When The Fire Fell Again

“Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice…” — 1 Kings 18:38 (NIV)

By 2010, something deep within me began crying out for fresh fire once again. I was grateful for all God had done through the years, but gratitude for yesterday’s encounters is never meant to replace hunger for today’s presence. I found myself seeking God afresh with a renewed desperation. Prayer became more earnest. Worship became less about preparation for meetings and more about ministering to the Lord Himself. Along the way there were remarkable signs of God’s activity — visions, unusual encounters, outbreaks of mission, church planting and moments where it genuinely felt as though heaven was beginning to stir once more — but underneath it all was a growing sense that God was preparing us for something far deeper than we realised.

Then came September 2011.

Moments of Glory

On the sixteenth of September, just six days into another forty-day period of prayer and fasting, with many church members taking a day or two a week to fast during the six weeks, we began what was supposed to be a fairly ordinary conference weekend.

Yet from the opening moments of the very first meeting, it became immediately apparent that something extraordinary was taking place. There was a tangible sense of the presence of God settling upon the room in a way that felt weighty, holy and almost overwhelming. It was not emotional hype, nor manufactured atmosphere. It was as though heaven itself had drawn near. We had known moments of God’s power before. We had seen miracles from time to time. But this carried an entirely different depth to it. The only way I can describe it is that it felt as though the altar we had been rebuilding through prayer, worship, fasting and hunger had suddenly been answered by the fire of God.

As the weekend unfolded, miracles began happening with remarkable frequency. Deaf ears opened. The lame walked. Pain left bodies. Yet strangely, as wonderful as the miracles were, they almost seemed secondary to the overwhelming awareness of God Himself being among us. People simply did not want to leave His presence. Worship flowed for hours without striving or manipulation. It felt effortless, like standing in the current of a river already flowing from another world. Children were deeply touched by God. Leaders who were usually composed and confident found themselves undone, reduced to tears or silence in the presence of His glory. There were moments when nobody quite knew what to do next except stand in awe before Him.

What struck me most deeply was that this was never confined to a platform, a preacher or a ministry team. God seemed to move freely among ordinary people. Others began praying for the sick and seeing healing themselves. One steward pulled somebody from a wheelchair. Faith spread across the room like fire catching dry timber. There was a growing awareness that Jesus was not merely blessing a meeting but walking among His people.

Then the conference ended — but the presence did not.

In the days that followed, staff arrived at church unable to function normally because the weight of God’s presence rested so strongly upon them. Some sat weeping uncontrollably. Others simply lay quietly before the Lord. Testimonies of healing continued to flood in. People who had never openly shared their faith suddenly found themselves boldly speaking about Jesus in workplaces, cafés and everyday conversations. Prayer meetings stretched far beyond their normal limits because nobody wanted to leave. They no longer felt like scheduled gatherings but genuine encounters with God. Even the children joining early evening prayer meetings were so impacted by the presence of God that some parents had to carry them home afterwards.

Looking back now, I realise we did not manufacture any of it. We did not create revival through cleverness, personality or formula. We simply rebuilt the altar. That is all Elijah did on Mount Carmel before the fire fell from heaven. He repaired what had been broken down. Stone by stone. Act of obedience by act of obedience. Prayer by prayer. Surrender by surrender. Then God responded with fire.

Perhaps that is still the great need of the Church today. So much of modern Christianity has become skilled at gathering crowds while neglecting the altar. We have mastered presentation, branding and performance, yet often struggle to host the presence of God. But throughout Scripture, whenever God’s people humbled themselves, hungered for Him again and rebuilt places of encounter, heaven responded. 

The fire still falls on sacrifice. God still reveals Himself to hungry people. The glory still rests upon surrendered lives.

An extract from The ALTAR by Jarrod Cooper. Order Your Copy Below 👇

Believe & Confess Meditation & Declaration

I will hunger for the presence of God more than I hunger for comfort, routine or performance (Psalm 63:1). The fire of the Holy Spirit will burn brightly upon the altar of my life as I continually seek the Lord (Leviticus 6:12-13). I will rebuild the altar through prayer, worship, surrender and wholehearted devotion to Jesus (1 Kings 18:30-38). God will pour fresh oil, fresh fire and fresh encounters upon every surrendered area of my life (Acts 2:17-18). I will not rely upon human strength, formulas or performance, but upon the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). The glory of God will rest upon hungry and humble hearts that make room for His presence (Isaiah 66:2). Jesus will walk among His people again with power, holiness and transforming love (Matthew 18:20).

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THE ALTAR

Creating lives & cultures ready to host the glory of God.

Something is stirring.

Across the world, hunger for God’s presence is rising—and many are asking: how do we truly host His glory?

In The Altar, Jarrod Cooper calls us back to the place where heaven meets earth—the altar. A place of encounter, devotion, and transformation.

This book will help you:
• Deepen your personal encounter with God
• Build a lifestyle of worship
• Hear His voice clearly
• Create cultures that carry His presence

This isn’t just a book—it’s a call.
When the altar is restored, the fire falls again.

 Order Your Copy Here