Keeping the Fire Burning

In Deuteronomy 4:24, Deuteronomy 9:3, and Hebrews 12:29 we are told God is a Consuming Fire.

God is the fire that is to burn in us and He is to totally consume us. God is not to be a part of our lives, He is to be our Life.

How do we keep that Consuming Fire burning, growing, and totally consuming our lives? How do we keep the flame burning so we can finish strong?

2 Timothy 1:6
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

First, Remember your spiritual gifts.

All disciples of Jesus have spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 7:7b
But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

The purpose of the spiritual gifts that God gives His people through His Spirit is to build up the His church.

1 Corinthians 14:12
The same holds true for you; since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church.

Also God gives us spiritual gifts to serve others in His name.

1 Peter 4:10
God has shown you His grace in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever gift He has given you in a way that will best serve each other.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Second, Recognize what you have.

God has Not given us fearfulness or cowardice.
God has given us explosive power, unconditional love, and soundness of thinking and discipline.

Satan loves to infect our lives with a spirit of fear.

Fear is:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

God has given us three things to overcome fear.

God has given us a spirit of power.

Ephesians 3:20
Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power He can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

God has given us a spirit of love.

Ephesians 3:17-18
I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers.

God has given us a spirit of self-discipline.

1 Peter 4:7
But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.

We cannot let fear dominate our lives.

We allow God, the Consuming Fire, to dominate our minds and hearts.

Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Thirdly, Rely on God.

2 Timothy 1 :8-10
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and bought life and immorality to light through the gospel.

We don’t have to be ashamed of the Gospel.

Romans 1:16 tells us not to be ashamed of the Gospel because “it is the power of salvation to everyone who believes.”

We don’t have to fear suffering.

2 Corinthians 1:5
As we have suffered much for Christ and have shared in His pain, we also share His great comfort.

We don’t have to run from commitment.

Acts 2:42
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing the meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

We don’t have to doubt God’s power.

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about letting God be the passion that drives our lives.

The song Be The Centre expresses this concept of Jesus being our or passion.

It says:
Jesus, be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Jesus

Jesus, be the centre
Be my hope, be my song
Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus

Jesus, be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Jesus

Be the fire
Yes, be the fire

The key to Jesus being our passion and keeping the fire going is found in Galatians 6:9. It says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”

Don’t Give Up! Let Jesus be your:
One pure and holy passion
One magnificent obsession
One glorious ambition

Surrendering everything to God as our Consuming Fire allows the fire of God’s Spirit to burn in and through us.

With the Consuming Fire Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
                                               Joe