He is a consuming fire…and He is consuming me! The flames burn deep down in my soul!
For our God is a consuming Fire! Hebrews 12:29
Sitting around the campfire this past week at the Cowshed, where we are staying, has been a blessing. God’s been speaking and moving. I’ve grown up with fires “blazing” all around me, but it’s different this time. It’s captivated me. I’ve been able to see the beauty in the fire. I’ve been seeing the darkness all around the light, yet the light of the fire extends further than my eyes can see!
It got me thinking about or lives…it’s to be like a fire! We are to be consumed by the Holy Spirit. In order to have a fire, we need a source, the root and foundation – a starting point…the source being wood and oxygen. The source of our lives is the Holy Spirit. As the wood ignites, heat is produced, along with light, sparks, smoke and so much more. This fire can be seen from miles away. As our Spirits ignite, God’s love, light and warmth is poured out on all around!
It only takes a spark to get a fire going
And soon all those around, can warm up to it’s glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it
It’s fresh like spring, you want to sing, you want to pass it on
A fire goes deeper than what eyes can see. It not only burns above the source, but also below the surface. I can’t see the hottest part of the fire – whether it’s the literal fire or the fire burning deep inside of me. The coals are the hottest part of a fire, the source, and the closer you are to the source the hotter the wood, flames and sparks. The closer we are to God, the hotter, brighter and deeper you are in the spiritual fire. The hotter it is, the more it burns. We are to be on fire!
God wants our lives to be a continuous fire…to continue to make it bigger, deeper, stronger, brighter, hotter and more powerful. As long as we keep stoking the fire, adding wood and removing the old coals and ash, and feeding the source, the fire will be never-ending! This means digging into the word of God, spending time with Him, loving Him, loving others, serving, sharing, resting, praying, and surrendering all! It means getting rid of the garbage, baggage, worries, doubts, and fears! It’s not an easy process. It take time and effort. It requires work. It can be tedious and tiring. It is a dirty, smelly process, yet rewarding. The result can be felt, heard, seen and smelt from miles around.
We need to stop extinguishing a good thing and see the beauty, warmth, comfort and love in the fire – regardless of whether we are walking in and through it (the hardships) or resting by it’s warmth and being guided by it’s light. Are we willing to take care of the fire blazing inside of us, wanting to be set free, and let the Holy Spirit be our never-ending source?
…consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5
It only takes one spark to get the fire going. We have no control over which directions the sparks fly once the fire is lit. It can’t be contained. We can try to keep it in a fireplace, a fire pit or wherever else, yet we cannot control or contain the sparks – which in essence is a part of the fire. It stems from the fire and can become it’s own fire! One spark can ignite a fire…one moment with God can ignite something deep inside of you that you never could imagine! It can spread like a wildfire, in all directions, yet we so often try to contain and control it!
I stand to praise You, but I fall in my knees
My Spirit is willing, but my flesh is so weak
So light the fire, in my soul
Fan the flame, make me whole
Lord you know, where I am
So light the fire in my heart again
I feel your arms around me, as the power of your healing begins
You breathe new life right through me, like a mighty rushing wind
We fail to allow God to be in control of the fire raging inside of us. The fire that he has placed inside of us. We want to control the size, direction, heat and warmth of the fire and try to keep it going as big as possible all the time – yet we cannot. It is impossible for us to fan the flame of this fire on our own. We need God present in our life. We are weak – our spirit is willing yet our flesh is weak, and we try to let our flesh control what the Spirit longs for! Our flesh can’t make it on it’s own! When we draw near to God, our lives become a fire and we let Him fan the flame and be the source of our light!
Be the fire in my heart, Jesus! Consume me.
Is your life on fire? Do people feel the warmth of the Holy Spirit when they see you? Are you burning out, trying to fan your own flames, or are you running ablaze, being fanned by the Spirit of the Lord?
