communityoftheholyfire

THE DESCENT OF THE DOVE: This photo reveals the Dove of the Spirit descending upon Jesus. Five things made this possible: First, the exquisite embroidery of the Lord’s Supper by an elderly North Korean artist; second, a beautiful hanging created by the artist Professor Ellen Shim; third, a photo taken of the two works of art by master photographer Joon Lee; fourth, the beautiful worship center that God gave to us at YWAM-AIIM Pneuma Springs where we could hang these works of art; and fifth, the Holy Spirit who caused the brightness of the sun to cause the reflection of the hanging in the embroidery. The Holy Spirit did indeed descend upon Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry, and also at the Last Supper.

I was visiting some missionaries in a very difficult access country and was deeply impressed by their commitment both to God and to the people of the nation they served. I felt actually as if I were standing on holy ground, in the presence of missionaries of the quality of William Carey and Hudson Taylor, or of Gladys Aylward. The missionary wives and children were as equally committed as the husbands. I nicknamed them, “The Community of the Holy Fire,” because they are actually living and ministering in the fire of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that all Christians belong to the “Community of the Holy Fire.” This is a good way to understand the Church. The fire is the fire of God’s love. God is love; therefore His fire is the fire of love. Sometimes He sends His fire to purify us, at other times to empower us. Above all, He sends the fire of His Spirit to burn away the walls that separate us, and unites us in His love.

Christian community is not limited to the location where you live. You should indeed be an active part of a community that reaches beyond itself. But true community goes beyond time and space. We can be in community with friends in all nations of the world. We are global. PTL

We are now being built into a dwelling place–a home–for God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). This is not a humanly organized community, but a spiritual community embracing all Christians of every nationality, race, ethnic group and church.

Welcome to the Community of the Holy Fire!