Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSing cast out. And churches and small groups were catchingfire!As a proud, evangelical Baptist pastor, the very thought thatI needed the baptism of fire sent shock waves through mynervous system. The New Testament experience availablenow? Becoming Pentecostal? Actually speaking in tongues?Feeling drunk? Being taken over by God? But early in 1969 ithappened. It was devastating, powerful, releasing and full ofworship. It was, and has continued to be, a Baptism of love,faith, vision and courage.Way back in 1951 I had bought, in my search for an effectivewalk with God, a second-hand book by Samuel Chadwick(the Methodist leader who died in 1932) called The Way toPentecost (Hodder & Stoughton, 1935). When I at last reachedmy personal Pentecost eighteen somewhat unfruitful yearslater, I was able to testify with Chadwick, as he describes theresult of his baptism in the Spirit:There was a new sense of spring and vitality, a new power ofendurance, and a strong man’s exhilaration in big things. Thingsbegan to happen. What we had failed to do by strenuous endeavourcame to pass without labour. The experience gave methe key to all my thinking, all my service, and all my life.‘Things began to happen.’ For the Jesus Fellowship, thisbook records some of those things. The Holy Spirit led usinto them. We did not always walk with him. His directiveswere perfect, our obedience was not. But with caring loveand many chastisings, he caused a people to arise, pledgedtogether to be a kingdom brotherhood and a force for mis-15