Let the fire on the altar never run out
Awaken Generation recently launched our live worship album, “Fire on the Altar” The revelation of the title track comes from a passage in Leviticus 6, where God instructs the priesthood to keep the fire on the altar of burnt offerings burning. We share more about what the command means for us today.
“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... The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
Leviticus 6:9, 12-13
The priesthood kept the fire on the altar of burnt offerings continually burning. They presented the sacrifices brought by the people, added firewood for fuel day and night, and cleaned the altar regularly.
We have been on a journey of discovering what it means to be a royal priesthood. What does Leviticus 6 mean for us today without the physical temple, and living in the new covenant secured through Christ’s sacrifice for us?
Paul says we are the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 3:16), and with the Spirit now dwelling in us. We need to tend to the fire of God’s presence in our lives & our communities. What will this tending look like for us?
First, what are the ashes in our lives that need to be cleared?
Sacrifices and firewood becomes ash, and if not cleared, its acidity can cause damage to the altar, as well as preventing airflow, putting out the fire that is burning.
In the same way, our past sacrifices and experiences brought to the Lord and consumed can end up being the ash that puts out the fire of God in our lives. Perhaps it is a familiarity or complacency with how things are done? Or the successes we've had in our ministry that cause us to lean on previous revelations rather than seeking God for new fire for the season He is leading us in?
Like the Levitical priests, we take the ash, and put it in a clean place, honouring what has passed.
Next, we come to God as living sacrifices, constantly choosing to offer our lives up and allowing Him to burn in us.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12: 1
The prophet Ezekiel saw the glory of God leaving the temple, the fire removed from the cherubim and scattered across Jersualem. And Israel, with the destruction of Solomon’s temple, still mourns this loss, awaiting the Messiah to rebuild the temple.
But the fire of God did return. In Acts 2, divided tongues of fire appeared and rested on the disciples, filling them with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:2-4). Now the presence of God returned to His people, not to a physical temple, but into each and every believer.
Let’s live in the fullness of this holy mystery - the presence of God now dwells in us. What would it look like for us to come as a living sacrifice? Perhaps it’s growing in obedience to go where the Lord leads, or maybe to let go of that opportunity or relationship because you know it’s not what the Lord wants.
As we tend to the fire on the altar of our lives, may we be a people who will burn bright for Jesus in a world desperate to see the glory of God.
Let the fire on the altar never run out.