From: Sam@liveonfire.net
To: GuestsandMembers@liveonfire.net
Subject: Reaching the LF 'vision' and living in God's will

[Printable version]

This is the Live on Fire life plan. This is how we will live; it is the plan for a diverse life, one that is full of passion for God. This will make way and set the scene for God to fulfil the vision he has for Live on Fire and its members. His members, and their lives.

  1. We will seek God. This means that we live our life centred on God’s interests (those explained in the bible), as opposed to our own, giving God total control. It also means that we must change our approach from “what can God do for me”, to “how can I be more fully conformed to his purpose, bringing him glory, honour and praise? Because I love him.” That is what God wants us to do. [Read 1 Peter 2:9]

    1 Peter 2:9 (New International Version)
    But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

    (Also see Eph 1:2, 1:6.) Jesus must be our self-elected Lord, and we must not deny him this position in our lives by how we live. Every move we make should bless and glorify God, none should anger him. It is good to confess with our mouths regularly that Jesus Christ is lord of our lives (Rom 10:9). [read Acts 17:27]

    2. Acts 17:27 (New International Version)
    God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
    When we seek our Lord and saviour it is by grace alone that we are reconciled (Rom 3 particularly v24)

  2. We will fast and pray. Prayer and fasting is a very powerful spiritual weapon which God has made available to us. The reason we will use this weapon is simple – because it works! We will fast and pray for:  Personal consecration - (Psa. 69:10; Matt. 5:4; Acts 13:3; 14:23), to be heard on high - (Jer. 29:13,14; Ezra 8:23; Jn. 4:8,31-34), As a plea for God’s grace and mercy- (II Sam. 12:16,22; Jona 3:5,10), to free and deliver the captives - (Isa. 49:24; 58:6), for revelation, understanding, wisdom - (Dan. 9:2,3,21,22; II Cor. 11:27; Acts 27:21-24), for inducement of power, for spiritual gifts, to buffet the body - (I Cor. 9:27; 6:13 20; Rom. 13:14), for physical health and healing - (James 5:14-15; Psa. 35:13; III Joh 2, though do remember 2 Cor 12:10 and be glad in weakness)
  3. We will live pure lives. Admittedly we all fail from time to time, but at Live on Fire we are Christians who really want to seek God and that means we’re willing to sacrifice everything for Him. We must take up our cross daily [read Luke 9:23-27].

    Luke 9:23-27 (New International Version)
     23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.

    We must be crucified to the world and the world to us (Gal 6:14). We are made alive in Christ (Rom 6) and are living for Christ, Christ alone. If the train of His robe fills the temple (Isaiah 6) of our hearts, there's no room for idols. God will not share His glory with another, He is jealous for our affections (Isa 48:11; Deut 4:28; 5:9-10; Deut 6:14-15). Anyone who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for service in the kingdom of heaven (Luke 9:62). We crucify our sinful nature (see 1 Peter 4:7), Jesus said in Mat 15:19-20: [read Mat 15:19-20]

    4. Mat 15:19-20 (New International Version)
    "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’…”.

He also stated in Mat 5:8 [read Mat 5:8]

Mat 5:8 (New International Version)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

That is a clear indication of how important purity is. Also take note of this: [Read Romans 8:8]

    Romans 8:8: (New International Version)
    Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

If we walk in the spirit (as opposed to the flesh), we will produce the ‘fruits of the spirit’ [read Galatians 5:22-26]

    Galatians 5:22-26 (New International Version)
     22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
  1. We will seek forgiveness when we sin and will repent from our mistakes, trusting the grace of our Lord Jesus alone to give us the will, desire and ability to repent, and not make that same mistake again. We believe repentance to be where we realise we have done wrong and ask for forgiveness from our saviour and sincerely practice self control if we are tempted to repeat the specific sin.
    At Live on Fire we recognise the invaluable importance of self-control, along with the rest of the fruits of the spirit, if we find no evidence of these fruits in our lives, we must test ourselves carefully to see where we are in the faith. We also recognise that we must practise self control when tempted by the enemy, even when we are at our weakest point, as Jesus did when Satan led him into the desert (Mat 4:1-11 notice that Jesus defended himself against temptation with the most powerful weapon: the word of God.)
    Even though we recognise the importance of self control, we are all human which means every ‘now and again’ we are likely to mess up, so I thank God for his grace as witnessed in the following passages: [Read Matthew 6:14, Hebrews 8:12 and 1 John 1:9]

    2. Matthew 6:14 (New International Version)
    ...if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
    Hebrews 8:12 and 1 John 1:9     (New International Version)
    If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

However it is vital that we remember why he is forgiving us with such abundant grace and mercy, so that we can know His will: [Read Romans 2:4, James 1:22 and Luke 6:46-49]

    Romans 2:4: “...do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?”,
    James 1:22     "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

  1. We understand the importance of reading God’s word regularly. This is of great importance because Holy Spirit gives much revelation through bible reading, In fact, we must test everything by Scripture (1 the 5:21). Jesus said to the Sadducees, "You are in error..." why?”...because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God!" This is where Holy Spirit reveals truth to us. (See 2 Tim 3:16-17), everything we need for every good work. The Spirit leads us to the word of God, enables us to be humble and contrite before it and to tremble before it (Isaiah 66:2) and submit to it and to understand it and to put it into practice. This is how the Spirit "leads us into all truth" (see Psalm 19 and 119!) he reveals new things to us that we may not have noticed before and clarifies Godliness or unGodliness of things which we may be currently unsure about. I would like to encourage all members to spend an hour a day studying God’s word, however in our busy lives this may not be possible, so please remember the blessing that bible reading will bring and consider this verse:

    Hosea 4:6 (New International Version)
    My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

It is important that we do not become "put off" by these demands on the way we live our lives, but that we rather be encouraged to give it the best 'shot' we can, I pray that God will bless all who read this and ask that God would fire you up, giving you a powerful Godly enthusiasm to do His will, and that you be excited about the things to come!
Sam Ames - LF Managing director