FLAMES OF FIRE IV
MEMORISE: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
READ: Ecclesiastes 4:9 -12
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
MESSAGE
Fire is very generous. If you have one hundred candles to light, all you have to do, is light one of them and that one candle can be used to light the remaining 99. Fire lights up other materials that have the potential to carry it.
Fire is always looking out for good materials that are flammable. In Deuteronomy 34:9, when Moses saw that Joshua was a good material, he imparted the spirit of wisdom into him. When Elijah saw that Elisha was a good material, he gave him double portion of his power. Who are the good materials that you have noticed around you - people with potential to do exploits for God, if only they could be mentored correctly? Get close to them and heat them up for God. You don't know how far that good material around will burn for God if only you can bring him or her close enough to get some heat from you.
I don't understand how some men of God try to quench the fire of others. Fire does not compete with itself. When fire meets fire, it join forces to impact the environment even more. Is there someone else who carries fire around you? Put denomination aside and join forces to advance the Kingdom of God. Individually there are some obstacles that your fire may be too small to overcome, but when you come together, you can bring down very high mountains. When one fire seems to go down, the moment it comes in contact with another, the new one rekindles it and makes it burn more. It amazes me that sometimes when children of God see another child of God going cold, they would rejoice and say they are 'minding their business' rather than getting closer to the person and helping to rekindle his or her fire so that the person can burn even more for God.
Fire burns better when it is in contact with other fires. You and other fires around you will burn better if you come together from time to time to rekindle one another. This is why you find pastors coming together to form associations, so that everyone can ensure that nobody's fire goes down. Believe me honestly, you will burn better if you don't look away when you, notice that the fire of someone else is going down.
KEY POINT
Fire is generous and burns better when in contact with other fires.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 278-30
HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1. Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See his banners go!
[Chorus]
Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
2. At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory.
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the Saints have trod.
We are not divided;
All one body we:
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4. Onward, then, ye people;
Join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ, the King.
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
