Keeping The Fire

I preached a message yesterday to emphasize the importance of keeping the fire of God in your heart and life. Last week I spent some time with Dan Bohi and he shared this five finger concept of keeping the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Your little finger, which seems so unimportant at times, is the entry point into the Heavenly places where the fire of the Holy Spirit is burning at all times. Likewise, prayer is sometimes something we do out of habit, at a meal, or because we think we should - let's face it, prayer seems rather unimportant and mundane at times...just like our little finger. Yet, just try to live without the use of that little finger. Likewise, try to live without prayer. You can't - succesfully. Prayer must take on a significance in our lives. Just as you cannot ignore your little finger, you cannot ignore prayer. It is the language of the Heavenly Father - the conversation of Him to me and me to Him. Second, comes the ring finger - Obedience. I don't very often think of the ring finger being much of anything but a place to put a ring. Yet, as I gaze at my left ring finger I see a ring that represents a covenant of marriage with my wife, Kris. Within that covenant is a promise not only to Kris, but to God. I promised, long ago, to obey God's command to cherish and love my wife as Christ loves the church. I do everything possible to obey that command. As I look at that ring finger I am reminded of obedience and how important it is to obey the commands of my Heavenly Father in all things. Then comes the middle finger - Truth. It is longer than the rest and so quite recognizable. It has a longer reach than the other fingers. It reminds me how important it is to reach for truth. I must reach for and secure truth for it is what sets me free. Next comes the index finger - Faith. The index finger is probably the most powerful of all the fingers. Faith is the power base of our experience with God. It moves us to do what we do and live the way we do. Faith motivates us and keeps us. Faith gives us vision and hope - and without it we will not see God. Faith is powerful and is made complete as we pray, obey, and walk in the truth. Finally, the thumb - Anointing. The Word says we cannot please God without faith. Why? Because faith comes from hearing the Truth - the truth gives us a reason to obey - and obedience puts us on our knees in prayer. If we want the anointing we must pray, obey, walk in the truth, and excercise faith. When the anointing comes it enhances our desire to pray, obey, walk in the truth and have a faith great enough to say to the tree - "Be uprooted and thrown into the sea!"
Stretch out your hand - memorize these five truths - live in them - walk in the anointing - keep the fire of the Holy Spirit of God in your heart and life.