Keeping the fire burning

Introduction:

Fire is powerful. It can warm, purify, light the way, and consume. In scripture, fire is often connected with the presence, power, holiness, and judgement of God. When Moses saw the burning bush, it was fire that caught his attention. When God led Israel by night, He led them by pillar of fire. When Elijah stood on Mount Carmel, God answered by fire. In Leviticus 6, God gives instruction concerning the altar of burnt offering. The command is repeated: the fire must not go out. The Priest was responsible to keep the fire burning continually. Now we do not live under the Old Covenant today, but there is still a powerful lesson for Christians today: God’s people must keep the fire burning.

Transition: Where did the fire come from?

I. The fire came from God.

A. The fire on the altar was not invented by man.

a. Leviticus 9:24 “Then fire came out from before Yahweh and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar. And all the people saw it and shouted and fell on their faces.”

i. This was not common fire, it came from God.

ii. That made it Holy, significant, and something Israel was not free to treat casually.

b. Jeremiah 10:23 “I know, O Yahweh, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.”

c. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

i. Man does not get to decide what worship should be.

ii. Man does not get to create his own doctrine and expect God to accept it.

B. No other doctrine is to be used.

a. Galatians 1:8–9 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, let him be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!”

i. We must remember that our authority is not tradition.

ii. Our authority is the word of God.

b. Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

c. The priest’s job was not to create a new fire; His job was to maintain the fire God had given.

d. Acts 2:42 “And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.”

Transition: What did it require?

II. The Fire required daily attention.

A. Every Morning

a. Leviticus 6:12 “‘And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.”

i. The Priest’s would have to tend to the fire daily.

ii. Faithfulness requires daily attention.

b. Luke 9:23 “And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

B. We add wood when we study the word of God.

a. Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

b. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing;”

c. Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

d. Galatians 5:13 “For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

e. James 4:7 “Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Transition: Can it be neglected?

III. The fire could be neglected.

A. Neglect is dangerous.

a. Hebrews 2:3 “how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? That salvation, first spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,”

b. Hebrews 3:12 “See to it brothers, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.”

i. It does not say reject, it says neglect.

ii. Some people once had zeal for God, but over time the fire weakened.

B. Sometimes the fire goes out because of worldliness.

a. 1 John 2:15 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

i. The more our hearts are filled with the world, the less room there is for God.

ii. Sometimes the fire goes out because of discouragement.

b. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

i. Even faithful Christians can grow tired.

ii. God’s people must not quit.

c. Matthew 15:8 “‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.”

i. God does not simply want outward religion.

ii. He wants faithful obedience from a sincere heart.

Transition: What was it connected to?

IV. The fire was connected to sacrifice.

A. The altar fire was not just for appearance.

a. Leviticus 6:12 “‘And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it.”

i. Under the old covenant, animals were offered.

ii. Christ was and is the perfect sacrifice.

b. Hebrews 10:10 “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

i. Jesus gave himself fully.

ii. His sacrifice was complete, perfect, and final.

B. Christ gave himself for us, we are called to give ourselves to Him.

a. Romans 12:1 “Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

i. We are not dead animals placed on a physical altar.

ii. We are living sacrifices offered to God every day.

b. Matthew 22:37 “And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”

i. This is not half-hearted religion.

ii. That is total devotion.

c. Luke 14:27 ““Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

i. A fire without sacrifice is just decoration.

ii. A faith without sacrifice is dead.

Transition: How to keep it burning?

V. How do we keep the fire burning?

A. Keep feeding on the word of God.

B. Keep praying.

C. Keep assembling.

D. Keep repenting.

E. Keep serving.

F. Keep looking to Christ.

Transition: Has your fire gone out?

Conclusion