“The fire must never go out on the altar....”
Leviticus 6:13
This was God's command to the priests through Moses. The priests were to keep the fire burning. The fire on the altar was to be kept burning continuously.
As I look around me today and see the Church of Jesus I am amazed at how little fire there is in our churches today.
I am amazed to see how little passion there is in the church today and with no one to stoke the fire.
Where are the priests who are supposed to keep the fire burning?
In Luke 3:16 John the baptiser tells the people
If we have been baptised with Holy Spirit and Fire we must therefore like the Priests keep the fire burning, it must never go out.
There were 3 reasons why God wanted the fire to be kept burning.
- The original fire on the altar came from God, Leviticus 9:24 and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
- Continuous fire on the altar represents continual worship unto God. Hebrews 13:15
- A continuous fire represents a continual need for atonement, purification and reconciliation.
On the day of Pentecost we are told in Acts 2:3
"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
The priests were responsible for this continuous action burning firewood and removing the ashes on a daily basis.
Today we are not limited by structures; we are not constrained by space. We are the temple of the living God and just like the Old Testament priest we are required to keep a short account with God, we are required to bring our hearts to God on a daily basis.
1 Corinthians 6:19
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;"
As believers we have been chosen and given the position of priests on this earth we are also expected to keep the fire burning. As a born again Christian you have been called to be a priest. You have the position of a priest, the priesthood of all believers. The veil has been torn so that we all like the Old Testament priest can come in with boldness to offer our sacrifices of praise and worship unto God.
1st Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
Rev1: 6
"and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Rev 5:10
"And have made us kings and priests to our God;"
"And we shall reign on the earth."
1 Peter 2:5
"You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
As the priesthood of believers we cannot afford to let the fire die, we are called to keep the fire burning. We are called to be a city set on the hill that cannot be hidden.
Just as the priests were expected to keep the fire going God is expecting us to be stroking the fire.
Do not the fire go out from His altar which is your life.
