There are 3 stages of fire. Stage 1 is INCIPIENT. This is where the fire begins, meaning you have available fuels and oxygen to move into stage 2. Stage 2 is FREE BURNING. This is the stage that the fire has all it's resources and plenty of it such as fuels, oxygen, and temperature. At this stage is the most likely place of what is called a flash point when everything ignites at once. When the fuel, oxygen, and temperature reach it's perfect point of ignition, and BOOM! Stage 3 is smoldering. The fire has been consumed of all it's resources but still is a dangerous place because at any time, if not handled correctly and cautiously, you can experience what is known as a back draft, which can immediately place us back into the free burning stage. Even in these 3 stages, you have another factor that weights in at any given time during any of the 3 stages which is called SOOT. Soot are poisonous gases, chemicals, carbon monoxide, etc. These stages compare to our own lives and our own spiritual walk. They can all affect our home life, work life, marriages, and even our walk with God. These 3 stages can be bad or good.
James 1:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Stage 1- Incipient
We all have things in our own lives that we sometimes keep to ourselves, causing it to get under our skin or "burn us up inside" which could potentially ignite into a fire that will destroy everything in it's path. It could be something someone (spouse, kids, co-worker, etc.) says or does to you on a regular basis that just constantly grinds your nerves. It could be something you know you should be doing in your spiritual walk, but you keep putting it off (read the word, pray with or for someone, etc.).
James 3:5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
Stage 2- Free burning
Once we get to this stage of free burning is where we hit that point of something or someone hit that "last nerve". Or, on the flip side, we finally said "Yes" to God. This is where we get the BOOM! In the instance of your "last nerve", you lose it and say or do horrible things that can't be taken back and will cause you to feel shame and guilt in your heart. If it's the call on your heart from God that you finally said "Yes" to and obeying Him and following the call He has for you, there's the BOOM you really want! That's the king of "free burning" we want! That's the life-changing fire we want and that will come about with that one obedient "Yes"!! You then will be able to love and minister to others well and pray and hear from God like He intended.
James 4:1-3 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Stage 3- Smoldering
Here is that fine line where everything can be great and improve or it can all go back up in flames... in a destructive way. You may, with God's help, have released some of what you've been holding back and made it through the storm... But, if you didn't release everything, you will have soot. Soot comes from "an incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon". As long as there is still soot, everything could again spontaneously combust and consume everyone and everything around you. You will never be free as long as there's still soot in your heart. This could be anything... a wound that has never been completely dug up... it could be a hidden "habit" or sin like drinking, cheating, pornography, etc. If you don't persevere and get to the root and release it all to God, the soot will eat you alive and start the all-consuming fire all over again! But if you stay in the word and continue to run after God and strengthen your relationship with Him, you can persevere and defeat what the enemy sent to try to destroy you! What type of "igniter" has the enemy sent that is your battle? What is your "soot"?
James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.