Key verses

Leviticus 6:8-12, Leviticus 10:1-2, John 4:22-24, Romans 12:1

Key thought

We have a responsibility to create space for the fire of God in our lives and to keep the fire

burning so that it doesn’t go out

Old Testament sacrifices were offered at the altar, where a sacrifice would be put and God would consume the sacrifice through his fire as a symbol of him being pleased with the sacrifice.

The critical element, we want to deal with is the fire at the altar, which according to Leviticus 6:12 but must be kept burning.

An altar is a 'place of an encounter with God'.

The symbolism in the fire

• Symbolizes the power and presence of God.
• Represents the leadership of God,

God led the children of Israel in the night by a pillar of fire

• Alludes to the holiness of God, When Moses saw the burning bush, God told him to keep his distance and take of his sandals, for he was standing on holy ground.
• Denotes the judgement of God,Deuteronomy 4: 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
• The Holy Spirit, the fire of God also symbolizes the indwelling presence of God in us.

Service at the altar and the fire

1. Bring fresh supplies to keep the fire ablaze

   • We have at prepare the place of an encounter with God, once the fire is burning, we have to service it

2. Provide an acceptable sacrifice
   • A well-prepared altar without a sacrifice means nothing.
3. Watch out for the vultures
   • ​​​​​​​Anything that wants to contaminate or consume the sacrifice of God is vulturous behavior.
4. Do not bring your own fire!
   • ​​​​​​​The fire of God is irreplaceable and cannot be substituted or traded for anything.
5. Don’t quench the fire
   • ​​​​​​​Neglecting our service at the altar leads to the fire dying out.

Reflections and applications on our day-to-day spiritual walk today

1. The fire of God and prayer
   • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Prayer is one significant discipline that keeps us spiritually vibrant.
2. The fire of God and the word
   • ​​​​​​​Neglecting the word of God is a sure path to error and the fire of God dying out.
3. The fire of God and the pursuit of holiness
   • ​​​​​​​Sin is one of the things that can keep the fire of God out of lives, don’t treat it casually!
4. The fire of God and fellowship
   • ​​​​​​​Individually and corporately, we are the temple of God where the fire must be kept burning.
5. The fire of God and evangelism
   • ​​​​​​​When the fire and the presence of God is present, the work of reaching out to people grows