Has Your Holy Fire Gone Out?

Has Your Holy Fire Gone Out? by Becky Dvorack

Has your flame for God gone out?

Are you a Christian in name only?

Do you say one thing about your walk with God, but do another?

Will your example lead others to a living relationship with Jesus?

What will it take for you to get right with God again?

These are some tough questions, but we must examine our own hearts and repent from a lukewarm attitude towards our Savior.

Let's ask ourselves the first question, "Has my flame for God gone out?" If so, why has it gone out? Usually it is because of sin issues, and sin issues come in all shapes and sizes. But no matter the shape and size of the sin, without repentance it just produces more sin, and sin separates us from God.

"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).

Are you a Christian in name only? Unfortunately, many people are. I remember years ago, we were hosting a particular team from a church in the States. And I had asked the team members to share how they came to Christ. We were listening to these wonderful God-encounters that led to the salvation of these people until we came to one of the co-leaders of the team. And this person shared in front of everyone that her salvation was a private matter.

We all knew immediately what that meant.

This person who was asked to be an assistant team leader was not a true believer, but in name only.

It is better that you deal with this question now, and in the privacy of your own home, than in front of a group of people, for just as it happened to this woman, your sin of unbelief will find you out.

Another reason why your flame is dim is that you say one thing concerning your faith, but what you do does not line up with your words. In other words, you're living a lie. And according to the Word, truth sets you free (see John 8:33). And living a lie keeps you in bondage.

I was ministering at a church and was giving an altar call to receive Jesus, and many people started to raise their hands to make a decision to receive Jesus as Savior. I felt impressed to turn to the choir, which was quite large, and one by one, they started to raise their hands to give their lives to Christ.

I could tell by the silence in the congregation that the people were surprised that these choir members were not already saved.

I see this all too often: Choir members talk, or in this case, they sing the right words, but their hearts are far from right relationship with God. Obviously, you need to deal with this foundational truth first.

And let me be frank here with you: It is not enough to know about God. It's not enough to believe that there is a God, for even demons believe that there is a God, but they had rejected Him, turned their backs against God in rebellion with Lucifer, and then it was too late for them and they were eternally lost.

You don't want to be caught in the end of your life thinking you're right with God because you attend a local fellowship or are involved in service at a local church, and then hear Jesus say to you, "I don't know you; depart from Me."

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonderful works in Your name?' But then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice evil (Matthew 7:21-23).

Another question to ask yourself is, "Will my example lead people to receive Jesus as their Savior?"

Once, a young man came with us on a mission trip, and after he had been back at his home in the U.S., I noticed he had posted something ungodly on social media. I immediately sent this young man a private message and asked why he had done this.

His lame response said he did it so his lost friends would be able to identify with him and that when they needed prayer, they would turn to him for help.

I responded to this weak excuse and said that at this point, if his friends wanted someone to pray with them, he would be the last choice, or not even a choice to turn to in a time of need.

People recognize hypocrisy when they see it. And the Bible is clear: We are not to blend into the world, but we are to be separate from it.

"A good tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a corrupt tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruit you will know them" (Matthew 17:18-20).

And for the final question, "What will it take for you to get right with God again?"

The answer is repentance. This is more than feeling sorry because your sin has found you out, but that you ask God for forgiveness and make the decision to repent, make a 180-degree turn and never return to this sin again.

"Therefore repent and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).