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Mar. 31, 2007
Fan the Flames of Your Fire
Today in service we talked about how the instructions to the Priests was Leviticus 6:9 "Give this order to Aharon and his sons: 'This is the law for the burnt offering [Hebrew: 'olah]: it is what goes up [Hebrew: 'olah] on its firewood upon the altar all night long, until morning; in this way the fire of the altar will be kept burning.... 12 In this way, the fire on the altar will be kept burning and not be allowed to go out. Each morning, the cohen is to kindle wood on it, arrange the burnt offering and make the fat of the peace offerings go up in smoke. 13 Fire is to be kept burning on the altar continually; it is not to go out.
God tells us, as priests in the order of Melchizedeck - that we are not to let the fire go out on our altars, for we are the Tabernacle of God Most High.
We talked about how intricately detailed the instructions were to the priest, about clearing out the ashes from the altar, they were to put on clean priestly garments to remove the ashes from the altar to a pail, and then again change their clothes to take the ashes out to a ceremonially clean spot. WHY so much detail, when the issue is "taking out the trash". It's a meanial and mundane job isn't it? What's so important about taking out the ashes?
Well, as we've been commanded to not let the flames go out on the altar, a build up of ashes underneath could eventually smother a fire, because no oxygen could get to it to fan the flame. The ashes represent sin, they are sometimes the result of sin offerings on the altar, but also of the burnt offering, which is a gift to the Lord. We need to be continually dilligent to rid our lives of sin, to be paying attention to the little details and not let our sin, or discouragement, or crises in life, smother out our flame of passion for the Lord. How do we do that? Fellowship, Reading the Word, time in Prayer, Encouragement from others, Walking out the commandments of the Lord, Singing praises... there are so many ways.
Hve you ever noticed that it was the Lord Himself who lit the flames at the altar? We know about the story of Elijah and the priests of Baal, how they called out to a false god to burn up their offering... but nothing happened. Then Elijah called out, and even though his offering was doused with water.. Adonai burned up that offering, for Adonai is the One True God. In the same way, it was Adonai who lit the altar at the tabernacle - Le 9:24
- Fire came forth from the presence of ADONAI, consuming the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Same thing with the Solomon's Temple 3 ADONAI said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your plea that you made before me: I am consecrating this house which you built and placing my name there forever; my eyes and heart will always be there.
It wasn't you who made the fire on your altar to Adonai, it was He who put the fire there. Your job is to not let it go out. Your job is to be ever tending the flames on your altar, and cleaning up the ashes, allowing the flames to burn. |
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Mar. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Lia