Consider, for example, the Azusa Street mission. Compare the appearance of this former stable with the beautiful contrition and consecration of the hearts of the recipients of the early Pentecostal outpouring. The beauty of holiness and of the Holy Spirit were theirs as they sat on the makeshift pews.

Look at the Lord of Hosts being born among the patient beasts, an environment that would cause our dainty church attenders to shriek with dismay rather than to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Those who are in the flesh covet the things of the flesh while those who are in the Spirit covet the things of the Spirit.

Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways. (Ezekiel 33:20)

The trumpet of the Lord is sounding the alarm in Zion, in the Church of Christ. God has come to judge His people wherever there is sin, idolatry, coldness of heart, and rebellious self-will.

The Spirit of the Lord is sounding the alarm of danger and spiritual warfare. Let us of the churches beware of desiring to hear smooth things, comfortable things. Let us not require of the prophets that they prophesy deceits and tell us how pleased God is with our lukewarmness and our love of the things of the world.

If we are cold and backslidden we want to know about it and not be deceived with lies and hypocrisies. Our eternal destiny is at issue.

We may be waiting for God to pour out His Spirit at some vaguely defined future date, not realizing it is the sin and indifference in the churches that has cut off the flow of the Holy Spirit of God. Now is the time for revival.

Occasionally we have "mercy drops" of blessing in our midst. Thank God for the mercy drops and thank God for the ministries and gifts of revelation and power that are being raised up in these days.

It is the will of the Father that the authority, power, and blessing of the Spirit come upon us every time we gather together. It is now that we are to be beseeching the Father in the name of Christ for "rain in the time of the latter rain" (Zechariah 10:1).

It is God's intention that we respond to the present-day alarm of the trumpet by getting ready to fight. The battle is against wicked spirits, the armies of darkness, who are the enemies of God. Their unclean nature is exhibited not only in the world but also at times in the hearts and behavior of Christian people.

Exactly how does one obey the trumpet of the Lord? Since the fight is a spiritual one—we are not warring against human beings— we must learn to walk in the Spirit and fight in the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit is a way of living that appears to be scarcely understandable to many believers. It is time now to pray in the Spirit, live in the Spirit, act in the Spirit, and to put to death the deeds of the body through the Spirit of God.

To be continued.