Do You Burn for God?
Reverend George Whitefield is someone worth researching. He burned with a fire for God. He would preach for hours to 10’s of thousands of people and much opposition. But it didn’t extinguish his fire. When his opponents threw dirt and rotten eggs, he kept on preaching. Whitefield would preach until God moved. And when God showed up, people would not leave. They would stay until the wee hours of the morning. Witnesses said it was impossible to describe what took place. Whitefield preached in eager anticipation for God to be revealed. He did this day after day, and revival came.
May we do that today.
Romans 8:19 encourages us. (8:18- 8:24 NKJV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?
In verse 19, the apostle Paul expresses how creation is longing and even groaning for the sons of God to be revealed or manifested. His usage of ‘sons’ here is explained as ‘vious’ in greek which describes one who has reached the age and maturity to receive his inheritance. The age of 30 is when the young men could step into their inheritance —just as Jesus stepped into His ministry at 30.
What does that mean for us today?
Well, the earth itself is groaning and longing for those sons/daughters of maturity to arise. The earth is under the subject of the prince of the power of the air (satan), as we see in Ephesians 2, and his Kingdom produces sin, death, corruption, and destruction. As true sons and daughters of God’s Kingdom, we operate in love, peace, joy, righteousness that are fruits of the Holy Spirit. When we produce these fruits rather than the kingdom of darkness’ fruit, we will see transformation and reformation throughout.
I’ll explain it a little further: if we are under the prince of the power of the air (that is evident here on earth in racism, hatred, murder), we witness the fruits of the devil. The evidence of Jesus is grace, blessings, goodness, and joy. Bad things happen (on earth) because Adam yielded his authority to satan. But Jesus, the last Adam, who has been given all authority in Heaven and earth and gives it to His children to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. When you walk in that inheritance, you change the rooms and atmosphere you walk into. You change your neighborhoods and transform your communities. But my reminder is to lay your life down daily and yield to His will over yours.
The earth is longing for us to step up and do this.
I hope that we always encourage one another to get into the Word, pray faithfully, welcome the Holy Spirit, and allow others who are more spiritually mature to be our mentors.
All authority on Heaven and earth has been given to you. Therefore, go preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and make disciples of nations. That is God’s charge for us and my charge for our church community.
What are we waiting for?