The Burning Ones

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Leviticus 6:12-13

12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. 13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.

MORE LESSON: Acts 2:1-4, 1 Kings 18:36-39

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

1 Kings 18:36-39 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

Friday, 3 October

Memory Verse: For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

The altar may be built and the sacrifice laid, but without the fire, nothing happens. The fire completes the offering, signifies God’s acceptance and sets everything in motion. In the Scripture, fire coming down from heaven was often a sign of divine approval. What does the fire represent today, and how do we keep it burning? Understanding the role of the fire is essential to sustaining a vibrant walk with God.

Fire often represents God's presence and power in Scripture. The fire signaled divine presence when Moses encountered the burning bush (Exodus 3). It signified divine endorsement when Elijah prayed on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). When the disciples gathered in the upper room, fire rested on them as a mark of divine empowerment (Acts 2). Fire is never casual—it always speaks of something sacred, something supernatural.

In Leviticus 6:9, God instructed that the fire on the altar must never go out. This wasn’t just about maintaining heat but preserving the flame of intimacy, worship, and consecration before the Lord. The priests were required to add wood daily, clear the ashes, and guard the flame. In the same way, as a believer, you are now the temple, the altar and the priest. You are responsible for tending the flame within.

The fire is the burning passion for God, the intensity of love for His presence, the zeal for His Word, and the fervency in prayer. It is the Holy Spirit actively, purifying, refining, and empowering us to live holy and impactful lives. When the fire burns strong, sin loses its grip, fear fades and boldness arises. Note, however, that like natural fire, spiritual fire can dwindle if not fuelled. Many believers begin with a blazing passion for God, but over time, activity compromise, and neglect cause the flame to burn out. This is why Paul told Timothy, Fan into flame the gift of God... (2 Timothy 1:6). Fire must be stirred and maintained. It is by your daily devotion, prayer, worship, and the Word. Commune with other believers, walk in obedience, and observe times of waiting on God. We place these " wood " daily to keep the fire burning. Even clearing out “ashes” —things from the past that may now be clogging or suffocating your spiritual life matters.

It’s not enough to have once encountered God’s fire; it must remain burning because a cold altar cannot produce transformation. A life without fire is vulnerable, directionless and ineffective, while a life on fire becomes a beacon to others, a light in the dark, and a vessel through which heaven touches earth.

God's fire is both purifying and empowering. It consumes the offering and ignites purpose. As priests of the New Covenant, our responsibility is to guard and tend the flame. Don’t let distractions, disappointments, or delays snuff out your fire. Return to the altar and feed the flame daily with the Word, worship and with surrender. Let the fire fall again and keep burning. Christians and not cold ones can change the world.

Prayer/Action

* Ask the Lord for His divine endorsement of all your sacrifices on His altar.

* Ask the Lord to increase your passion for Him.

* Pray against every form of distraction or device of hell working to put out your fire for the Lord.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: All through this month, it shall be righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost for me and my family, in the name of Jesus.

TODAY’S FASTING FOCUS: Righteousness, Peace, and Joy is my portion; Romans 14:17; Matthew 6:33

© Strength for My Days by Bishop David Bakare - All Rights Reserved

A Call to Consecration

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Romans 12:1-2 

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

MORE LESSON: 1 Peter 1:13-16, Leviticus 20:7-8

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Leviticus 20:7-8 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.

Thursday, 2 October

Memory Verse: Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:17

A call is a divine beckoning to step away from the ordinary and embrace the sacred. The journey to maintaining a burning altar is the call to consecration. Consecration is not a vague religious word; it is a deliberate decision to set oneself apart for the purposes and pleasure of God. In a time when the world lures many into compromise and spiritual coldness, God is raising a generation of burning men and women who are wholly surrendered to Him, and whose lives will attract the fire of God. However, this fire does not fall on empty altars but on sacrifices and lives that are yielded.

Romans 12:1-2 is a foundational scripture for anyone who seeks to burn continually for God. Paul appeals to the believer, saying: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Believers are enjoined to present their entire beings as living sacrifice, not just their intentions. Notice that the word "present" is active; it implies a conscious offering. It is not forced and not coerced but a choice to say, “Lord, here I am — all of me.

Consecration involves both separation and dedication. First, there must be a separation from the world's systems and values that contradict the Kingdom's values. This does not mean isolation but insulation—being in the world yet not of it. It is dedication and aligning with God’s will and desires. It affects how you think, speak, act and spend your time.

You cannot carry the fire of God if you are casual with your lives. In Leviticus 6:12-13, the priests were commanded to keep the fire burning on the altar. Similarly, your inner altar must be constantly fuelled holiness and obedience. The fire represents God’s presence, passion, and power, which only dwells where there is surrender.

Consecration is costly. It means letting go of certain relationships, habits, ambitions, or even good things that are not God’s best. It may be painful, but the reward is far greater. God fills what He finds empty; He uses what is wholly yielded. The more you die to self, the more He can live through you.

If you desire the fire of God to burn continuously on the altar of your heart, consecration is not optional — it is essential. It is the starting point for intimacy, power and relevance in the Kingdom. Today, God is still calling out, Who will go for us? (Isaiah 6:8). Before the “Go,” there must be a Woe is me — a moment of personal purification and surrender. The burning altar is built on the foundation of a consecrated life. Will you respond to the call?

Prayer/Action

* Rededicate your life to God and ask Him to renew your love for Him.

* Present your body to the Lord and ask Him to accept it as a sacrifice.

* Pray that the fire of the Holy Ghost will burn continuously on the altar of your heart.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: My destiny, welcome to a greater season, greater life and greater testimony, in the winning name of Jesus.

© Strength for My Days by Bishop David Bakare - All Rights Reserved

Laying the Sacrifice

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

MORE LESSON: Hebrews 13:15-16, Philippians 2:17

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Wednesday, 1 October

Memory Verse: Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust the Lord. Psalm 4:5

In every altar encounter in the Scripture, one key element was always present—the sacrifice. An altar without a sacrifice will remain inactive; the offering activates the altar. In Romans 12:1, Paul urges that: ...by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. We are not called to offer bulls or goats. but to present ourselves as living sacrifices. How do we lay our lives on the altar in a way that pleases God and invites His fire? In Romans 12:1 Paul appeal is both tender and firm: I beseech you... True sacrifice must be voluntary; God will never force you to surrender. However, He waits for it, and He is moved by it. The sacrifice God seeks is not just in moments of worship but also in our daily choices—choosing obedience over comfort, holiness over compromise and service over selfishness.

To understand the power of sacrifice, learn the patriarchs. Whenever Abraham built an altar, he laid something on it—a lamb, a ram and his son Isaac. That was an act of obedience, trust, love, and surrender. In that moment of ultimate sacrifice, God revealed Himself to Abraham as Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.

Today, God is still looking for hearts that will lay down their “Isaacs”—things that matter most to you or which that compete for His place in your life. It could be ambition, relationships, comfort or even self-will. The altar demands that you place every part of your life before Him and saying “Not my will, but Yours be done.

A living sacrifice is a paradox—it means dying daily while still breathing. It is consistently laying down your rights, desires and opinions to do God’s will. It’s in how you love difficult people, give generously, forgive quickly, and obey even when it hurts. The altar becomes a lifestyle, and the fire becomes continuous.

However, sacrifices are not always easy; they cost something. In 2 Samuel 24:24, David said, “I will not offer to the Lord what costs me nothing.” True fire falls on costly offerings. Yet, it is not about earning God’s presence but expressing your love and desire for Him. When you lay your life before Him in genuine surrender, Heaven responds.

The altar is not a place of convenience but a place of consecration. To lay your life on the altar is to say, “God, You have all of me.” It’s not a one-time act but a daily decision to yield, trust and obey. The fire of God always falls where there is sacrifice. So today, what are you holding back? What part of your life needs to be surrendered? Lay it down, please put it on the altar. Let your life become the offering, and you will see God respond—not just with fire, but also with glory.

Prayer/Action

* Rededicate your 'all' afresh to the Lord.

* Ask the Lord to consecrate you anew for His work at this endtime.

* Pray for fresh grace to zealously burn for God.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, thank you for October, arise today and teach Nigerian leaders the lesson of Nebuchadnezzar, and let the glory of Nigeria arise again, in the mighty name of Jesus.

© Strength for My Days by Bishop David Bakare - All Rights Reserved

Rebuild the Broken Altar

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 1 Kings 18:30-39

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. 34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

MORE LESSON: Joel 2:12-13, Revelation 2:4-5 

12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Tuesday, 30 September

Memory Verse: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17

Before fire can fall from heaven, the altar must be in place. As a place of communion, covenant and sacrifice. In the Old Testament, it was the centre of worship and a meeting point between God and man. Spiritually, it represents the posture of the heart: devotion, prayer life, obedience and love for God. When the altar is broken, the connection to God becomes hindered; but When it is restored, Heaven responds with fire.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah confronted a spiritually backslidden Israel on Mount Carmel. The Israelites’ hearts had turned toward Baal; they had forsaken their covenant with God. The altar—symbol of their devotion—was broken. So, before Elijah could call down fire from Heaven, he first repaired the altar. Today, many believers desire fresh fire and intimacy with God but the altars of their hearts are in ruins. Elijah’s action was both prophetic and practical. He gathered the stones representing the twelve tribes—unity must return. He repaired the structure, implying that consistency and order must be restored. Then he prepared the sacrifice—true surrender must be laid down. Only then did he call upon the Lord, and God answered with fire.

The message today is an invitation to rebuild our broken altars. So what does a broken altar look like in the life of a believer? It may be a life once fervent but now cold and dry, or a prayer life that has grown silent, or a heart distracted by the cares of this world. It could be the absence of Scripture meditation, worship or ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Like Israel, many believers may have allowed compromise, busyness or hidden sin to tear down their altars. However, here is the good news: altars can be rebuilt. God never despises a broken and contrite heart; His desire is always restoration, not condemnation. Like the prodigal son, when we come to ourselves and return, the Father runs toward us. The first step is acknowledgement, and the next is repentance. Then comes intentional rebuilding—brick by brick, prayer by prayer, moment by moment.

To rebuild your altar is to prioritise your time with God again, dig into His Word, engage in heartfelt prayer, and reconnect with your first love. It is saying, “Lord, reignite my heart; rekindle my devotion; rebuild what I have allowed to fall apart.” Then, like Elijah’s story, the fire will fall when the altar is in place. Your altar may be in ruins, but He specialises in restoration. You don’t have to train in spiritual drought; begin today to rebuild your altar. Be intentional about prayer; return to the Word and cut away distractions. Invite the Holy Spirit to breathe afresh on you. Like on Mount Carmel, the God who answers by fire will make Himself known. Begin the rebuilding today?

Prayer/Action

* Ask the Holy Ghost to rekindle His fire upon your altar.

* Pray for fresh zeal to serve the LORD.

* Declare that you will be a positive impact that will spark the fire of revival in the church of Christ.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Hallelujah, September is ending, and I am continuing, thank you Jesus forever.

© Strength for My Days by Bishop David Bakare - All Rights Reserved