It Only Takes a Spark

I prayed on specific words in relation to our Christian walk.  The word “Spark” was brought to my mind.  Maybe God brought it to my mind because July 4, Independence Day, is close.   When we encounter Christ, it only takes a spark.  In that instant we are changed, we are free, and people will notice.

As kids, usually on the fourth of July, we used to have sparklers that we would ignite and then run around the yard with them. You know the little sparklers that you can buy in the stores.  They were small, but you could see the light.

Then to light someone else’s sparkler we would put the two sticks together, and the sparkler that wasn’t lit would come to light.  We would pass it on.  There is a song we would sing at campmeetings.  “Pass it on” by Kurt Kaiser.  The first verse starts with “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.”    

Verse 1

It only takes a spark

To get a fire going

And soon all those around

Can warm up in its glowing

That’s how it is with God’s love

Once you’ve experienced it

You spread His love to ev’ryone

You want to pass it on.

~ Kurt Kaiser

It does only take a spark to get the fire going.  That is how it goes when we have experienced the love of God.  In an instant, we are changed. You want to share it.  Once you receive that love and feel that freedom, you want to pass it on.

Living IN Revival, we want to pass the good news on.  The freedom that can be found in Christ.  It is tremendous.  It is FREEDOM.  The TRUTH, the freedom, that in an instant, can change us. When we have that, we want to share it with those around us.  We can find illustrations of this change in an instant and the need to share the story, in the Bible and all around. 

The Woman of Samaria ~ Better Known as the Woman at the Well.

 She had gone to the well for water to quench her thirst.  One encounter, one conversation with the Lord. It only took a spark, and she went back into her town proclaiming what she had experienced.  “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” and they went out to see for themselves. – John 4:30 ~MSG

 “They went out to see for themselves.”  There must have been something about the woman.  Think about it. What a difference in that woman from the time she went to get the water when no one else was around to when she went back to the town.

Something in her countenance had changed that when she returned and told her story, people wanted what she had found.  She couldn’t keep the news to herself.  It was something that she had to share.  The town went to investigate for themselves. She had found something they were missing. 

What a difference that one moment with Christ made not only in her life but in her town's life!  She told of her encounter with Christ, and they went to see what she was talking about.  They wanted a change in their lives themselves.  ALL because of one conversation with Jesus, One Spark. 

The Story of the Jailor

Acts 16:23-33 ~ In the NIV

Paul and Silas were thrown in jail after been flogged.  It was midnight. They were bruised, battered, and in pain.  Yet, they were praying and singing.  “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” Acts 16:26.

The story goes on.  The jailor wakes up and sees the prison doors open.  Of course, he is going to freak out.  He freaked out so much that he was going to take his own life because of it.  But Paul shouted out “DON'T."

What kind of fire did Paul and Silas have for Jesus? They were bruised and battered but still singing and praying. The jailor saw this spark in them, and he wanted what they had.  The chapter continues. “At that hour of the night the jailor took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” ~Acts 16:33

Based on that one spark of Paul and Silas, that jailor and his entire family were baptized.  In one moment, the jailor was changed.  That change was seen by his family.  How else do you have an entire family be baptized in one instant?

That one event or that one spark changed the lives of that jailor and his family noticed.  They wanted what the jailor had.  In an instant, their lives were changed.

The Story of the Hemorrhaging Lady.

The woman who touched the robe of Christ was changed in an instant.  Luke 8:43-48, in the Message.  She was in the crowd. In fact, the verse emphasizes, “she slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus’ robe. At that moment her hemorrhaging stopped.”

Because of her faith, in an instant, she was healed.  So much was her faith, that Jesus stopped what he was doing and called her out.  It wasn’t to embarrass her. He wanted her to tell her story.   Jesus had to have known who it was who touched his garment, but he wanted her to know that because of her faith, she was changed.

He wanted her to tell her story.  How many people heard what happened to her in that moment?  Her testimony of what God had done, in an instant.  IT truly is amazing.  She could have backed away and not volunteered the fact that it was her, but she did.

It only takes a Spark.  Can you imagine the story she told that night when she went home?  “Hello, husband, I have something to tell you.”  In a moment, her life is not the same.  In a moment, she knew Jesus and was not the same.

The Story of Bryan Welch

You may not know the story of Bryan Welch, the co-founder of KORN.   With one spark, the Bible, he was changed.  According to Bryan, his rock and roll lifestyle was a dangerous spiral.  He was on the brink of destruction with the drinking and the drugs.

 A friend gave him a bible.  Bryan, in an interview he gave to CBN said, “It’s about the book of life, and everybody needs to be taught…It’s gonna do stuff like this—like change a guy in a rock band.”

According to the same article, one week later, Bryan Welch, rock & roll star flew to Israel was baptized in the Jordan River.  It only took a spark, and now Bryan is sharing his faith to a multitude of people.  He is using his platform to tell his story and point people to Jesus.

The Story of Us

It takes only a spark, and we are changed. Christ wants us to spread the good news to those who need to hear it. When we are changed through Christ, we want to share it with anyone who will listen. He wants the world to hear of the freedom that can be found in Him.  Through His freedom, others will want what we have found. Something about naturally passing it on to others, like the sparklers.

What is your story?

Abba Father,

I pray that the spark that is changing people all around will start a wildfire of faith for others. Our stories need to be spread, and I pray that each of us tells our story of the Freedom that can be found in You. 

You keep igniting that spark in people, and we see time after time. We see you at work. Please continue to ignite that spark.  Soon all those around us will know of your glory.

In Jesus Name, AMEN!

~ Laura Maxson