The Zeal of the Lord            

I asked these questions last week, “Is Jesus your passion and desire? Do you love Him with every ounce of your heart? How desperate are you ‘to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge?'” (Eph. 3:19 NKJV) If you cannot answer with a firm “Yes!” then perhaps, your “first love” for Him has grown cold.

Here is the great news—a humble admission and fresh surrender to God positions you for the Holy Spirit to breathe God’s love and passion upon your heart once again. Prayer with fasting is a great way to humble yourself and draw near to God. Hunger pulls on heaven. Expectancy brings heaven’s realm into your life. Jesus said blessed are you when you hunger and thirst for righteousness—you will be filled (Matt. 5:6).

When you return to your “first love,” God quickly honors your fresh commitment. The essence of revival is love for Jesus. The Holy Spirit reawakens true love and passion—the things of the world grow dim and single-minded focus on God takes precedence.

Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11 NIV). The surest way to maintain the fire of God in your life is to keep your spiritual fervor and never lose zeal for the Lord! However, if your love for God has grown cold, quickly repent, turn back to Christ, and begin to live completely for him once again (Rev. 2:4-5).

The fire of God’s presence is beginning to fall fresh on his church. Fire draws. Fire captivates. Fire consumes. Revival fire awakens hearts to first love—it becomes a consuming, passionate fire once again. God is inviting His “glorious church” to steadfast love in this hour. Let us continue our discussion of practical steps to maintaining the fire of God in your life.

Practical Steps to Maintaining the Fire of God in Your Life

Consume God’s Word

The fourth step in maintaining God’s fire in your life is to consume—read, meditate, and study—God’s word. Moses declares in Deuteronomy the significance of God’s Word to the Israelites,

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3 NLT).

The principle is true for us today as well—the world cannot meet all of our needs—only God and his promises can satisfy the depths of human need. His word is like daily manna—like the children of Israel, we need fresh manna every day to remain strong and maintain God’s fire. If you are living off yesterday’s “manna,” it has become stale—you need God’s revelation today.

Jesus is the living Word, the bread of life. Choosing to feed daily on God’s written Word and abiding in Christ strengthens you and maintains His fire in your life. Psalm 119 speaks to the value and necessity of God’s word in your life,

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you…Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver…Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:11,72,105 NLT).

Hiding God’s word in your heart strengthens you against temptation and falling into sin. His word makes you wise and is more valuable than great riches. The wisdom of God will empower you to accomplish what money cannot give. God’s Word guides your path and illuminates your way—your destiny unfolds through ongoing encounters with God and unfolding revelation from His Word.

The Word reveals God and builds faith. Paul writes, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17 NKJV). His word brings you into an encounter with Him. Faith is a gift and develops through obedience with God. Daily, as you read and meditate on His word, you experience fresh encounters with Jesus.

I heard a song last week by Elevation Worship that speaks to the power of God’s word. Here are some of the lyrics and chorus,

…You have the last word

It is finished

My fear is silenced in Your love,

My hope is endless.

Your word stands through the ages,

Your voice shatters the darkness,

In You we are more than conquerors,

You speak and strongholds surrender,

Your name overcomes the enemy.

In You we are more than conquerors…

His word silences fear, provides hope, strengthens the weak, and stops the enemy. His Word is ageless. Mediate daily on God’s Word—it keeps His fire burning in your heart.

Serve Others

Another step in maintaining God’s fire in your life is to serve others. Jesus revealed servanthood. He humbled Himself, came to earth, and served others (Phil. 2:5-11). He said the greatest among you would be servant of all (Matt. 23:11). Jesus also commanded His followers to “go!” There is a “go” in the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20). To make disciples of all the nations requires a steadfast commitment on our parts to reach and serve others.

James states clearly, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (Jam. 1:27 NLT). Learning to serve others and those in the margins of society keeps you close to the heart of God. As you serve the least, the fire of His love and passion will burn in your heart. Many grow cold because they stop serving others and helping the needy.

James goes on to say in a latter chapter, “What is the source of conflict among you? What is the source of your disputes? Don’t they come from your cravings that are at war in your own lives?” (Jam. 4:1 CEB) Most conflicts could be eliminated in our relationships if selfishness and pride are removed from our thinking and attitudes. Learning how to humbly serve others—within and outside the local church—helps free you from selfish attitudes and positions you to walk in God’s love and compassion for others.

Humility will take you beyond your comfort to minister to those in the margins of society. As you serve the least, you stay focused on God’s mission, and positioned to avoid the corruption that is in the world. Learn to go to the least with God’s love and compassion to remain ablaze in His love and presence.

Lastly, as you take the gospel to the world, remain in God’s peace and joy as you serve others. While doing so, learn to embrace suffering if required. If you believe you are above suffering for Christ, you have a distorted understanding of God’s grace. The New Testament reveals God’s grace sustains us as we go and in the midst of suffering for the sake of the gospel. This understanding will keep your heart steadfast in Jesus and help you to maintain your love for God when trials come.

God is always good, but trials and suffering still occur in life as you serve Him and others. Paul said,

But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him (Rom. 8:17 CEB).

Set Me Ablaze

            Another great song that captures the cry of a generation desiring to be filled with God’s presence and fire, is a Jesus Culture song, “Set Me Ablaze” written by Bryan Torwalt, Jacob Sooter, Katie Torwalt, Mia Fieldes. Here are some of the lyrics, make them a prayer and may you maintain the fire of God in your life!

Set me ablaze, set me ablaze
Till it’s all that I know
Set me ablaze, set me ablaze
So I’ll never grow cold…

Breathe, come and breathe
On the coals of my heart
May Your fire start…
Breathe, come and breathe
On the coals of my heart
Keep me burning…

Set me ablaze, set me ablaze
With a single obsession
Set me ablaze, set me ablaze
With an endless passion…

Your fire, burn brighter
Deep inside my heart
Consume me, reach through me
I want all You are…