SundaySermon - Jibu

Keep the fire burning

Verse: Leviticus 6:8-13

8 The Lord said to Moses: 

9 “Give Aaron and his sons this command: ‘These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. 

12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 

13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

The reference to fire is made on the passage more than once.... and it must not go out. God has revealed his plans to mankind using the elements of nature in several instances. And God always points to a passion burning in our hearts

  • Moses encounter the burning bush
  • Pillar of fire leading the people of Israel
  • Moses encounter with the fire in the mountain on his way to Canaan.
  • John the Baptist confession about Jesus who will baptize you with fire.
  • The disciples on the road to Emmaus said that there was fire burning within the hearts

The passion of Fire is also used in references where worship is offered. We will look at three basic requirement for the fire to be kept burning 

  • Altar - Our Hearts
  • Wood - Word of God
  • Fuel - Holy Spirit

Altar - Our Hearts

Worship is offered on the altar. Here are some examples

  • Noah builds an altar after the flood. This worship quells God's anger and promise of peace is given
  • Abraham building an altar on several occasions
  • Gideon building an altar
  • David building an altar for worship

In the new testament age, the altar of worship is our hearts

Verse: Romans 12:1

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

David the man after God's own heart understood this and here is what he had to say

Verse: Psalm 51:16-17

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

Wood - The Word of God.

Wood is necessary for the fire. Wood symbolizes the Word of God. And the Word points to Knowledge. The Bible says that my people perish because of the lack of knowledge. Peter describes that we have everything we need for God life through the knowledge of Jesus.

Verse: 2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 

6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 

7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

See how the knowledge of Jesus Christ leads us step by step to achieve this increasing measure. The measure increases so much so that we can't hold it any longer. Jeremiah couldn't keep the word of God shut up. 

Verse: Jeremiah 20:9

9 But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

And the the Word of God help you overcome

Verse: Revelation 12:11

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.

Fuel - Holy Spirit

Fuel is Holy Spirit oil. When we talk of oil, we remember the parable of the 10 virgins. This would imply that we need to careful to replenish ourselves with this oil else we may be shipwrecked.

Verse: 1 Timothy 1:19

holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

Here is another encouragement to replenish.... fan into flame

Verse: 2 Timothy 1:6 

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

Some additional advise on keeping this fire buring

  • Always Obey.
  • Do not let Disappointment get to you
  • Do not neglect Fellowship

Always Obey

The story of Haggai tells of the people who ignored God. And God voice was direct and demanded that things of God be prioritized. 

Verse: Haggai 1:3

3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 

4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

They obeyed the voice of the Lord

Verse: Haggai 1:12

12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

Was this difficult to do? In the situation that Israel was in, it was dangerous. But it is better to obey God than men. Paul made this decision even though it meant persecution

Verse: Acts 20:22-23

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 

23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

Do not let Disappointment get to you

Disappointments douse out the flame. Disappointments may come out of persecution or unrealised expectation. Paul was disappointed when his own people didn't respond to God. 

Verse: Romans 9:3

3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,

But we know that through Israel's rejection of the Gospel, we enjoy salvation. Hence God has a plan through everything.

Verse: Romans 11:28-31

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 

29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 

30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 

31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now[a] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

Do not neglect Fellowship

Here is a passage of fellowship of the first century church. The people just rushed in.

Verse: Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 

43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 

44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 

45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 

47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

But they were not without problems. And they always strengthened themselves in the prayer meets they organized so much so that the place was shaken.

Verse: Acts 4:27-29

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Conclusion.

Never let your zeal die out. Let us serve God and one another and may God be glorified. Keep the Fire burning!!!

Verse: Romans 12:4-5,11

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 

5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

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