This being the 4th of July, we reflect on a great nation and the celebration of its independence.  But I submit to you today that there are other fireworks to celebrate today.

Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV) says — But if I say, I will not mention his word or speak any more in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.  I am weary of holding it in.  Indeed I cannot.

The Message Bible says it this way “the words are fire in my belly, a burning in my bones.  I’m worn out holding it in.  I can’t do it any longer!”

The prophet Jeremiah was like a  human firecracker if you will.  He could not hold his peace about the fireworks of God that raged within his life.   On the one hand, he felt like he was a joke of a prophet and that God just made him blurt out unpopular messages to the people.

On the other hand, he celebrated the fact that God had done so much for him, so much so that he could not tell it all!  He held both the fire of God and the fire of prophetic work — his prophetic zest and zeal for the Lord in his heart and mind.  And as a result, he became a “sparkler” for the Lord.  

You all know what sparklers are in the natural —they are the fireworks that are placed on a little metal stick and w let out an intense fire when lit.  They also sparkle while burning many “sparkles” of fire.

In my mind sparklers are symbolic of the word of God shut up in Jeremiah — so shut up in Jeremiah’s spirit that he cannot hold it once the fire of the Lord was lit in him.

Sparklers are the most popular of all fireworks.  They burn at nearly 1200-2000 degrees. You all are familiar with sparklers.  Sparklers in the natural shine extremely bright in the darkness of night.  Given the story of Jeremiah and how he was a great prophet for God and was famous for telling us that Great is God’s faithfulness towards us, we ask you about your spiritual fire today.

On this 4th of July, how is your spiritual fire burning?  Has God done so much for you that you can’t tell it all?   Has your fire become a bright sparkler for the Lord?   And as you think about it —are you a sparkler that is like having fire shut up in your bones?  Like the story of the lady hollering out of her window “fire!”  And people gathered but saw no fire, so she hollered again — fire!   More people gathered but didn’t see any fire.  Finally, the woman said “I got Fire because I’m burning with the power of the Holy Ghost!

Are you burning with the fire of the Holy Ghost today?  When you were in trouble and when God delivered you, were you sparkling like Jeremiah when you remembered your delivery?  When you look back over your life, do you look at all that God has done for you?  Finally, are you inspired to burn with the fire that only the Almighty can give — burning with Holy Ghost fire?  If not, we admonish you today to be like Jeremiah — become a great sparkler and let the fire of God burn in your soul!  So when someone asks where are the fireworks?— you can say fire! — like the woman and Jeremiah — and say I’m a sparkler because I’m burning with the fire of the Holy Ghost!  Amen! 

by Rev. Dr. V. Keith Brown, Pastor