Rekindling Your Flame (edit, back)
02/28/2015
Relationships are the key to living life fully. However, relationships are going to be challenged because we are people. Our natural tendency is to be self-focused and to seek to have our own desires met. Rekindle the Flame Ministries exists to help others think beyond themselves and to consider the needs of others. We seek to encourage others to do as Paul instructed in Philippians 2:3: “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” How do we do that?
Each year we host a mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains. This offers people of every age the opportunity to serve others and to do something big for Jesus; this is done in concert with Ellen White’s counsel to solicit the efforts of missionaries right here in North America. The second thing RTFM offers is seminars and conferences for churches to help members apply Biblical principals that revive home, church, and work relationships. Over the years, it has been a joy to see God’s people follow His Word and counsel and revive broken relationships. The third opportunity that RTFM offers is Bible worker and medical missionary training/seminars. Each month we host training online and in churches, equipping people with effectiveness in soul winning that sparks revival in their churches. Lastly, many people and pastors in our community and churches have been benefited by our personal counseling as well as our health coaching departments that have led them to lean on the well spring of life— Jesus!
The principles of RTFM are simple, yet profound. Here is a brief overview based on solid principles that RTFM uses to help others. We pray that it may help you as you seek to Rekindle Your Flame for Jesus:
ACCEPT JESUS’ DESIRE TO FILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT
Jesus said, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled” (Luke 12:49). Jesus desires to fill you with His Spirit! This being the case, we encourage you to take the needed and necessary time to pray each morning for the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19). Adjust your life as needed to pray, spend time with God, and ask Him to direct your life by the Spirit.
MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS
We live in a very busy age. Technology appears to be robbing us of the necessary time to build our relationships with each other and with God. This being true, make appointments in your schedule to spend time with your family, friends, and most importantly with God. Doing so is seeking His kingdom first. As we do this, all things will be added in our lives that He sees will best fit us for the kingdom and bless our lives (Matthew 6:33).
FIND TIME FOR MINISTRY
We are told that “not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God” (Christ’s Object Lessons, 327). God has a special place of ministry just for you! The key is to work with God and/or to find someone you can confidently work with who can prayerfully help you discover God’s calling on your life and the place where He calls you to serve Him. Serving God in the place and ministry He has called us to is one of the most rewarding and freeing experiences we can have.
FIND TIME FOR FAMILY
Our family is our first priority and our very first church. While I could cite many quotes to emphasize this, here is one that should be considered:
“Every family is a church, over which the parents preside. The first consideration of the parents should be to work for the salvation of their children. When the father and mother as priest and teacher of the family take their position fully on the side of Christ, a good influence will be exerted in the home” (Child Guidance, 549).
The first and best influence we can exert is in our homes. When all is well with our homes, all will be well in general. Also, “one well-ordered, well-disciplined family tells more in behalf of Christianity than all the sermons that can be preached” (Adventist Home, 32). Think of it! We can have better impact though our families and homes than can the preacher or evangelist in the pulpit. Hence, the importance of taking the time to make family first.
YOU CAN DO IT!
While these principles may seem challenging, they can be done. We can do all things through Christ who give us the strength (Philippians 4:13), and God can work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). God is on our side, and He longs to pour out His Spirit into our lives. If we take the time to seek His face, make the necessary changes in our lives with His help, engage in the ministry He calls us to, while we place our first emphasis and calling on our family relationships, we can experience the blessing of God in our lives, families, and churches in unprecedented ways! May God bless you as you move forward today to experience true revival.