KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

-Benedict John

The Bible often refers to us as the light of the world, a burning lamp and a city on a hill. But what is the condition of that light today? How bright is the fire on that lamp burning today?

Luke 8:16 says that,” no one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”

How is that fire that each of us carry burning today?

a) Is it burning brightly for all to see?

b) Is it dimming day by day?

c) Or has it been puffed out by the circumstances and situations that surround us today?

The word of God in Leviticus 6:8-13 talks about how Aaron and the priests were to keep the fire on the altar for burnt offerings burning all the time. Every morning they were to get rid of the previous days' ashes, add new firewood, arrange the burnt offering on the altar and burn the excess fat. They were clearly instructed to keep the fire burning continuously, it was to never go out.

I want to share with you a few things that the Lord has been teaching me in order to keep that fire burning all the time. To be that light of the world every single day!!

Firstly, we've got to get rid of yesterdays ASHES!! the past doesn't define who we are. Your yesterday may be full of hurt, disappointment and sorrow or may be its been full of accomplishment and success but neither guarantees that the fire will be burning today.

Isaiah 43:18 says,”forget the former things, do not dwell on the past”. So get rid of every failure or pride from the past and throw those ashes out.

Secondly, we've got to add the FIREWOOD of the Word of God every single morning. Yesterdays firewood wont suffice to keep that fire burning today. Every morning we've got to seek His face, spending time reading His word and praying because without the firewood, the fire is going to die out. Romans 12:2 talks about the renewal of the mind and every single day our minds need to be renewed with His word to get rid of everything that hinders that fire.

Thirdly, we've got to arrange the BURNT OFFERING on the altar. Romans 12:1 talks about offering our lives as living sacrifices pleasing to God. We've got to surrender and submit to His plans and purposes in our lives every single day to keep that fire burning. Abraham obeyed and submitted to God's command to put Isaac on that altar and God blessed him.

Finally, we've got to burn the EXCESS FAT. All the excess fat of sin, the trash talk, that ungodly relationship and every thing else that does not conform to the word of God but seeks to take His place in our lives needs to be burnt on that altar. Hebrews 12:1 says, “ therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked for us.”

Matthew 5:14 says, "you are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

God bless you as we all persevere to keep that fire burning for the glory of His name!