Fire cedars

"THE GLORY OF LEBANON SHALL BE GIVEN TO IT."
ISAIAH 35:2 NKJV

Another cedar Solomon used to build the temple was called fire cedar. It's said that shepherds used it to make fires at night because it was saturated in oil, would ignite easily, and burn a long time. What a picture.

God gathered 120 fire cedars in the upper room and "suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ac 2:2-4 NKJV). That day 3,000 souls were won to Christ! The church was born in the fire and has been sustained by the fire - and we must not let that fire go out! Even in the days of the Old Testament tabernacle, God commanded His people to take the fire that burned on the altar and carry it with them wherever they went. Getting the idea? A lot that passes for "revival" or "renewal" today seems to be nothing more than "waves" that come and go. We are never more vulnerable than when we are spirtually hungry, because at that point we stand on the threshold of two spirtual realms. The way to discern true revival is to ask ourselves four questions: (1) Is it scriptural? (See Isa 8:20). (2) Does it magnify the person of Christ? (See Jn 3:30 NKJV). (3) Does it demonstrate God's love? (Ac 2:44-45). (4) Does it win souls and turn them into disciples? "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (Jn 15:8 NKJV).

Little cedars

“THE GLORY OF LEBANON SHALL BE GIVEN TO IT.”
ISAIAH 35:2 NKJV

Solomon used the cedars of Lebanon to build the temple. When it was complete, the glory of God filled it. Let’s look at four different types of cedars God still uses to build His church.
Little cedars. They were used to make fence posts for sheep pens. A guide tells of seeing a truckload of little cedars being transported over a road filled with potholes, twists and turns. Even though they weren’t tied on, not one fell off. What a picture of consistency and stick-to-itiveness! These folks have what it takes to survive the potholes and make it through the twists and turns of life. It’s said that people don’t determine their future, they determine their habits and their habits determine their future. And little cedars have habits like:
(a) Praying. They talk to God--then take time to listen: “Morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as the learned” (Isa 50:4 NKJV). (b) Bible reading. “Ezra…prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it” (Ezr 7:10 NKJV). Do you approach God’s Word with a prepared heart and a willingness to obey? (c) Witnessing. “You are My witnesses” (Isa 43:10 NKJV). The credibility of a witness in court determines which side wins. How credible is your testimony? (d) Tithing. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing” (Pr 3:9-10 NIV). You say, “But when I’ve paid my bills I don’t have much left over.” God wants to be first in your finances, not last. When you put Him first, His blessings will overflow into every area of your life.