The god who answers by fire

When we came to Korea, God opened the doors to many ministries where I got to preach the gospel and activate the body of Christ in Korea in realm of evangelism. I challenged the church to make the world our pulpit and platform. Through these gatherings, God poured out his spirit beyond measure and many people were transformed. Young people testified that their hearts came alive and continued to burn for Jesus since the first conference I did in September.

Demons were cast out at Suwon Hana Church. People were slayed under the power of God. Legs that were injured the night before with metal supports were healed to the point that that worshiper leader threw his metal supports in the trash! The following week, he was up on stage jumping on the previously injured leg! A woman with 22 years of shopping addiction was set free. She would always come home to packages in front of her door but she testified she was shocked to find none after being delivered! Some people expressed how they felt the power of God like electricity through their being for the first time.

At Esther Prayer Movement, I preached on how there’s no neutrality in war and that we are caught in a war between good and demonic forces and agendas. I testified of the presence of demons and how they gain access in people through their permission and agreement by believing in lies.

A lady was delivered from uncontrollable bowel movements every time she prays, another was set free from hatred and pain received from others.

One of the women stood resolute like a rock every time I came over to pray for her and once she confessed, all her defenses came down and she went down under the power of God faster than anyone that night. It taught me yet again another valuable lesson on the power of real, genuine, heartfelt confession.

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:13

The Fire if God fell during our time in Korea. I wonder if Elijah felt the same way when he challenged the 950 false prophets to a showdown at Mount Carmel. Elijah had not prayed for fire to come down from heaven, perhaps his only experience was that of his studies in history of when God manifested his fire.

Leviticus mentions several times that the fire in the altar was to burn continuously. God wanted a perpetual fire there, and He must have had a reason for it.

Before the giving of the Law, God appeared to Moses “in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up” (Exodus 3:2). God chose the appearance of a continuous fire when calling Moses to lead the people out of Egypt to a new land. Later, when God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, He appeared as a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21–22).

Then came the Law. Outside the tabernacle, the fire for the burnt offering was commanded to be kept burning; never was it to be extinguished. Leviticus 6:13 instructs, “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” This is mentioned three times in this chapter (verses 9, 12, and 13).

One reason the ongoing fire was so important is that it was started directly by God: “Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown” (Leviticus 9:24). The fire on the altar, therefore, served as a constant reminder of God’s power. It was a gift from heaven. No other source of fire was acceptable to God (see Numbers 3:4).

This fire also represented God’s presence. “God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24). The Shekinah glory was visible in the fire at the altar of burnt offering. This ongoing presence of God reminded the Israelites that salvation is of the Lord. The atonement made at the burnt offering could only be made through Him.

In the New Testament, John the Baptist predicted that the Messiah would baptize with the Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16). Fire served as a sign of judgment and refining, but it also reminds us of the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost in the form of “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3).

The continuously burning, divine fire at the altar of burnt offering helped remind the Israelites of the reality of God’s presence and of their need for God. The sacred fire endured throughout the 40 years in the desert and likely beyond that, as tabernacle worship continued until the time of King Solomon and the building of the Jewish temple. When the temple was dedicated, God once again lit the fire on the altar (2 Chronicles 7:1).

Perhaps this was the only grid Elijah had that prompted him to challenge the prophet to challenge Jezebel’s charlatans. I wonder if Elijah ever wondered if God would stand him up and make him look like a fool.

I’ve felt like that many times but every time, God did all that he promised and Gods fire fell. One time in 2014 when we were on outreach in Asia, a woman came up for a miracle in her body. She used to be a dancer but quit because one of her legs kept on getting shorter and shorter. I had called for people to come up who needed healing so that I could display the power of God. She came up. The difference was so drastic, I internally wished I hadn’t made that call. Now that I had, God had to move. I prayed and nothing happened. 5 minutes passed. Nothing. I began to sweat profusely as 5 minutes felt like an eternity. As I was about to give up, I felt the Holy Spirit inspire me to keep going. I knew God would not put me to shame. Courage rose up and I continue to command the leg to grow. Then the leg began to grow.. soon the legs were perfectly matched! The whole room erupted with loud shouts and praise! God vindicated his worth and power by using a weak vessel like me and fulfilled his promise of healing.

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” James‬ ‭5:14-18‬‬

James reveals that Elijah was a weak human being like the rest of us, but it was through prayer that produced powerful results. Elijah had a revelation that fire cannot be manufactured, but can only be manifested by God. Elijah knew his frame, but He knew His God. One who knows His God intimately is intimidated by no man.

God releases his fire over our circuit and times of ministry in Korea. He’s looking for Elijah’s who will know their God and pray dangerous prayers that can turn hearts to burn for the God of Elijah.