Several years ago a forest fire came within a few miles of our house. At night, we could see the flames, and by day, we saw the smoke. This consuming fire evoked both awe and fear in us as it approached.

Community volunteers worked day and night to clear fire breaks in order to deprive the fire of fuel.

We all know that fire is a force for destruction or for great help. As I write this, dear Husband is making a fire in our woodstove to keep us warm. Perhaps you cook and heat your water with a gas flame. You may drive a car that uses an internal combustion engine. Your car body and its metal parts, your pans, utensils, and appliances were also once raw ores purified by flames. And, of course, our very lives depend on the warmth and light of the sun which is a flaming ball of gases.

God has often expressed himself by fire. Think of Moses’ surprise when a nearby bush burst into flames, yet the bush remained intact, brightly burning, but unhurt. Perhaps it was a metaphor for Moses himself. With the fire of God within him, he would burn brightly to lead his people to freedom, govern millions, write the Torah, and initiate the priesthood and the Tabernacle. Yet he still retained his own personality, strengths and weaknesses, helped by God each challenging step.

When Moses ascended Mt. Sinai to meet with God for the giving of the Law, fire again accompanied the visitation.
“the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it … the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.” Exodus 24:16,18

And nightly for forty years, the pillar of the fire of God illuminated the darkness, visually reminding all that God was present with them.
“But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night.” Nehemiah 9:19

 

Ezekiel tried to describe the One who sat on the throne of Heaven.

“… on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor.  . . This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. ” Ezekiel 1:26-28

The Holy Spirit appeared as flames of fire above each head gathered in prayer at the initiation of the Church in the New Testament.

Jesus is described in Revelation as “someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire.” Revelation 1:13-14

Did you know that each of us who has trusted Jesus to forgive their sins and has acknowledged him as the One in charge has a fire burning in us? God’s Spirit is in us and he has given each of us a gift to use for the good of others (and for our happiness in using it!). But we can douse the flame of God’s Spirit in us. And we can let the fire of the gift burn low.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench (snuff out, extinguish) the Spirit. . . .  hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
“ . . . I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God. . .” 2 Timothy 1:6

So how do we fan the flame of our gifts? We should remember that our gifts are just that- gifts from a gracious God. When we give a gift to a loved one, we hope they enjoy it and use it. I think God feels the same way. He wants us to use and enjoy his gift to us. Ignoring it, or hiding it doesn’t please him. By using it, we fan his gift into flame. And he even helps us use it.
“ . . . I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God. . .For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7
When we use our gifts we have:
God’s power to serve and not hang back
God’s love to serve even when the recipients don’t ‘deserve’ it
Self-discipline to serve with our gifts. (Self-discipline is the self empowered by God to be disciplined.)

Using our gifts so they burn brightly is one side of the coin. The other side is being humble enough to receive the gifts of others. God equips each group of believers with the necessary gifts so all can flourish together. I’m so grateful for the gifts of teaching and preaching the Bible that our pastor and elders share with us. Each week, I learn from them. I’m so grateful for musical talents others share. Technically, music isn’t a spiritual gift, but it is the vehicle for several spiritual gifts; encouragement, helps, exhortation, and teaching come to mind. Some have been given the gift of extra strong faith and how I encouraged I am to hear them pray for others in our church and the world. It stirs my heart to hear others tell how they are gently and lovingly sharing the Good News about Jesus with not-yet-believers as they use their gift of evangelism. I’m so grateful for the organizers among us who administrate and keep the rest of us on track working together toward a higher vision. And I’m so very grateful for those who use their gift of encouragement and helps and have come alongside when we’re facing difficulties and help us in heart ways and physical ways. Checking on us, praying for us, and bringing food and/or firewood.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6