KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

-

Exodus 27:20-21

“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.


How did the first family who had direct interaction with the Heavenly Father, though we know they left His presence because of disobedience, but how did the people after them all lose their interaction with God so much that the whole world had to be wiped away?


The fire was no longer burning.


Remember what God said when He chose Abraham.


Genesis 18:19

I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”


Once the fire stops burning, the people begin to go astray.


This is the essence of this devotional. People ask why do you keep feeding them the word even when you are tired, stressed, facing challenges etc.


The reason is simple: The fire must keep burning.


The moment you cease to feed the flock be ready for a lot of falling away.


It was a permanent law that Aaron and his sons should keep the lamps burning.


Relate with what Paul taught:


2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.


Listen just as the next two verses says:


2 Timothy 4:3-4

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

They will reject the truth and chase after myths.


It is what it is now, many have become so smart that they put the scriptures aside to follow philosophies and ideologies. They relate with those who say that there is no God, or that there is an alternative to Him.


Scriptures isn't that sacred anymore, they join others to criticize the translations of the bible. They leave the word to follow semantics and flaws from one language to another. The love has gone cold!


They forget that at salvation, it was not just about a spoken word but an interaction with the Almighty. When anyone comes to Christ they experience a direct impact from God one that is different from what they have ever encountered before. It was just like what the children of Israel experienced at mount Sinai, but much more. 


1 Corinthians 2:4-5

And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.


However, just like them many forget that first experience and when challenges of the world or other type of distractions arises they easily bow to its pressure.


The fire must be kept burning.


Acts 2:42,44-47

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.

They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.


That is how awesome it is was when it begins, however as the gathering becomes larger there will be need to expand, also the mixed multitudes begin to set in.


Listen, as a parent or adult child is the fire burning for the Lord in your home? Is there an altar where the lamps are kept burning? Is there prayers, study of the word, worship, true fellowship day and night? That is the evidence of the fire burning.


Look at the verses again:


Exodus 27:20-21

“Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually.

The lampstand will stand in the Tabernacle, in front of the inner curtain that shields the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning in the Lord’s presence all night. This is a permanent law for the people of Israel, and it must be observed from generation to generation.


The priests must keep the lamps burning, however all the people were suppose to supply the oil that will sustain the burning.


EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY.


No one is left out, we must all play our part to keep the fire burning, we have divers gifts and we all have the word, carrying the Spirit, let us wake up and bring in the oil. Keep the fire burning.


May our fire never be put out. We will light up the world around us to find the Lord and worship Him. Our very works will bring God praise even from the lips of those who did not believe.


Help us Good Lord.


Glory to God forevermore.


He calls us blessed.


Love

@the watcher

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DO YOU STILL SEE?

-
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, it will not tarry. It may have been easy when we first believed, to visualize the promises. We reach out with zeal, loving God, seeking to do exploits. That was when we first believed, just as Jesus said: John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." When we become born again we see God's kingdom, our spirit man is reborn and we count the flesh as nothing. Then time passes by, we are in the world, all its distractions, temptations, responsibilities, challenges and so on begin to reveal themselves. The question then is: * Can we still see heaven? John 3:3 * Are we still zealous? John 2:17 * Are we continuing in those things? Acts 2:42 * Are we walking in love? 1John 4:7 or Has the cares and worries of life and service ta
Read more

DO UNTO OTHERS . . .

-
Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. It is hypocritical of us to expect people to stand with us when we are experiencing challenges yet when we see others face their own challenges, we begin to imagine what they must have done wrong or maybe they annoyed God or did one evil or the other instead of reaching out to help as we would desire others to do for us. The same thing goes for prosperity, when the Lord opens a door for us and we have abundance of wealth or a breakthrough we expect others to rejoice with us, more so, some would even find it hard to give to others. What is our reaction when someone else gets this breakthrough, do we get suddenly suspicious without reason. Do we expect the person to reach out to us? It is better to stay on the side of encouragement than to sit as a judge or prosecutor. Jesus said, Matthew 7:2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same
Read more

MY YEAR OF FULFILMENT

-
Psalms 57:2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. We just finished the book of 1Samuel, in this book we see the cry of Israel for a king and how God raised Saul to rule them. We also saw how Saul disobeyed God and lost kingship for himself and his generation. He did not stop there, he went on to seek for the death of David, whom he saw as the next heir of the throne. In chapter 31, the last chapter, we see how Saul and all his sons and men were killed, it was tragic, however it was as a sign of relief for David. We could go on counting all the struggles and difficulties we faced in the past year. No, we should not, we should begin to look at all the positives, remembering all the good things God has done for us. If He promised it, He will do it and that is what we hold onto as we go through this year. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. This is the year of fulfilment, and
Read more