Today’s Daily Bread ~ Firestarter

Acts 2:41 – Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church – about three thousand in all. 

What I wouldn’t give to have been there.

The world’s first sermon, preached from one who’d traveled with Jesus the past 3 ½ years.  Who’d walked on water with Him, cast out demons in His name and sat and His feet and listened.  Who denied Him three times, then experienced His grace and mercy firsthand.  We can read the account in the second chapter of Acts, but I want to hear the conviction in Peter’s voice and see his expressions.  I want to know exactly what he said and how he said it.  Three thousand added to the church.  Peter was a fire-starter.

I work out at Lifetime Fitness, and there are several pastors and leaders from a neighboring church that go there as well.  Their witness blows me away.  They walk into the room and you notice them.  It’s almost as if they wear the Holy Spirit as a cloak.  They talk about what God is doing in their lives and their church.  They create opportunities to talk to people, and invite them to join their Bible studies.  They are unabashedly unashamed, and people watch them.  They gravitate toward them, and listen.  They are fire-starters.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Nothing pains me more than hearing a pastor or an individual read Scripture aloud as though they were reciting from a 10^th grade history book.  God’s Word is alive!  It’s convicting, powerful, and exciting!  It moves people.  I witness this almost every day at the gym – people lean in.  They want to know more.  It’s not irrelevant, outdated or antiquated.  It’s alive.

Acts 2:2-3 – Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Fire has great significance throughout the Bible.  It symbolizes God’s purifying Presence.  It burns away our sinful nature, leaving only what is godly and good.  It ignites our hearts, and motivates us to strap on our sandals and follow in the footsteps of Christ.  Tongues symbolize speech.  If the Holy Spirit has ignited you, you should have a burning desire to live like Jesus, and share God’s Good News.  He may not gift you with the ability speak a foreign language, but He’ll enable you to meet people where they are.  He’ll empower you to relate to people, and to speak to them in a way that reaches them.  You don’t need to be a pastor to be a fire-starter.  You don’t need extraordinary talent or a genius IQ.  God doesn’t call the equipped.  He equips the called.  God is simply looking for those who are willing.

Are you a vessel of the Holy Spirit?  Are you asking God to fill you and ignite you, or simply feed you?

I don’t want to be one of the masses.  I want to be a fire-starter.  I want to feel the Presence of the Holy Spirit with me everywhere I go.  I want to live a life fully and wholly directed by Him.  I want to watch Him work.  I want to see hearts healed and lives changed.  I want to live life in abundance, not mediocrity!  I want to know the fullness of joy.  I want to leave God’s fingerprints on everything I touch.   I want the adventure.  I want the quiet moments where I simply sit, and feel the love of Christ wash over me and through me.  When people look at me, I want them to see Him.

Psalm 16:11 – You will show me the path of life.  In Your Presence is fullness of joy.  At your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. 

Dear Heavenly Father, we love You so much.  And we don’t want to live a life spent on the sidelines.  We want to be filled with and directed by Your Holy Spirit.  God, we give your our whole lives.  How would You use us?  Where would You send us?  Empower us to step outside of our comfort zone, Lord.  We want to be vessels of the Holy Spirit, make us fire-starters!  We want to see Your work first hand!  We want to abide in You everywhere we go.  Write Your Word on our hearts, and give us a spirit of boldness so that we can witness to others.  God, give us wisdom and discernment, so that we know when to speak and what to say.  Above all else, let us know You more.  Make Yourself known to us.  We want to experience You more.  Move in our lives, and give us eyes to see it.  Give us ears to hear Your voice, and give us hands that are quick to serve.  We thank You for Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is in His beautiful, Holy name that we pray.  Amen.