Words from the New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Kings 18:41 'The sound of a heavy rain' from New International Version (NIV)

1 Kings 18:44 'see' by author; orig. 'saw'

This is a Revival Song 🔥

For Pentecost, I wanted to put Acts 2 to song, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But, as so often happens, the Spirit had a better idea..

He wanted me to read the book of 1 Kings. So I did, and then I read 1 Kings 18:18-45 and 19:1-13. It's an incredible story.

I don't have the time to recount the entire story, but in short:

Elijah summons Israel, the king, and 450 Baal priests to settle once and for all who is the real God. There has been a drought for 3.5 years.

They make two altars. The Baal priests start dancing, chanting, screaming, and cutting themselves in order to move Baal to set the altar ablaze. It takes hours and hours, and Elijah graciously encourages them by saying, "Maybe he (Baal) stepped out for a minute to do some groceries or is using the toilet; scream a little louder!" They go nuts, but nothing happens.

It's Elijah's turn. He soaks his altar with water again and again and prays, "Oh Lord, prove today that You are God and I am Your servant." Then the fire of the Lord completely annihilates his sacrifice.

Everyone is in awe.

Elijah turns to the king and says, "I hear a mighty rainstorm coming; prepare yourself, eat, and drink."

It's a clear blue sky. Scorching sun, no wind, no clouds, no nothing, except for the sound of crickets.

Elijah sends his servant to go watch the sky and wait for the first cloud.

His servant looks seven times. Nothing. Then he sees a cloud the size of a man's hand.

Elijah shouts, "Run!!"

Mind-blowing—the faith of this man; it's totally humbling.

But I love the Bible; it's so brutally honest.

In Chapter 19, Elijah is afraid and flees from Queen Jezebel. He's done and says, "Take me away, Lord." But an angel says to him, "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you."

Then he walks 40 days and nights to the mountain of God. There he meets God, and He reveals Himself to Elijah, but not before He asks him, "What are you doing here?"

Now, what has this to do with Pentecost?

Everything!

You see, when there's an outpouring of the Spirit, revival follows.

Take me, for instance; it started with a gentle whisper, revival followed, Project of Love was born, and is now touching countless lives around the world.

But you see, to see an outpouring, a revival, there needs to be a hunger. There needs to be a spark to attract the fire of God. Without Elijah's faith (spark), there would not have been a fire of God.

There needs to be a drought to attract the rains of God—a need, a hunger for God.

But then one little cloud, the size of a man's hand, is enough to cause a mighty rainstorm, a mighty outpouring of the Spirit!

But if you're cowered away, God asks you, "What are you doing here?" "Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you."

You gotta fill yourself, stuff yourself even, with the Word of God.

Revival is coming. All around the world. One last time, I believe.

It starts with a gentle whisper, "What are you doing here?"

One little cloud can cause a mighty rainstorm.

Do you hear what I hear?