Blood & Fire

I just knew God was saying something very important and significant.  I, also, knew I needed to begin searching out the matter more with the Holy Spirit who would show me what this means to Freedom House Ministry, to YOU, and to me in this season.The next morning sitting in my quiet time again, I listened to Dutch Sheets (Give Him 15) and he shared about William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army.  So, I knew I was on the right track as I searched out more of the Salvation Army’s “Anointing.”  It was confirmation of the Lord’s speaking to me through the “In the Garden,” hymn.

In that post with Dutch Sheets, he references a hymn written by William Booth: “The Fire.”  Here are some of the lyrics that stirred me, and I’ve been singing and praying this daily.

Studying more about the Salvation Army and about William Booth, there was so much depth, passion, and anointing on him in reaching out to the poor, the lonely, and the downtrodden.  He embarked upon a mission that God called him to—to win the multitudes to Christ.  As he walked the streets of London to preach the message of Jesus Christ, he was unashamedly, unequivocally, and unapologetically preaching God’s truth without compromise.

General Booth’s motto, “Blood and Fire,” referred to the blood of Christ and the purifying power of the Holy Spirit.  Oh, how we need this in our time today to see God’s Blood and Fire once again in our nation and around the world like the Salvation Army’s anointing!  Blood and fire are truly calling out for revival and reformation in the fullest meaning of the Holy Spirit.

“Religion Without the Holy Ghost” So many have lost their sense of moral urgency and spiritual fervency because they are buried in apathy and lack of concern and left out Holy Sprit’s convictions.  Our only cure and remedy are for the “BLOOD and FIRE” to come upon us and to burn away our hardened hearts and to see Holy Spirit’s fire and sanctification.  I think 2 Timothy 3:5 states it quite clearly:

There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

“Christianity Without Christ” So many nowadays are stating they are Christians, but their lives are living far from Christ and His ways of thinking and acting.  Christianity without Christ is really a term that is part of the “postmodern” movement that has slowly inched its way into the church and culture.  It suggests that you are living a Christian lifestyle but standing, sitting, and resting in worldly beliefs and doctrines, not living in the teachings of Christ and His Word of truth. 

To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Christ, a follower of Christ, and to learn and discover His truths in HisHoly Word.

“Forgiveness Without Repentance” We need to stand in a place of true repentance, which means fully turning to God without reservation or excuse, asking for his merciful forgiveness.  Repentance is a forgotten and lost word in our culture and sadly even in some of our churches.   Repentance applies Godly grief based on love for God and for those who have been wounded, thus resulting in real change.  It’s not enough to wish we’d done better or to feel sorry for ourselves.

We have become a nation which is so self-absorbed and a nation full of entitlements and expectations.  There is NO forgiveness without repentance and there is no eternal salvation without repentance.  What we need is a deep wrenching cry for the Holy Spirit to send the spirit of Elijah and the Spirit of John the Baptist upon our churches, families, and government.

“Salvation Without Regeneration” William Booth prophetically stated that we would see growing numbers of people claiming they are Christians and claiming to have salvation.  We are seeing a culture walking in “ungodly “ways because it feels right because their moral compass is no longer in the direction of sound Biblical truths; thus, everyone has their own truth.  However, regeneration is a radical and fundamental change that results in moving into the Kingdom and Heavenly realm seeking and hearing His divine ways.  We will then begin to desire living a life of faith, holiness, and rebirth from becoming new creatures in Christ. It’s the same power that raised Christ from the dead that is displayed in the regeneration and conversion of sinners.“Politics Without God” Booth said there would be a day when civil government in the Western world would NO longer have the fear of God.  That, my friends, is surely an accurate and precise statement for today.  Our government is making up new laws and decrees according to what they feel is right.  No longer based on God’s Word or Truth, and not even the Constitution let alone common sense, there is no longer any basis in absolutes!  Much of the government traffics in deception, lies, and projection.  Their words and actions state, “Don’t confuse me with the facts and truth” because they have an agenda which is based on power, greed, and lust for money, which in this case, is the root of all evil.  For that matter, even the common courtesy of just reporting facts is no longer a reporter’s job description.  Their agenda for America is to push God out of the way and become their own gods who think they know better for you, for me, and for all of America.

“Heaven Without Hell” Let me ask how many of you have heard sermons about “repenting” lately, about deception and those who deceive others?  When have you heard a good old-fashioned sermon on Romans 1:18 or Ephesians 5:6?

We are in desperate need for all of us who are walking in His Truth to be bold and speak out when things are totally false or just plain lying.  We cannot turn away because we are afraid, intimated, or want to be “politically correct.”  The enemy is no longer prowling around; he is now boldly and arrogantly prancing around mocking and laughing in our faces.  It’s a modern-day Goliath standing proudly, mocking and making fun of God and His ways.

It’s time to wake up, friends, with OUR message of the Good News.  The Good News is God is with us!  He hasn’t abandoned ship, He hasn’t forsaken us, He hasn’t turned the other way, and He hasn’t walked away from America.

He is strategically and tactically on the move, and WE can get our nation back under the Only True God for that is the bedrock of our America.  We are NOT doomed in hopelessness and failure because God is GREAT, and in His greatness, He is sovereign over all the nations, as well as regal in His glorious glory.  For God is light and in Him is NO darkness at all (I John 1:5) !  He is in full charge and control with His unflinching standard of truth, unbending character, and His moral uprightness. When He speaks, the darkness flees! He stands unmovable, and all time is in His hands.

I pray for each of us to have the vision and anointing of the Salvation Army rising with our Christ with His burning fire and cleansing blood to do a holy work in our hearts and in our nation.  Let’s stand up for Christ and usher in the Holy Spirit Fire and Blood in the glorious season of our lives.