from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church https://ift.tt/2GOwgnF
via IFTTT Burning hearts. A deep unquenchable passion for more, that consumes life. This is the product of the Holy Spirit within us bringing life and refining fire to the depths of our soul. On a cold day, little is more satisfying than feeling the radiant heat of a red glowing fire. You can feel it on your skin, you can feel it in your flesh. The warmth of a good fire penetrates from the outside with a comforting glow of heat. In a cold world, covered in the icy snow of selfishness and pride, little is more satisfying than feeling the raging fire of the Holy Spirit of the living God within our soul. A warmth that radiates from within our innermost being and penetrates from the inside out. A fire that drives passion, strength as well as peace and comfort. The difference is this. Heat that the world gives, like in a toasty campfire, is on the outside. It can't fire the heart. It can't penetrate the layers of sin that have covered a cold heart like ice. It feels nice on the outside, but has no lasting effect. But a fire within brings lasting warmth through refinement. The words and passion of God speak to the spirit, aflame with the passion of a Christ who died for the world that we may live. We gain a sense of urgency that drives us to know more, do more, be more. Is this your church experience? Does the reading of scripture, the words of God himself, bore you? Is it a chore? Or do you arrive early, eager for things to start? Do you stay late seeking just one more nugget of truth? Does church routinely go past the appointed time because the people are hungry, thirsty, and burning with a passion for truth and understanding? Do you feel your heart burn within ? If not, is it Jesus speaking, or man? These disciples recognized the difference. They experienced the burning heart, lit by the spark of life from the Holy Spirit from Jesus' presence. They knew they had been with Jesus. If church is not an eager burning passionate experience for you, there could be two reasons. It could be you, or the church. You must be receptive to repentance and change, you must have a heart for truth. Without that, the Holy Spirit is not welcome in your heart. But, the second possibility is, was Jesus really in your church service? Was it according to His leadership, was it welcoming His truth at all costs? Was Jesus openly invited to cleanse and purify the hearts of those present? Was the praise and worship alive and driping with annointing oil or just emotional and outwardly stimulating? Only you can answer this. Was Jesus there? Did your heart burn within as on the road the Emmaus? If not, is it you or where you were? Seek His face. Ask Him. Jesus is waiting for you on that road. Go take a walk and enjoy the presence of the fire of heaven. Be cleansed with the truth of the ages. Open your heart to the fire that burns with passion from the inside. Learn His presence and be the one that invites Him into your church service. Invite Him to stay with you as in this story. He will! He loves you and wants to break bread with you. Invite Him in. Always.
