WHAT FLAME ARE YOU IGNITING ?(7)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY*

*WHAT FLAME ARE YOU IGNITING?(7)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Heb 1:6-7, Psalm 104:4.

*And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.*

*And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.*

*Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:*

*Insight and Highlight.*

Christ wants to ignite His Ministers as flames of fire, among many other things:

To set them on fire *"......over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to throw down, to build and to plant.* Jer 1:10.

To *Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:....."* Matt 28: 19.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

There is something about flames and fire.

They are swift and fast to spread.

As fire spreads and devours, so does God want His ministers to propagate the gospel and destroy the works of darkness.

When fire begins its devastation, it can be unstoppable. When His minister are a flame of fire, no enemy can stop them.

When the fire of the gospel was upon the early apostles, they were unstoppable Acts 28:31.

We must ignite a flame that will ignite the fire of revival.

While God makes His angels spirits, He makes His ministers a flame of fire.

They burn to set aglow and be on fire for God. They are like wind.

Angels are created by Jesus (Col 1:16 1:16; John 1:3) and are spirits without bodies (Heb 1:14), but they can take on human form.

Angels are recorded to appear like ordinary men and are often mentioned to appear in the image and character of God, Gen 19, Gen 21, Judg 13, Dan 8:16; 9:21.

Angels are on call and ready to serve Christ and His ministers.

They were on call to serve Jesus. After His temptation, it is recorded *....that angels came to minister to him”* Matt 4:11.

At Gethsemane, He was strengthened by angels, Lk 22:43.

Angels were on call to shut the mouths of lions in order to save Daniel, Dan 3:28.

Joshua 5:13-15 tells us of a man-like appearance of an angel and was taken to be the appearance of God Himself. This appearance of God was to tell Joshua that God was taking over command of the impending war at Jericho and an assurance of Israel's victory.

We, as His ministers are made a flame of fire because He sends out angels to protect, deliver, help, and serve His human followers, Acts 5:19; Ps 34:7; 91:11–12.

An angel was on call to kill Herod, and this ended his oppression over the early church, Acts 12:22-23.

The context of angels being greater than Christians is recorded in Heb 2:7-9.

Jesus teaches that those who are greatest are those who serve others, Matt 20:24-28). This would mean that angels, because they are on call to serve us, are greater than Christians.

It is however recorded in Luke 20:36 that we are made equal to angels and in 1 Cor 6:3 it is recorded that someday those who believe in Jesus Christ and follow Him will, in the coming Kingdom of Christ, judge the angels. Christians will have a higher rank than angels in the millennial kingdom.

Of all angels and Christians, Christ, the

Son of God is supreme, majestic, and eternal, John 1:14; 14:9, Col 2:9, Heb 1:3.

The very essence of Christ making us flaming ministers of fire is that while Christ engages the capability of angels to protect us, Christians must create or engage in the atmosphere that makes this possible.

Ministers of God are flames that create the avenue for the fire of God to burn through them.

Flames are the visible manifestation of a burning reaction. When we actively pursue God's work and mission on earth, we are igniting the flames that provide a burning fire for God.

We will be on fire for God.

We can spark up a fire of revival, and though fire comes before flame, it is an acceptable truth that you can not have a flame without fire.

Furthermore, Christ has made us able flame of fire because He does not want us to faint during the times of adversity, ref Prov 24:10.

Rather than for adversity to make us faint or fail, it should bring out the best in us.

As flaming ministers, our flames must burn brightest in the darkest of times.

You have a bright flame if you are a minister who is committed and passionate for God.

We are tested by fire. Here, 'fire' suggests a difficult situation or a furnace of affliction. The way we go through this fire reveals our inner strength or resilience. What happens during this time is a way by which God tests and prunes us.

Isaiah says we are refined, not with silver, but God has chosen us in *".....the furnace of affliction.* Isaiah 48:10.

So, if you are not a minister of intensified flame, you can not produce severe fire enough to frighten the devil.

While flames usually come after fires and are not like smokes that usually come before a fire, Jesus tells His ministers that ministerial flames come before ministerial fire. Your flame is your passion. Your fire is the manifestation of your passion expressed in total submission and dedication to God.

Are you a minister of flame and fire?

*Remorse corner.*

The intensity of your flame will determine the severeness of the fire you carry.

*Call to Word action.*

You can not afford to be cold!

Rev 3:16 *So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

You become a flame of fire when you begin to do exploits.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to avoid flame killers. Let me be on fire for you, in Jesus name

Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.

God bless you.