I got up early on Saturday to get some things done and the first sign of trouble was when I let the water run, but it didn’t warm up. We have a gas water heater, and something had shut it off. That happened before and I guessed I would have to relight it. It was an unwelcome interruption in my day, but when you own a home, and something breaks you either fix it or pay someone else to. When I opened the door to the water heater closet, I realized it was a bigger problem than I could handle. Water was standing in the pan under the water heater and that meant a leak. I knew I needed help and so I called a plumber.
The plumber listened to my description of the problem and said a water leak had put out the fire and I needed a new water heater. He also said they don’t replace water heaters on the weekends, because the cost would be too high. I figured the plumber was honest, because he could have come to my house and charged me the “weekend rate” for the diagnosis he gave me for free. He said I could try and relight the pilot light, but that didn’t work. A new water heater is expensive, but that is better than cold showers. I needed to be able to relight the fire and get some hot water!
That reminded me of when my spiritual fire went out and my relationship with JESUS grew cold. He hadn’t changed, so it had to be me. When I first got saved, I wanted to tell everyone about JESUS. I was filled with joy, my fear of death and hell was gone, and GOD loved me! I was surprised when others didn’t feel the same way I did. After a while I toned down my outward joy, but still had that inner peace that I was “saved” and would go to Heaven if I died. I was still a Christian and would tell others about JESUS, if the subject came up. I loved GOD and wanted to do His will, but my fire had gone out! I could relight it if the praise and worship were exactly right at Church, or the Pastor said the right words on Sunday, but it would go out again as soon as life doused my enthusiasm. I needed something more!
John the Baptist said JESUS “shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Mat 3:11 KJV) and that is what I needed. Where is that fire and what will it do for me? JESUS said “ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8 KJV). I understand something about the HOLY GHOST, but why is it called the fire? While in the Upper Room “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Act 2:3-4 KJV). It’s like the fire under my water heater, it’s the power I need, and tongues are an outward manifestation of that power. After “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31 KJV). That is the fire I need and the gifts of the spirit: the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues (1 Cor 12:8-10). Before you reject it, consider that GOD said, “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven” (Mat 12:31 KJV). Don’t reject it but ask GOD the HOLY SPIRIT to light your fire and He will!
Wayne Lance (2019)