several years ago, the story is told uh and of something that happened in Yoseman National Park. They had a spectacle called the firefall and they would gather all of the trees that had fallen throughout the year and they would pile them up on a granite mountain in Yoseite National Park. And it would be this huge stack, just massive, massive pieces of wood that had been gathered from all over the forest. And they would pour gas and kerosene on those trees. And they would wait until the sun went down and they would light the massive huge bonfire on the cliff of this mountain. And they had bulldozers that were ready to push the massive burning trees off of the side of that granite mountain and they would come flying down like like a a cascade of fire and waterfalls of fire is what they said it would look like. But just before they would do that, all of the people that were gathered in a safe distance to watch the firefall would cry out with a loud voice. This was the tradition. Let the fire fall. And when they would say that, the bulldozers would push the burning trees off and the fire would fall and they would have a big celebration. And there was a man who was there and he came back some years later and he came at the same time expecting to see the firefall. And he asked the ranger, the forest ranger, he said, "When is the firefall?" And the man said to him, "I'm sorry, sir. We don't have the fire fall here anymore. We don't have it here anymore. The fire doesn't fall here anymore."
That could be said of so many churches, so many places, and so many believers. No longer is there a bright burning bonfire of praise and glory in many places and worship and joy and the the fire of the Holy Spirit. Now it's just a flickering ember of a once red hot fire. Gone is the praise. Gone is the glory. Gone is the enthusiasm and innocence and excitement of serving the Lord. Listen to this verse. Matthew 28 and verse8 the some the five virgins that ran out of oil in the story of the bridegroom coming and they didn't have oil in their lamps and the Bible said they said quote give us your oil for our lamps are gone out one translation said give us your oil listen for our flame is dying dying flames flames that were once ignited by the power and the fire of of the Holy Ghost today no longer burn brightly for God. Their countenance does not shine. Their their spirit and their light does not shine in a dark world. We need a fire fall in our midst. We need the fire of God to fall on us again.
What is the fire of God, Pastor Franklin? Number one, the fire of God is the symbol of deity. Listen to these verses. Hebrews 12:29, our God is a consuming fire. Malachi 3 and:e 2, he shall sit as a refiner's fire and fuller soap. Isaiah 4 and verse4 said, "The Holy Spirit is the spirit of burning." Ain't that something? He's the spirit of burning. Matthew 3 and verse 11, he speaking of Jesus shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire. Fire secondly is the is the symbol of acceptance and approval by God. When they offered an offering unto the Lord, the way that they knew that the Lord approved and accepted that sacrifice is fire in the Old Testament would fall from heaven and consume that offering. It was a symbol of the acceptance and the approval of God. Leviticus chapter nine said, "A fire went out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the sacrifice and the people shouted and fell on their faces." It was the approval and the acceptance of God upon their sacrifice. In Genesis 15, Abraham split five animals and laid half on one side and half on the other. And he offered it as a sacrifice to God. And the Bible said there came a flickering fire. God descended in the in the form of a flame of fire and walked between the sacrifices. There was nothing but a flame of fire. God was saying, "I approve of this sacrifice." When the father of Samson offered God a sacrifice, the Bible said that fire shot out of the rock and the scripture said, "And an angel came down in the fire." And it says, "And the angel of the Lord did wondrously." King James version says one another translation said that he shouted in the fire or he ascended in the fire. Can you see an angel as a a as as a fire shoots out of the rock and consume the sacrifice and meal that Samson offered God? And God consumed it with fire and then an angel starts dancing in the fire. It was a sign of God's approval. It was a sign of God's acceptance. When our lives get to the place that he can approve of us, he accepts us. He receives us because not just because of the inward work, but because we are at some point in our life so transformed that it begins to manifest outwardly. And God sees our whole life as a sacrifice. When we get to that place, he accepts the fire and the and the will of God for our life. The fire will consume that sacrificial life that we live.
The fire is a symbol of God's presence. Wherever God was, there was a demonstration of fire. Zechariah 2, I will be unto Jerusalem a wall of fire roundabout and the glory of the Lord in the midst of her. When the children of Israel walked through the wilderness, the Bible said that God led them by a pillar of fire. Egypt didn't see the fire. They were in darkness. They couldn't see it. Their enemies couldn't see it. But there was a fire over the nation of Israel and the people of Israel in the wilderness. And they followed that fire and that fire led them. That fire had a guiding effect. That fire had an illuminating effect. That fire had an energizing effect upon God's people. It's a sign of God's presence. The only fire that some churches have left is the fire in the kitchen. There's no fire in the pool pit. There's no fire in the pews. There's no fire in the singing. There's no fire in the choir. Come on. There's no fire in people's prayers. There's no fire in their praise. One preacher named Charles Spurgeon said, "Put some fire in the sermon or put the sermon in the fire." We need the fire of God. Lord, let the fire fall on Free Chapel tonight. Come on and clap your hands. If something in you says, "Lord, I would love for your fire to ignite my soul." Programs have replaced passion and power. It's time for the fire to fall. When worship becomes highly mechanical, it's time for the fire to fall when we're bathed in immorality and our heart is no longer convicted. It's time for the fire to fall. When nudity is called art and believers are okay with it invading their homes, it's time for a fire fall. Timothy said in Timothy 1 and verse 6, "Stir up the gift of God that is in you." One translation said, "Rekindle the fire that is within you." Stir up the gift. Or in other words, fan the flame. Keep it burning. Fire comes from the Lord, but we have to keep it burning. God will send the fire, but you have to put wood on the fire. Proverbs 26 and 20 says, "Where there is no wood, the fire goes out." Isn't that profound? If you don't put wood on the fire, it's just a matter of time before all you have is ashes. And some of you have ashes where there used to be fire because you're not putting wood on the fire. The Bible reading is the wood on the fire. Prayer is the wood on the fire. Praise is the wood on the fire. Living holy and forgiving your enemies is the wood on the fire. Resisting temptation when nobody's looking is wood on the fire. Take a praise break and say, "Let the fire fall on my soul again, Holy Spirit." Praise God. Glory. Keep the fire box full of wood. Clean out the firebox. You can't neglect it. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 said, "Quench not the spirit. Don't put fake logs in there." We need the real thing in this hour. We don't need to be a fakey Christian. We don't need to be a fake that that that acts like we've got real heat and fire, but we don't have it. Oh God, don't distinguish the spirit's fire. Help me not to in my life and in my church. Do not subdue the spirit's fire. There's an old song that they used to sing in the church and the words go like this. I've got a glad new touch of fire. Bless his name. Turn to somebody and say, "I hope you get I hope you get a glad new touch of fire." Then you'll bless his name. How many of you like to have a brand new touch of fire? Come on. Oh Lord, that's what we need. It'll heal our families. It'll burn out addictions and habits and give deliverance to people who've got demons clinging on to them. There's something about the fire of God that makes the snake run. Hallelujah. Jeremiah had a Pentecostal fever. He said, "I've got the word in me and it's like a fire shut up in my bones." He was a preacher running a temperature. Jeremiah 5:14, he said, "I will make my words in your mouth a fire." We need the tongues of fire that Acts chapter 2 talked about. The disciples on the road to Emmas had holy heartburn when they talked with Jesus. They said, "Did not our hearts burn within us as he spoke the words of life?" We got a lot of hot heads, but we need some hot [Applause] hearts. Holy heartburn. David, the Bible said, had a band of men whose hearts God had touched. A band of men whose hearts God has touched. Have I become too calloused? Have I been in this too long? Have I become Has it become too common place that God can't touch my heart anymore? that God can't move me anymore, that God can't change and transform me anymore. Isaiah got a touch of fire and the angel flew and took a live coal from off the altar of heaven in Isaiah 6 and he touched his lips and he had blazing lips and he said, "Here am I, send me." John the Baptist had the fire and people came from the cathedrals to the caves to hear him preach.
The fire is necessary for growth. In California, where the great redwood trees grow, they had a problem some years ago because they were becoming extinct. Rangers were so careful to put fires out when lightning would strike. They would quickly be on it through modern technology and they could put the fires out quicker and quicker and quicker and the fire could not burn the crust straight the the the uh crustation off of the seeds and the seeds couldn't germinate and therefore new trees were not springing up. I want you to understand what I'm saying. Before the park rangers had all the technology and all the modern things that they had, lightning would strike in the forest and start a fire. And that fire would burn and get hotter and hotter and hotter. And any of the seeds that had fallen, the they would the fire would get so hot that it would burn burn the crust the crustation off of that seed, the callousness, the hardness of that seed would would be burned off. And then that seed would germinate and a new crop and a new generation of redwoods would come up. But when they started putting the fire out and not letting it burn hot, notice the next generation of trees were too hardhearted. They tried to control the fire and manipulate the fire. And some have grown cold and calloused and allowed incrustation to grow around your heart and around your soul. But if we will let the fire fall again, it can burn the shell of coldness. It can burn the shell of worldliness. It can burn the shell of indifference off of our heart. And if we get on fire, our children will get on fire. And our children's children will get on fire. when they used to go to the spiritfilled Pentecostal churches back when I was a child, people used to come just to see what was going to happen on Sunday night. Anybody know what I'm talking about? People would just come just to It was the best show in town. You never knew when somebody was going to run into the wall. You never knew when somebody was going to break out and dance. You never knew. And it was so exciting. If people come to church now at a Pentecost to church, they'll be bored out of their mind.
What happens when the fire falls? Notice lastly, the people acknowledge God. The people fell on their faces. Oh, and they said, "The Lord, he is God." The fear of the Lord came to them. The Lord, he is God. They acknowledge God in Acts chapter 2 and verse 37. The Bible said that when Peter preached and tongues of fire came upon the 120 in the upper room and they stepped out into the streets and started preaching and speaking in languages they had not learned, but every man heard them speak in their own foreign language. And the Bible said that they were pricricked in their hearts and said, "What must we do?" Conviction comes when a manifestation of God's holy fire begins to fall in a church and in a ministry. What convicted you? How many of you remember when you were convicted? Do you ever get convicted of sin? I'm afraid that in so many churches, we're trying so much to to to to make the world comfortable that that if we're not careful, we forget that we can't change nobody by being their buddy. Salvation is a supernatural thing. And it you must be born again. You must be born again. And you can't do that head talking the head. It takes the Holy Spirit taking a rotten sinner and washing him in the blood and cleansing him and transforming him and giving him a brand new life. Come on. We What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit doing his work. This thing was born in the fire is sustained by the fire. And today ashes won't do. We are people of the [Music] fire. Stir up the gift. Fan the flame. Awaken your hearts. fall on your faces. Cry out to God. Ask him for the fire to fall in your family. Ask him for the fire to fall in your life. Ask him for the fire. Everybody stand to your feet, please. Ask him for the fire. Ask him for the fire. You got to You got something you can't conquer. You get the fire and the fire will take it over. [Music] reach over and put your hand on someone's shoulder right now and pray for them. Lord, I ask you for miracles, signs, and wonders and healings all over this room. Those streaming live, no man can heal you. If you get healed, it won't be because of a man that touched you. It will be that that person was a vessel that the Holy Spirit could work through and all glory goes to Jesus Christ. But right now, I just feel the authority of the Lord to say to sickness and disease go. But he was wounded Jesus Christ for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And by his stripes, we're healed. We're healed physically. We're healed mentally. We're healed emotionally from trauma. We're healed relationally, marriages, homes, families. We're healed from addictions and bondages. We're healed by his stripes. And Jesus, we thank you for it. fill every vessel with the Holy Spirit in this church until their cup runs over. I thank you for it. I praise you for it. And I thank you for the fire. May we not just get a touch on Wednesday night, but may the fire burn all week and all of our lives. Let us be like that burning bush that Moses saw. It burned but was not consumed in Jesus mighty name. How many of you receive right now the ministry and the work of the Holy Ghost in your life and in your body and in your family and in this church. Let's just clap our hands in honor, in praise, in appreciation. Oh, bless the Lord.
Every head bowed, every eye closed. If you're in this room tonight and you would say, "Pastor Franklin, while you preached, I felt that I've been pricricked in my heart. I felt something saying, you're not right with God, and you need to be." I need that kind of fire in my life. I need that kind of passion. The zeal of God's house has eaten me up. Jesus would say, "I'm a dying flame and I need the fire. Pray for me. I need to get my sins under the blood of Jesus Christ. Pray for me. I need a change, a transformation that only God can do. Pray for me. I'm not going to make you come down tonight or anything. We don't. I'm going to pray for you right now where you are, but he never comes where he's not invited. If I'm talking to you, raise your hand high and quick. High and quick all over this room. That's beautiful. Beautiful. Hands all over this room. It's amazing. Really look around you and if you see someone with their hand raised, gently lay your hand on their shoulder as an act of support. And they're all over this room. [Music] And those hands represent all kinds of things that the Holy Spirit knows how to bring freedom and peace and joy in the midst of tears and sorrow and hopelessness in some cases. Father, everybody pray this prayer. Father, in Jesus name, Father, I receive what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Jesus Christ. I believe in him. I believe I believe he's the son of God. I believe he died and rose again. I believe it. And tonight I receive the gift of salvation. I did not earn it. I will never be good enough. But by the blood of Jesus, I am forgiven. I am righteous. I am accepted. I am accepted. I am restored back to favor. And I am a candidate for more of the fire and more of the Holy Spirit than I've ever had in my life. Here's my weakness. Give me your power. Here's my sin. Give me your forgiveness. Here's my disease. Give me your healing. In Jesus name, I am restored. Praise God. Praise God.
Kingdom Connection is a soul-winning ministry that is reaching the world through broadcasting, expansion into new church campuses, and global acts of compassion. By using the technology of today to fulfill the great commission, we are able to connect with countless people and reach hundreds of thousands of lives. Our broadcasts connect with people all around the world who say that the messages speak directly to them. Our ministry exists to help build a connection for strengthening your faith and living out your God-given purpose. And our missions and relief work helps connect you to desperate situations, showing the love of Christ through global acts of compassion. We feel the time is right and God is leading us to grow. And that only happens when you partner with us through connection partnership. For as little as a dollar a day, you'll be helping us reach further than we ever have before. For more information on how you can be a part of the ministry and enjoy exclusive partner benefits, go online or call 8883390049 for more information. We can't do everything, but together we can do something amazing. [Music]
Life is real, vivid, alive, beating, breathing. It happens behind closed doors and out in front. There's joy. There's laughter and chaos. Lifelong friendships are forged. Love is found. Moments cherished and never forgotten. Life is a gift. And together we are real family, real friends, real people. experiencing real life. This is Free Chapel. This program has been brought to you by the friends and partners of Jensen Media Ministries. For more information on this broadcast or for additional resources, go online at jensenfranklin.org. [Music]