Someone Kindle a Fire

Acts 28:1-3 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for
they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present
rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

After the shipwreck of Paul and others the barbarians kindled a fire. I don't know about you but I need to kindle a fire. Luke took the time to write this and it says the same thing to us 2,000 years later. The greatest need was a fire. Someone kindled a fire.

A fire is more appreciated the colder it gets. We don't use heat in the summer time. A fire feels good especially with the cold snaps we've been having lately. The coldest times are the darkest times. Some go to work in the dark. Cold and dark go together.

Many things are important in our lives, but a fire is most needed. A fire is easy in dry times, but it is another thing to keep it going. In the middle of this storm, they built a fire. Impossible? This was soaked wood. You just have to know what you're doing. If they could, we can and we can keep it going. The survivors and the others gathered wood and everyone did their part. The success depended not on one…but then it does. You, me, and all of us with God alone can do it. They tried and God allowed fire for their warmth. The fire was a blessing.

Do we need a fire? There was a real need there, and we do need it too. Surrounded by a society and environment that gets colder and colder and damper and damper, we sure need a fire. It dampens the spirit. It causes discouragement. Even in the midst it seems all resources are wet, there can still be a fire. Wet wood will burn if started right. Truth will prevail. God is still here. No matter the darkness, God will show us how to build the fire.

We've seen dry times in the past when it seemed hard. The wood burned then. Even though the devil fought we got through the 70's, the 80's and the 90's. Remember when we thought the world might come to an end when the year 2000 came? Here we are in 2008. Each decade we thought surely the Lord will come; it can't get worse that this. We kept the fire through all those times–in the midst of it all we found a way to kindle the fire. It's worse now. Things are bad, but despite all the wood is there; the resources are there and God is still the same.

We can keep a fire. We need to bring our resources to God and trust his resources. The devil will try to discourage us, but we can find the wood we need; even if it's damp, it will still burn. Throw it on the pile and figure out a way. It's easier to rekindle our souls than to start a fire with soaked wood but it can be done. We can't do a thing about the darkness or any other elements around us. But we can build a fire. We have the house of God and each other; we can build a fire and find warmth against this cold and dark world.

Let's seek God and ask for a fire of love and passion for souls and the truth. Believe God and not the nonsense of the world. Bring your soaked wood to the altar and God can start a fire.

The serpent didn't like it when Paul dropped him into the fire. The devil doesn't like to have the heat turned on him. The devil doesn't have to bite us if our wood is wet, but put him to the fire and see what happens. The same fire that warmed Paul roasted that serpent.

Get the heat back in church, back in our hearts–the devil will have to leave. Let's come and seek the Lord. Someone kindle a fire!