For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29 (KJV)

If you are in a place that seems to be dry, lifeless, and cold to the things of God, you have two choices:

1. Leave

2. Change it

There are times when God will direct you to leave a dead place, whether it is a church, a friendship, a job, or whatever. If God tells you to go, you must leave to find a place of life. However, there will be situations where He expects you to stay and bring life to that place. In that circumstance, He has called you to be the catalyst.

If you are not familiar with the word catalyst, it originally was a chemistry term, but it has been adopted and used in other ways as well. I pulled the following definitions from dictionary.com.

1. Catalyst. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.

2. something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.

3. a person or thing that precipitates an event or change:His imprisonment by the government served as the catalyst that helped transform social unrest into revolution.

4. a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic,or energetic.

If we look at all these definitions, we can see that a catalyst causes change. You might say that a catalyst is the spark that starts the fire burning.

If you are in a place that rivals the North Pole in spiritual temperature, you have the power to change it. But first, you must be sure that the fire in you is stoked up and burning bright. To be a catalyst and change agent, you must be on fire for the things of God to such a degree that the coolness of the atmosphere has no cooling effect on you.

But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones. Jeremiah 20:9 (KJV)

When we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, it becomes a fire within us. It will burn up anything in us that is not of God and will spill out onto those around us, setting them on fire as well. It’s like an uncontainable inferno that consumes the dead, dry things in our path like a match lighting dry leaves on fire. We can listen to anointed teachings on CDs, Christian television, and the internet to immerse ourselves in the Word. We can read books and attend conferences that will encourage our faith. The Word brings faith.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:3-4 (KJV)

The Holy Spirit also creates a fire in our lives. On the day of Pentecost, He alighted upon each person in the upper room like a flame of fire. When we pray in tongues, it fans the flame in us.

Being a catalyst is an uncomfortable role. Your fire will draw some, like moths to a flame. However, it will offend and repel others who cannot take the heat. Be prepared to stand against opposition from those who are comfortable and complacent. Be prepared to be attacked and maligned. But, also be prepared to endure and overcome victoriously.

In this end-time harvest, we must be committed to being the spark that starts the inferno of revival burning in the dead places that desperately need it. Be the change agent. Be the catalyst!