Pastor John Tilton
September 12, 2021 - W2137

Fresh Fire! A Call to Revival!

26th Anniversary

Pastor John Tilton

September 11 & 12, 2021

Happy Anniversary, everybody!  "God, let your fire fall upon us today--not just fire, but Fresh Fire! A Call to Revival!We want revival in each of us, in our families, our church the Big C--the big church; we want it for our community."

The message today is about fresh fire and how God takes the destructive fire that comes into our lives, and how He redeems and refines them to reveal the future He has for us!  I usually don't remember my dreams, but the Lord gave me this whole message in a dream--and I remembered the whole thing!  The message is entitled, "Fresh Fire! A Call to Revival!" continuing our series, "Friends: Guardians & Guardrail." 

Just think, a year and a half ago we were able to go on vacation to wherever we wanted to travel to with no masks and restrictions--but where are we today?  It seems that we're in a furnace of destructive fire; so, we'll talk about destructive fires and how God redeems that! We know the enemy's plan is for destruction (to steal, kill, and destroy); but we also know that our God has a plan to turn around the destructive fire for GOOD!  

1. Don't Fall into the Destructive Fire of the Enemy  

Study shows that destructive wildfires are caused by a lack of water (drought) making everything flammable--but that most fires are caused by a lack of management of the forest!  That means the debris, branches, and leaves that fall are not managed and they become tinder; tinder is very dry and flammable and cause unprecedented numbers of destructive fires, yearly, by cigarette, spark, lightning--anything!

Oftentimes, we're not studying the Word of God (the word of God is Living Water), and we go through dry spiritual drought when we are easily hurt by the words and actions of others. God spoke to me that a lack of being in God's Word (Living Water) will cause spiritual dryness; but being in God's Word will quench the destructive fires from happening! 

2. Let the Refiner's Fire Transform You Now and for Jesus' Return

The refiner's fire will hurt--it's painful and we sometimes struggle through it, but God transforms us through it to cleanse, heal, and build us!  Your heart will change like David's, a heart after God, who understands and forgives--that's what the refiner's fire will do!  Here's an illustration of how raw silver and gold become valuable! When raw silver and gold are put into a vat and heated up very high, the heat destroys all the impurities (dross) and it rises to the top; the dross is skimmed off and you are left with pure gold or silver--where the value is!  

Zechariah 13:8-9 NIV says: "⁸ In the whole land,” declares the Lord, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. ⁹ This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

Not only will God refine you (as painful as it may be), but if you will turn to the Lord with all your heart, He will take you through the refiner's fire and heal you--but we must discard the impurities!  The impurities must be discarded, and He changes our heart!  The way to burn up the things that God is bringing to the surface is through the refining fire!  Let it burn up so it never comes back to haunt you again, and you become silver and gold, and the Lord says, "I will say they are my people, and they will say the Lord is our God."

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV says: "¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (Judgment Day) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames."

What that scripture says is that you won't lose your salvation, but that while we are here and are walking through the refining fire, we are to occupy...   

Luke 19:13 KJV says: "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come."

Jesus is talking about a rich businessman that gave his servants money (mina), and He told them, "Until I come back, you are to occupy," meaning invest in the right way.  Occupy and Multiply, Be Fruitful & Increase! I challenge you to increase by what you are doing for God and what God is doing in your heart. Let's watch a powerful testimony by Rien and Malama Vidad, leaders of our Life Change Ministry, share how they went through destructive fires and how God redeemed them when they turned to the Lord God--and He also refined them!  

 [Video]

MALAMA:  I first visited New Hope Oahu in 2003; and, in 2004, I started attending New Hope Farrington regularly and began serving on the vocal team. We sang positive music, both Hawaiian and gospel, and I continued with the same group called "Believe."  

In 2010 I was driving home to Haleiwa and thinking about a trip that I had just taken to Japan and feeling good about everything--and the Lord just hit me!  I felt this thought go across my mind, "What did you do with Jesus?" I felt convicted because I knew that we had made the people happy and touched their hearts, but we didn't teach them about Jesus! 

Then in 2011, I had my wake?up call when I took an MRI and was told that I had a rare brain condition that the blood vessels in my brain were tangled, cutting off circulation, and that I could die from a stroke at any time or in a few weeks--I needed brain surgery immediately!  They also said that there was a big possibility that I may not come out of it; and, if I did, I may be paralyzed on my right side!

In that moment, my world flipped upside down, and all I could think about was my husband and son.  And my question was:  "Lord, is my time done?  Am I done on this earth?"  Then the question came back again, "What did I do with Jesus?"  It was a very trying time, and in that moment, I realized that all I had was God. It was a difficult surgery and only by the grace of God, it was successful.  After surgery, I knew that I had to go in a new direction, so I left the singing group and the studio that I was teaching at, and even though I knew I had to go in a new direction, I didn't know exactly what I was going do--but I just knew I had to go in a different direction!

We had an appointment with my neurosurgeon, and he told us that I shouldn't have children because I'm still at risk for a stroke. At the same time, my mom became ill and was hospitalized; it was very difficult on our marriage, and we separated for 6 months, then filed for divorce.

RIEN:  I became depressed and had thoughts that are not of the Lord, thinking maybe this world would be better off without me.  There's a ridge going to the North Shore [Oahu, Hawaii], and I would often think that if I go over the ridge, it would be easier for Malama and no questions would be asked about the both of us--they would just say, "Yeah, Rien just kinda lost it." But every time that happened, my phone would ring, and somebody would say, "I haven't talked to you in a while, and I just wanted to check on you and see how you were doing."

It was as though the Lord was telling me, "I got you.  Don't worry about it."  And every time I would get those calls or text messages, it was a reminder of God's love and faithfulness for me--that He is always with you.  Whenever I did my devotions for that day, there was something that would speak to my heart and remind me of His divine providence--His love, grace, and mercy! 

MALAMA:  For years I had gone to church, but I wasn't in the Word every day, and I didn't know what to do, but I knew that there were answers in the Bible, and I kept reading every day.  During that time, Rien also started going through things in himself; so, we separated so we could each go vertically and be aligned with God, then come together. 

RIEN:  So, it was important for each of us to individually go through our own healing process and then come together as a couple to work through it. 

MALAMA:  Rien went through Life Change, and I really saw a difference in him.  Then I read the Experiencing Godbook.  It changed my perspective.  Through all of that, God did amazing things in our marriage and saved our marriage!  And in that time, He showed me that He was my "ever?present help," that I could always turn to Him no matter what.  God showed me that my identity was in Christ--not in what I do. And I decided to start serving with Rien at Life Change. It has been amazing to watch God change people's lives!  It's been a beautiful to watch people being changed right in front of you!

RIEN:  The things that people have been through could enrich so many people because there's somebody out there with a similar story that may not have listened to me, to Malama, or to somebody else, but that person's story resonates with them, and they'll listen to them! God is my everything--my safety, my ever?present help, and my deliverer!  

[End Video]

3. Believe in And Follow God's Pillar of Fire   

Exodus 13:21-22 NIV says: "²¹ By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ²² Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."

The Holy Spirit, God Himself, led the people of Israel through the desert, but also when the Egyptians came up, He protected them from behind!  God wants to do the same for you today! When you receive Jesus in your heart, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit to help you! 

Luke 3:16 NIV says: "John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'"

The Holy Spirit Will Guide You with Fresh Fire

Acts 2:38-39 NIV says: "³⁸ Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.'”

From the destructive fire, we'll be refined; and the Holy Spirit will guide you like He did with the Israelites.  The Holy Spirit is already in you, so we'll pray that God would affirm the Holy Spirit and your ability to call upon Him to kindle the fire in you so that He can lead you!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1.      Share your experience of going through destructive fire, how did God refine you?
2.      What are you doing to occupy and multiply?  
3.      What are you doing for the Kingdom of God? 
4.      How are you involved in God's work in some way?