You Cannot Worship God and An Idol

Seek The God Who Answers By Fire

"And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." Hebrews 1:7

Pastor Zac Poonen posted a message this week called "The Fire is the Proof", which I would like to share with you below. In it, he speaks about the glory of the Lord and the importance of discerning God's presence.

While he speaks primarily of this as it relates to the church, God kept taking my mind back to the temple of our bodies and the life we lead before Him.  Do you find yourself in a dry place with the Lord?  Seek a return of His glory, of His fire.  He has not changed.  Have you?

Remember, there were ten virgins and only five were wise enough to retain oil in their lamps which would be set alight at the coming of the Lord.  How can we be the light of the world if there is no fire within - the life of Christ - to set us aflame?

We need the anointing of the Holy Spirit more than ever, for the days are growing ever darker.  In the midst of this darkness, we should be a great light as Christ shines within us.  Yet we share responsibility for fanning that flame.
 
"That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

Do not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but [with me] take your share of the suffering [to which the preaching] of the Gospel [may expose you, and do it] in the power of God.

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]." II Timothy 1:6

consecrate: to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity; to devote or dedicate to some purpose; to sanctify.

Too many today are happy settling for a semblance of Christianity.  They are content naming the name of the Lord, but the heart is far from Him.  They answer to a label of "Christian", but they live their lives as if it is their own.  What's missing is consecration; a heart that is not divided between God and anything else. Such persons will surely be ashamed in that day to find that there is no oil in their lamps and the door to the marriage supper has been shut.

Consecrate your life to God, and you will see a revival of fire in your hearts.