How To Build A Fire

Before the church can walk in old paths or possess the land one essential element must be present, a fire. Once a bright glowing fire is burning in the heart of every believer, there will also be a burning desire to serve God. In the book of Acts I find a story of a shipwreck. It is also a story of caring people who took the strangers in and gave them shelter and warmth. Acts 28:2 “And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” If that had happened today you would have probably heard, “Be ye warmed”. With little or no effort to render aid. I fear there is too much of the “Be ye warmed” attitude and very little of let’s see if we can build a fire.
There are two kinds of cold, the spiritual kind and the physical kind. Spiritual cold goes deep and is long lasting. Physical cold while dangerous can be driven away by the simple act of building a fire. Each type of cold requires a special kind of kindling to build a warming fire. I want to explore the spiritual cold rather than the physical. We are all apt to be cold at some time or another. Let’s face it we live in a cold cruel world. Our world is unforgiving for the most part. It is a place where gracious men are not welcome. I think this is due to the inbred sin of mankind. Because of this inbred sin we are apt to be lukewarm or frozen. Nature has a means of purging the natural world. This is done with the winter season when the cold icy winds come and the temperatures drop causing all plant life to die. Unfortunately, many churches experience this same kind of atmosphere. I have been in some churches where the service at a funeral was more alive and warmer than services on Sunday morning. In fact I have felt a warmer welcome at some funerals than I have felt at some Sunday morning services. Because the church is made up of people it is only natural that the church should undergo some period of coldness. In fact I think it is needed and healthy. However, that condition is not to remain. Someone should go out and gather some kindling and build a fire.
All around us there are buildings with cold corners where the sun never shines. In those shadows live people, good people who need the warmth Jesus can provide. But for some reason many in the church think the warmth Jesus has to offer is only for them, and they are not going to share it. In the physical world when we get cold three things happen if we don’t seek shelter and warmth. First we become uncomfortable, next we become inactive, and then we die. In the spiritual world there is a parallel. If we go away from the warmth of God we first become uncomfortable when we hear about church and the Lord. Then we become inactive and a deep cold starts to creep into our soul. We might as well be dead if our spirit is cold. In the spiritual as it is in the physical there are ways to build a fire. With a physical fire you first gather small twigs and tender grass. With a match you ignite the grass and slowly add the twigs. As the fire begins to catch you add larger twigs and chunks of wood. As the fire continues to grow more wood is added until you have a roaring fire giving off life saving warmth. In the spiritual realm a fire is started much the same way. The match is the Word of God. When applied to a tender receptive heart the coals begin to smolder. As prayer is added to the life the coals begin to glow brighter. Meditation and communion with Jesus caused the fire to come to life giving off the much-needed warmth. This spiritual warmth is life saving, live sustaining, and life protecting, much like the physical fire. The 12 apostles said that their hearts burned within them as Jesus talked with them. As we fellowship with other Christians, on fire for the Lord, we add to the fire burning within our souls.
I know first hand how one can get cold when they get away from Christian people. That is good caring Christian people. If the church would return to her first love the old fires of revival would soon be burning all over this nation and around the world. As the physical body is warmed circulation is restored. Color comes back to the skin and movement establishes circulation. Now that is a strange concept in the church. Most don’t think they are to move, except to go home. The Bible very plainly states we are to go into the highways and hedges. Note the word go. This little word means to move from one spot to another. Most church members have rewritten their bibles to read the pastor is to go into the highways and hedges and bring them in so that we might fellowship with them. Now, unless I am badly mistaken the book also plainly states that if you change or add to, you are in big trouble.

There should be fires built for others. Revival fires are needed today. So many are being washed up on our shores and are dying. A revival should not be a time when only the church members are warmed. Remember our story about Paul. Why did the inhabitants of the coast give them shelter? Because of the rain and storm. They were having a hard time building a fire, as the wood was wet. Water was falling and the air was damp. Under these conditions it is not easy to build a fire, yet a fire had to be built for the people to survive. Today we live in a cold wet environment, spiritually speaking. Spiritual fires are hard to kindle, but there must be a fire or all are going to die. Barbarians cannot kindle the fire we need in the church today. It must come from God, brought to the heart of the Christian by the Holy Spirit, and stoked by Jesus. Once the fire is started it spreads not all at once but to one heart at a time. The spiritual fire spreads a little at a time first to one, then to another until all are on fire. The warmth and the light given off is something to behold. If you have a small flame started in your heart you then need to nourish it by going down on your knees and breathing on the flame. Prayer is the breath, which causes the fire to grow. Fuel is then needed to keep the fire going. The Great Apostle Paul is seen carrying bundles of wood to help keep the fire growing. We should all take example from this man. If he could carry wood so that others could be warm, who are we to set by the fire while others are freezing? The fire is for everyone we must not be content until all those who are shivering are warm and comfortable. We must feed the fire until it is big enough to give warmth to all those around its border.
The world is shipwrecked. People are wet and cold. What chance do they have without a fire? What can each of us do to build a fire? Can we not each carry sticks to kindle the flame? Maybe we can feed the flame with prayer, or with movement can restore circulation. The fire we seek is from God not from a denomination, assembly association or government. Let no one dampen the flame by indifference. Let all come and warm themselves by the Lord’s fire. Keep building the fire until all those who are cold can be warm, for to be spiritually cold is to be dead.
There is danger with building a fire. It not only warms but it will draw those unwanted creatures as well. If we awaken the serpent the fire must be large enough and hot enough to destroy them. The flame may not only bring life back into the frozen people it will also restore life into the viper. Thank God the fire that revived the viper is also able to destroy it.
Are you a fire builder or a fire fighter?