Thank God that the Holy Spirit’s fire produces light — something we desperately need in a world full of difficult decisions and hidden dangers. The Spirit illuminates our lives and our choices so that we can see the path ahead and know what to avoid. Yet too often we don’t seek the Holy Spirit’s direction when making vital decisions.
The Holy Spirit is God’s only agent on earth. He was sent here to guide us. Read the book of Acts and you will see that a computer-mapping program didn’t govern Paul’s trips. The illumination of the Holy Spirit guided his path. In fact, the Spirit forbade Paul from going to some places — not because they didn’t need to hear the gospel but because God had another plan. And the apostle waited until the Spirit’s direction could guide him into it.
To the believers in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Amazingly, although the Holy Spirit is fully God, it is entirely possible for believers to hinder his work and quench his sacred fire. Some people falsely believe that whatever God wants to do he will do. Consider Jesus’ invitation to his own church in Laodicea: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).
If he is Christ, and he wants in, why doesn’t he just come in? Why does he bother knocking and asking? That is the mystery of God’s sovereignty and our free will. We must respond to him or we will miss out on his planned blessing.
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Paul is telling Timothy to stir up the embers, to keep the fire going. We need to do the same.
We need the fire of the Holy Spirit changing our lives; we need it spreading throughout our towns and cities, spreading so Christ can be glorified. May that be your prayer today. Send the fire, God. Burn, change, renovate, illuminate — as we wait in Christ’s name.
Jim Cymbala began the Brooklyn Tabernacle with less than twenty members in a small, rundown building in a difficult part of the city. A native of Brooklyn, he is a longtime friend of both David and Gary Wilkerson.