“​​Three out of four American adults say they want to grow spiritually. Nearly half of Americans say they are more open to God today than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. “

There are 104,127 people living in Adams County PA.  Let’s say that we follow the state average and that 34% of us go to church on a weekly basis.  That’s 68,724 people who do not go to church on a weekly basis in this county alone.

If ALL of them picked any church in this county and went to it all on the same Sunday, we’d be absolutely OVERRUN.  We wouldn’t have room, BY A LOT.  I found 45 churches in Adams County, in a quick google search…We’d have 1,527 MORE people here show up to church on Sunday.  Where would we put them all??

Luke 3:15-18

Where else do we see fire in the bible?

→ Flaming Sword at the garden of Eden. Blocking the way back to the presence of God.

Genesis 3:24

→The Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1-17

→ Presence of God in fire on Mt. Sinai & in the fiery pillar

Exodus 24:17, “To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”

Exodus 13:21

→ Isaiah’s vision & burning coal

Isaiah 6:6-7, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

→ Fiery tongues of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-4, “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

Fire Representations in the Bible:

  1. Presence

  2. Purification

  3. Passion

  4. Purpose

Fire illuminates…it brings things to light!
Fire warms.
Fire changes things.
Fire refines.

Acts 4:29-30, “And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 1:8-9

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