Church on Fire 9/22/13

Good Morning,

Sunday morning and it's early. Both of my hounds wanted to play and decided it was time for me to get up. There's nothing like a cold wet nose sitting next to the bed nudging at your face to get you moving or yelling. I chose to move and get up. They are both hunting dogs and we have started our hunting seasons. So they don't understand the "day of rest concept". So I brewed a pot of Highlander Grog Coffee from the Door County Coffee Company and here I am.

I hope this finds you blessed and preparing for a day of worship. Speaking of that, our church held a wedding yesterday and somehow after the ceremony one of the wedding candelabras went up in flames with intense heat. It took a fire extinguisher to put it out. The smoke had to be evacuated and the mess from the fire extinguisher was everywhere. Our custodian had his hands full trying to get the sanctuary ready for today. We moved our Saturday evening service to another large room for this week and made do.

But all that got me to thinking. In some instances it only takes a small extinguisher to put out a big flame, but it really makes a mess.

I started to wonder how many people might have sat in the chairs of our church totally on fire for God and passionate to do his work or make a decision to move forward in ministry when Satan launched an extinguisher at them. How many lives would be different if the fire hadn't been put out? How much more would the fire have spread in passion for Jesus if the fire hadn't been smothered out?

The extinguisher Satan uses contains four poison chemicals, sin, doubt, fear and lack of support. It only takes a little to take a passionate heart and a calling from God to turn it into a mess.

Over the next few days we will take a look at the four chemicals and their impact on putting the Holy fire out.

Today we look at the first Sin. 

Romans 6:23 (KJV)

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Note that this verse is often used to lead someone to Jesus and is a very good verse to use. Without Jesus and the forgiveness He provides for our sin, our lives are doomed to eternity in hell. Yet this verse also speaks to the fact that sin puts to death ministries that are vibrant and producing fruit for the Kingdom. We must be careful to avoid the first poison Satan uses to extinguish the flame the Holy Spirit has started. Nothing destroys a reputation and kills a calling quicker than exposed sin.
One can be forgiven, yet never obtain the fire and passion that once was there because of the consequences of the sin. This the flame dies out.

We must protect ourselves at all times knowing fully well that we fight spiritual battles.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

So today stoke the flame in you with prayer and fasting. Protect your calling.

God bless,
Marty