Fanning the Flames of God

Revival starts with each one of us.   As we “fan the flame” of loving the word of God and praying in our own lives.  It’s like fanning a fire, only it’s inside of us.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6

A good way to get “on fire” is to be with other people who will fan the flame and are excited about God too.  It says, “let the word of Christ dwell (abide) in you richly.”  If we abide in Jesus’ word and his words abide in us.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. John 15:7

If we get around someone else who is on fire with a love and zeal for God – it’s like kindling wood – it ignites a spark inside of us.  Love will unite a spark.  God’s love is a “consuming fire.”

For "our God is an all-consuming fire." Hebrews 12:9

It’s taking a passion that we have (our love) for Christ and turning it into compassion.  Jesus moved with compassion and healed the sick.

Then Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things Mark 6:34

I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Mark 8:2

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:34

I like that commercial about McDonalds “Have you had a break today.”  We need a break with the Lord. There is something about every time I leave Indiana, there a more freshness in my life after a week vacation out of town.  It was similar with being married when my husband went on ski trips with his work guy friends.  It was a freshness we enjoyed of getting back together as a married couple.

I find that God’s voice is so much clearer or well-defined.  Same thing if I go on a fast of food for a whole day.  There is just a clearer time with God that I have.  As a young Christian, I spent a lot of time in the word of God, and God’s voice was very specific to me at that time in His dealings with me.  When God spoke to Elijah it was a whisper.  Same way with Samuel, it was an inner voice.  Sometimes, I’ve said the same prayer that Samuel prayed, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” Most of the scriptures I get for writing blogs are in the early morning when my mind has been quiet all night, or when I am driving in my car to and from work.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12

So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:9-10

One thing that Jesus had against the church in Revelation is that they had lost their first love. Revelation 2:4.   David talked about restoring the joy of his salvation (Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:12

At times I’ve ran into different adversaries when I’m out serving the Lord.  When I move forward, it’s like stomping on the enemy’s terrority.  Sometimes, it can just be that you do something different than someone else thinks you should do it.  I had a dream a few months ago that I drove my daughter’s car out of compound and an evil mafia man was guarding the front door.   I went out the back door and drove down a one-way street.  The evil man had a car in the compound, but I did not have the keys to his car. I was able to take my daughter’s car.  In my dream I dodged these big semi-trucks coming at me, but made it safely out of the back of the compound and took several people out of it where the evil man was guarding the front door.   The evil man did not expect me to go out the back door.

There is a wide-open door (effectual) for a great work here, although many oppose me. 1 Cor. 16:9

I think of the scripture, “ “Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you” James 4:7 so we need to be submitted to God.  “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8.

We make the first move to come near to God, God has already made his move by sending His son. 

I like the example of a woman who was complaining her husband did not cuddle next to her anymore in the car and her husband pointed out that he always was driving the car so if she was sitting to far away in the passenger seat – it was her that was the problem.  So I’m always wanting to make sure it was not me with the problem in marriage.  I became the one who grabbed my husband’s hand in public, and encouraged him to put his arm around me.  He did not like public displays of affection (PDA’s).  Being married to an engineer was quite a challenge.  I’ve had some women that gave up on their husband, but my question first is “Were you the one that went out of your way to be affectionate?”  I was the one that initiated all the cuddle, hand holding and affection with my husband and finally, he came around.  He was not raised with parents that gave affection.

Are you the one that initiates hugging and saying you love your parents or are you waiting for them?

I find the same thing in my love walk with Jesus.  It’s quite a challenge.  I’m okay as long as it’s just Jesus and me having our own thing going, but it’s quite a challenge to deal with certain people.  The Bible warns about “discerning the Lord’s body.”  Part of that discernment when we take communion is walking in love towards other Christians and making sure our horizontal relationships are right.  We are not to just “hurry” up and take communion so we can get out of church Sunday to watch a football game. It says to examine ourselves when we take communion because some believers have gotten sick and even died early because they were not discerning what the blood and body of Jesus.

For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.  That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.  When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. 1 Cor. 11:290-32

I’m always trying to think of a way to “stir up my love for Jesus” and I know that will make loving others easier.  David said, “bless the Lord oh my soul and all that within me, bless his holy name.” Psalm 103:1

Jesus said we are lights and we are not to hide our light under a bushel.  My best times with God has been in giving his word out to others who do not know him.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Mathew 5:14-16