One of the most watched parts of the Olympics is the opening ceremony and the highlight at the end of the show is the lighting of the cauldron with the Olympic flame.
Among the thousands of torch-bearers who carry the flame from Olympia to the host country, the first and the last torchbearers are particularly important. The last torchbearer is responsible for lighting the cauldron in the stadium during the opening ceremony of the games and it is particularly important that the flame is kept lit for the duration of the games and only extinguished at the closing ceremony. That is why multiple copies of the flame are transported with the relay and maintained in backup locations. If a torch goes out, it is re-lit from one of the backup sources to keep the original flame from Greece burning.
Each one of us has a flame within us that has its source in God!
When we believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, we receive the Holy Spirit, and our human spirit is born of the Spirit with the divine life of God. Ephesians 1:13 (ESV) and 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
John the Baptist said this about Jesus: I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11 ESV)
The fire of the Holy Spirit is a gift, freely given and now within us. He is a Holy fire within us that sparks a spiritual passion to use our God-given gifts and talents.
But just like the Olympic flame, the flame of the Holy Spirit within us can go out.
2 Timothy 1:5-6 NIV: I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
We need to make sure we do not quench or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit within us, (I Thessalonians 5:19) especially in the times of hardship and difficult circumstances.
Just as the Olympic flame was relit when it went out, with the backup source of the original fire from Olympia in Greece, we too need to go back to our Source!
- Fan into flame the fire of the Holy Spirit by spending time with Jesus in the Word
Just as fire needs fuel to keep it burning brightly, spiritual passion also needs fuelling or refuelling to keep it burning brightly. The spiritual fuel is none other than the Word of God – the Bible. One of the sure ways to recognise if the flame of the Holy Spirit within you is not burning so brightly or may even be out, is that you do not spend time with Jesus in the Word of God.
We need to make the choice to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in our lives. Do not depend solely on the pastor or leaders in our church. We have the active responsibility to make time to connect with Jesus and the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
- Fan into flame the fire of the Holy Spirit by spending time in Prayer and Worship.
When I am feeling discouraged or lacking in spiritual passion, I put on some anointed worship and spend time thanking God and declaring His goodness, faithfulness and grace towards me and very soon the flame of spiritual passion rises within me again. I pray and sing in my heavenly language as the Scripture tells me to. Jude 1:20: But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit
- Fan into flame the fire of the Holy Spirit by maintaining fellowship with other believers.
We need to stay where the fire is. Being in fellowship with believers who love the Lord and are on fire for God will keep us on fire. Hebrews 10:24,25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
When our boys were growing up, we often spent time around campfires and they loved throwing the wood on the fire and seeing how high the flames would go. The wood that was on the edge of the fire would start to go out and they would move them closer to the centre where the fire was the hottest. The reality is that every fire diminishes and eventually dies if not tended.
It is the same thing with us. Believers need each other to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit burning in our lives. We need to go to church and in today’s restrictions, that may mean attending online! We need to continue staying in contact and encouraging one another even if it is through texts and phone calls. Stay connected to keep the flame burning!
- Fan into flame the fire of the Holy Spirit by exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual passion is ignited in us when we are being used to serve others; when we are allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest in our lives through the gifts and talents that He has given us. Start using the gifts and talents that God has given you to help others and see how the flame of the Holy Spirit will rise within you!
Every one of us has been given gifts and talents – there are no exceptions! When we stop burying our gifts and talents and start investing them in the lives of others (Matthew 25:14), then we will be given even more to offer, and we will stay on fire for God with the spiritual passion Scripture tells us to have. I love the way The Passion Translation puts it! Romans 12:11: (TPT) Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him.
How is the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life? Is the flame burning bright and strong? Or, is it flickering and may die out soon? Now is the time to fan into flame the fire of the Holy Spirit within us so we can run with fresh zeal and passion on the path He has called us to!
– Maureen le Roux