Fire in our hearts - The Jesus Army

FIRE IN OUR HEARTSCITY ON A HILLpoured into thirsty hearts. Then the Spirit led us along theway of the cross and that meant deliberate choices. Whatdoes it say in Titus 2? “For the grace of God that brings salvationhas appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodlinessand worldly passions, and to live self-controlled,upright lives...”’I was getting inspired. ‘Well, grace did teach us! And purifyus! And bring us together as a people for God! Grace gave usa heart to practise Christ’s teachings and we began to cleanseourselves from the spirit of the world. Our whole lifestylewas shaken up! Leaders began to lead. Brothers and sistersdiscipled one another. Men and women found their true identity.All the time grace was telling us to lay down our lives forthe brethren and giving us the vision of a holy Zion...’‘Yes, yes, I see that,’ he said. ‘I’m not supporting worldliness.But isn’t it easy to become a people of rules?’‘Well, of course it is! And that’s the fate of so many movesof God — the wine is gradually lost till only the wineskin remains.So we’ve got to keep thirsting after God, seeking adeeper purity and a greater love. But a holy people are adifferent people — and the world rejects them. That’s theissue, Jim, not legalism!’Our attempts at bridge-building made some headway, andwithin the next two years we had received visits from a numberof Christian leaders. One surprise visitor was Ern Baxter. Fromthe top of a strawstack I watched him walk, tall and frail, upthe Farm drive. ‘We are the world’s last hope,’ he had said atthe Kansas City Shepherds’ Conference. ‘We must bring thesheep into a community of power and compassion that will204