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Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

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FIRE IN OUR HEARTS<br />

ON THE MARCH<br />

‘Wow!’ said Nathan.<br />

‘...You what?’ said ‘Forthright’.<br />

Steve ‘Genu<strong>in</strong>e’ had been keen to get married quickly.<br />

‘Bro,’ said Rufus, ‘you’re becom<strong>in</strong>g dynamic, and the teenagers<br />

respect you. Zion is <strong>in</strong> need right now. Why not put this<br />

off for six months? Let God really use you.’<br />

‘No way!’ said Steve. But he was uneasy. His tough guy<br />

image was crumbl<strong>in</strong>g and he longed for God. Lukewarmness<br />

was around, and it was true — Zion was <strong>in</strong> need.<br />

He spent h<strong>our</strong>s sitt<strong>in</strong>g before God, and it wasn’t long before<br />

his thoughts about marriage evaporated. God became<br />

his passion. God’s presence was captivat<strong>in</strong>g, awesome, holy.<br />

‘Sometimes,’ he said, ‘a stillness came on me. The brothers<br />

called me for d<strong>in</strong>ner but I couldn’t move. I’d read how Evan<br />

Roberts would spend h<strong>our</strong>s lost <strong>in</strong> God. That was how I felt.<br />

Then a burden for hol<strong>in</strong>ess came upon me.’<br />

One even<strong>in</strong>g the household went round claim<strong>in</strong>g the power<br />

of the Blood of <strong>Jesus</strong> over the rooms at the Farm.<br />

‘Bro,’ Steve said to Noel, ‘what we really need is to get low<br />

before God. The church needs to rega<strong>in</strong> its first love.’<br />

‘I knew this was God’s word for us,’ Steve said later. ‘It<br />

burned <strong>in</strong> me day and night and I cried out amongst the cattle,<br />

“Lord restore y<strong>our</strong> Zion!” I was jealous for God, and tired<br />

of <strong>our</strong> flippant ways.’<br />

The flame spread and one of the farm teenagers burst <strong>in</strong>to<br />

action. Steve ‘Strengthener’ and Steve ‘Genu<strong>in</strong>e’ would pray<br />

together and were fearless <strong>in</strong> speak<strong>in</strong>g out.<br />

One night Rufus was lead<strong>in</strong>g the house meet<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

‘Rufus, bro, you haven’t got the word!’ said Steve ‘Genu<strong>in</strong>e’,<br />

as he stood up.<br />

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