Fire In My Bones!

He who has no fire in himself cannot warm others!

The Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy 4:5, “Do the work of an evangelist.” The great need today is evangelism!

We are each called to be witnesses, but are we, likewise, called to evangelize?

According to Acts 1:8, the infilling of the Holy Ghost likewise calls you to be a witness of the life-changing power you have received: “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.”

Furthermore, I Peter 3:15 admonishes us to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

Reaching the lost with Bible salvation is the greatest calling of all. Indeed, feeding the hungry, clothing the poverty-stricken, adopting the orphan, and educating the those overseas are great actions of which we should all take part.

However, such actions are not the highest call; indeed, they cannot feed the soul until we speak the name Jesus!

I once read this fascinating comment: “the growth of any movement is in direct proportion to its ability to mobilize its entire membership for continuous evangelistic action.”

We do not simply wish to convert people into a movement or an organization, however; we are ambassadors of a higher kingdom!

The need is great! Daily, thousands of souls pass from this life and we each have a field of souls we must reach!

Not only is there a need for evangelism, but there must be an urgency behind it! Zeal united with Truth is a formidable force!

In fact, the message of salvation is altogether incompatible with a lukewarm approach. The Truth is white hot with urgency!

We are only provided a narrow window in which to reach each soul. Not only are their days numbered but when you consider the actual tally of minutes we are able to spend with those who cross our path each day, our time to work is limited indeed! And so, the urgency is one of time-constraint and necessity!

Being sound in doctrine won’t justify being sound asleep and correct understanding will not compensate for coldness of heart!

Like Jeremiah, our cry should be “his word [is] in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I [am] weary with forbearing, and I [can] not stay.” Essentially, our soul should bear a burden for the lost who pass us in the grocery store, work with us on the job, and even those who cut us off in traffic!

If we could envision their end if they remain unreached and unsaved, would we not grow in fervency—both in our intercessory prayer and our boldness to witness?

The Word of God must be a fire shut up in our bones! We must recognize the balance of correct doctrine and compassion for the lost. A true compassion will ignite the fires of devotion to God … and to man!

Only the “fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man” will answer the need today! As only the thirsty and hungry can be filled, so too can only those filled with God’s love and anointing offer what they need!

Above all, only a motivated Church will affect its city!

Believe me, not many people will follow an ice wagon, but just let a fire truck go by and see what happens!

As Isaiah said, “Glorify ye the Lord in the fires!” (Is. 24:15).