Fan The Flames

DEVOTION
1 THESSALONIANS
FAN THE FLAMES
1 Thess 5:19
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
NIV
A very short verse, but a very large order is at hand. To not extinguish the work of the Holy Spirit in my life is the point of this statement. To allow the Spirit to have his way in my life means an active life in the Lord. I cannot simply just be a Christian. I cannot just simply go to church on Sunday morning, and maybe Sunday Night and even maybe attend the Wednesday Evening activities whatever they are. I cannot just be a Christian and sit on my duff doing nothing. That is putting out his fire in my life. No I must be doing, I must be active and alive in the Lord. I must be involved in server my Lord, active in the calling he has placed upon me. If I were to indulge my own self I would do nothing at all, I would hide away from people and simply do my own thing. But I do not have that option if I am to allow the fire to burn within me. I cannot hide away for that would be putting out that fire. No, I have to preach the word when I can, I have to teach when I can, I have to write when I can, I have to speak about God to everyone when I can, when the opportunity presents itself. I also cannot place myself under the strict rules and regulations of any one denomination, which I believe is just another form of the law, for that to me is putting out the fire of the Spirit. He is the one who leads me into all truth, not the law. He is the one who guides and directs my ways, not the rules of a church. It is true I want to live to please God, not men. I do not care if men think I am foolish to believe God speaks to me through his Spirit. I know that is true because the Word declares it so. How else who a person be convicted of their sin and need of repentance if not because of the Spirit speaking to them? How else would people be called into full time ministry if not by the Spirit leading them? How else would anyone ever know their calling if not by the Spirit speaking to them? Yes the Spirit is alive and active seeking individuals who will listen and allow his fire to burn hot within their being. I must be that kind of person, I must never put out the fire, but, in fact, by my faith, trust and obedience I will fan the flames.