How Hot Is Your Prayer Fire?

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Memory Verse: "The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." (Lev.6:13, KJV)

Scripture Reading: 1 Kgs.18:1-46

Keep the altar of your private prayer fresh and burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here, therefore let this burn well.

Secret (personal) devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer, of vital, true and practical Christianity.

Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer availeth much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the Church, ministers of the gospel, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbours, your country, and the causes of God on earth and truth (the spread of the undiluted gospel) throughout the world.

Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping and ask for the Spirit of grace and supplications- Zech.12:10. Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world.

The text also applies to the altar of our hearts. This is the golden altar indeed. God forever lives to see the hearts of his people glowing towards Himself. Let us give to God our hearts, all blazing with love, and seek His grace, that the fire may never be quenched; for it will not burn if the Lord does not keep it burning. 

Many foes will attempt to extinguish it; but if the unseen hand behind the wall pour thereon the sacred oil, it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use today's text and any other verse the Spirit's voice may be whispering into our hearts as fuel for our prayer fire. They are live coals; let us listen to messages, win souls, but above all, let us be much alone with God [on the prayer altar].

Ponder Point: Prayer turns ordinary mortals into men of power.

Action Point: Be a person given to prayer.

Prayer Point: O Lord, baptize me afresh with the Spirit of grace and Supplication according to Zech.12:10 in Jesus name.