Continuous Fire

"The fire shall be burning continually upon the altar;

it shall not go out."

Leviticus 6:13 AMP

Cold crept through the cabin as the evening came to a close.  My husband and I, newly married, were spending our honeymoon at a cabin belonging to a friend of the family.  Snow covered the ground outside on that late November night and we knew the temperatures would feel pretty frigid by morning.  Since the wood stove was the only source of heat, we banked the fire to keep the coals alive until we got up the next day. Then, it would be a simple job to get the fire going again to warm up the house as we enjoyed breakfast together.

In the same way that we kept the coals burning throughout that cold wintery night, God required that the fire on the altar of the Tabernacle be kept going continuously as a symbol of His constant presence and the people's perpetual need for atonement.  Even though my sins have now been paid for once and for all by the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God, I still have a need for His constant presence.

There is no place that I can go that would be away from Him, for His Spirit dwells within me. (Psalm 139:1-18) What does His omnipresence mean for me as I go about my daily life?

Conviction of Sin

The pressure on her chest was so strong that my friend thought she was having a panic attack.  Every time this sensation occurred, she realized she was about to do something that would grieve the Holy Spirit.  Soon she put two and two together and surmised that the pressure she was feeling was the conviction of God's Spirit, warning her not to do what she was considering. When she heeded this cautionary sign, the sensation would dissipate.

While God does not convict me in such a physically obvious way, He has His way of letting me know when I've sinned or am about to enter into dangerous territory.  If I ignore this subtle warning, I find myself drifting away from God in my disobedience.  Learning to heed His cautionary alerts results in an increase of the intimacy I share with my heavenly Father as my faith grows.  

When I sense that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach, I had better pay attention to what I've gotten myself into.  It is easy for me to feign ignorance, pretending I don't realize the action I'm about to take is an affront to God.  If I humble myself, however, and submit to His authority, I'll find a peace flooding my being.  (Psalm 119:1-8)

As a sinful creature, I am comfortable with wrongdoing.  If left to my own devices, I may want to obey God, but my flesh desires that which offends Him. (Romans 7:18-20)  Therefore, I need His indwelling Spirit which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to point out that which is second nature to me, convicting me of the sin I must turn away from.  When I've already fallen, it is only His holy presence that lets me know my own role in this downfall.

God's ever-present burning within me serves as a strong yet subtle warning system.

Guidance

The surveyor got right to work marking the boundaries of our property.  I was surprised to find out that all he needed to do was find the markers already buried underground to guide his way.  Once he found a metal stake, he would post a flag in that position.  Therefore, the work of determining the borders had already been done by the developer and all that was left for the surveyor to do was locate the stakes that were left behind.

This is similar to my life.  I don't need to forge my own path, determining with my own understanding which is the right way to go.  Instead, God already has a way marked out for me.  All that is left for me to do is look for the tell tale signs of His presence.  (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Proverbs 3:5-6)

The key to knowing God's will for my life is submission.  I must want His way more than I desire to do what I want.  When I place myself into His capable hands, I am giving Him the authorization to guide my footsteps.  If I'd rather be in control, I'll never be able to locate His plan for my life since I am letting Him know in my attitude that I prefer my own way to His.  (Proverbs 3:34, Romans 12:2)

God's ever-present burning within me serves as a guide to the way of righteousness. (Psalm 23:3)

Transformation

He was a new creation.  The transformation from angry, self-destructive addict to peaceful, productive man of God was almost instantaneous.  His family couldn't believe their eyes.  His co-workers hardly recognized his new serene countenance.  His friends dropped away as they grew uncomfortable with his changed persona.  Confessing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior altered his life dramatically.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

While every new believer does not experience such a radical, immediate change, we all go through a transformation process as we walk with the Lord by faith. (Philippians 1:6) He alters my priorities, taking that which used to be so important to me and rendering it meaningless.  (Philippians 3:7)  

He also gives me a new perspective so that I see things I never used to notice, like the grumpy man who is really just lonely or the mean and bitter woman whose heart mourns the loss of her husband. (Ezekiel 36:26)

As I submit myself to the work of God's Spirit within me, I will find that I will want to do things that please God.  While I used to only be concerned with what would bring pleasure to me, as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, my very desires change to that which pleases Him.  (Psalm 37:4)  None of these modifications are as the result of my own effort, but simply the work of God's Spirit within me.  (Philippians 2:13)

God's ever-present burning within me serves as a catalyst for change that I cannot explain.

In the same way that the constant burning of the fire at the altar in the Tabernacle of old symbolized God's omnipresence, as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I can also rely on the continual presence of God's Spirit within me.  Therefore, I can expect Him to convict me of past and present sin, guide me on the way He has prepared for me to travel, and transform me supernaturally as I submit to His authority in my life.  In these ways, His continuous fire is a powerful sign that I belong to Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can leave my own desires behind and completely submit to God's work in my life.

When do I try to find my own way instead of seeking God's?

How am I trying to bring about change through sheer effort instead of letting God change me from the inside out?  

Counselor

"'Now I am going to him who sent me,

yet none of you asks me,

Where are you going?

Because I have said these things,

you are filled with grief.

But I tell you the truth:

It is for your good that I am going away.

Unless I go away,

the Counselor will not come to you;

but if I go, I will send him to you.

When he comes,

he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin

and righteousness and judgement:

in regard to sin,

because men do not believe in me;

in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father,

where you can see me no longer;

and in regard to judgment,

because the prince of this world now stands condemned.'"

John 16:5-11

We stood in the driving, cold rain with only an overhead shelter protecting us from the elements.  The weather mirrored our feelings as a faithful few gathered to say good-bye to a husband, father, son, brother, co-worker and friend.  Tears mingled with the rain as we walked back to our vehicles, the somber graveside service behind us.  Now began the difficult task of working through our grief and moving on without him.  Things would never be the same.

The disciples must have underwent similar feelings of loss as Jesus forewarned them of His impending departure.  I'm sure they wondered how they would live their lives without His physical presence.  Who would teach them?  Who would guide them?  How would they survive?  Would their faith falter?

Anticipating their worries, Jesus promised a Helper who would always be there to help them.  In order for this ever-present Spirit to be sent to those who follow Him, though, Jesus would have to return to His Father.  Out of the grief and suffering came the salvation of man, but also the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Counselor.

Conviction of Sin

I am a sinner saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  The reality of my identity must always be at the forefront of my mind, lest I grow self-righteous.  When I see areas of sin in others, it stands out like a beacon to me, tempting me to enlighten then of their wrongdoing and point them to the path of righteousness.

Jesus, however, taught another way to live in peace with one another.  Through His redemptive work on the cross, I am made right with a holy God.  Now, through the blood of Jesus, I am like a priest who can access God directly, without going through a middle-man or an intercessor.  I have my own personal relationship with my Creator.  

Because of this new-covenant relationship, formed through Christ's obedience to His Father's will even unto death, God can speak directly into my life.  As I walk in the light, keeping step with His Spirit, He leads me down paths of righteousness for His namesake. (Galatians 5:18, Psalm 23:3)  He never leads me into sin, but instead cultivates His fruit in me.(v 22-23) In His time, He reveals areas of sin which I need to surrender to Him for His glory. (v 24)

Many times I get this mixed up. Either I expect someone around me to notify me when I'm off-track, or I think it's my job to do the same for others.  In reality, this is the role of God's Spirit.  I like how Oswald Chambers explained it: "One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people's lives. . . When you do have to give advice to another, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit; your part is to be so rightly related to God that His discernment comes through you all the time for the blessing of another soul."

My sole job is to keep in-tune with God, walking in step with Him so that I'll recognize and respond to His correction in my thoughts, words, and actions.  Additionally, when I'm rightly related to Him, I will only speak into another's life under His direct guidance.  When I am grieved by someone's indiscretion, I can be sure that God is taking care of it in the same way He does for me.

Jesus returned to His Father so the Counselor could come and remind me constantly that I am a sinner saved by grace.

Reveals Righteousness

I can spend a lifetime trying to impress God.  My heart desires to do His will, living my life in a way that pleases Him.  As time goes on, though, I see how futile are my efforts. Try as I might, I just can't do right. (Romans 7:19)

Thankfully, Jesus came to free me from slavery to my sinful nature.  The One who is truly righteous and holy took the punishment for my transgressions, freeing me from the bondage of sin and death.  As I entered into a relationship with Christ, accepting the salvation offered through faith, His righteousness became mine.  In the eyes of God, my sin is covered by the cleansing blood of Jesus, making me appear to Him as holy and pure.

Apart from Jesus, however, I am not sinless.  Instead, I am plagued with this flesh of selfish desires.  I am not capable of living right.  How then can I ever hope to please God, pursuing perfection and maturity in this life? (1 Peter 1:16)

Jesus did not leave me helpless in the futility of my sinful flesh.  Instead, He left me with a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who brings a righteousness into my heart.  As I walk in step with Him, paying attention to His leading, He will produce fruit in my life; fruit that reveals the nature of God Himself.  Then I will notice the ability to love the unlovable. A joy will fill my being in the midst of strife when I let His Spirit lead.  Peace will rule my soul as His Spirit has His way in my life.  

When I let God's Spirit direct my paths, I'll discover a new-found patience and tolerance for others. As the Spirit takes the lead, kindness, goodness and gentleness will flow out of my naturally cruel, wicked and rough exterior.  Where once fear, doubt and self-indulgence ruled, God's Spirit makes way for authentic, faithful, and self-controlled living.

I cannot fake righteousness.  Instead, it is only revealed in my life through the exposure of the characteristics of the indwelling Spirit.  As He works to chisel away more of my flesh, then more of His righteousness is made known.

Jesus returned to the Father so the Counselor could come and empower me to live in a way that pleases Him.

Demonstrates Judgement

Murder.  Kidnapping.  Sex Trafficking.  Child Pornography.  Drug Addiction.  Alcoholism.  These are a few examples of the evils of the world in which we live.  The fallout from the work of the Evil One is all around me.  Lives are shattered, hearts are broken, families are fragmented, children are suffering.  If I didn't know any better, I'd think that Satan had won.

Through the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life, however, the guilt and punishment awaiting the Prince of this world has been made plain.  I can rest assured that he will get what's coming to him and that no sin will go unpunished.  For those who follow Jesus, He took that punishment.  But for those who refused His saving grace, the eternal death sentence has been handed down.

As the great deceiver and author of evil, Satan has nothing but bondage, suffering and torment to look forward to for all of eternity. (Revelation 20:10)  God is a just God.

How does this affect me as I live my life in the here and now?  I can trust that God will not let injustice pass unnoticed.  When it seems evil is winning, I can remind myself that God's judgement over Satan is coming.  During the times when I feel overwhelmed with the hurting and suffering caused by the darkness of this world, I can trust God to bring justice in the end.

Jesus returned to the Father so the Counselor could come to demonstrate His judgement over Satan.

I hear a lot being said about Jesus and His role in my salvation, but I cannot overlook the importance of the Holy Spirit who convicts me of my sin, produces His righteous fruit in my life, and displays the judgement that Satan has awaiting him.   In the words of the 19th century missionary to China, "We have given too much attention to methods and to machinery and to resources, and too little to the Source of Power, the filling with the Holy Ghost."  The Counselor is my constant companion and supply of power:  Without Him, I am impotent.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust completely in God's Spirit to equip and empower me to live for Him.

How do I try to take on His role of convicting by pointing out sin in others, thus getting in the way of God's Sovereign work?

When do I feel despair at the work Satan is doing around me?