If you were asked to produce your Christian evidence, what evidence would you present individually or as a group? Well let me present it to you this way, have you clothed the needed? Have you fed the hungry? Have you provided shelter for the homeless? Have you visited the sick? Have you ministered at the prison? Have you changed a child's life? To do any of these, means that you are doing ministry. No longer can we depend on the pastor and the pastor's sermons to be the essence of ministry. When Jesus was teaching on the Mount of Olives, in his story about the final judgment, He reminds us about how we should care for people in need. Listen to the Words of Jesus, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me" (Matthew 25:35-36). Then the question from the righteous was, "When did we see you...?" (Matthew 25:37-39). Jesus reply was, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). I asked you these questions not to insult you, but to motivate you and challenge all people to live out the true meaning of what it is to be called a child of God.
Now is a critical time in the church and in your community. Each of us must light the fire that is within us and keep it burning. There are enough problems that keeps us busy, but we should never be too busy that we can't lend a helping hand to someone in need. Along with the regular stresses, we are confronted with sociological and the theological issues pressing upon us on all sides. On the social side, our community is suffering because of the breakdown of the family unit. Mothers are doing their best, as head of the household, attempting to turn boys into men. Many fathers are playing the role of absentee parents. Drugs, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, and other negative things are becoming the community norm. This is indicative that the fire is either out or it is very weak. When the fire is weak, it is a reflection on all of us and its effect filters down from generation to generation.
I don't know when your fire was started, but I believe I am talking to some faithful Christian soldiers and I know your works are blessed by the Lord. Your struggle is not without measure as God's superintendents, your efforts and your fire will continue to burn.
As children of the Living King, we are being challenged on all sides, but I call upon you to stay focus and not forget what God desires for you to do. So many people have allowed the material gains of this world to diminish their flame and have lead them down a path of destruction. You know we are in trouble when a stray dog has a better chance of finding a home than a baby in need.
Our forefathers fought hard for the right to vote, yet we are too busy to go the the poles, because many of us are more interested in emulation and assimilating than participating. Today the jails and penal system has a greater population than our colleges. There is something wrong with this picture. The problems are deeply rooted in our community. Our community is in trouble and our churches are no longer a place of safe haven, because of criminal elements. There is a clarion call this day to get busy, ignite the flame of truth, ignite the flame of peace, ignite the flame of hope, ignite the flame of love, and put some wood of encouragement on the fire, and watch the smoke go forth.
What is going on? Why is this happening? It is because the Word of God is not reaching the sidewalks of our communities? Please check your own flame and make sure you are not quenching the fire of God. Some of us need to look at our relationship with God. Many people I.D. cards are stamped, "daughter or son of the devil," instead of "daughter or son of God." So many of our conduct changes from Monday through Saturday, then on Sunday mornings while attending church, we become holy rollers. Believe me, I have witnessed it with my own two eyes. I must warn you, "God is not mocked if you sew to the devil then you will reap a devil's reward." Scripture tells us, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil" (Matthew 13:37-39). "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8).
What does it mean to be a Christian? Well let me break this word down to you. When you break it down, you will find a small nugget that sets the Christian apart from the world. The prefix Christ is self-explanatory, as Christ-like, and we know "Christ died for this world." He came to save that which was lost. He came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He is our Savior and we must strive to be like Him. The root of this word is what confuses us, the (ian). Take the word beautician, it means a person that specializes in making others beautiful. A mortician specializes in the dead. An electrician specializes in electricity. A dietician specializes in food. A mathematician specializes in numbers. A physician specializes in medicine. Now, what is my point? If you claim to be a Christian, you must know Jesus as one would his or her own occupation. Scripture tells us, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
The Lord told Moses to give Aaron and his sons this command, "The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out" (Leviticus 6:13). The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night and the fire must be kept burning on the altar, and 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. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously, it must not go out. The continual fire on the altar is still significant to us today. How? Because the altar fire back then was because of the constant daily sacrifices symbolizing the unceasing worship of God and God acceptance of Israel. The burning sacrifice was a token of the people of God being in communion with Him. Our fire on the altar today is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in every Believer of Christ. He convicts the sinners of their sin. He helps us to pray. He seals and secure the Believer. He produces the Fruit of Righteousness. He imparts knowledge. He gives us power to serve. He sanctifies the Believer. He quickens our mortal bodies. The goal of His presence is to conform the Believer to the image of Christ. He helps us to keep the fire burning on the altar. By daily praying to the Lord, studying and reading the Bible, we keep the fire burning.
Why should you "keep the fire burning?" Because you are God's servant to a decayed and dying world. The Adam's family curse is upon us. Our responsibility is to help others to come to Jesus. The first Adam messed it up real good, but the second Adam, Jesus, came and died so we may live. You should "keep the fire burning" because fire is an indicative of the Holy Spirit present in you. You should "keep the fire burning" because if our fire continues to burn for God, then God will use our fire to ignite more fires and hopefully that will excite and stimulate others to have a burning for God.
This Scripture, "The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out," takes us back to the time when the priest made sacrifices for man. Man was so sinful that he needed an intercessor. The priest was instructed to make a fire on the altar for the offering and not let it go out. Every morning he added fresh supply of firewood and the ashes were to be removed and taken outside the camp unto a clean place. Let's follow the example of the priest, to strike that fire within us, don't let it go out, and get rid of the old ashes in our lives. Do not allow the old ashes to steal your joy. Light the fire and keep it burning.
We are a kingdom of priest. Our body is God's altar. We are to present this altar as "a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). When your fire is burning, Christians will be able to stand united, and sinners will be able to see the holy flame in you. It will come forth in how you carry yourself. Your fellowship will prove it, and your worship will anoint it. May God's favor and blessings shine forth upon you, as you "keep the fire burning."