September 4, 2001 - Youth Week 2001 By Rev. JACOB RODRIGUEZ Fanning Your Daily Flame - 1st Thessalonians 5:16-19 (NIV) (16) Be joyful always; (17) pray continually; (18) give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (19) Do not put out the Spirit's fire The Flame As Christian youth, we have been called to be keepers of the flame. And this flame is one that has fueled our passion for Jesus Christ and ignited our zeal for ministry. There is no denying that when we obtained God’s Spirit, we acquired a fire of power and passion. It has intensified our relationship with God to a new level of spiritual imminence. Truly the flaming fire of the Spirit has kindled both active and stagnant areas of our lives. But, just like natural burning fires (e.g. campfire, bonfire), the fire must be maintained lest it die out. In the old days, people used to use a blower-type fan that would release air (oxygen) into the coals or wood, thus creating a hotter inferno to keep the flame blazing. The Fan These old fans would be filled up inside with air, then the air would forcefully be squeezed out, blowing into the heart of the fire. But the key is, you can’t blow anything out until you have filled it up. You literally have to open the wing-like handles and through a small opening, air fills up the pouch. In relation, we as Christians can’t maintain the flame of Spirit filled passion without fanning the flame. Note: The fan is a tool that is available to us, but the fan by itself is useless, unless it has air to distribute. In other words, we have spiritual tools of consecration, but unless we fill them up with our time, energy, and commitment, we won’t be able to keep the flame burning. We definitely need to fan our daily flame and keep it blazing. But sometimes we don’t know how, or when to do it. Here are some devotional tips you can follow in your daily lives that can help you fan the flame. The Daily Fan Fan the Flame with Prayer and the Word: The Fire Hour Get a Time – Even though you can pray anytime of the day (because God will always hear you), make an appointment with God. This will bring some stability and consistency in your prayer life. It will help discipline your spirit and give you a sense of preparation. A Fire – Place Get a Spot – Think about an isolated place with few or no distractions. This is good because you are able to give your full attention to God and really get somewhere. Note: It’s usually hard to pray when the TV is sounding off and the CD player is booming. Find a quiet place. Focus Your Flame Get a Target – It’s better to previously think about or write down a prayer list of some sort. That way in your prayer you can really focus on things that are the most important. Make sure you give it some real thought because your time with God is precious and you want to be sure to use it wisely. Heat Seeking Get a Verse – Seek God’s word after you pray, because your mind and heart become more sensitive to the Spirit. Read verses that you have been thinking about and God will open your understanding even more. Maintain the Flame These are just a few simple tips that you can apply to your own devotionals. Of course this may not be the exact steps that you take, but it can give you a little direction. All in all, it’s the personal responsibility of you as the keeper of the flame to maintain it. Keep in mind, your flame or your Spirit filled passion will only blaze to the degree that you put into it. Beware of a burnout! Keep fanning the flame of your relationship with God. And you can do this through prayer, reading the Bible and giving Him your all. No Smoking (Wrap Up) Finally, beware of your flame turning into a cloud of smoke. Smoke is the leftover of what used to be a fire. It’s a sign of where the flame has been. If you’re not careful, you can allow a burnout and just settle for some smoke. It’s not enough to live or abide in what used to be, only being able to smell the memory of a once blazing flame. And frankly, I don’t think anyone wants to be in that state. Remember, living for God is a non-smoke section so do everything you can to Fan your Daily Flame. Thanks for visiting our Youth Week 2001 special! The Rev. Jacob Rodriguez ministers at Apostolic Faith Tabernacle in San Jose, California. More articles in our Youth Week 2001 special series We're listening! Send us your comments, staff@inspiredchristian.org. Home | Site News | Reviews | Churches | CyberReading | Bible College Copyright, Inspired Christian.org