Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
I’ve always enjoyed camping, just like many other people up here in our neck of the woods. It seems like there is an unending supply of primitive sites where you can find a very secluded spot right next to a lake. As soon as the tents are up, out come the fishing rods and swimsuits; ready to enjoy another beautiful weekend in the Northern Minnesota Woods. But when the sun is beginning to set, and all the firewood has been stacked neatly by the fire ring, the time has come to begin cooking some fresh fish and s’mores over the campfire. But have you ever been sitting very close to the fire, when all of a sudden a large hot ember fell right into your lap? What was your response when that happened? You probably yelled,..” hey, what is that ”, as you quickly jumped right out of your seat! You would have to admit that there was an immediate reaction when you felt the intense heat on your skin.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Men of God are going to have that same effect on others, because when you meet them, inside of their hearts burns the hot embers of biblical truth. Unlike the rest of the world, they will stand out, because they burn with the heat and passion of the living God.
Psalms 104:4 Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
Have you ever used an old kerosene lantern? You need to first build up the pressure by pumping up the tank so the fabric mantle is completely soaked with fuel. When this happens, they will burn incredibly bright, permeating the darkest of surroundings on a cold night in the wilderness. The lamps of our hearts are the same way, which need to be burning brightly by constantly filling them with the teachings of Holy Scripture. They are Spiritual fuel, and the more of them that we have in our hearts the brighter we are going to burn. Like adding more fuel to a campfire, or coal to a steam engine, when the heart is consumed with the Holy Spirit, it will lead the charge against evil. When the heart is consumed with God’s Word, it’s going to burn with passion against the rebellion of this world.
John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Men of God who have chastened themselves by fasting and seeking God, are going to become very bold. They will passionately speak out for the teachings of Christ, and speak intensely in His Name, even when standing in the face of the enemy.
John 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
Acts 5:28-29 ……Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 9:26-27 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
1 Samuel 17:45-46 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
True men of God are a torch, shining light upon all of the darkness of this world. False prophets are adored by the world, while the true Prophets are hated. Do you know why that is? This is a wicked and immoral place that we dwell in, filled up with lies, immorality, and perversion. When a man of God draws a line in the sand between what is right and wrong, he’s going to be hated by an impenitent and sick world. They are hated and persecuted, but inside of their heart burns the Spirit of the living God.
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18-21 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
The Apostle Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, and rebuked the devil.
Acts 13:9-11 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Like a fire that cannot be kept inside of a campfire ring, men of God cannot hold back the Truth. The burning flame of Christ will cause them to rise up to action and speak out boldly against wickedness and injustices of this world.
Acts 7:51-52 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
A soldier of Christ is on the front line of battle, and you had better be ready when He starts pulling out Spiritual weapons. He is a flame of fire, and ready for battle, so be careful that you don’t get hit by….
……The HOT Ember
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 