Today’s Devotion
Topic: The Fire Must Not Go Out!
Text: Leviticus 6:12-13
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. Amen
Fire is a great element whose uses and benefits are immeasurable. It is one of the few elements used to describe our God too. HE IS A CONSUMING FIRE (Heb 12: 29).
When John the Baptist set off to prepare the way of the Lord, he vividly explained the spiritual rebirth that was to take place in anyone who believed in Jesus and was baptised of the Holy Ghost.
He said, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Mat 3: 11- 12).
Beloved, this prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when the disciples had gathered in the upper room praying till “there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” (Acts 2: 3-4).
This inextinguishable fire burns in every believer who is born of the Holy Spirit. Its flames burn everything that is contrary to God in ourselves and keeps us ablaze for godliness and good works. Like blazing fire on an altar, the fire of the Holy Ghost in us must be kept burning. Every morning we are to “add fire wood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire”. Let us break it down this way:
First of all, the firewood we add, is our daily fellowship with God through prayer, Bible reading, obedience, fasting and godliness. Each of these “fire woods” ensure that the blaze is never quenched and that the fire remains burning.
Secondly, arranging the burnt offering on the fire, also represents arranging and submitting our lives, decisions, aspirations and thoughts before the Lord as an offering to be consumed by His holy fire. So that these thoughts are purified and made to conform with the Word of God. This is important because it is normally our decisions and choices to yield to sin that quench the Holy Spirit.
Arise therefore, and protect the Holy Fire with all zeal. It must be kept burning in you continuously, IT MUST NOT GO OUT! Repent of every sin and ask the Holy Spirit to burn them out of you. Also, pray that He kindles in you a flame of sacred love so your works come into perfect alignment with His Word.
For “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning? Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil – they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them” (Isaiah 33: 14- 16).
Get prepared for church service. As we join with the Holy Spirit and other brethren in fellowship, the presence of God will descend on us like fire; burning all the chaff and leaving us as refined as pure gold. If you don’t desire such an encounter, then what other blessing do you desire for your soul? See you at church.
