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Fire in our hearts - Jesus Army

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FIRE IN OUR HEARTS THE LORD TOOK HOLD OF BUGBROOKE<br />

When God moves everyth<strong>in</strong>g happens! What a story! Large<br />

congregations, generous giv<strong>in</strong>g, a wonderful sense of love, and<br />

many turn<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>Jesus</strong>. There are many pressures, some disappo<strong>in</strong>tments,<br />

occasional abuse and false gossip. But <strong>Jesus</strong> is Lord<br />

and by the Spirit we have cont<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g victory. There is a great<br />

revival of faith aris<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong>. The <strong>Jesus</strong> Movement is hot<br />

news. We <strong>our</strong>selves are receiv<strong>in</strong>g many letters and phone calls.<br />

People come from long distances. BBC Radio has contacted us.<br />

But <strong>in</strong> the midst of all this we must ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> a close walk with<br />

God.<br />

At this time God gave them a prophetic ‘wisdom-picture’ of a<br />

wheel with hub and spokes, the hub represent<strong>in</strong>g the committed<br />

core of the church. Revivals have often failed as numbers<br />

<strong>in</strong>creased. The hub at Bugbrooke must grow stronger to<br />

hold the grow<strong>in</strong>g church together.<br />

The summer retreat <strong>in</strong> Matlock was a timely regather<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

strength. Noel took the theme of deepen<strong>in</strong>g. Though their<br />

liberty was grow<strong>in</strong>g, they saw that the backdrop must be hol<strong>in</strong>ess<br />

and full surrender to Christ. The hymn, ‘Burn fire of<br />

God, my ransomed soul possess<strong>in</strong>g’ moved many to tears.<br />

<strong>Jesus</strong> was to be all <strong>in</strong> all. They were choos<strong>in</strong>g a path of fierce,<br />

lov<strong>in</strong>g abandonment to Christ and his k<strong>in</strong>gdom.<br />

Noel spoke from Timothy and Titus on God’s order with<strong>in</strong><br />

the church. He also <strong>in</strong>troduced them to the writ<strong>in</strong>gs of Watchman<br />

Nee who had just died after twenty years’ imprisonment<br />

<strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a. Nee had pioneered churches <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>a and many<br />

regarded him as a prophetic voice to the West. In his book,<br />

The Normal Christian Life 13 , Nee emphasised baptism, separation<br />

from the world and the dist<strong>in</strong>ctiveness of the church.<br />

72

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