Maybe this thanksgiving you will fire up the fireplace. I was at a friend’s house fellowshipping and they had a beautiful fireplace. It was warm and cozy. But as the night wore on, something became very apparent a fire tends to go out. There is a spiritual lesson to be learned from that truth.

The Holy Spirit is associated with fire (e.g. Mat. 3:11; Luke 3:16). Fire is a purifier. It melts metal allowing impurities to be identified and removed. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is an empowering work that by nature involves the purifying of our hearts (Acts 15:8-9). We need the fire of the Spirit to burn off that which hinders our walk with Him.

Paul warned those at the church in Rome to keep the fire of their zeal alive (Romans 12:11). He wrote Timothy:

• 2 Timothy 1:6-7 – “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

If we don’t feed the fire or zeal produced by the Spirit, it can flicker. The fire from God kindled on the altar must be fed (Leviticus 9:24; 6:9-13). We need to be stoked. How do we feed the fire of the Spirit’s zeal within us?

First, stoke the fire of the Spirit with prayer.

Second, stoke the fire of the Spirit with the word of God.

Third, stoke the fire by dealing with fire quenchers that are:

1. Rendering evil for evil and not pursuing good for all people (1 Thess. 5:15)

2. Joylessness (5:16)

3. Prayerlessness (5:17)

4. Thanklessness (5:18)

5. Despising prophecy (5:20)

6. Permissiveness; lack of scrutinizing things with God’s word (5:21)

7. Involvement with evil (5:22)

8. Failure to trust God to entirely sanctify you (5:23-24).

These things in our lives throw cold water on the flame of the Spirit. When you go to prayer ask the Lord to search you for any such fire quenchers (e.g. Psalm 139:23-24). God’s fire will test each one’s work (1 Cor. 3:13). God’s plan is that we be on fire for Him in the power of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 1:7; Psalm 104:4). He makes “His ministers a flame of fire.” How’s your fire? Get stoked!