Answering by Fire

Over the years, I’ve heard people say in different ways that our culture needs revival or a spiritual awakening. And to be fair, a culture without God does need awakening.

Many would agree that a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit is desperately needed today. Although I’ve heard this cry for years, it feels more real and urgent now than when I first heard it as a teenager.

Today, I simply want to remind you, it’s okay to call out to God for an awakening.

I’m reminded of the story of Elijah in the Bible, found in 1 Kings 18. He called the entire nation of Israel together, along with all the false prophets of Baal, for what could only be described as the showdown of the year.

Elijah stood up and said, “The God who answers by fire, He is God” (1 Kings 18:24). The people heard him and thought, “That makes sense, we’ll worship the God who answers by fire.”

What does this say about the people? They were under a king who had allowed so much idolatry that they had forgotten the God who delivered their ancestors from slavery in Egypt. They had lost their sense of awe for the One True God.

Elijah knew the false gods wouldn’t respond. He even mocked the prophets of Baal because all their rituals and shouting amounted to nothing. Then, when it was Elijah’s turn, he did something unexpected, he drenched the altar with water. Not once, but multiple times (1 Kings 18:33–35).

Then he simply prayed. And God answered. Fire fell from heaven and consumed the entire offering, even the water. The people fell on their faces and declared, “The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).

I’ve recently revisited this story and imagined that scene. Can you picture it? What a moment.

Today, many believers feel disillusioned. Maybe they’ve been crying out for fire, but nothing has happened. Or maybe fear has gripped hearts so tightly that our voices have grown silent.

But friend, I want to encourage you to believe again.

Our faith is not ordinary, it’s supernatural. And our God is real. He hears your prayers. Your pursuit of Him matters. The enemy would love to twist the truth and offer a counterfeit. But we were created by God, for God (Colossians 1:16), and it’s okay to call out to Him again.

He wants our hearts to come alive in Jesus.

I know there are so many things demanding your time and attention. But your time with God is never wasted. Now more than ever, the world needs people who are willing to seek God with all their heart.

It’s up to God to answer in power, but it’s up to us to obey the invitation, to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7–8). He is still the God who answers by fire.