Are You On Fire?

 ARE YOU ON FIRE?

“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” - Jeremiah 20:9

In the Bible, the word, “fire,” is used as a metaphor for different things. Last week, I wrote about how Jude described sin and judgment as being like fire. Today, we are going to look at fire as a metaphor for spiritual passion and vitality.

Jeremiah was a prophet who had gotten discouraged. His ministry seemed to yield little positive results. As a result, he wanted to quit. He had made the decision to resign from the ministry. In spite of his resignation, something stirred in his heart. Although he wanted to quit, there was a spiritual fire within that kept burning. The fire kept growing. The flames of spiritual passion eventually consumed him to the point he couldn't hold it in any longer. He went back to preaching.

Where are the people with such fervor? Where are the men and women who have a spiritual fire raging in their hearts? More to the point, are you such a person? Are you on fire for God?

Let's be honest. Many believers are in a rut. Their Christian experience started with a life-changing experience of grace, but slowly, over time, the inner fire has dwindled down to embers. At one time, the Christian-life was an exciting experience. Now it is a ritual. Does this sound like your life?

Do you long to have a life engulfed with the flame of spiritual revival? I believe the same One who started the fire within at salvation can revive the flame in your heart again.

It is important to note that there is not a 3-step plan to experience revival fire. Instead, this is a work of God. He, alone, is the One who placed the fire within to begin with and He, alone, can raise up a flame from the embers of your heart.

I do want to recommend something to you. SEEK THE LORD INSTEAD OF THE FIRE. The temptation is treat God as a means to an end. It is easy to think of God as the way to a spiritual experience. We need to avoid such thinking. God is not a means to an end. He is the end. Rather than seeking an event, we need to seek the Lord. Instead of seeking an experience, we need to seek God Himself. If you seek the fire rather than the Lord, you'll end up with neither. If you seek the Lord instead of the fire, there is a good chance you may enjoy both. So seek the Lord today.

First of all, we need to seek God with desperation. Leonard Ravenhill once said, “The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it.” The reason many people live for years without much of a spiritual fire is because they can get along without it. At least they think so. Yet they never consider how worldly and carnal they've become. They never consider that they have little or no spiritual influence. They fail to comprehend how deceived and dry they've become. O, may believers seek God today with a true sense of desperation!

Secondly, we need to seek God with determination. We need to seek Him with the whole heart. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Don't settle for substitutes, regards of how religious or holy they may seem to be. Don't settle for anything less than renewed fellowship and closeness to Jesus.

Leonard Ravenhill also said, “My goal is GOD HIMSELF. Not joy, not peace, not even blessing but HIMSELF...my GOD.” No wonder he had a fire in his heart!

Jeremiah had a fire burning within his bones. His life was on fire for the Lord.

Don't be satisfied with anything less yourself.