Light the Fire Again!

Yes, it is still winter in South Africa. Patty and I were able to get away for a few days and stay on a farm where the heater was a small wood burning fire place. My job was to keep the damp chill out from the rain by keeping the fire stocked and fueled. But as I got busy reading or watching the cows walk by I became lax and forgot about feeding the fire until the chill overtook the room. I looked back saw the fire was almost out and sprang to action quickly tossing in fresh fuel and hoping embers were hot enough to ignite a new flame.

To be honest, I loved every minute of it, and when the flame returned I felt a deep satisfaction and continually asked Patty what she thought of my fire. It also stoked a memory of a song we sang years ago called, Light the Fire Again, by Brian Doerksen. This powerful song comes directly from the mouth of Jesus spoken to the “lukewarm” church of Laodicea whose fire is about to be quenched (Rev. 3:14-22).

I found myself humming and singing the song again as I thought about how quickly the fire goes out if not attended to. How in so many ways the roaring fire of the Spirit is absent in our lives. How we have traded the comforts of culture for the all consuming fire of a Holy God. And yet in God’s amazing grace He is allowing this historic season we are in to cause us to feel the cold chill and the emptiness of our secular culture. The Spirit is seeking to awaken us to the reality that the fire is dwindling and the only One who can reignite the flame is the Sovereign Hand of our Savior.

I believe with all my heart that before Jesus returns there will be a revival fire that will consume the nations with His glory unlike anything before in history. He will light a fire in the hearts of those who are constantly seeking, calling out for Him with desperate prayers, and waiting with great anticipation for revival fires to fall on His Bride. This past weekend Father God reminded me not to give up but to continue to call out for Him to “light the fire again.”

Don’t let our love grow cold
I’m calling out light the fire again
Don’t let our vision die
I’m calling out light the fire again

You know my heart my deeds
I’m calling out light the fire again
I need Your discipline
I’m calling out light the fire again

I am here to buy gold refined in the fire
Naked and poor
Wretched and blind I come
Clothe me in white
So I won’t be ashamed
Lord light the fire again