May 19th Pentecost 2024.
Guard the Holy fire.
There is something mysterious, alluring and powerful about fire. There is something quite charming about staring into some flames in an open fireplace, but in rural Australia, we also understand how fickle and brutal fire can be. We are somehow both attracted to and in fear of flames.
Fire is no stranger to us and has been around for a very long time; in fact as far back as Moses and the Old Testament
When the Israelites had finally escaped the dastardly clutches of Pharaoh and were without GPS or compass….
(Exodus 13:21)
“The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.”
Then when they get to Mount Sinai the light show and special effects are even more spectacular
Exodus 19:18
“Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently”. Marvellous Stuff!
And in today’s first lesson, there’s even more fire.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.”
This is why, as a ‘descendant’ of those apostles a bishop wears a funny flame-like hat called a mitre. I hope you will be able to see Bishop Garry wearing his mitre in a photo in the pew sheet today.
And here in church, we have candles and at Christchurch Hamilton has an opportunity to light some personal candles.
All of us would be familiar with and entranced by the eternal flame that burns at the tomb of the unknown soldier. It speaks to us. Engages us. When we look at the eternal flame there is something deep within us that we understand and also resounds within us. It is more than just an echo of a history that is the tragic slaughter of the past. Somehow it is also part of who we are as a nation, as individuals and as a community. The flame continues to burn to remind us that love did not die on the battlefield.
But most potently and personally there is the flame of faith which is kindled somewhere, somehow deep within us. Sometimes it flares up brightly and gives light and warmth.
Sometimes it sputters and can even go out.
But the flame of His love cannot be extinguished because that is who He IS. His love is not just something He does. It is Him. It can never die and perhaps it is in those moments when our faith seems spluttery and futile and cannot be ignited, that HE will burn brightest. He will take our arm and walk with us through the black caverns of despair and doubt which are large and frightening .
Remember this…”And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me.”
Guard the holy fire that is within you and all of us. If you see someone else’s candle going out, it takes a heartbeat to go and give some of your flame to theirs. You'll discover that your faith is actually brighter and more radiant because of this
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is fear. Fear means respect and awe, and also a healthy fear of doing anything that would harm our relationship with God. Guard the holy fire.
The best analogy I can think of is that exhilarating time in our lives when we first discover a relationship so precious, so exciting, so gorgeous that we will do anything to preserve and protect it. The first flush of romantic love. It is like holding onto a precious crystal vase that you treat with reverence, joy and respect. You rejoice in it and are thrilled just by looking at it. And you look at it often. You look at it a lot just because… it makes your heart go faster and you look at it just because you can. You guard it. You would lie down in front of a Big Mac truck to protect it.
How precious and treasured it was and is. How fiercely and carefully you want to guard and keep it as well as celebrate and enjoy it.
Guard the holy Fire. Your fire which is His fire.
Charles Wesley sums up this protective joy, the vocation to guard the Holy fire, in his sublime hymn ‘O thou who camest from Above.’ With a yelp of joy I hand it over to Him to articulate what I have clumsily been trying to say.
O thou who camest from above
the fire celestial to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
on the mean altar of my heart!
There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
to work, and speak, and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up the gift in me.
Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat;
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make the sacrifice complete.