10 March 2023 - Keep the fire burning

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (AMP) Do not quench the Spirit.

To keep the fire going, the priests had to be attentive. That required putting wood on the fire daily and ensuring it did not go out. To keep God’s Holy Spirit alive and active, you must work at it.

Keys to keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit alive:

• Know that God is always with God

• Reach out to Him

• Seek Him

• Pray and listen - allow God to speak to you

What kills the fire?

• The failure to remove the ashes.

Leviticus 6:10 (NIV) The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar.

There was this call for the priests not to just remove the ash, but they had to keep the fire burning by adding wood. If they only removed the ash, then only half the work was done. They were to keep the fire burning.

Since the altar flame burned day in and day out, and all through the night, the priest had to go to the altar and scrape off to remove the ashes daily.

Ashes are bitter. Ashes provide no strength. Ashes will make you sick.

Ashes on the altar produces within us bitterness, weakness, and sickness. But when you get a fresh touch from God you receive just the opposite! Bitterness is replaced with sweetness. Weakness with strength, sickness with health and hunger is replaced with satisfaction.

Isaiah 61:3-7 (TLV) to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of ADONAI, that He may be glorified. They will rebuild the ancient ruins. They will restore former desolations. They will repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers will stand and shepherd your flocks, children of foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers. But you will be called the kohanim of ADONAI, They will speak of you as the ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations and boast in their abundance. Instead of your shame, double portion. Instead of disgrace they will sing for joy. Therefore in their land they will inherit a double portion; they will have everlasting joy.

Leviticus 6:12 (NIV) The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it.