WALKING IN THE SMOKE… NOT THE FIRE
Evangelist
Larry Gatlin, Oregon
Well here it is
September, and the summer is passing rather quickly. I know that there are
several wild fires that are burning throughout our nation. I am more
familiar with the ones that are burning here in Southern Oregon. Living
in Medford Oregon is one of the best areas I have had the
pleasure to live in. However right now, because of the wild fires we are
experiencing a tremendous amount of smoke that has invaded the Rogue
Valley.
As I was watching the smoke from a rather
high vantage point over looking the valley I had this thought: It isn't a new
thought, actually I have shared this thought with a couple of the congregations
that I have pastored over the past twenty-six years. Here it is: "Too many Christians today are…
"WALKING
IN THE SMOKE AND NOT THE FIRE."
My
first thoughts went directly to the second chapter of Acts. We recall that on
the "Day of Pentecost" there were several things that
happened, but one of the most noticeable signs that took place on that day was "Tongues of
Fire" that appeared to all of them that were
present.
Acts
2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them. (KJV)
What
a mighty sign - that the "Promise of the Father" had arrived.
Here in Acts this sign came as a promise of power, for the Believers who
would receive the Fullness of Gods Spirit into their lives.
John
the Baptist had told of a Baptism that was coming from Jesus, The Anointed One;
it would be the Holy Ghost and FIRE.
Matt
3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after
me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize
you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (KJV)
Wow!
What a promise: we would be empowered to do the works of Jesus. And then Jesus says in John 14:12,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto
my Father. (KJV)
Hebrews
12:29 declares, For our God is a consuming fire. (KJV)
In
fact the whole Word of God is filled with many instances where fire is used to
describe power, cleansing, the presence of God, His Glory, His Anointing and
much more.
So
in closing let me share this thought with you. In the natural fire can be a
friend or an enemy; this is true in the realm of the Spirit also.
When
we walk in the Fire of the Holy Ghost we are become closer to the power and
work of the Kingdom, (KINGS DOMAIN) of God. We begin to flow with all
that Father desires to accomplish and all that He wants for our lives as
Believers. There are many things that Jesus taught that we should and
would do.
Mark
16 is a great proclamation of the Power that Jesus intended for us to walk
in. These were some of His last words to the Disciples and to us. Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it
shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
(KJV)
However,
as much as the Father desires for us to accomplish these things – we will never
get the job done if we "WALK IN THE SMOKE AND NOT THE FIRE."
Walking
in the smoke instead of the fire is kind of like Pizza with out the sauce, a
salad with out dressing, or a hamburger with out the fixings. It's just the
same old, same old.
When
we choose to walk in the Fire of the Holy Ghost we'll begin to see the power of
God manifested in our lives.
