Greetings fiery lovers of God!
This month's Burn was another sweet time dedicated to soaking in the Presence of God, making a place for Him to dwell, and interceding that He would come and inhabit our region. We were encouraged to see many new faces, and if you weren't able to make it please know that you were missed! Psalm 133 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!" There's something so refreshing about dwelling together in the Presence of God with the family of God!
There were a few hot topics that really stood out to me during our time together, and I'd like to share those with you to encourage you... and stir you to press in for these things as we contend in prayer for our region!
- GOD IS OUR ALL-CONSUMING FIRE: in 1 Kings 18:20-46, we read the amazing testament of how the prophets of Baal were defeated. Elijah prayed that God would "let it be known this day that you are God in Israel.... Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back" (vs. 36-37). We share Elijah's desire when we say "let Your fire fall, God!" It's not for our glory, it's not about a show... God's outpouring is so that people will know He is God and that He has turned their hearts back! I encourage you to read this passage and really consider what it was that God consumed. The passage says they doused the sacrifice with a dozen large buckets of water until it flowed from the altar and filled a trench around the altar. When God's fire fell, it consumed EVERYTHING... including the large, waterlogged stones that were used to build the altar! No wonder everyone fell on their faces when they saw it. We believe that when the fire of God falls, even the hardest, most impossible-looking situation will be consumed by the fire of God and used for His glory. And what is not consumed will be purified!
- NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM HIS LOVE: in Romans 8:38-39, Paul is convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God. As we pour out our love on God and in turn receive His love, we are beginning to see a restoration of joy, awe, and childlike faith. We pray that His love would fill the lives of believers to overflowing, so that everyone in our sphere of influence would experience the pure love of God.
The "gray areas" are shrinking as the world becomes simultaneously brighter and darker. Praise God that nothing can separate us from Him, and that as we fix our eyes on Him He will refine our hearts and change us from glory to glory! Abba, make us just like you!
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Grace and peace to you,
Sara Thorsby
P.S. If you have any testimonies or photos that you would like to share, please email them to media@burnnewbern.com. Thanks!