Where Is The Fire?

TEXT: JEREMIAH 20:8-9

"When I speak, the words burst out. 'Violence and destruction!' I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke.

But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can't do it."

THE FIRE OF OLD

The prophets of old spoke the word of God with intense zeal and self sacrifice. They poured out the raw word of God as was given to them by the Spirit of God. The word of God was like burning fire in their bones that they could not keep in. When they spat it out, it consumed the heart of evil doers, pricking their conscience to seek repentance. When they spoke, the words were like a sledge hammer that breaks the stony heart of men to pieces leading them to godly sorrow and repentance. Where is that fire today?

WHERE IS THE FIRE TODAY

Alas today, many of our prophets are like hawkers in the street, selling prophecies to politicians and money bags to cater for their belly, their God (Titus 1:10-11, Phil 3:19).

Where is the Elijah, Peter, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Paul of our time. Why is the word of God from the pulpit, soothing the heart of evil men rather than pricking them to repentance? Peter preached a single message and three thousand souls were saved. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Nowadays, sometimes we preach at programmes and not a single soul is saved. Where is the fire today?

Father, you touched Isaiah's mouth with coal of fire and purified him, touch my life with the fire of your word, purify my soul in Jesus name.

FIRE IN THE BONES

Jeremiah declared: "When I speak, the words burst out. 'Violence and destruction!' I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke. But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can't do it." The level of wickedness and evil in the world today is unrivalled, but the church is so lukewarm and our messages are so cold. Jesus warned: "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev 3:16). Our God is a consuming fire. He makes his ministers flames of fire. Everyday we ask God to put his fire in us, but our hearts are so cold to receive the fire. Iron sharpens iron. You cannot sharpen a knife with straw. Our cold hearts cannot ignite the fire of God and set the world on fire. Where is the fire?

Elijah called on the Consuming Fire and fire fell from heaven. When we call for fire, why is it that snow falls. Why are we so cold? When I read these words of Jeremiah in the text for today, fire seared through my bones. There is still fire in our hearts. It is the word of God that will ignite the fire in us and melt the snow, boil the cold water and turn it to scalding steam. Jeremiah 23:29 says: "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" The fire is in the word of God. The fire is the Word of God. Let's go back to the word of God, let's surrender all to the Word of God. Our hearts will be reignited to start burning for God. Let the word we speak be spirit and life to those who hear. Let the word we speak cut the heart of men to repentance. Let the word we preach, kindle the fire of revival in the heart of men. God's fire is available, let's sharpen our heart with his word and catch the fire. The fire we need is in the word of the Consuming Fire.

PRAYER:

Father, as I read your word, ignite the fire in my heart. Touch my heart with coals of fire from your throne of grace. Purge and purity me with the fire of your word in Jesus name.

CONFESSION:

Satan will not extinguish the fire of God in my life.

God bless you. Shalom.