Where is the Fire?

Summary: What happened to the fire?

ON FIRE FOR GOD

Text: Leviticus 6: 12 &13

What does the dictionary say about fire?

Fire----The active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of combustion.

A. strong feeling; excitement

B. to make explode by ingiting

C. to become excited or aroused

On Fire

#1 burning

#2 greatly excited

1. We have even probably prayed to be on fire for God.

2. We are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire.

3. Now days when I look at the churches in our world------similar to the comercial that said where’s the beef------I ask myself, "Where’s the Fire?”

4. After Moses had been in the land of Median for 40 years, God spoke to him in the fire in a burning bush.

5. It was in the fire that God spoke.

6. I know-----We want to stop right here and be reminded that not only did God speak in fire, but also thunder, and be sure that we know He spoke in a still small voice.

7. There is one record of a still small voice in the Bible.

There are 19 times that talk about thunder of any kind in the Bible.

But fire is used 549 times.

8. God likes the fire:

It heats you up

It makes you move

Sin is burned up in the fire

Sickness is burned up in the fire

Disease is burned up in the fire

Purification takes place in the fire

9. It’s the Holy Ghost and Fire and it’s keeping me alive.

10. The extinct ingredient in the church today is the fire.

11. In Leviticus 10:12, Moses told Aaron and his sons to take the offerings of the Lord made by fire and eat them without leaven, beside the alter; because it was most holy.

12. In the 16th chapter, the Lord commanded Aaron to bring the sin offering and take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the alter before the Lord and put incense upon the fire before the Lord.

13. And all through the Bible you will fine this----but these days it seems like we have LOST the FIRE!

14. And right away many would remind me that I am referring to the Old Testament.

15. Matthew 3:11 says----He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Mark 9:49 says--------for everyone shall be salted with fire.

Luke 3:16 says--------he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire (just like

Matthew)

Acts 2:3 said----------cloven tongues like as fire sat upon each of them.

16. Hebrews 1:7 says-------He makes his ministers a flame of fire.

17. Who are the ministers?

a. In 1st Corinthians 4:1 Paul said we are the ministers of Christ.

b. In the 3rd chapter and the 6th verse he said----who hath also made us able ministers of

the new testiment.

c. In the 6th chapter and the 4th verse he said-----But in all things approving ourselves as the

ministers of God.

18. To the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3: 15&16 the Lord said-----I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.

19. Cold won’t work----Lukewarm won’t work----God wants our fire burning.

20. The only way we can stay hot is to be ignited by the fire from God on the alter.

Let’s Pray Together this morning for a FIRE from Heaven and to be ignited once again to burn brightly for Jesus as well as for those in our world to see and be drawn to it!

Freedom is Never Free

As we begin this morning, lets remember the Birthday of America cant be celebrated unless we remember the COST of what countless others have had to pay to ensure our privilege of living in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave! 

Over the next few days, we no doubt, will take for granted those Freedoms as we enjoy a day off of work, eat food off the grill and watch fireworks. We will find it hard to honor the fact that lots of HARD WORK, SACRIFICE and even death have all been a part of securing and enjoying what we call FREEDOM

In our Spiritual lives… its really no different. 

SIN had us in SLAVERY. We were CAPTIVES and were condemned to DIE and be separated from GOD and HEAVEN for ALL of Eternity.

Jesus PAID THE PRICE for our FREEDOM from Death.

Forgiveness always costs something.

When God said, "I forgive you of your sin," then it cost God something.

Because before the forgiveness there had to be the suffering & pain & agony at Gethsemane.

Before the forgiveness there had to be the death on the cross & the burial & the resurrection.

That price had to be paid. The ledger had to be clear before forgiveness could become a reality. But now that it has been paid it’s available to all.

Isn’t that also true of our freedom? The price has been paid. It is available to all in this great land.

That is why we rejoice at the Declaration of Independence. That is why we rejoice in the Statue of Liberty. Because freedom is available to all of us, regardless of where we live in this great nation.

Freedom is never free. It always costs someone something. Freedom is something that is valuable!

It is so valuable that men have been willing to give their lives in exchange for their own freedom the freedom of their families and that of their countrymen! Freedom of religion, freedom of the Press, freedom of Speech.

Today many are giving their lives for the freedom from terror! Freedom is a costly thing! It costs! There is always a price to be paid. Freedom is never free!

In the same term, Forgiveness is never free.

It always costs something. Forgiveness is valuable. It is so valuable that countless men and women have given there lives for the faith.

Stephen was stoned; James was executed under Herod Agrippa,

Matthew traveled to Ethiopia and was pinned to the ground and beheaded!

Jesus brother James was reported to have been stoned, cast down from the top of the temple, and still alive, smashed in the head with a fuller’s club.

Matthias was stoned; Andrew was crucified on an X shaped cross.

Tradition tells us that Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria.

Peter was crucified upside-down. 

Paul lost his head, 

Jude and Bartholomew were crucified.

Thomas was run thru with spears and thrown into an oven. 

Luke was hung from an olive tree 

John was exiled. (these martyrs were found in “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs”)

Forgiveness is valuable beyond measure! God considered it so valuable that he gave his very own life as a provision for it!

He gave it as a ransom for many! He demonstrated His love for us in that even while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

There is always a price that must be paid. For forgiveness is never free

Right now we need to remember the price & to thank God for our freedom & for our forgiveness.

And we dedicate ourselves to keep on paying the price so that freedom might be enjoyed for generations to come.

So what does it PRACTICALLY look like to PAY THE PRICE for our FREEDOM?

1. THANKS and WORSHIP Psalm 103: 1-5  1 Thess 5:18
2. DEVOTION - let the dead bury the dead. Leave it all to follow Jesus. No turning back Matt 8: 18-22   Romans 6:4
3. SERVICE - To Peter… do you love me? Feed My Sheep.   

John 21:15-17 JAMES… I will show you my faith by what I do   James 2:14-26

1. SELF SACRIFICE - No greater love than a friend who lays down his life for a brother John 15:13
2. ROMANS 12

We also should dedicate ourselves anew to accept the provision that has been made for our forgiveness. He died for it!

Today, God’s forgiveness is available to you.

He offers it to you through Jesus Christ His Son. He challenges you to look once more at the cross & realize that the price has been paid for your sins & for mine.

He invites you to come & know Him as Lord & Savior & to receive His forgiveness as His gift.