Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:18–29

Are You Combustible?

The god who answers by fire—he is God. (I Kings 18:24)

 

Over and over again in the Bible God’s presence is associated with fire. Whether it is a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24), a burning bush (Exodus 3:2), a fiery coal (Isaiah 6:6), a refiner’s furnace (Malachi 3:2), tongues of fire (Acts 2:3), or blazing eyes (Revelation 1:14), when God is at work, there is always a burning. No one made this reality more clear than the prophet Elijah in his famous battle with the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The ultimate test for determining which God was true and which one was not, was this: the God who answers by fire—he is God (I Kings 18:24). Therefore, if our hearts are not aflame with passion and zeal for God today, there are only two possible explanations. Either God is not present or we are not combustible.

In the Old Testament, the priests in the Tabernacle were given a very strict command:

The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out. (Leviticus 6:12–13).

There is a lesson here for us. The same things that were required to keep the fire burning on the altar are still necessary today to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit alive and well in our hearts:

,. Ignition. Spiritually, there is no such thing as spontaneous combustion. Fire requires an external cause. The flame on the altar was lit by the priest, and because it came from his hand, it was holy fire. Likewise, no human heart will ever burn with holy passion until God himself ignites the flame.

,. Fuel. A fire will go out without fuel. Whole burnt offerings of animal sacrifice fueled the flames on the altar in the Tabernacle. Now, Christ has come as a new High Priest and has abolished animal sacrifice forever. But in its place he demands something else: our very selves. Offer your bodies as living sacrifices . . . this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). God is a consuming fire. I am the fuel.

,. Ventilation. Without air, fire goes out. We quench the fire of God when we deprive our hearts of the oxygen that comes from confession, repentance, fellowship, worship, and the ministry of the Word. Pentecost brought not only fire from heaven but “a mighty rushing wind” (Acts 2:2) to fan it into a conflagration that sent revival flames all over the earth.

The great need of the hour is for men and women who are ablaze with holy fire. Are you combustible? Let the prayer of William Booth become yours:

God of Elijah, hear our cry: Send the fire! To make us fit to live or die, send the fire!

To burn up every trace of sin, To bring the light and glory in,

The revolution now begin, send the fire!

 

Oh, how we need to wake up to the fact that the Holy Spirit’s blessing

and power is the key to everything.  —Jim Cymbala

 

point to ponder • What are you doing to place combustible fuel on the altar of your heart?

prayer focus • Thoughtful and prayerful confession, which will lead to repentance, worship, and a hunger for God.