October 13th, 2026
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Fanning the Flame
Have you ever built a fire? When building any kind of fire in a wood stove, a fireplace or for a campfire pit you will learn quickly the value of fuel. Three elements are required; wood, oxygen and accelerator. A fire can be started without accelerator such as gas, kerosene, diesel, paper, kindling or our favorite when I was a kid in Kiamichi Country, rich pine. But it is a huge challenge. Once oxygen joins with the wood in a proper mix, flames begin to burn and the wood is consumed. The fire gives off warmth or cooking ability and always provides light.
Paul told his faithful son in the faith, Timothy to "Fan into flame the gift of God in you which you received by the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6)
As an Apostle, Paul had the power to impart unique gifts of the Holy Spirit to other followers of Christ. The book of Acts (2:38) tells us that every believer and follower of Christ who has repented and been baptized in his name has been forgiven of sins and received the Holy Spirit as a gift. In other Scripture texts, we learn that our bodies are temples (places of residence) for the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 9:19). However, we find in lists and explanations of spiritual gifts in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 that our job as recipients of these gifts is to feed, develop and use those gifts so that God can use us for his glory and to spread the good news of Jesus to others. Paul tells Timothy that he is to "fan into flame" this gift.
When you create a fire, you must fan the embers so that they will receive more oxygen, triggering the flames to ignite. God’s desire is for his servants to do more than smolder. He commands us to burn brightly. He has distributed gifts to each of us and included orders to use them. He wants us to keep feeding the fire he has placed inside of us. When we take an ember away from the fire, what happens to it? The flame dies down, turns dark and grows cold and lifeless. It no longer burns and becomes useless and dead.
When we pull ourselves away from the devotional life of prayer and Scripture reading withdrawing ourselves from the oxygen of fellowship and the Lord's supper, we become like that ember that has been separated from the fire.
God wants you and me to be like Timothy. He wants us to "fan into flame the gift of God..." What are you doing to keep the flame burning? Are you close to the fire? Are you exposing it to spiritual oxygen and to the fuel of the Holy Spirit?
This Sunday at FCC we will begin a series of messages titled Fan Into Flame the Gift of God. Part 1 will be "The Gift of Faith" based on 2 Timothy 1:5-6 and Hebrews 11:1-6. Come and leg God encourage your flame to burst forth in his power.
Fanning the Flame,
Jon
Fanning the Flame
Have you ever built a fire? When building any kind of fire in a wood stove, a fireplace or for a campfire pit you will learn quickly the value of fuel. Three elements are required; wood, oxygen and accelerator. A fire can be started without accelerator such as gas, kerosene, diesel, paper, kindling or our favorite when I was a kid in Kiamichi Country, rich pine. But it is a huge challenge. Once oxygen joins with the wood in a proper mix, flames begin to burn and the wood is consumed. The fire gives off warmth or cooking ability and always provides light.
Paul told his faithful son in the faith, Timothy to "Fan into flame the gift of God in you which you received by the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6)
As an Apostle, Paul had the power to impart unique gifts of the Holy Spirit to other followers of Christ. The book of Acts (2:38) tells us that every believer and follower of Christ who has repented and been baptized in his name has been forgiven of sins and received the Holy Spirit as a gift. In other Scripture texts, we learn that our bodies are temples (places of residence) for the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 9:19). However, we find in lists and explanations of spiritual gifts in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 that our job as recipients of these gifts is to feed, develop and use those gifts so that God can use us for his glory and to spread the good news of Jesus to others. Paul tells Timothy that he is to "fan into flame" this gift.
When you create a fire, you must fan the embers so that they will receive more oxygen, triggering the flames to ignite. God’s desire is for his servants to do more than smolder. He commands us to burn brightly. He has distributed gifts to each of us and included orders to use them. He wants us to keep feeding the fire he has placed inside of us. When we take an ember away from the fire, what happens to it? The flame dies down, turns dark and grows cold and lifeless. It no longer burns and becomes useless and dead.
When we pull ourselves away from the devotional life of prayer and Scripture reading withdrawing ourselves from the oxygen of fellowship and the Lord's supper, we become like that ember that has been separated from the fire.
God wants you and me to be like Timothy. He wants us to "fan into flame the gift of God..." What are you doing to keep the flame burning? Are you close to the fire? Are you exposing it to spiritual oxygen and to the fuel of the Holy Spirit?
This Sunday at FCC we will begin a series of messages titled Fan Into Flame the Gift of God. Part 1 will be "The Gift of Faith" based on 2 Timothy 1:5-6 and Hebrews 11:1-6. Come and leg God encourage your flame to burst forth in his power.
Fanning the Flame,
Jon
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