Building a Fire

Introduction

Most campers and bushwalkers realise that wet kindling does not burn effectively or efficiently. It must be dried out to be of any practical use. In the same way, we cannot expect ourselves to be ‘on fire’ for God if our kindling is wet. In our lives, wetness comes from consumeristic faith – that is, faith on our terms; a faith where things are placed between God and us.

For us to be effective – before ignition of spirit can occur – we must allow God to dry us out. We must allow him to remove the things that hinder our relationship with Him. There are three ways that this can occur: First, the miraculous; second, surrender; and third, removal. While the miraculous is a result of the manifestation of God’s sovereign power, the other two generally come about as a result of our own choices. Nonetheless, God of course remains in control and sovereign, and it is always by His will that He manifests His Spirit upon a person.

The Miraculous

Miraculous ignition occurs where God delivers His power. Perhaps the primary example of this is Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-19). While history has recorded many other accounts of this kind of ‘ignition’, normally ignition will occur through either Surrender or Removal, or a combination of these.

Surrender

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Romans 12:1

Ignition by surrender occurs when we lay our lives out for Christ; where we choose to surrender over everything to His will. With our lives totally surrendered, there is nothing inhibiting the growth and deepening of our relationship with Him.

Removal

Removal is the eventual product of our stubbornness. If we choose not to surrender, God may ultimately begin to remove the things that stand in the way of His will. This may occur suddenly, or gradually over a period of time. The end product, regardless, is that we find ourselves with nothing – a point where God is the only thing left to turn to.

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ – and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Psalm 32:1-5

God’s Fire Triangle

Scientifically, in order for fire to exist, three components must exist: fuel, oxygen and heat. This is known as the fire triangle. Without any one of these components a fire will go out. On a spiritual level these translate to the Word and fellowship as fuel, God’s Breath and the Spirit as oxygen, and faith as the heat. Thus it follows that without any of these our fire for God will dwindle away.

The Prospect of Kindling

The most important point to remember is that every one of us has kindling in thegifts and talents we receive – every one of us has the potential to be ‘on fire’ forGod. Also it is worth remembering that this fire has its seasons; it builds and wanesat different stages in our journey. At times it may seems like a raging inferno, yet at thers it may appear to have gone out altogether.When building a good fire, one generally begins with small dry kindling, then,once the kindling is alight and burning, mo ving on to tinder, twigs, sticks and finallylogs. This represents how God can build up our fire, gradually adding to it as we are faithful. This is clearly shown in the parable of the talents:

“[If] You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.”

Matthew 25:21

In the fire, sticks and logs can produce hot coals – which provide the heat and assurance of faith. From these hot coals many new fires may be lit, and the heat retained by our faith ensures that our own fire is able to be rekindled, should it briefly go out.

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