63 Words: Power Of Prayer

63 WORDS --- THE POWER OF PRAYER --- THEN BURN FOR GOD...

Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I have a candle and I light the candle and let it burn.

We know several things about the candle.

The candle gives itself for the light.

The darker the night the greater the light.

We discuss the moon and light. The moon has no light. The moon reflects the light of the sun.

How easy is it to let the fire go out? To maintain a fire requires effort.

I. COME LET US MEDITATE AND REFLECT ON THE PRESENCE OF GOD...

THE SHEKINAH GLORY OF GOD.

A. THE SHEKINAH OF GOD ALWAYS APPEARED AS A SUPERNATURAL LIGHT OR AS A

CLOUD.

B. NOT EVRYONE DOING THEIR OWN THING ---

WE NEED A POINT OF FOCUS TO LEAD US BY UNITY AND GOD’S DIRECTION.

Neh. 9:12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

C. GOD’S PEOPLE MUST FOLLOW THE LIGHT INTO THE DIVINE PRESENCE.

Solomon builds the temple, the temple is limited without God’s presence.

1 Kings 8:10-11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, [11] So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.

II. FIRE IS A TYPE OR SYMBOL IN THE BIBLE.

A. Fire is a very good study for us.

1. FIRE WAS USED FOR WORSHIP AND SACRED PURPOSES.

The FIRST fire MENTIONED, the EVER-BURNING FIRE --- on the altar was first kindled

from HEAVEN.

See (Genesis 8:20).

FIRE IS USED AS A TYPE OF GOD’S GREAT HOLINESS.

This fire burns out laziness and sin.

2. The spiritual fire we discuss was often made visible to the naturual eye as the:

a. THE FIRE FROM HEAVEN ...

b. THE FIRE OF THE LORD ...

3. THERE WAS A DANGEROUS FIRE CALLED THE STRANGE FIRE.

4. THERE IS ANOTHER FIRE IN THE BIBLE --- WE SHALL CALL IT DOMESTIC

FIRE. This was fire used to cook, bake, warm.

As PETER WARMING BY THE FIRE...

Did you know no domestic fire was allowed on the Sabbath day?

5. JUGDMENT OR PUNISHMENT WAS CARRIED OUT BY FIRE.

6. DURING PERIODS OF WARFARE FIRE WAS USED TO DESTROY THE ENEMY.

At times fire was used to DESTROY FALSE ALTARS.

7. IN THE BIBLE THE MAIN USE OF FIRE IS TO REPRESENT GOD OR GOD’S

PRESENCE.

8. FIRE IS USED A TYPE OF HEAVY, HARD TRIALS; STORMS, DIFFICULTIES.

9. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FIRE IS USED ALONG WITH THE DOVE AS A SYMBOL

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S TEACHER, GOD’S COMFORTER, AND GOD’S GUIDE.

B. THE FIRE NEEDS A VECHILE OF TRUTH. THE FIRE NEEDS A CANDLE.

C. How does the candle feel consumed for the light?

III. THE CHURCH CAN BE IN GREAT DANGER WHEN THE FLAME OF GOD FLICKERS

AND DIMS!

A. Where there is no vision the people perish...

Vision is limited when darkness tries to smother the light.

B. Eli’s two sons were playing with sin and playing RELIGIOUS GAMES ...

HOPHNI and PHINEHAS lost their respect and fear of the light.

1 Samuel 3:1-3 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

[2] And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

[3] And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

C. We must keep the light brightly burning and the globe clean!

IV. BITTERNESS, HURT, AND UNFORGIVENESS TRY TO DIRTY THE GLOBE AND

DIM THE LIGHT.

A. Jeremiah was known as the WEEPING PROPHET.

B. Times were hard, the tears were many, the church was backslidden.

C. I JUST THINK I WILL QUIT.

Jeremiah 20:9 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.

LB

Jeremiah 20:9 And I can’t quit! For if I say I’ll never again mention the Lord--never more speak in his name--then his word in my heart is like fire that burns in my bones, and I can’t hold it in any longer.

D. THE FIRE BURNS --- HIS NAME IS OUR HOPE.

V. DEPRESSION AND HEADS HANGING DOWN TEND TO DIM THE VIEW OF