This multi-part series was originally published in 2008 by Alea under a strong urgency to point people, even His church, to Him and Him alone in the ever increasing times that further “fill, distort and distract” us from the only Source of Hope, Help and Salvation, Jesus Christ. He is coming soon and we need to be ready and prepared…
Father God, please open our eyes and ears, soften our hearts and minds, change and help us to choose wisely, to know Your ways and live them. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Fire
Just the Facts
Fire by definition as a noun is a rapid, persistent chemical change that releases heat and light, intensity of feeling, luminosity, liveliness, a trial or test, fever or bodily inflammation, the discharge of firearms, and an intense repeated attack or criticism. As a verb, fire means to ignite, light up, add fuel, start up, to bake in a kiln, to dry by heating, to arouse the emotions of, to detonate, to propel or launch. Fire changes whatever it ignites.
Fire is considered pretty important for living. Fire provides warmth, light and comfort, purifies water, cooks food, makes a great signal, helps make tools, keeps bug and dangerous predators away, boosts morale, and can be a welcome friend and companion. A few small fires provide more heat than one large fire.
Throughout the world natural fires, those started by lightening, volcanic activity, or other natural events cleanse our environments of disease, insects, dead plants and tree overgrowth as well as put much nutrients back into the soil. Without natural fires our ecosystems become less diverse, denser with overgrowth, and littered with dead plant material thereby suppressing life.
Fire can be extremely dangerous. Fires grow very fast and gets extremely hot. Fires produce smoke and toxic gases that kill more people that the actual fire. When in a confined space the smoke is pitch black and disorienting. In this kind of condition time is the biggest enemy; acting fast could save one’s life.
Revealed in the Source
The ecosystem of our planet needs natural fires to be cleansed, fertilized and strengthened. Without fire there is no change and without change things become stale and weak. God knew this in the design of His creation. As another witness of who He is, we discover God Himself is a fire in Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire.” Like fire, God is both kind and severe. God is Love but He’s also Holy and Righteous abhorring all that is evil and wicked. He calls people out of darkness. We hear this call in Isaiah 2:5, “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the Light of the Lord.” He promises His light to those who will trust Him but also warns of fires and lights of those created apart from Him in Isaiah 50:10-12, “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, and obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” God reveals the short wick for those who prefer false lights and fire in Job 18:5-6, “Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.” This is a warning for those who reject God and His Word while mocking His Holiness and Power. His Fire will one day consume those who reject Him, time is short.
However, God’s Heart for humanity is true in the Light of His Love and the Flame of His Spirit. Let’s remember God likes us to recognize lessons in His creation. From an earthly perspective the sun is our source of light, warmth, life and gives us the ability to discern seasons and time. In Genesis 1 light and darkness were created on the first day and then the sun and the moon on the fourth; this was strategically accomplished before He created all living things. This strengthens our understanding of what Eternal Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of Life." He desires to snatch us up and out of darkness into His Light. His Light brings life, purity which is also cleansing and judgment, warmth, and healthy growth into our existence. Jesus is Light and Life. He promised those who believe on Him comfort, enrichment, and a revelation of Himself and God’s Word through all our seasons and times. John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John the Baptist testified of this promise in Matthew 3:11 when he said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: But He that cometh after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with Fire: whose fan is in His Hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” The Holy Spirit did come as a Gift to us as seen in Acts 2:3-4, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a 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.” This is another powerful work of God’s Love. God, the all consuming Fire sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World driving away all darkness and the Holy Spirit, Fire, to convict us of sin, teaching us all things His Word says revealing Jesus Christ to us, to indwell, empower, seal and change us. May we remember that His Fire never burns contrary to His Word and Character. Do you desire for God's Holy Fire?
Let’s Ask Him
Father God, Holy One, I desire to be holy as You are Holy. Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the world. Ignite me, Light of life, and cleanse me of all things causing death and decay. Holy Spirit come upon and fill me, purify, enrich and change me. Remove all fires, lights and flames not of Your Spirit and repair any damage they may have caused. Bring Your warmth and comfort. Dispel all darkness and propel me into all You have for my life. Help me be a true light pointing others to You. Keep me aflame with holy fear and passion for You alone, fueled only by You. Thank You for Your love burning in every area transforming and empowering me to be more like You, in Jesus name. Amen.
Until next time...
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