Why "Fan the Flame"?

What sort of image does the word fire conjure up in your mind?

I’d guess that most folks will turn to some kind of mental picture of that flaming phenomenon that grills our steak and toasts our marshmallows at a backyard cookout, brings a warm and comfy ambiance to a cold winter’s night, or causes billions of dollars of disaster and loss throughout the world when it blazes out of control.

For me and many other Christians, however, fire in the spiritually symbolic sense of the word is a highly significant and powerful image. For us, fire calls up impressions of holy passion, zeal, a driving purpose, an inner “burn.”

You don’t have to read a whole lot of early Army history before you come to understand that fire in the spiritual, “holy passion” use of the term was a very popular concept with Salvationists back in the day. Our authors wrote about it, our musicians composed songs about it, sermons were preached about it. We emblazoned it on everything from our flags to our jerseys… Everywhere they turned, early Salvationists were encouraged to live lives that were described as being “on fire.”

I’ve gotta tell you, I love that!

But regardless of whether we’re talking about literal, burning fire or fire in its spiritually symbolic sense, let’s agree that there are some fundamental principals that are common to both. A short sampling of those would include:

Both need fuel in order to continue burning. Remove the fuel and before long you’ve killed the fire.

Fire – literal or spiritual – must be respected. You’d better not be careless with it or around it (one of the earliest lessons learned in childhood, but not often taught in the spiritual context, I’m afraid).

Unless you’re careful, fire can be extinguished

If left to itself, the natural tendency of any fire is to go out.

I’m sure you’re aware of the fact that there are some incredible fire stories in the Bible, such as:

• God talking to Moses from out of a bush that’s somehow on fire but doesn’t actually burn (Ex 3-4:17)


• Elijah calling down God’s fire on the water-logged offering on top of Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:19-39), as well as on his would-be captors (2 Kings 1:9-15)


• God sending fire on David’s offering at Araunah’s threshing floor (1 Chron 21:18-26)


• The coming of the Holy Spirit as symbolized by “tongues of fire” that rested on each of 120 people gathered in Jerusalem (Acts 2:1-4)
  

For me, one particular fire passage highlights a spiritual principle that challenges both my life and ministry, as well as forms the foundational purpose for this blog site. It’s found in the book of Leviticus.

Now before looking at the passage itself, it might be helpful to point out a particular fact about Leviticus...

Did you know that unlike Genesis and Exodus, Leviticus is arranged more categorically or topically as opposed to chronologically? In other words, Leviticus is more of a “procedures manual” or “handbook” than it is a narrative. Why is that important to know, you ask? Because it means that what you read in the book’s earlier chapters don’t necessarily happen before what you read in later chapters.

Tuck that little point away in your understanding (you’ll need it in just a moment) and let’s pick up the action taking place in Leviticus 8-9.

It’s describing the formal ordination – the commissioning, if you like – of the Hebrew priesthood. It was an eight day affair, according to the text, that required following a long list of instructions and particulars. The details include everything from the various types of offerings that God called for as part of the process, to the sorts of animals to be sacrificed, and the procedures to be followed.

Scroll ahead in the passage to the last offering being made on the last day of the event… Something amazing happened:

“Moses and Aaron entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out they blessed the people and the Glory of God appeared to all the people. Fire blazed out from God and consumed the Whole-Burnt-Offering and the fat pieces on the Altar. When all the people saw it happen they cheered loudly and then fell down, bowing in reverence.” Leviticus 9:23-24 (MSG)

Understand, this was different from every other altar fire they had ever used or seen. This fire didn’t rely on any man-made ignition methods. This was God-fire – flashing down from the Father Himself – that burned up the offering on the altar. Proof of His blessing, His approval, and His presence.

And the record points out that when the people saw this, they were filled with praise to God as well as a strong sense of holy awe.

Incredible!!

Set all that on the back burner for a moment, and let’s go “back to the future” by flipping pages from chapter 9, to orders from God given in chapter 6 (which actually were given after the chapter 9 miracle. This is what I was talking about earlier when I was explaining about Leviticus being generally more topical than chronological.).

Jumping in at verse 8 and reading through verse 13, God tells Moses to pass on some particulars to Aaron and the boys about burnt offerings. And as you read through these six verses of commandments and instruction, you find God hammering home a particular point about this holy fire He sent to crown their altar and offering. Three times in the passage He tells them – with each repetition being a little stronger than the one before – that they are now responsible to feed and care for what He has ignited. Check it out:

“…the fire must be kept burning on the altar.”
Lev 6:9

“The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out.”
Lev 6:12

“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”
Lev 6:13

Good old Matthew Henry adds an interesting insight on this passage:

The first fire upon the altar came from heaven (Lev 9:24), so that by keeping that up continually with a constant supply of fuel all their sacrifices throughout all their generations might be said to be consumed with that fire from heaven, in token of God's acceptance. If, through carelessness, they should ever let it go out, they could not expect to have it so kindled again. Accordingly the Jews tell us that the fire never did go out upon the altar, till the captivity in Babylon.
(from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by
Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

OK… Let’s look at this God-established principle in light of a present-day application.

A strong case could be made that as believers, God has in a very real sense “ignited” something in us. At the very instant of salvation, the Holy Spirit – who is symbolized by fire (coincidence…? Hmmm…I don’t think so!) – consumed our sin, flamed our hearts, and signaling His approval, His blessing, and His presence within us. And for those who’ve been willing, God has also lit a passionate Pentecostal fire of holiness that burns away anything within us that is unlike Jesus.

You see, I believe that God has faithfully done exactly what we’ve asked of Him, as time and time again we’ve thrown our heads back, raised our hands, lifted our voices, and zealously sung Booth’s words, “…send the fire!” From there, however, whether through carelessness, inattention, or sometimes just plain foolishness, far too many let that freshly God-sparked fire starve for fuel. With hardly as much as a notice – degree by degree – the inner heart-flame is allowed to gradually burn down, cool off, flicker, sputter, and then sadly go out. And listen gang…when Holy Ghost-fire goes out – when the fire of holy passion cools – there’s no amount of personal effort, or church attendance, or rule-keeping, or program involvement, or any other kind of “going through the motions” that will make a difference. Oh it might look a lot like the actions of an “on-fire” believer, but it’s all smoke and no flame. Only God can reignite the fire that’s gone out in a heart.

This is why I’m convinced that this Leviticus principle is so important. It’s code-red critical for us to understand and embrace the fact that once God has lit – or rekindled – a fire on the altar of our soul, we then carry the responsibility to keep that holy passion-flame well-fed, well-fanned and burning hot ; at all times and at all costs. “The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out!”

You know, this could possibly be how God plans to re-fire our Army. Not by way of some corporate, miraculous, Cecil B. DeMille kind of moment that so many look for, but rather something that starts smaller…like a spark that spreads from soldier to soldier, from town to city, from division to territory, until the world is once again ablaze with passionate, mission-minded Salvationists.

But for that to happen, this – like all fires – has to start somewhere.

I wonder…is it possible that you’re the tipping point for all this? That you’re the catalyst God wants to use? Could it be that the only thing needed to set it all in motion is for your heart-altar to ignite – or be rekindled – with the God-sent fire of holy zeal?

I dare you to ask Him. In fact, I double-dog dare you to offer yourself to God for the job! (NOTE: In the Southeastern U.S., a “double-dog dare” is the highest of all challenges! No one with even the smallest sense of honor among his peers can ever pass up the double-dog dare.)

And once He’s given you that fire, once you’re “burning”, do everything in your power to keep that flame well-fanned and fed. When you take care of your part, the door opens wide for God to do His through you.

Keep your altar ready and your fire hot…!

Willis