Summer of Fire
The New York Times declared in April, “It is too early to draw firm conclusions about 2022’s levels of violence; crime trends usually take shape in the summer.” Chicago Sun Times declared in May, “Fewer people shot, killed — but summer looms…” Fox News in Denver asked in May, “Will Colorado violence get worse this summer?” Axios News wrote in May, “The U.S. government is bracing for a potential surge in political violence once the Supreme Court hands down the ruling that’s expected to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a Department of Homeland Security memo obtained by Axios.”
As the world prepares for a summer of violence, the Spirit of God says, “Prepare for a summer of fire! Yes, the heat is increasing. Yes, the light is increasing. Yes, the flame stirs up the snakes hidden in the pile of dead things. Yes, the burning fire of God is cleansing and igniting His people all over the earth, and what was a smoldering church will become a bonfire of My glory!”
Prepare your faith and expectantly make room in your life for what God intends to do this summer. Don’t allow yourself to become complacent in the summer heat and disconnected in your scheduled vacations. Rest? Yes! Rest in expectant faith!
Yesterday, as I was talking to the Lord, He said, “Turn to your birthday.” I grabbed a copy of my book The Light to My Path and turned to July 30. On that day I wrote the following:
When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
Acts 28:3 ESV
When the heat gets turned up, the snakes are forced out of hiding, and they bite. The closer you draw to the fiery presence of God, the greater the heat is going to be turned up, and the devil can’t take it. He and his minions will latch their fangs on your hand. The hand is a symbol of strength. What is your strength? That’s precisely where the enemy will strike and attempt to inject the venom of fear.
We see three important lessons in Paul’s response:
- The enemy’s venom had no power in him.
- There was no room for fear because he was full of faith in what God had already called him to do.
- He put his strength deep into the fire and shook off the serpent.
Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18 ESV) If Jesus said it, Paul knew it and he believed it. Very soon after the snake experience, Paul went on to pray and bring healing to every diseased person on the island. He was confident that the snake couldn’t stop the powerful purposes of God in his life to bring the Kingdom wherever he went. He was also completely confident that God had told him to go to Rome, and the enemy had no power to block him from getting there.
Faith is the great anti-venom for fear. And faith draws you deeper into the fire where the devil can’t hold on to you. The closer you are to the heat, the weaker his hold on you. Get into the presence of God. Put all your strength into worshiping Him, and shake off the devil!
Join us this summer as we draw deeper into the fire of God. Get ready!
Holy fire come!
Matt
Matt Neese
Wellspring.Live
ON THE CALENDAR
- 06/01 — Wellspring Youth – Contact Sally at ssalas0616@yahoo.com.
- 06/15 — Wellspring Youth – Contact Sally at ssalas0616@yahoo.com.
- 06/15-07/13 — Prophetic Group – Contact Stephanie at sarm1220@gmail.com.
- 06/25 — Men’s Coffee Talk – Contact Darren at darren1421@gmail.com.
- 06/26 — Guest Teacher: Dr. Eddie Hyatt – Contact Matt at matt@wellspring.live.
- 06/29 — Wellspring Youth – Contact Sally at ssalas0616@yahoo.com.
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