Send the Fire!

I've recently been appreciating the usefulness of the Kingsway music site for downloading individual worship tracks.

But I'm disappointed to find that one of my current favourites isn't yet available for MP3 download...

O GOD OF BURNING, CLEANSING FLAME:
Send the fire!
Your blood-bought gift today we claim:
Send the fire today!
Look down and see this waiting host,
And send the promised Holy Ghost;
We need another Pentecost!
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

God of Elijah, hear our cry:
Send the fire!
And make us fit to live or die:
Send the fire today!
To burn up every trace of sin,
To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin!
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

It’s fire we want, for fire we plead:
Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need:
Send the fire today!
For strength to always do what’s right,
For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white:
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

To make our weak hearts strong and brave:
Send the fire!
To live, a dying world to save:
Send the fire today!
Oh, see us on Your altar lay,
We give our lives to you today,
So crown the offering now we pray:
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!
Send the fire today!

William Booth (1829 –1912)
Adpt. Lex Loizides
Copyright © 1994 Thankyou Music

I especially love the last verse of this song. I love the beauty of the line 'to live, a dying world to save'. And the last few lines are, for me, the heart of the song. Their profound truth - and challenge - hit me every time I sing it. There's a principle which I've only recently been coming to grips with: the fire comes on the offering, on the sacrifice.

If I want to see the fire and the power of God in my life there has to be sacrifice. The power and righteousness of God is revealed in me when my life is given over to him. The fire comes to crown the offering - the sacrifice of my life. And as the first verse indicates, this is a consuming fire 'to burn up every trace of sin'. When I ask God to send the fire I better realise what I'm asking for! But how can we live with anything less?

This is my theme song right now - appropriate for the season maybe!
We need another Pentecost! It's fire I want, for fire I plead. Send the fire today!