Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTS
AWAKE O ZION!
tor, quite a few had felt a desire to live in community when
they were baptised in the Spirit. Jesus had practised the common
purse, and after Pentecost he had given the apostles clear
directions to teach all nations ‘to obey everything I have commanded
you’ (Matt 28:20).
Our heart was to accept Scripture. It was painful, but swept
away confusion. The temptation was to accept some biblical
teaching and put the rest to one side. In Disciple, Juan-Carlos
Ortiz wrote: ‘If you want the gospel of the kingdom, go back
and read the verses you never underlined, because that’s the
truth you lack.’ 43
The New Testament told us that: ‘All the believers were
together and had everything in common’ (Acts 2:44). Acts 2,
we found, was a bitter-sweet pill — best swallowed whole!
Around the country we heard of semi-renewed churches,
often with denominational restrictions, within which small
charismatic groups struggled without leadership. Little was
built, hearts grew sick and the fires dimmed. It was sad to
hear the tale again and again. Where were those who grappled
with the vision and brought it to pass? Where were those
who did not shrink from proclaiming ‘the whole will of God’
(Acts 20:27)? ‘The dearth of its prophets’, wrote Michael
Harper, ‘is one of the saddest failures of the renewal.’ 44
Was the problem lack of vision or failure in courage? Either
way, the climate seemed unfavourable to the root changes
that prophetic ministry demanded. Evangelists and healers
were acceptable. Prophets were not. Those with vision often
moved out into the house churches.
‘Lifestyles change when they embrace the prophetic vision,’
Terry Virgo was to write. ‘Many churches are beset by layers
158