Let the fire fall!

I have been looking for hymns for this Sunday evening when I am leading worship at one of our churches and while there are some really great hymns for Pentecost in Hymns and Psalms and Mission Praise one of my favourite Pentecost hymns is not in either book. It may be that some readers of this blog will have come across the hymn elsewhere but I thought I would do a hymn for the day (Sunday -Pentecost) so here is mine.

1. They were gather’d in an upper chamber,
As commanded by the risen Lord,
And the promise of the Father
There they sought with one accord
When the Holy Ghost from heaven descended
Like a rushing wind and tongues of fire;
So dear Lord, we seek Thy blessing,
Come with glory now our hearts inspire.

Let the fire fall, let the fire fall,
Let the fire from heaven fall;
We are waiting and expecting,
Now in faith, dear Lord, we call
Let the fire fall, let the fire fall,
On Thy promise we depend;
From the glory of Thy presence
Let the Pentecostal fire descend.

2. As Elijah we would raise the altar
For our testimony clear and true
Christ the Saviour, loving Healer
Coming Lord, baptizer too,
Ever flowing grace and full salvation
For a ruined race Thy love has plann’d
For this blessed revelation,
For Thy written word we dare to stand.

3. “Tis the covenanted promise given
To as many as the Lord shall all
To the fathers and their children
To Thy people, one and call;
So rejoicing in Thy word unfailing
We draw nigh in faith Thy power to know
Come, O come, Thou burning Spirit
Set our hearts with heav’nly fire aglow

4. With a living coal from off Thy altar
Touch our lips to swell Thy wondrous praise
To extol Thee, bless, adore Thee,
And our songs of worship raise;
Let the cloud of glory now descending
Fill our hearts with holy ecstasy
Come in all Thy glorious fulness
Blessed Holy Spirit, have Thy way.

I pray that all my readers will experience again the blessings of the Pentecost season and who knows perhaps the fire will fall in some of our churches.