Study Scripture:
Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste __ nothing escapes them. – Joel 2:3 (NIV)
I was in a luxurious bus one day en-route Lagos and while I was yet putting myself together to lead worship songs and minister to the passengers, a lady in the bus started preaching. Her ministration was so hot that everybody in the bus was tremendously blessed. A time came in the course of our journey when the lights in the bus were turned off and in the midst of the darkness, this same lady was making out with a guy (a stranger) in the bus. By the time the bus stopped at Benin, the two lovebirds located a hotel and lodged there. Very disappointing, not so? This lady fell victim of this immoral act because she was not on fire. She was a Christian but she lacked fire.
Why must you subscribe to fresh fire?
- To fight against unprepared temptation (James 1:12, Luke 4:13, Psalms 95:8, Hebrews 3:8). As Christian, there are always times when you will find yourself in the wilderness (difficult situations) and it will seem as if you are not making progress. And it may be one wilderness after the other for you; nevertheless, God is still God, so, be encouraged. It is in the wilderness that the devil will come to minister to you and make suggestions that will not profit your Christian walk. This wilderness may come in the form of unanswered prayers, loss of loved ones, lack and want, delay in marriage, unemployment, misbehaviour of a spiritual authority etc. but whatever the case, don’t fall into the devil’s trap. It is in the wilderness that temptations come on a high scale, and if you are not fire, you will fall prey to the devil. Being on fire helps you to stand strong in the midst of temptations and come out victorious.
- It is the purchasing power of oil in the midnight (Matthew 25:1-10). Don’t be like the foolish virgins who failed to buy extra oil and as a result, they couldn’t power their lanterns in the midnight; and eventually they missed the bridegroom. In the absence of light, you can’t see. In the absence of light, you will experience fear. Jesus baptized his disciples with fire but Simon Peter did not maintain the fire, and when he sought heat from a physical fire, he denied his master. You need to always be on fire so that you will always have access to the oil. You purchase this oil in the place of prayers (Matthew 26:41).
Further Scriptures: Luke 12:49, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34
Prayer Line: Father in the name of Jesus, I receive grace to remain on fire for you. Amen!