Kindle Afresh The Spirit

Actually, that fire is kindled afresh; if it isn’t, the fire will go out.

And so it is with the gift that God has given you. You must kindle afresh that gift to make sure it doesn’t go out. And I am here to tell you that one of the first coals in the fire to grow cool is your Christian witness. For some reason, that saving event in the life of the believer gets set aside, ignored. It becomes stale, cool, a faded memory, and ultimately a novelty.

Of all your gifts, the first was your gift of grace from God. Do you remember with a hot fire that time you realized your salvation? If not, you need to kindle afresh your fire for salvation. How can you convince someone of need to be saved if you are not excited about your being saved? You cannot!

The gift of the Christian must be kindled afresh, and this is called revival.

Loyalty and devotion are at the very heart of the Christians faith. And this loyalty and devotion must be constantly kindled afresh to keep the fire hot, the flames high, the coals glowing.

It is so easy to say the words that “I am going to be loyal to the gift that God has given me,” and then not pay too much attention to it. I spent several years in supervisory positions, not paying a lot of attention to my gift of preaching and teaching. I must tell you, my gift grew dull. I forgot how to study. I forgot how to prepare. I praise God for the people at the First BC in Abilene Kansas who helped me kindle afresh that fire. And I praise God for the people at CRBC who hold me to the task to weekly kindle afresh that fire.

And I say to you right now, you have a gift of God. The Bible tells you that you have a gift. I have been directed by God to deliver to you a very personal message. Your challenge is to kindle afresh that gift. Stir it up. Shake it up. Make it glow! Challenge yourself to use that gift as God directs. If you say my gift does not need to be kindled, you are in grave danger of forgetting completely that gift, and the fire will go out. Won’t the devil be happy!

Several months ago, Chaplain Jeff Houston brought to this fellowship a message from God. He told this congregation that there was at least one, perhaps several individuals similar to the apostle Peter who needed to take the word of God to the Cornelius’ of the world. I kindle afresh that fire this morning and ask you before God, are you doing what God wants you to do with the gift you have been given, or surrounded with excuses, are you letting the fire grow cool?

Paul reminded Timothy to “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you.” I bring this same message from the Word of God to you this morning, kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you, and do it right now.

General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army once sent a message to those under him. He wrote, “the tendency of the fire is to go out; watch the fire on the alter of your heart.” The Apostle Paul wrote to the pastor Timothy, “I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you.”

I say to you, you have a gift. You must give yourself to the Word of God and to prayer in loyalty and devotion. You must associate with other Christians in joy and sorrow, being ready to participate with that gift. You must study and prepare.