By Sam Arokoyu
(8th August, 2010)
[For a printable version click here.]
QUOTABLE QUOTES
Le 6:8 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
v9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.
v10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.
v11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.
v12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
v13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
One thing that God has set in the midst of the Church is the ability for men to bring offerings. Offerings signify the complete dedication of the offerers unto God. The offering of the “burnt offering” was a command given by God to His people, Israel. It was an offering made by fire and was referred to as being the most holy of all offerings. The whole burnt offering was symbolic of an offering by the sacrificer of all of himself; (mind, emotions, desire, will) and body, to God: The submission of ALL, to the will of the Lord.
Ro 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
God expects burnt offerings from each of us. Now how do we bring this offering? Let’s examine some of the Principles of the burnt offering from the book of Leviticus to get more understanding of what is expected of us.
1) There must be an altar
Aaron was asked to set up an altar, he had to arrange the wood, wash the meat and put it on the altar. He did all according to the instruction that was given. When all was in order, the glory of God came forth evidenced by fire descending from heaven to consume the offering.
This was the principle Elijah followed when he called down fire from heaven. It was not an extraordinary action; he only set up an altar according to the pattern that God gave. The point to note here is, when the altar of God is properly set, God will cause fire to come down. Once it is done in the right way, the fire will certainly come.
Now in the present day, are we expected to go and get wood and stone to build up a physical altar to please God? Certainly not! Brethren our hearts are the altars for the burnt offerings.
2) There must be fire
Now how do we get the fire seeing that we are not referring to physical wood, stone or fuel? The fire is symbolic of the Holy Ghost. When a man gets born again that day God allows fire (the Holy Ghost) to descend from heaven into the man’s heart. That is why it is important that every one who follows God, should make sure, he or she is born again. If you are just claiming to be born again, you deceive yourself, because if you are not born again you can not get the fire.
Being born again is not a matter of chanting or repeating a prayer after a man. It is a serious spiritual encounter with the God of the universe. This is why we must cry to God in prayer to ensure that when the fire comes, it is coming from God. This is one of the reasons you may find a person who claims to be born again but there is no fruit of the Spirit in his life.
If the fire is there, you will certainly seek the lord; you can’t help but read your bible, and pray. You will desire fellowship with God and His people. This experience cannot be arranged or faked. Every other experience that we as Christians receive from this point on, till the end of the race, is based on the foundation of our born again experience.
Isa 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.
Many people are going on in their Christian race without fire, and they are going around trying to get others to kindle fires in them instead of getting fire from God. This fire is not the fire that a man can kindle for you. Many people are not truly born again but in the zeal to disciple them, we fall into the error of trying to help men kindle fire in their hearts that is not from God and this has resulted in creating more problems in their lives in the long run. This kindling of strange fire is a dangerous path to thread. The Old Testament gives an account of Aaron’s son’s who kindled strange fire and what happened? The true fire from God came down and they were consumed. Many people lie down in sorrow because they have kindled their own fire.
Giving your life to Christ is a way of laying your life on the altar for Him. The born again experience is symbolic of the fire coming from God to consume your offering (your heart). You lay your life upon the altar and you receive the fire of the Holy Ghost. Just as it was for Moses in the experience of the burning bush; the fire burns, and we are purified but not consumed.
3) The fire must be kept burning
This implies that it is possible for the fire to be put out. The fire we receive when we become born again must be maintained lest it gets snuffed out. Le v 13 the fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
A certain level of activity is required to keep the fire burning. You must read your bible and take God’s instructions seriously enough to change your life style and your ways. Some think they can get born again and just go ahead living the way they wish and doing things the way they want. It does not work that way. The fire will certainly go out. There was a distinct difference between the wise and the foolish virgins. The foolish virgins had fires that had gone out; yet they continued as if all was well, instead of running to God in fasting and prayer. May our fire remain burning!
4) Every other fire must be from the original fire that was lit
The golden lampstand is symbolic of our work with God. The wick and oil for the lampstand were all provided by the Priests, but the fire to light the lamps was to be obtained only from the original fire that was burning at the brazen altar. Every day the lampstand was trimmed to remove the soot and the ashes and fire was taken from the brazen altar to light it. Every other fire in the holy place had its source from this fire. We can interpret this to mean our desire to work for God (making you a golden lampstand for God) must be motivated by the Holy Ghost (the initial fire) whom we received at the time of salvation. That initial fire must be the source of every other action we take in our walk with God. This is why the fire we receive is important; for that fire is the source of everything else in our work with God. Do you want to shine for God? Then meet with God everyday (you go and take fire from the altar) at the time of prayer, bible study and fellowship. It is possible to have a lampstand with no fire upon it. Will such a lampstand be able to give light? Certainly not. Where there is no energy, you just end up struggling and straining to no avail. When the spiritual energy (fire) we expend, comes from God, the burden is light and easy. Jesus said my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
5) The fire for the altar of incense
Fire was also used at the altar of incense. The fire that was used to burn the incense had to be taken from the altar of the burnt offering. The ultimate experience for every Child of God is to give up all of the self life and submit to God fully (this is symbolic of the experience at the altar of incense). Our ability to submit does not depend on our intelligence or physical abilities, it depends on the fire we received at the time of salvation, and the fact that we keep the fire burning. The source is God so He provides the strength for us to overcome, worship and serve him faithfully. He provides the strength for us to give up all. When He makes a demand we are able to fulfill it because, His strength has been made available even in our weakness. Some of the apostles were fishermen but when they received the fire, they were able to perform great feats for God. Brethren, you can only serve God if he has provided the strength (grace).And this grace is freely available to all that have received the fire of God. The issue is; not allowing the fire to be quenched.
6) Effort was made to lay the wood in order upon the altar
This is symbolic of the part we must play in this matter. The priests were required to visit the altar every 12 hours to ensure the fire did not go out; they had to arrange the wood properly. I can imagine that they would have to fan the embers of coal to avoid the fire going out. There was no place for complacency. You and I have to choose to pray, to read the scriptures, fellowship with other believers and fast. It is your responsibility to provide the wood upon which the fire of God would burn. The fire of God is there constantly but I must provide the fuel; if not, the fire will go out. There are things I must do to make my salvation sure. Jesus has made us a priest unto our God and we must ensure that our fire remains ever burning.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
7) The ash at the altar
When fire burns ashes are generated, and if the ashes are allowed to pile up on the wood it will get to a time the ash will snuff out the fire. (The heat from the fire gets overwhelmed by the ash, so the fire goes out.) Every morning the priests were required to gather out these ashes. Where did the ashes come from? They came from the burning wood and the offering that was laid daily upon the altar.
If it is not a physical lamb or grain we are to lay upon the altar of our hearts in this present day, then we may ask what will burn to form the ash ? We will burn. Our self life is the offering. Our soul, emotions, desires and will are what we lay upon the altar of our hearts to be consumed by God (to be used solely for His purpose).
It was forbidden for the priest to eat the fat of the animal being offered. The fat was to be offered up with the animal and was to be completely burnt off? The fat is symbolic of the excesses in our lives. We are being told that our achievements physically and spiritually are to be laid down at the feet of the Master. Paul said he could not boast of anything because he had nothing that had not been given him by God in mercy. Therefore there was no place for boasting. It is only of the lord’s mercies that we stand. The ashes and excesses in our lives must be removed. Christ must increase and we must decrease. (John 3 v 30).
8) The ash offering
The ash was to be gathered, not just swept away. It was to be taken outside the camp to be kept in a clean place (A holy place.).You may ask, what is the significance of all this? As you burn for the Lord, your life is being changed and these changes, sacrifices, travails and price you pay (i.e. the ashes) are not just swept aside by God. God takes record of it all. Man may not recognize your efforts but God does. As the bible states, precious in the eyes of the lord are the death (sacrifices) of His saints; the ashes are stored as a memorial. At the appointed time it will speak. There is no one who will serve God and not receive His reward. God is not unrighteous. As we press on in God, let us remember that God is taking record and He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.
9) The attitude required
The next thing to consider is our attitude as we burn. The tendency of the carnal man is to publicize his sufferings or sacrifices. Men love to be acknowledged either with praise or pity. We want people to pay attention to us. It is all part of our prideful nature. Our attitude as we burn for God should be one full of meekness and humility not that of boasting. As we burn for Him, let us not be concerned with the praises of men. If you receive praise from men, the bible states that you have received your reward. What a shame to prefer praise from mortal men instead of praise from God. (Mt 6 v 1 to 4)
Let be encouraged to quietly serving the lord in the secret place; the lord is faithful. Know that He will reward. God will always testify of His people Himself. Remember God is not mocked, He knows those that are His and whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap.
Re 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
WHAT TO DO WHEN OUR FIRE GOES OUT
When we are overcome (or when our salvation is in jeopardy) by cares of this life or sin, our fire may go out. If our fire has gone out, there is only one thing to do. Retrace your steps. GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING. The altar of burnt offering was in the outer court. It is the first experience, after which are baptisms, then the holy place. If you get to the point where you want to light the golden lamp stand and you realize your fire has gone out. What do you do? You must not generate any fire. God instructed the priest to always go back to the altar of burnt offering to light up again. We are told to DO THE FIRST THING. In order words, repent and start all over again. This is the message to us today. If we have fallen, we should arise, and start over again. Falling is not the problem. The problem is remaining in the fallen state. This is why the Psalmist rightly said.” Do not rejoice over me……..
When your light goes out, God enjoins us to trust in the name of the Lord our God, He will lead us back to Calvary where we can receive the fire again and we continue till we get to the ultimate which is the salvation of our soul.
The danger of stagnation: There is danger in remaining at one level instead of progressing in God to greater heights. If you decide to remain on the spot you have fallen, (that is where your fire has gone out), your fate will be like that of the foolish virgins. When the high priest comes either we are expected to go with the high priest into the holy of holies or we go outside to the outer court. It is one or the other. Let us put on the garments of repentance and sacrifice, so God can identify with us. Let us keep our fire ever burning, bright and clear.
POINT TO NOTE
No one can quench your fire. You are the only person that can put out the fire that burns in your soul. Consequently the wise virgin must guard her fire jealously lest others, or circumstances tempt and pull her down sufficiently to quench her fire. Look beyond the ordinary, look beyond men or circumstances and look to the Master. Do not allow people to toy with your emotions, do not allow people to toy with your salvation, do not allow your self to succumb to temptation. Do not sell your position as God’s first born to the flesh (Esau) for a bowl of pottage (sin).
There is hope for the people of God, but let us not be deceived; what so ever a man sows that shall he reap. So we must always go back to the basics to make our salvation sure. Salvation is a continuous process let us press on and do not allow anything to put out your light. Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. Amen.