How To Build A Fire
Soul Survivor Pt Four
One of the most prized possessions of a survivor is fire. You simply have to have fire to stay alive. (I’m going to try not to preach yet).
Things change around the camp when you have the fire.
Moses ran away from Pharaoh to the back side of the desert and ran right into God at the burning bush.
Elijah Showdown on Mt Carmel
• 450 tried to produce their own kind of fire
• Elijah cleared the spot –
None of their stones
None of their wood
None of their dead carcass
Text: 1 Kings 18:30-39
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." 34 Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. 36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!"
1. Called the people to “come near”
2. Twelve Stones
a. “in the Name of the Lord” Jehovah:
1) Hoseenu Our Maker
2) Tsidkenu Our Righteousness
3) M’Kaddesh Our Sanctifier
4) Jireh Our Provider
5) Rophi Our Healer
6) Nissi Our Banner (battle cry)
7) Shalom Our Peace
8) Rohi Our Shepherd
9) SHammah Our Presence
10) Makkeh Our Discipliner
11) Gmolah Our Recompense (reward)
12) Tsebaoth (host) Our Ruler (of armies)
3. Put the wood in order
In preparation for the fire – the branches need to be placed in order. The branches need to get some things in order!!!
1) There’s some moss that needs to be scrapped off the branches..
2) There’s some stray limbs that need to be trimmed off – keeping other branches from getting close.
b. Placed together - sticks off to themselves…..
4. Called for the water
a. Four barrels full - Three times - Trinity
b. Ran off the alter – over the trench – on to peoples feet!
c. But the water wasn’t enough – they needed Fire
John the Baptist – forerunner of Jesus
Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Elijah had no fire until he called on the Fire Starter!
The bush had no fire until God touched it.
The alter had not fire until God touched it.
I had no fire until God touched me!
You’ll have no fire until…..
Jesus told the twelve to go into all the world and make disciples – but not until they had the fire!
Luke 24:46-49
46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Acts 1:4-5,8
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Text 2: Acts 2:1-4
Day of Pentecost - Festival of Harvest or First Fruits
120 in the upper room Divine perfection in Divine Government
The wood had to be in order (replace Judas)
They were in one accord (perfectly arranged and in order)
Together - every time you see that word when it relates to the church it shows a powerful harmony that lead to action.
God moves when people are in harmony
Sitting - They weren’t trying to make something happen, they were waiting on God.
This wasn’t a conference – Not teaching
Andrew – How to bring your family to Christ
Thomas – How to overcome doubt
Matthew – Pastors, Non-profits and Taxes
Judas - Church accounting CANCELLED
THEY WERE WAITING ON A PROMISE
Suddenly - Without warning – unexpectedly – quickly
First the wind – then the fire
John 20:21-22
21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:2 The wind just picked up momentum
What took place in that room couldn’t be contained in that room!
It went into the streets
There were critics “Their drunk”
Growing up I always heard that:
Miracles died with the Apostles
Things like “tongues” were of the Devil
Mark 16:17
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
Well, they needed that kind of power back then
• Have we gotten too intellectual?
• Have we advanced beyond the need for the Helper?
• Bind the Spirit of Preconception
• Bind the Spirit of Unbelief
If there’s ever been a time when we needed the Fire of God…
A move of the Spirit in the Church of Christ
An outpouring of fresh oil
To be set ablaze for the sake of our city,our Nation
So how do we build a fire?
Draw close
Build the alter
Get in order
Get drenched in the water of the Spirit
Then the fire will come!!!
Lets’ Pray
Special Note: This ouline can not begin to reveal what God did through this message at Christ Fellowship. Get a copy of this message on CD by contacting pastorterry@christfellowshiponline.org.
A note from Pastor Terry,
Thanks so much for looking over this message. I trust that, in some way, you were blessed, encouraged and empowered on your own walk with Christ. Every message I prepare is bathed in prayer that God will draw, inspire, and challenge my listeners (or readers) into a more meaningful and power-filled walk with Him.
Pastors, how we need one another! We need to be encouraged, strengthened and built up in order to encourage, strengthen and build up. It’s my personal prayer that the message you’ve just reviewed has done that for you in a personal way. Use what you can of this message, toss what you can’t and above all, let God’s Spirit inspire it all!
Sometimes I feel like Peter and John at the Temple steps…”Silver and gold; I don’t have but what I do – I give to you”
Grace and peace to you, your family and the Flock you tend.
Pastor Terry
