• Lighting The Fire
• Turning Zeal Into A Lifestyle

• Introduction
• Remember the roller coaster we call zeal?
• We experience highs and lows in our zeal.
• The trick that seems so elusive for some is to keep higher more times than lower.
• For this study, we are going to use the analogy of building and maintaining a campfire.

• Building A Campfire
• Our zeal, just like a campfire has a process to get the final, end result.
• There are things you are going to need and a place to do it.
• [hint: do not build a campfire indoors]
• Here are some things we can do to help our zeal.

• Prepare A Place
• First step is to find a location that will be good for a campfire.
• Usually a place where there is room for others to sit around and enjoy each other’s company.
• Once you locate a place, you need to clean it up a bit.
• This would include brushing or sweeping away leaves and other things that might ignite.
• Prepare A Place
• God chose the Law of Moses to get the Jews ready for the Christ to come.
• God always wanted His people to be pure and free from the ungodliness of the nations around them.
• It works the same way now. We each must get away from the ungodliness around us and clear out all the garbage in our lives.

• Ignite Your Fire
• This is assuming that you have prepared your campfire with kindling, sticks and logs.
• You light your fire anyway you can.
• You use tools; lighter, match, glass lens, rubbing sticks together, or borrow a light from another campfire.
• In order for a fire to burn you need three things; oxygen, fuel, source of ignition.
• Ignite Your Fire
• Preparing your heart to handle the fire of zeal is a challenge, yet it will happen if you want it to.
• We find ways to ignite our zeal by using tools and methods.
• Bible study, worship services, get-togethers, and learning from each other.
• Three things to ignite zeal. God, character, purity.

• Fuel Your Fire
• We usually associate this with the preparation part.
• We need to arrange our firewood in a certain way to get it to burn properly.
• This may involve stacking it a particular way so as to allow oxygen to get to various parts of the fire.
• Once started, we can add fuel to the fire.
• Fuel Your Fire
• Zeal needs to be arranged properly in order to work to the best benefit.
• Yes, our hearts need to be prepared to seek the Lord and commit our ways unto Him.
• Wet, green, and moldy firewood do not burn well. And so it is with a heart that is still drenched in sin.
• Once we get started, we add to our faith
• 2 Peter 1:5-11

• Protect Your Fire
• Winds can be harsh and fire danger is all around us
• You must shield it from the wind so that the fire is not blown out.
• You may have to protect it from rain or snow.
• You also have a responsibility to keep it from blowing out of the pit to other things and possibly starting a wildfire.
• Protect Your Fire
• We have to be aware of the dangers that are out there lurking for our soul.
• Satan prowls about (1 Peter 5:8)
• Satan uses many devices (Ephesians 6:11)
• We can resist on our own,
• But it is much better when you employ teamwork.

• Use Your Fire
• Now that it is going it provides some things.
• Heat when it is cold
• Cooking our food to enjoy and eat.
• Making smores, or burning marshmallows, or hot dogs, or warming up a pot of coffee.
• Provides light to see around us.
• Fire protects us from predators because they are afraid of fire.
• Using Your Fire
• Our zeal keeps us going when things around us cool down.
• Our zeal can motivate us and give us the spiritual nourishment we need.
• Making the most use of our zeal is what God wants.
• Our zeal can be a light for others to find their way, find the path of truth, or find fellowship.
• Our zeal can protect us from Satan, and error.

• Sharing Your Fire
• This is a good time to get together and sit around the fire.
• No phones, TV’s, ipads, ipods, distractions.
• Invite strangers over to share the heat of your campfire, and get to know them and make new friends.
• Share Your Fire
• Our zeal should carry us to share the gospel message.
• That will only happen when we meet people
• And share Christ with them.
• We need to find ways to not allow distractions.
• Showing hospitality is another way to do this.

• Tend Your Fire
• We have to maintain what we have or we will lose it.
• Keep adding fuel to keep it burning.
• Everyone falls asleep and the fire goes out.
• Tend Your Fire
• We must maintain our zeal or we can lose it.
• We must continue to study and learn God’s book.
• We must continue to share the gospel message of hope to those around us.
• As soon as we relax, our zeal goes out like a campfire.

• Conclusion
• Comparing our zeal to a campfire is helpful.
• These formulas are basic science and common sense.
• As long as we are seeking to please God, our zeal is active and useful for its purpose.
• Once we fall into a rut, or stop learning, our zeal goes out.
• Has your zeal gone out?
• Perhaps we can help you get it back, but you must want it back.

By Carey Scott

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