The Purifying Fire

Lev 6:8-13 says, ( 8 The LORD said to Moses: 9 "Give Aaron and his sons this command: 'These are the regulations for the burnt offering: The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar. 10 The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body, and shall remove the ashes of the burnt offering that the fire has consumed on the altar and place them beside the altar. 11 Then he is to take off these clothes and put on others, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is ceremonially clean. 12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out).

These scriptures talk about the priest who is to keep the fire burning by putting fire wood into the fire daily. This fire keeps us burning and shining. However, this fire is not for shining alone like what John 5:35 says that, (35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were happy to enjoy his light for a while).

The Fire is also for purification. Any thing you put on the fire burns. The burnt offering and the fat of the fellowship offerings were burnt on the fire. The fire also represents or could be sufferings, challenges, trials, issues of life and so on. Sufferings are major parts of the burning. The bible says christ learnt obedience from what he suffered. If christ experienced and learnt obedience through suffering, you too should learn something from whatever you are going through today. Sufferings are very important and without it, you can't shine.
 Roms 5:3-4 says, (3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope).  
                            
The above scriptute says we should rejoice or glory in our sufferings knowing full well that our sufferings produce patience or perseverance in us. The disciples rejoiced when they were beaten. They didnt say they would not preach again. They didn't give up, instead they rejoiced counting it a privilege that they suffered for christ. This is very instructive. Also, we should learn from it because Roms 8:18 says, (18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us).                                                        
Sufferings will produce something that far outweighs them. So, sufferings are a part of the christian journey. Take a cue from Jesus because he too suffered. So, if you are going through any challenge, don't wish the suffering away but rejoice in it, knowing that it will work something greater in you.
The three (3) Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel didn't beg for them not to be put in the fire, instead they said if God does not deliver them, they would still not worship the idols not minding the punishment of being thrown into the furnance. So, why are we all praying that our sufferings, challenges, issues of life, and so on, should be taken away from us?
Mark 9: 49 & 50 says, (49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another).                                    
What salt does to food is what this fire does to you. Salt preserves, gives taste, purify, etc. Also, your sacrifice (that is you) can loose its saltiness if it is not salted with fire. You are that sacrifice.
The bible says. In Rom 12 :1 the bible says we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Cain presented a corrupted, polluted and spoilt sacrifice but God rejected him and his sacrifice because he and the sacrifice were corrupt. If you are corrupt and presented to God, he will not accept you. The only way God can accept you being the sacrifice is by purifying and pruning you with his fire.

Before God can use you, he has to break you. Christ Jesus took 5 (five) loaves of bread and 2 (two) fishes and he gave thanks, broke them and gave them to the people through the disciples. The fish and bread multiplied. This is symbolic because before God can use you, he will first of all purge, prune, purify, burn, break and change you. Christ breaks us so that we can bear much and better fruit that will last. Wilson Ileogben