Yesterday Pastor Manley Miller and I preached in 2 different churches here in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Both churches are growing and impacting their communities, city and nation with the message and ministry of Jesus. The pastors of both churches are up in age (they are in their mid-60’s), but their congregations are comprised of lots of children, teens and young adults, as well as median-aged adults and senior adults. What is it that sets these two pastors and their churches apart from so many others, and causes these two pastors to have such great ministries even though they’ve reach Senior Adult status? They and their congregations have faith, fervor and “fire.”

What do I mean when I say that these pastors and their congregations have “faith”? I mean that they believe in and trust the Lord wholeheartedly. Even though they live in a nation where there is much poverty, corruption and injustice, they believe that the Lord is bigger than all of their challenges, and that the Lord will enable them to overcome every obstacle and opponent that they face. The Bible says that we can’t please God if we don’t have faith and trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6). These men and their congregations are obviously very pleasing to the Lord.

What do I mean when I say that these pastors and their congregations have “fervor”? I mean that they have a real passion for the Lord, and a real compassion for the hurting and lost people around them. They have a passion to know the Lord, walk with the Lord, and live out the Lord’s purposes and plans in their lives. At the same time, they have a real love and concern for the people around them, and they are fervently doing all they can by the Lord’s grace and power to reach and minister to the needy, hurting and lost people around them (Matthew 9:35-38).

What do I mean when I say that these pastors and their congregations have “fire”? I mean that they are living daily in the power of the Holy Spirit, and because of that they are experiencing the miraculous work of the Lord in their lives and churches on a daily basis. Jesus said that we would receive “power” when the Holy Spirit came upon us (Acts 1:8), and these men and their congregations have the “fire” of the Holy Spirit in their lives, worship services and ministry.

So here are my questions for you.

1. Do you have real FAITH, FERVOR and “FIRE” in your life, and does your Church have FAITH, FERVOR and “FIRE.”

2. What steps do you need to take to live with more FAITH, FERVOR and “FIRE”?

I look forward to reading your responses.