Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Apr 23rd, 2011 The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl – How To Start A Fire

Today’s Reading: 1Kings 18-19, Luke 1-2, and Proverbs 23.

Today’s Passage: 1Kings 18:37: “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.”

Good morning. Today we’re going to learn how to get fire with two sticks and some dried grass, or leaves. Take a long, straight stick and carve a point at one end. Take the other piece of wood and carve a small round gully for the pointy stick to fit in. On one of the sides of the gully, carve a small triangle or knoch out. Now place the point into the gully and using a downward motion, with the straight sick in your palms, rub your hands together rolling the stick to create friction. Soon you will see smoke appear. Keep going until you can see a spark glowing. Add some of the dried grass and blow on the ember and the grass should ignite. Add more leaves, dried grass, and wood to keep the fire going. Anybody can use this method, it just takes a little work.

Here is another way to start a fire. If you are saved and backslide then you know how miserable your life can be. Yet there is that small spark within you that keeps trying to call you back. It takes work, but you can do it if you want to. You have friction going between your spirit and your flesh. God sent Elijah to meet with Ahab, and there was friction. “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. (1Kings 18:17-18).

Now you need some kindling. Wood, hay, and stubble are good to burn. In Elijah’s case: the prophets of Baal. All they did was cause all but 7000 Israelites to bow their knee to Baal. Isn’t that what sin does to you: causes you to turn away from God? Good sent the spark (or fire from heaven) that was an answer to Elijah’s prayer.

1Ki 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” (1Kings 18:37-39).

Empowered by God, Elijah was able to rid Israel of the 400 prophets of Baal. Now God could bless. Just like you looked for that small spark, Elijah was looking for a blessing from God. “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1Kings 18:41-46).

Remember when you backslide, it only takes a little effort on your part to allow the Lord to start the fire in you again.

Peace (Colossians 3:15)