The is a difference between catching the fire and sustaining the fire. Most Christians get on fire for God but can't sustain the fire. Today, we will learn how to stay on fire for God.
It should be the utmost desire of every child of God to become the best they can be for God. Our major goal for being chosen and saved should be to bring glory to God (1 Peter 2:9). We are here to attain our very best in our walk with the Lord, so as to be equipped to render service to Him in excellence.
Getting on fire for God should be a paramount pursuit of every Christian who hopes to hear a "Well done, good and faithful servant" from the Lord on the last day.
The fire of God in the life of a person brings about tremendous transformation and supernatural results. No Christian can live the way God intended them to live or make jaw-dropping impacts on earth without being on fire for God.
We can't also profess to be on fire for God when there is nothing to show for it. If anyone says, "I'm on fire for God", their lifestyle and outputs must line-up with such profession.
Those who are well do not need a doctor, but those who are sick (Mark 2:17). When it comes to the things of God, it is always better we go to God as people who haven't yet attained or had enough, so that we can receive more. God is inexhaustible. It is better we desire, ask for and receive the fire and keep seeking for more, instead of assuming we already have enough to need more.
The Fire of God
What is the fire of God? There are innumerable facets in God. The fire of God is just another facet of God. It is the fiery side of God. In Hebrews 12:29 we are told that our God is a consuming fire. This fire is beneficial to the children of God but destructive to the enemies of God. Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on all sides (Psalm 97:3).
The fire of God expresses the intensity of God's love for us. When our hearts have been set on fire for God, we can love the way He loves, hate what He hates and desire the things that God desires.
The fire of God births in us a zeal for the work of God—zeal for good works (Titus 2:14). There is no zeal without fire. The Apostles were weak and fleshly followers of Jesus Christ until the fire of God came upon them on the day of Pentecost. Then they were transformed from timid to bold representatives of God who turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
The Holy Spirit is the carrier of the fire of God (Matthew 3:11). Wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is fire. Wherever there is an outpouring and infilling of the Holy Spirit, there is a clothing in the fire of God.
How To Receive The Fire of God
How can I receive fire of God? If our Father is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), we also as His sons and daughters ought to be carriers of His fire. He makes His ministers flames of fire (Hebrews 1:7b). It is our birthright to be on fire for God and it is error if we are not. The question we should ask ourselves is, are we willing to carry the fire?
Luke 3:16 KJVJohn answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
The One who baptises with the Holy Spirit also baptises with fire. He is Jesus Christ. If we ask Him, He will give us fire in abundance (Matthew 7:7).
One mistake that many Christians often make is settling for a one-time baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit. The fact that someone was on fire for God last year doesn't guarantee that he is still on fire for God today.
There are so many annoying things in this world that are bent on sucking the spiritual life out of Christians on a daily basis. If we think we are still as Anointed today as we were last year, and we don't need more of the Holy Spirit, we deceive ourselves.
One of the questions that is supposed to bother every Christian on a daily basis should be, "Am I filled with the Holy Spirit today?" There has to be a constant infilling of the Holy Spirit. Whenever the Holy Spirit comes upon us afresh, He comes with a new dimension and greater intensity of fire. Our spiritual growth, impact and exploits plateaus where we stop seeking for more of the Spirit and fire of God.
After initial baptism in the Holy Spirit, we must position ourselves daily to ask for fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. No amount of "on fire for God sermon" can set us on fire if we do not intentional position ourselves to receive.
We can position ourselves daily to receive fresh baptism and infilling of the Holy Spirit and fire through a genuine desire, consecration, intense prayer and fasting.
Things That Can Quench The Spirit's Fire
1 Thessalonians 5:19 gives us a brief but powerful instruction: Quench not the Spirit.
It is our responsibility to guard the Anointing of fire upon our lives. There are many spiritual fire extinguishers all around us striving to get to us on a daily basis. If we don't guard this fire, we will lose it.
If we must sustain the fire of God in us, we must guard against (at least) the following:
1. Being Prayerless
There are many reasons why we are instructed in scriptures to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
The Holy Spirit is a lover of prayer. He's desperate for prayer. He is the Spirit of prayer. Prayer is one of the things that make Him happy. If we deny Him prayer, we grieve Him and this can eventually lead to quenching Him. If we quench the Spirit through prayerlessness, we directly quench the fire of God in us.
2. Keeping The Bad Company
Bad company doesn't just corrupt good manners. There are many spiritual fire extinguishers that masquerade as friends.
It is not old-fashioned to carefully choose our friends. We must be mindful of the kind of people we give access into our lives or mingle with. Some connections are sent from Hell to take down people who are on fire for God.
3. Self-sufficiency
It is a good thing to have self-confidence, it helps us achieve great feats. But excessive self-confidence makes people think they have too much to stay low and seek for more.
Self-sufficiency denies people access to more of God and can rob them of the little they already have.
You Can Rekindle Your Spiritual Fire
A Christian is in the best position as an individual to know whether they are still on fire for God or not. If we lost the fire due to whatever reason, we must understand that it is not the end. We can get back on fire for God if we are willing.
How do you rekindle your spiritual fire? First of all, one must identify what caused the loss of fire. If it is a sin, confess and stay away from it. Return to God by doing the things you did before that pleased God and gave you outstanding Christian life you lost. Cease from feeding the flesh and get back to feeding your spirit-man.
How To Keep The Fire Burning For God
You can apply the following steps to rekindle the fire of God.
1. Have A Consistent Prayer Life
If we must stay on fire for God we must not neglect prayer. Prayer is like oxygen, and just like oxygen aids combustion, prayer helps us sustain and intensify the fire of God upon our lives. Fan into flames the fire of God in your life by maintaining a consistent prayer life.
2. Dwell In The Word
The word of God is there to add to the flames that we already carry. More Word in us equals more fire.
Jeremiah 23:29 KJVIs not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord ; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
A Christian who closes their Bible and refuses studying the Word for neglects the very thing that is needed to help them sustain the fire.
3. More Time With God, Less Time With People
One of the major secrets to sustaining the fire is giving God more of your time daily. That doesn't mean we shouldn't get along with people. The wisdom is in making sure we give God the most out of our everyday 24hrs. We cannot afford to give more time to people and less of our time to God. Redeem time!
4. Iron Sharpens Iron
Get entangled with like-minded people; people who possess the same desires and pursuit for God as you do.
Proverbs 27:17 KJVIron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Get in touch with them from time to time for edification. There is always a corporate Anointing released in the company of saints.
5. Live A Consecrated Life
The Spirit of God is holy, that is why He is called Holy Spirit. The Spirit's fire doesn't remain in a sinful life. Fire is sustained in consecration, not sinfulness.
The Importance of Being On Fire For God
Why do we need the fire of God? We need the fire of God to become able ministers of God and of the Gospel (Hebrews 1:7). The fire of God is destructive to the enemies of God. Without it we cannot wreak havoc on the works of darkness.
- The fire of God is the cure for lukewarmness. A fire-full Christian is not a lukewarm Christian. The fire of God and lukewarmness cannot co-exist in one person. Lukewarmness only finds its place in the life of a Christian when they are not on fire for God.
- Being on fire for God helps our spiritual gifts operate at their very best.
- Temptations become easy to overcome when we are on fire for God.
- The fire of God births in us hunger for the pursuit of spiritual things. People desire sin and its fleeting pleasures when they are not on fire for God. It is easier to live a holy life when we are on fire for God.
- We need the fire of God in order to set others on fire for God as well. The fire of God is contagious. When we carry fire, it becomes impossible for others to not catch the fire when they cross paths with us.
Final Thoughts On How To Stay On Fire For God
God wants us to be on fire for Him more than we desire to get on fire for God. The process towards getting on fire for God begins when we are willing to surrender all to Him.
If we are really serious about catching the fire and burning for God, we must lay down our lives on His altar as a living sacrifice. When an acceptable sacrifice is found on the altar, God will always respond by fire.
Remain blessed.
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