Dry Bones 2

You will allow me to further explain why I am praying that God rekindles my fire; that He revives my dead spiritual life, by using scriptural examples.

Fire can never be ignored just as it can never be constrained, spiritual fire, that is.

You can never be neutral around that fire.

And we will look at several examples in the scriptures to understand what I am saying.

Remember Joseph?

His brothers did not hate him because his father loved him.

They hated him because of the fire burning within him.

They got rid of him because they could not endure his continued presence because there was a spiritual deposit in his life that they could not manage.

That is the fire that made Potiphar trust him, the fire his wife wanted to possess.

It was the fire that made them hate him because they finally realised that there was no way they could control it.

It is that same fire that made him take an oath from Israel to ensure that he was not buried in Egypt though he had been a national hero and treasure.

We see a similar thing with David

People either loved him or hated him.

The prophet of fire was not any different

People looked for Elijah either to kill him or benefit from his ministry.

Probably the most sobering case in the Old Testament is Jeremiah’s where the whole book is more of a study of the relationship of spiritual fire has with the world.

While some are unable to bear him, others are drawn to him like a magnet.

Look at Daniel and you will see the same reality.

The New Testament is even more glaring because we can identify the source of the fire.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, (Acts 7:57)

This is the crowd’s response to Stephen’s defence to the accusations levelled against him.

That fire held them through his lengthy exposition and witness. Then they exploded.

John the Baptist was the same way.

Herod hated him and wanted to kill him. Yet he was scared of doing it even when the occasion availed itself.

We see the same with the apostles in their ministry.

Nobody could be neutral to their witness or presence. A fire experience is a convicting presence.

We see Jesus, our Captain, on another level altogether.

His experience magnifies this truth.

Enemies became friends in their fight with His fire.

Pharisees and Sadducees, who never saw eye to eye on almost everything became a team and were joined by Herodians who were way too far down their faith trajectory.

The same people who were tempting Him using loyalty to Caesar were obstinately proclaiming that they had no king but Caesar.

And He said that our likeliness with Him would attract the same responses from those around us.

I am not therefore talking about losing my fire in a vacuum.

I have experienced such as I served God, though not as powerfully as I would have desired.

Spiritual fire makes everybody uncomfortable positively or negatively and leaves nobody on the fence in neutrality.

And that is what is lacking in my life and ministry though for the most part ministry progresses fairly well according to normal standards.

But I seek the fire standard back in a more explosive way than those past experiences.

I need that fire to give my finishing kick its greatest impact.

But I essentially need that power so that God will manifest in my life in such a way that many will be drawn to Him and respond to His invitation.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)

That is my cry

Will you pray for me?