Is your faith burning like a flame or smoldering like an ember?

Notes and further study on a sermon preached by Dr. Charles Stanley and viewed on 12/28/08...

General Caution: Your flame can die out!



LKP Caution: you may think you're learning how to help your friend with his troubles, but it actually needs to be applied to your own life first!! (see Matthew 7:3-5)

Am I as zealous for God as I once was? When living a life of purity and devotion, the answer should always be "yes" or "even more so" (but who of us can truly say that?) My spirit life, (my flame) gets fanned up once in a while when God reveals something to me. But then, during the in-between times, it doesn't shine so brightly. During the times of trouble it barely smolders.

But God doesn't change. Ever! So what did change? Me! God's flame is a beacon shining in the darkness to all who seek it. My flame, not so much. What makes me (us) lose that initial burning desire for faith and a connection to God? Gradual deception by Satan. What are the symptoms?

1) You neglect the Word of God- the Word is to faith what wood is to a fire.
2) You still pray, but you don't feel like God is listening.
3) Your church attendance is sporadic.(When you feel like it)
4) Your giving is occasional. (However much you feel like giving).
5) You begin to compromise your beliefs.
6) You become defensive about the way you're living.
7) Your joy and peace are replaced with worry, fear.
8) You begin to doubt.
9) You cease to pay attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

(Oh, poor me!) No!! You don't need sympathy or pity now! You need encouragement, discipline, perseverance, commitment. Think about this: the warmth of a fire in a fireplace attracts people to it, but a fireplace full of cold ashes attracts no one. If your fire has gone out, that not only affects you but the people around you, too. God wants you to glow!

Steps toward correction (re-connection)- Rekindle the Fire!
Stir it up, stand up and do what you need to do despite your ailments. (I know you have ailments, God didn't create the body to carry around all that stress and tension. The ailments will lighten up once your faith deepens).

RECOGNIZE what's happening in your heart, identify what caused you to feel disconnected in the first place.
RECALL how you used to feel when you were on fire for God.
REPENT- "God, something happened and I'm not who I used to be, I haven't done right." You must sincerely repent of your misplaced priorities and trust in His forgiveness.
REFOCUS your attention on God instead of thinking about your difficulties and yourself.
READ the Word of God daily and ask God to speak to your heart. Watch for RHEMA moments.
RELY on the Holy Spirit to give you the power you need.

What's next? Be consistent. Be persistent. Get to know God intimately. Get involved in the lives of others.

Scripture to back up these words:
See 2 Timothy (the whole thing), it was written for the purpose of encouraging, stoking the fire of Timothy. To "fan into flame the gift of God." The book uses terms like "keep trying" "do your best" "endure hardship" and "be on your guard".

See James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

See Revelation 2, verses 4-5 regarding the "lukewarmness" of the church in Ephesus: "You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent,and do the things you did at first."