Summary: Let us begin the new year by being a keeper of the fire of God in our soul as the text teaches us never let the fore of God in your heart go out.

KEEPERS OF THE FIRE

Leveticus 6:9"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.

13The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.

When the game is getting bad Someone the coach may say needs to Step -UP

1. Inorder to be a keeper of the fire one must Step Up

2 Samuel 1519The king (David)said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back

and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. 21But Ittai replied to the

king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be,

whether it means life or death, there will your servant be."

2. Obadiah was a keeper of the fire and he stepped UP

He knew the importance of the mouth-piece of the Lord

I Kings 18:4Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout

believer in the LORD. 4While Jezebel was killing off the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred

prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)

3. Phillip stepped -up and became a Keeper of the fire

after the persecution of Saul who had just killed Stephen.

3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and

put them in prison.

4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5Philip went down to a city in

Samaria and proclaimed the ChristA there.

4. Antipus was a Keeper of the Fire who stepped Up

He was a faithful wittness who is known as the first martyr of Asia. According

to tradition he was roaasted to death in a bronze kettle during the reign of Domitian.

Rev2:13Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives.

1. What does it take to step-up and be a keeper of the fire?

A. Someone willing to to be voice crying in the wilderness

B. Someone who is willing to pray despite the edicts or laws against it like Daniel

D. Keepers of the fire Edure and do not abandon

Keepers of the fire Step Up because of Divine Compulsion despite Relutance

9But if I say, "I will not mention him

or speak any more in his name,"

his word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones.

I am weary of holding it in;

indeed, I cannot.

Keepers of the fire are agents of God's Purposes with great intent

4He makes winds his messengers,A

flames of fire his servants.

Keepers of the fire step-up and will never let the fire burn out

1 Thes. 5 :1916Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything.

Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.