Prayer Bulletin No, 325 NPire! Fire! Fire!" Are YOU on fire for Goa? Is YOUR heart aflane with love Zor Jesus? Doos the joy and glory of God glow - or are you lukewarm? (Rev 3.15) “Pie” in Scripture stands for purity and the presence of God. in the Christian it means enthusiam, love and devotion with a buming heart. "Fire is the glow of God's own life within us. Pire arrests and fascinates. In this dark world God wanta His people to be "as fire", “He maketh His ministers a flaming fire" (Ps 104.4) .Divine fire keeps the Onristian's heart at white heat and gives 2 love and conpassion Zor others. Being "on fire" simply meane being filled with the Holy Spirit. ‘Being truly ALIVE for God! I believe we are approaching the end of the age. We aro in a tren- enous conflict ~ in e spiritual warfare with the forces of evil. (ph 6.10-18; 2 Cor 10.3-4) Isaiah describes this varfere - "For every battle of the warrior is confused with noise and garments rolled in blood, tat THIS chall be with buming and fuel of fire" (Ieaiah 9.5). foly Ghost "fire" is a tremendous spiritual force. Tt cones from God and is received initially when we are baptised in ‘the Holy Spirit. It mist be renewed each day as we spend time before Him. The Ola Testanent types illustrate New Testanent truths. It tells us that when animal sacrifices were placed upon the Jewish Alter, God sent fire from Heaven to consume it (1 Kings 16.38) This He did initially, but after that it wee the priests! respons Ability WVBR TO Ist ir GO OUP (Lev 6.12-15) That supernatural fire was regarded by the Jews as one of the most precious thinge in their religious econony. That seme flene burned on unquenched for centuries. It went out at the tine of the Babylonian captivity. any other fire was strictly forbidden ~ and temed "felse fire". (Lev 10.1-2) When we took Jesus into our hearts each one of ua was appointed to be a priest (1 Peter 2.5,9). He aske that we be a sacrifice (Rom 12.1-2) To be His Temple (1'Cor 3.16) as well ac minister to Him as a prisst (Rev 1.6). Pulfilling the type, as Priests, we are to offer all our Service and worship "with fire" (Lev 16.12-15); that ie with a whole heart, enthusiastically. We are to be zealous Ghristians, inepired by the Holy Spirit to love both God and man! Paul exhorted Timothy "to stir into flame" the Gift of God. It is our responsibility! Fire needs fuel, otherwise it will die out. Where do we obtain this "fuel" to keep the divine flame burning? The aupply cones by His xe contact God thy raver g Word. Initially, the Flame Is Ignited at our conversion. 1 is greatly intensified into a flaming Fire when we are baptised in tne Holy Gnost (Acts 2-1-4) The "Zire" is then renewed daily ap we wait upon Him in our devot— dons. Fellowship with other Christians is necessary too (Heb 10. 24/5. Whenever possible ve should attend Spirit-filled meetings where the "fire" is burning - to hear the anointed Word and participate in Praise and worship. Cold, formal meetings will tend to dampen. Revival Prayer Meetings are also a source of great blessing in fuell- ing the blaze. But the first and cost important source of this Div- ine fire is found when on our knees in private devotions. WB ALL NEED TING ALONE WITH GOD! Communion with God and meditation upon His Word are absolutely essential! Meditation upon the Word of God IS 30 IF PORTANT!” “Tae Word of God fires the soul; truth about Jesus inspires the mind, fascinates the soul exd transforms the life! When we read the Word quickly we miss such a lot - quiet, unhurried neditation on the Scriptures is so enriching! Never forget thai God cones into our lives through the NIND and the HEART. "To be spiritually minded 49 Life and peace" (Ron 8.6). Our THINKING must be dominated by the Spirit of God. Jesus mist be ord here! (Isaiah 26.3; Peain 1. verse 2;'1 Tin 4.15.) Goa's fire will only burn in a pure, cleen heart. Trashy Literature and polluted 7.7 rubbien will quench God's fire! Questionable anuse- nents, self-indulgence - all this belongs to @ life that ie cursed under the Judgment of Goa Confession and forsaking of sin, with a mumble prayer for God's pardon and our cleansing will revive the flickering flames, and set us all on fire ~ set us all ASLAZS = for God! (Teateh 33.1é-17)