By Pastor Teddy Joseph
Alberta is known for its vast agriculture where most of Canada’s produce such as its canola oil and grain stem from, it is the oil reserves by which the financial economy of Alberta flourishes and its tourist attractions like Banff and Jasper where its bountiful mountains are sought for by those from all over. And finally, Alberta is known for its fire bans.
Due to the large forest regions and farmlands in Alberta, at certain times of the year fire bans are imposed due to extreme fire hazards to protect life and property. Anything that can start a fire should be discarded during the no-fire season. We’ve noticed a couple of months ago how these wildfires negatively impacted several provinces across Canada such as property, wildlife and citizens.
Though fire bans are implemented, Alberta’s dry climate and extreme heat will eventually cause wildfires to start. Imposing fire bans will mitigate and prevent any future fires from starting intentionally. However, if no fire bans were in place, forest fires would set all of Alberta on fire.
Acts 1:4-8 tells of the 12 disciples speaking with Christ as He instructed them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them so they may be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and all the world.
As the story continues, the Holy Spirit, which resembled fire, came upon the heads of all those in its vicinity. This event resulted in a domino effect where all those present during Pentecost who also heard Peter’s sermon, had the Holy Spirit descend upon them as well, which they too became on fire and 3,000 people were baptized in that instance.
We can say that Jerusalem was set on spiritual fire. Better yet, there was a lift on the fire ban that day where an orchestrated wildfire spread throughout Jerusalem and beyond. There was a prime indicator for the Holy Spirit’s descent on the disciples which enabled them to preach the gospel and bring people to Christ, setting Jerusalem spiritually ablaze.
The kindle that led to the spark was that they were in one accord. Their unity is what caused a spiritual forest fire in Jerusalem, where many people were baptized.
They lifted their fire ban, which meant that they set aside their differences, admitted their faults to each other, and confessed their sins to God. Though they differed in personality and conduct, they needed to be united as one in purpose as the Father and Son were one in purpose for the salvation of souls.
Continued division amongst the disciples caused a fire ban that prevented the Holy Spirit from descending.
As long as division was present, there would be no outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We have to ask ourselves, is the reason why the Holy Spirit has not come down with fire upon us individually, or the church, is because we have imposed fire bans on ourselves? Whatever it may be, burdens, grudges, trials, or temptations, God wants us to give those to Him and lift the fire bans as we become united in purpose for the salvation of souls.
We know that Alberta’s physical wildfires are hazardous to society.
However, spiritual wildfires, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, would benefit society as a whole. This outpouring is needed in our churches to spread the gospel and prepare people for the Second Coming of Christ.
So as the fire bans have been lifted in Alberta, let the fire bans in our lives be lifted as well so we can be used by the Holy Spirit and start spiritual wildfires in Alberta for God’s glory.
Teddy Joseph is the pastor at the Stettler and Sedgewick Seventh-day Adventist Church.