Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire

Rating:
Summary: Good, but had some problems
Review: Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is a wonderful short book coauthored by Pastor Jim Cymbala and Dean Merrill. Pastor Cymbala describes how God has blessed him and his wife Carol in their ministries with the famous Brooklyn Tabernacle in the last thirty years. The title "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" draws parallel of this church to the first century church in Acts 2:1-4. This book is a remarkable testimony of the awesome work of the Holy Spirit in how He could do great and mighty things through His people when they humble themselves in prayers. The increase in number for the Brooklyn Tabernacle is spectacular, but it turns pale when comparing to the increase in Pastor Cymbala's faith and dependency in God. God simply turned him from an amateur into warrior. It is a short book, but it is an important book for every serious Christian.

This book is divided into three sections, namely (1) Waking Up to a Powerful Promise, (2) Diversions from God's Best, and (3) The Road Ahead. Section 1 centers on the promise God revealed to Pastor Cymbala in Florida, that if he and his wife will lead his people to pray and call upon His name, He will provide everything they need: sermon, money, church building, and people (p. 25). Once he realized that prayer meeting is the engine of the church, and serious about it, Lord never stopped blessing them. Section 2 underscores that our lukewarm churches nowadays are in trouble by the lure of novelty, marketing, pleasing people, and dead doctrine without passions and actions for the Lord. Section 3 warns us not to be proud of ourselves and take credits from God. He challenges us to "look at the scoreboard" and be brave for God. At the end, he encourages us that the never changing power of the Holy Spirit is all-sufficient as He has never changed since the day of Pentecost.

This book is full of powerful true stories with drug addict, male prostitute, demon-processed person, homeless, all for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom. Besides touching stories, this book refers to scriptures in the Bible just as well - an important attribute for any Christian writing. Pastor Cymbala quotes Acts a lot, and is a doer of God's words when he follows the model of first century church in Acts.

This book emphasizes the sufficiency of the power of Holy Spirit. As a church to proclaim God's message in this evil generation, nothing will work better than the Holy Spirit Himself working through his humble and broken people. This is nicely summarized in his comments after the biblical example of Asa, that "such [whatever works is the way to go] thinking is due for a rude awakening when we stand before the Lord." (p. 164).

This inspiring book has made me think a lot. As a choir member, I was touched that even the Tabernacle choir would devoted at least half an hour to pray before the practice. Why can their music be so touching? The answer is in prayer. Life in the music comes from prayer (p. 49). I was so moved when I read the determination of that prayer band member to pray for her pastor before the Jewish man disturbed the worship service with a gun. I was equally touched by Pastor Cymbala's story on his rebellious daughter after the prayer meeting. Why can they do those great and mighty things through prayers but we can't? Why is our prayer meeting so poorly attended? The book provides an answer: prayer has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need. We cannot just say "we ought to pray", but " we have to be driven to pray" (p. 49). I am a firm believer in prayer and the promise in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." How encouraging it is to see prayer and faith in full action in The Brooklyn Tabernacle! This book rekindled my faith in the Lord. Nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Brethren, I encourage you to read this book, and get serious on the prayer ministry. When we work, we work. When we pray, God works! Amen.