What Happens If The Fire Goes Out?

During the warmer months, spring, summer and fall, my husband and I anticipate our weekend campfires in the backyard. After we cook out on them we get down to the serious campfires. My husband knows just how to start the perfect fire. He collects the dry kindling and positions it before he starts adding the bigger logs of fire wood. He sometimes adds fuel to help it catch fire so that it will keep burning. And once the flames leap up and take on a life all its own, he will put his arms up like a boxer that won the match and proudly say, "Now, that's a fire!" There is something rewarding about these fires that go back to the ancient of days. Fire is the life giving element that provides heat, light and wards off evil. I've often thought if I were to take one thing with me in case of an emergency it would be matches in which to start a fire. Everyone can appreciate the benefits that a fire produces when camping outside. It gives us comfort and warmth when the world around us is dark and cold.

God's Word refers to His Spirit as a fire. When Moses led the Israelites through their exodus in the wilderness, it describes God's presence as a fire by night. Without it they would've gotten off track and stumbled around in the darkness. God 's presence is still guiding us through our darkest times by the fire of the Holy Spirit. If we feed it, it will not let us go astray. What happens to those who let the fire go out or never even set it ablaze? They will be left getting off the path, stumbling deeper and deeper into the darkness. Can you see where you are going today?

The thing about God's fire is, it can either save...or destroy by judgment of non-repentance. God must pass judgment on those who refuse to repent, this is the fire by which they will get burnt. The passage in Matthew, John the Baptist speaks of the three ways the Lord baptizes; by water for cleansing those who repent, by the Holy Spirit for those who believe and he mentions by fire. This is God's judgment on unrepentant man. This one will burn!

"As for me I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Matthew 3:11

The Bible speaks about grieving the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, God 's Spirit dwelled among men from the outside as in the pillar of fire previously mentioned. In the New Testament, all believers in Christ are given the Holy Spirit that lives inside of them. In either case, God doesn't change. It's not a good idea to grieve the Holy Spirit. Here's why.

"But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them." Isaiah 63:10

Much like many today, the Israelites continually turned their backs on God and rebelled against His patience and loving kindness. The Holy Spirit is a person, He has actual feelings. When He gets the door shut in His face time after time, He reacts with great sorrow. Surely you can identify with this. Rejection is hurtful. God was hurt by those He loved so much. But even though His people continue to hurt and grieve Him, He is still faithful to cover us with His passionate love. He sacrificed His only Son by which all those who accept Him will be given His Holy Spirit to live inside of them. Jesus made this promise in Acts.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

As Christ commanded the apostles to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth, He knew they would need help. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do just that even in today's time. This particular event changed the course of history in which all believers are a part of today. This commandment is meant especially for us.

God's Word is also referred to as fire. When it's kept alive, it grows in strength and is nearly impossible to put out. But what happens if we do let it die? Just like the campfire, when it goes out, we will soon grow cold, and all those around us will also feel an emptiness. Perhaps we are the ones responsible for keeping everyone warm and safe! We are expected to pass on the fire of the Holy Spirit. All I know is, when our campfire goes out, it's time to go inside.

How does it die? It's not being fed, and when it's not fed, it is grieved because it can not continue to do what it does best. There are things we do perhaps without really giving it much thought that will definitely cause this fire to go out. That is why we must stoke the Holy Spirit fire with the Word of God continually. The Word is the main element that will create the combustion that keeps it burning.

One of the quickest ways to extinguish the Holy Spirit fire is by speaking things we ought not to be speaking. Gossip for example is a natural past time for people who live in carnality. The Bible says that the tongue, as small as it is, is uncontrollable. It can do a lot of damage in causing strife. In James, it also describes the tongue as a fire. Only this fire is deadly. It causes death and destruction wherever it goes.

"So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very word of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." James 3:5-6

James' analogy in this passage tells us just how great in power the tongues has to control one's whole person and influence everything in his life. When someone speaks destruction with sinful words it will spread like a wild fire. It can and will ruin everything around it. This goes beyond our own life. Our evil words will influence those around as well. Hell is a place of continual burning and our evil words can not be put out.

This is why Paul the apostle speaks God's truth in guiding us. As humans who are apt to naturaly think and say and do the wrong things, we need to know what God expects from us in order not to grieve His Holy Spirit. It is all possible to achieve if we let God work in us through the power of His Spirit. It's not by our might or by our power that we can hope to be right with our Almighty Father.

"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that is will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:29-30

It's pretty straight foward what this says. Unwholesome talk is anything foul or rotten. It's totally out of character for a Christian who is walking with the Lord. This is where we get the phrase, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." We should encourage others, not tear them down. Even in correcting, it should be done with kindness and understanding. After all, God set this same standard with us. And by refusing to do things God's way we will ultimately grieve His Holy Spirit. When that happens, He will turn from us just as He did the Israelites. We will be left with nothing but smoldering smoke and soon we will grow cold, lonely and lost.

To get your Holy Spirit burning, tell God you are a sinner in need of a Savior. Let His Holy Spirit set you on fire for the hope you have in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation.

A Holy Spirit filled Christian is like coals in a campfire. Together they stay ablaze, but apart they will grow cold.

Vivian Gordon writes articles pertaining to God's instructions and the examples He has given us in order to grow on this Christian walk with Him. She hopes that they can inspire the Christian to grow spiritually and maturely in their lives.

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