Keep The Fire Burning
📖 Leviticus 6:8-13 (KJV) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.
✅ INTRODUCTION
In the Old Testament, God commanded Israel to keep a fire burning on the altar day and night. That fire was not optional, It wasn’t seasonal, It wasn’t when convenient, It was continual.
Whats interesting about it, is I believe that there is no coincidence with the structures of the levitical priesthood as the temple and the things relating to it are all symbolic pictures of things pertaining to God in the New Testament, which are called a foreshadow, for an example:
📖 Hebrews 10:1 (KJV) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
So the parallel that I see here with the continuous fire on the alter is the Holy Ghost, because today, we don’t have a physical altar of brass because we are the altar, our bodies are the temple of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
And the fire is the Holy Spirit
📖 Matthew 3:11 (KJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
📖 Acts 2:3 (KJV) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
So the picture here is that God wants us to keep that fire burning.
But the world is COLD. Temptations are real. Distractions are everywhere. Trials can weaken us. God is reminding us: “Keep the fire burning.”
1️⃣ The Fire Was Started by God, But Maintained by People
In Leviticus 8, Aaron and his sons are ordained.
In Leviticus 9, they offer the first sacrifices.
📖 Leviticus 9:23-24 (KJV) And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
This is the start to the fire in the temple, and notice it was God who initially started it.
Well this is likened to when we get saved God is the one who gives us the Holy Spirit that's the initial start to us being saved
📖 Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
So the moment we believe we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This is God sending the initial fire.
Now this is an important understanding that we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit once we are saved because yesterday when I was out soulwinning I had a guy tell me that the Gospel isn't a necessity to the majority of the people in Wairoa because people are more worried about how to survive day to day, and they aren't really worried about eternity. So this guy told me it's unhelpful? But I simply replied and said "I grow up here like everyone else and we lived day to day and I'll tell you what that the best thing that happened to me was salvation, because it's not only eternity that we get but God also gives us the Holy Spirit and it's this Holy Spirit that can help our lives and change our mindsets for the better. This is how we can overcome a lot of our everyday issues. So the Gospel is so important to our people, because it ignites a fire of wisdom and truth in us.
Now remember once God starts the fire in you, God demands us to keep that fire going.
📖 Leviticus 6:12 (KJV) And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.
Once God gives us the Holy Spirit it is up to us to keep that fire stoked now obviously we can never lose the Holy Spirit as we are sealed until Christ return but we still have to keep the fire burning, what do I mean?
2️⃣ Fire Needs Fuel
God demands we need to keep the fire going, this is likened to us being filled with the Holy Spirit, or walking in the Spirit.
🔥Walking In The Holy Spirit
📖 Galatians 5:16-17 (KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
We are to walk in the Spirit, which means doing the things of God which is different to being filled, being filled is the Holy Spirit empowering us and walking in the Spirit is obeying the things of God, So how do we walk in the Spirit?
📖 Romans 8:4-6 (KJV) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Basically to walk in the Spirit is by doing the things of God…
📖 1 Thessalonians 5:15-23 (KJV) See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do not render evil for evil
📖Romans 12:19-21 (KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rejoice evermore (be happy you are saved and have eternal life)
📖Luke 10:20 (KJV) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Pray without ceasing (Ask God for help)
📖Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Give thanks unto God for giving you eternal life and every other blessing
📖 Colossians 1:12-14 (KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Despise not prophesying (Don’t be mad at Preaching as it may offend)
📖2 Timothy 4:2-4 (KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Abstain from all appearance of evil
📖Romans 6:12-14 (KJV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
One more I’ll add to this is immersing ourselves in the word of God
📖 Colossians 3:16-17 (KJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
🔥 Being Filled With The Holy Spirit
What we will see is all these things that pertain to walking in the Spirit will begin to crossover to being filled with the Holy Spirit which is the empowering of the Holy Spirit,
So reminder being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event.
Although every believer has the Holy Spirit living inside them from the moment of salvation, the Bible commands us to continually be filled. This means allowing the Spirit’s influence and power to be increased, strengthened, and fully active in our lives. Paul explains exactly how this happens in Ephesians 5:18-19 which is a cross reference to Colossians 3:16-17.
📖 Ephesians 5:18-19 (KJV) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
So if we are walking in Spirit which is obeying the things of God then it should lead to being filled in Spirit, because a lot of the things that pertain to walking in the Spirit are similar things to being filled.
This shows that being filled with the Spirit is:
Continuous (“be filled” = ongoing action)
Active (requires participation)
Spiritual (rooted in worship and the Word)
When we fill our minds and hearts with God’s Word, worship, praise, and spiritual songs, we create an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit’s power flows freely inside us.
We have the Spirit but being filled means yielding to Him so His power is enhanced and fully expressed through us.
So the first point I want to mention about how to be filled with Holy Spirit is to sing
📖 Ephesians 5:18-19 (KJV) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Singing
Singing to God is important and can lead to us being filled with The Holy Spirit, this is why we sing in church and this is why singing is a ministry in church.
Even in the old testament God told certain of Levites to be musicians
📖 2 Chronicles 29:25-26 (KJV) And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets. 26 And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
So we see the importance of singing how God commands it, also how it can fill us in the Holy Spirit.
The next point I want to mention immersing ourselves in the Word of God, now I believe this can lead to being filled with The Holy Spirit because Gods word is fire,
Word of God
📖 Jeremiah 5:14 (KJV) Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
📖 Jeremiah 23:29 (KJV) Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
We see that Gods words are like fire and when we are filled in Holy Spirit God will use us to preach unto the nations the words of God, as we see in the book of acts chapter 2 when God filled the Apostles with the Holy Spirit they preached unto all and many got saved.
Prayer
Another thing that relates to being filled with the Holy Spirit is Prayer (Asking for it)
📖Luke 11:13 (KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Now it’s obvious that God is speaking to people that is already saved, So when it speaks about asking for the Holy Spirit, this is referring to asking for the filling of the Holy Spirit. We should pray for it and God will give it, if you are about ministry and wanting to use the Holy Spirit to help you God can give you the filling of the Spirit.
Ministry
I don’t believe that God would fill you if you’re not about ministry, because if you notice every time someone was filled in the Spirit of God they would go out and do great things for God.
📖 Acts 4:31 (KJV) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
📖 Acts 1:8 (KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
If you don’t get a burden for Souls then I don’t believe God will fill you because thats the main goal in life is to win souls and we see in most cases.
📖 Acts 9:17-18 (KJV) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Over and over we see when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit they want to preach the gospel to the lost.
3️⃣ The Enemy Wants to Extinguish Your Fire
Satan can’t unsave you but he would love to cool you down, discourage you, distract you, tempt you, and wear you out.
📖 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
❄️ Distractions – too busy to pray
❄️ Discouragement – spiritual tiredness
❄️ Compromise – sin creeping in
❄️ Cold company – hanging around people with no fire
❄️ Neglect – doing nothing and expecting fire to stay alive
🔥 CONCLUSION — DON’T LET THE FIRE GO OUT
Leviticus 6:13 is not just a command — it is a call:
“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar;
it shall never go out.”
Let this be your prayer, Amen
