New Fire
Do you remember when you first came out of the waters of baptism? I will never forget that day. I remember I immediately felt overwhelmed with such a sense of relief, a sense of gratitude and yes, even a sense of invincibility. I was so excited! I walked around for days with a ridiculous smile on my face, I just couldn't stop smiling. It seemed like no matter what happened around me, I still felt that inner peace and contentment that comes from knowing I belonged to God. I found myself humming and singing great spiritual songs, my mind filled with their words, my heart with their meanings. I stood a bit straighter, because I belonged to the King. I walked with a sense of purpose in my stride because I finally knew why I was here and what was in my future. I couldn't wait to be with my Christian brothers and sisters again, to get to worship with them, singing praise to God, talking to Him in prayer and listening to glorious words from His book. I longed to be with those who shared my hope and two days a week just didn't seem enough. The change in me was so obvious that my friends and co-workers questioned me. I remember how excited I was to share my God with them. I remember telling them how God saved me and my voice got louder and my words came faster as I exuberantly told them that the same God who saved me, would also love to save them. I told them I knew how they could be saved too. I knew how they could feel the same way I did. I told them it wasn't difficult that Jesus had done already done the hard part. I invited them to study with me, to go to worship with me, to hang out with me and my new family. I remember how excited I was!! I remember the peace and assurance I felt every night as I fell asleep, confident in the cleansing blood of Jesus and my place in His kingdom. The rapid heart beat, the silly smile, the zeal and exuberance, the peace, the purpose and the assurance, oh how wonderful that new fire felt in me!
Now, several years later I find the fire is still there, but now a flicker. Every so often the embers are stirred and the flames fanned and I find myself excited, empowered and on fire again. But it too, is short-lived. I long for the days when nothing caused that fire to cool. I want that back---I want us all to have that back. I think it is time we are once again ABLAZE!! We need to be a church on fire. There are so many things I could write, words that would only serve to prod our conscience and make us feel guilty. But, that is not what this post is about. There are times for those but this post, this post is a prayer, a plea for prayers that we all might once again have the new fire---hot, brilliant and bright, burning with desire to warm the lost with His love, to encourage us all with His message and to fan the flame until we burn away the physical trappings and stuff that threatens to smother our fire. Will you all today, pray with me, that we are all once again ablaze, once again on fire for God? Please?
Neva
Now, several years later I find the fire is still there, but now a flicker. Every so often the embers are stirred and the flames fanned and I find myself excited, empowered and on fire again. But it too, is short-lived. I long for the days when nothing caused that fire to cool. I want that back---I want us all to have that back. I think it is time we are once again ABLAZE!! We need to be a church on fire. There are so many things I could write, words that would only serve to prod our conscience and make us feel guilty. But, that is not what this post is about. There are times for those but this post, this post is a prayer, a plea for prayers that we all might once again have the new fire---hot, brilliant and bright, burning with desire to warm the lost with His love, to encourage us all with His message and to fan the flame until we burn away the physical trappings and stuff that threatens to smother our fire. Will you all today, pray with me, that we are all once again ablaze, once again on fire for God? Please?
Neva
posted by Neva | 9:32 AM
21 Comments:
Neva
Judd and I feel that way now. Thank you for letting us know that it takes some work to keep this feeling. We dont want to let it go.
Love
Kara
ps--I think you are blazing more than you know.
Neva,
While I was in the Hospital a man prayed over me and I felt the power of the Holy Spirit burning within me. It gave me strength the first time. The second time I could feel the burning deep down in my chest as I layed his hand on my head and prayed for the Holy Spirit to annoint me, for generational cures to be broken, for financial freedom, for my family, for my ministry, that I would trust in God, that God would stregthen my faith. In the name of Jesus. He prayed for my family. As he prayed I felt warmth comming from his hands and deep down through my chest. Tear were comming down my face as he prayed. When he stopped praying I had never felt so free in my life. Ever. Ever since. I have been closer to God than I have ever been before. I had only shared with with a few people not even my congregation knows. Not even some of my family. I share this with you today because I am going to pray for you today in name of Jesus that you will have this same burning with in you. I have come to understand that Christianity isn't about rules, it is about relationship with God.
So I will pray that your relations with God become stronger than ever before. I pray that His Holy Spirit will burn with in your bones. As the men wallk along with Jesus on the road to Emmaus did they not say our bones were burning with in us as he was talking with us. I am going to for you like never before Sister.
That burning zeal and courage are something I will never forget either. I will pray today for God's church to be on fire again. If we all pray we will ignite!
Dan
Neva, I appreciate your thoughts.
I presented a lesson a long time ago in which I made the point that it is hard to stay fired up about a fire escape.
I remembered watching television shows that took place in the big cities (can you tell that I am from a small town). One of the things that always fascinated me was the apartments with fire escapes. I always wanted to climb out the window and slide down the ladder. And, I can imagine moving to the city and showing off the fire escape whenever people from my small town visited me. I can even hear myself saying something corny like, "and if this building caught on fire, I would be okay because of my fire escape." But, after a while, that fire escape as impressive as it was would lose its appeal if there wasn't a fire for me to escape. It would just fade into the background.
My point is that many of us were motivated to become Christians by the fear of being lost, condemned to an eternal hell. Jesus, in essence, became our fire escape. And, for a while, we were excited and shared this escape with others. However, if that fear never gave way to love and in turn was cast out, the fear of being lost will fade into the background if there is no feeling of danger present in our lives.
I don't know if I have made my thoughts clear or not, but I feel there is truth to what I am trying to say. LOL
I hope someone understood.
Kar, good to see you here--losing one's zeal doesn't happen to everyone. You can stay on fire--it requires working and focusing on the Lord. You have a good church family who can help you stay blazing.
Preacherman, thanks for the prayers. We all need that fire.
Dan, I am with you--all of us praying--has to be more than smoke.
Chris, you are so right. I wonder if our theology confuses saved with safe? Thanks for the thoughts, I will be pondering.
Peace
n
Chris,
In my pondering, I didn't become a Christian because I was afraid of hell. I became a Christian because I knew there had to be more and I wanted more. Maybe we can still have our assurance, our faith that hell is not in our futures but still be on fire because we know it is for the lost?
Still pondering
n
Neva ... I'll pray.
We forget sometimes that we're like an old leaky bucket. We get filled up (spiritually) and a little later it leaks out.
We constantly need God to refill us.
I am praying too--for all of God's children.
Good post
Jean
What a great idea--God's people praying for the same thing to be better at being God's people.
I am praying too, dear sister.
Pat
Reminds me of the song "Light the Fire", I always liked that song. You are so on target. We need that fire for God that we had at new birth. I will pray.
Lyndsay
I was going to say that I was thinking about "Light the Fire" too. (Light the fire in my weary soul -- oh Lord, I am so weary at times! Light the fire in my heart again!) I will pray with you, Neva. What a worthy mission!!
About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].
Peace Be With You
Patrick
Patrick,
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I firmly believe each of our lifestorms add strength and character to our testimony about His power. Thank you for sharing yours. Your faith is evidenced in your words. Please come back and visit and comment again
Peace
Neva
neva
Count me in! I think this would be a great thing to pray for. I will try to get my ladies class this afternoon to pray too.
Love ya
Rachel
The fire we all need to get our lives back on track is well worth praying for. I am praying for God's church.
Kel
Thanks Neva,
we needed someone to light a fire under us--I couldnt resist.
I am praying too--church on fire--look out world.
Carlos
BTW I agree with Kara, you are blazing more than you know.
I will pray with y'all.
Karin
Like most, I go through this constant struggle. In baptism, God was working in us and that seems to be why a passion was stirred in us. I think our problem is that after some period of time we revert back to self-operation rather than allowing God to continue operating in us through his gift of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a Christian and in a Christian community completely driven by the Holy Spirit. Thanks for your post.
I too know the feeling of being on fire. I will pray as well.
The song that was aluded to came to mind imediately as well. Not to be negative but constructive, the trouble is it is just a song most the time. Do we really want that? If we are really on fire we shine and people see God in us. But how many people were put off by us? The darkness hates the light. As I reflect on my life, I am afraid I have to admit I only want so much fire most the time. I fear what comes with being set ablaze. Not that I fear God but I really struggle with radical Christ-ianity (likeness).
Kathy Troccoli had a song several years ago about taking your candle to light the world. There are lots of songs like the children's song 'This Little Light of Mine'. Do we mean the song? I think we see glimpses of the possibility. Again, I don't mean to sound negative. We desparately need to be what we are called to be. My motivation to be a Christian was not 'fire Insurance' (not that is wrong as an initail motivation)but I saw the Light of the world. Maybe it is like Moses. He was so impacted by seeing God his faced glowed. He covered his face because the glow faded until the next trip to see God.
James
Its great that some were converted because they wanted to belong to God. I am with Chris on this one. I was converted to avoid the fire. But I do agree we all need to be on fire for God. We know how he feels about lukewarm Christians.
I will pray for this also. I think this is a worthy cause for all CHristians everywhere
Dean
I love being on fire for God! I will join you in your prayer! Blessings,
Liz
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home