The fire is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, which often manifests itself in joy. If we are not careful, though, we can focus on what is happening on the outside and forget about what is going on inside.

God is changing the Church from the inside out. And the fire is not just emotionalism—it is God using a combination of the Word and the Spirit to impart changes in us.

A good example of how God combines the Word and Spirit is found in Ezekiel 37, which describes a vision pertaining to the house of Israel. Often, scriptures can have a two- or three-fold application, even though this mainly pertains to Israel.

Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones could also be a picture of the Church in these last days.

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, thou knowest."

Again he said unto me, "Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

"And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above....
(Ezek. 37:1-8)

God spoke to Ezekiel in the valley full of dry bones, and Ezekiel began to speak the Word. When the Word went forth, skin and ligaments appeared, and the bones came together. Verse 10 says that a great army was formed.

This passage is also a picture of what God has done throughout past revivals. For years, people have been speaking the Word, and bones have been coming together.

This great army, the Church, is being raised up. But it's not enough to do the work that God has planned for the Church. Look at verses 8 through 10:

...but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, "Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
(Ezek. 37:8-10)

God knew the first thing He had to do was speak the Word to raise up the body, and get the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments together to hold the body steady.

But that was not enough—there was another part. When God told Ezekiel to prophesy again, the wind blew. Suddenly there was a great living army. First Ezekiel prophesied, or spoke God's Word to the bones, and then the wind blew on them, and they became an exceeding great army.

I believe God is saying that the Church, the army of God, is ripe for the wind or breath of the Spirit. Faith, healing, prosperity, and good sound doctrines have been poured into the Church for years.

A basic foundation has been laid which started bringing the bones, muscles, ligaments, and skin together. Now it's time for the wind to blow. We need a move of the Spirit of God.

Zechariah 4:6 says, "...Not be might, nor by power, but by my Spirit...." We need both the Word and the Spirit.

So now there is a great Body of Christ all over the world. But God is getting ready to breathe the wind of His Spirit on this great army. God has a plan, and it will come to pass; God is a God of order, and it will happen His way.

Source: Blood, Fire and Vapor of Smoke by Mark Brazee
Excerpt permission granted by
Mark Brazee Ministries Publications