Feed The Flames

SLIDE We recently installed a fire pit in our backyard, and learning to build a fire has been an work in process for me. We don’t have nice cut, dried out firewood, we just have whatever we can find I our yard from left over trees that were cut down. I really love it, the process of stacking the wood in such a way that the crumpled up newspaper catches the kindling on fire and the kindling brings the larger logs to life. But like I said it’s a work in progress.

Sometimes I get it just right, and sometimes, well. I tend to mess with it too much and try to make adjustments and usually when I do that, my careful crafted stack of wood falls apart lol But not only do I love playing with fire, but I sort of have to right?

Anyone who has spent any time at all making and tending a fire, understands that if you want it to last, you need to tend it. Carefully adding wood so as not to quench the fire, but to build and extend the burn time. No matter how healthy your fire looks, if you get distracted and let it burn down too low, you have a lot of work in front of you to get it going again. But if you are attentive and add fuel when needed, you can keep the flames dancing nearly in perpetuity.

Truth be told, our spiritual life is no different, and as we study this morning how Paul is calling us to live, we will see that we need to tend, and SLIDE

Feed the Flames of our faith

This group of verses, SLIDE 10-13, is a rapid fire list of Christian living, within a chapter devoted to the same. While the chapter in many ways addresses the behavior of the entire body of Christ, this section zooms in just a bit closer on the heart, mind and motivation of the individual.

Last week we covered vs 10 which begs us to see that as believers, we are more than family. We are to be devoted to one another, loving like siblings and outdoing each other in selfless honor. This morning we’ll look at vs 11 which is an appeal to fervency in spirit as we serve the Lord. It says: SLIDE

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Romans 12:11

This verse ought to make us sweat, not our of nervousness, but because it’s such an active verse! If we have any hope of being the light in this dark world that Jesus said we are, it’s going to take some effort. This verse gets to the heart of how we are to live and operate knowing that.

For example, I’m told that if someone sets out to run a 5k, without first, understanding the effort it will take, and secondly, actually exerting that effort, they will most likely not finish the race. But this effort isn’t a mad dash of strength and power, no, those who run in long distance races know that this effort needs to be consistent, yet sustainable. They learn to pace themselves otherwise this marathon endeavor will be over before it begins.

Romans 12:11 paints a similar picture of endurance and sustained effort. While we are encouraged to rest in the Lord, it is a rest of renewal, so they we can go forth in His name and do the work He has set out for us.

The point Paul is making is: SLIDE

Always keep your spiritual fire burning.

1.

Diligence - eagerness, zeal, haste

Fervent - excited, enthusiastic, on fire.

Heb 6:10-12

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

1 Corinthians 9:24

“One of the oldest blights on earth is lack of enthusiasm. Most people could make a sizable list of their failures that were simply casualties to indifference and lack of commitment. Fervency requires resolve and persistence, not mere good intention. “Let us not lose heart in doing good,” Paul admonishes, “for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9).”

MacArthur, John. Romans 9-16 MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Moody Publishers, 1994.

Some need to wake up - understand the spiritual call on your life

Some need to get up - knowing it, do it!

Some need to look up - they are striving in their own power