THE PURIFYING FIRE OF GOD
7/15/2020
THE FIRE OF GOD. Have you ever wondered about it ? Does it have any meaning for us in our lives in this day and age ? Going all the way back to the beginning, fire has always been a part of the presence of God. God appeared to Moses as a burning bush. God encompassed the entirety of a mountain top as He sought conversation with the people of Israel after He had Moses lead them out of Egypt. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in all their sinfulness by fire and brimstone. In the New Testament, John the Baptist explained that he was baptizing with water, but one was coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire. In the book of Acts ( Acts 2 ) we see the Apostles gathered together, and the fire of the Holy Spirit come upon them, allowing them to speak in various tongues. In Revelation we see Jesus appear to the Apostle John in a robe with a golden sash…”and His eyes like a fiery flame”. God and Fire….
FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE Hebrews 12:29
IS NOT MY WORD LIKE FIRE, DECLARES THE LORD, AND LIKE A HAMMER THAT BREAKS THE ROCK IN PIECES ? Jeremiah 23:29
AS SOON AS SOLOMON FINISHED HIS PRAYER, FIRE CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SACRIFICES, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TEMPLE.
So, Christian, is God a fire that burns in your heart and consumes your thought, your time, and your efforts ? Hey Christian, is God’s Word inside you, and when you read it, does it feel like a hammer that breaks apart your struggles and your pain and your circumstances and turns them to dust as you realize His absolute Love For You ? And when you pray to Him, do you find your confessions, your struggles, your sin consumed by the gift of His Son giving up His life for you, taking it all on, so that you don’t have to live in pain awaiting the sting of death and nothingness ? Even more important, do you see yourself as a Temple Of God ? Do you realize it is your “CHOICE” to be His Temple ? God’s temple had fire. The Temple had an altar where His People brought sacrifices to absolve their sin. In a closer step to the Holy of Holies, a Menorah burned….pouring out the word of God embracing creation, and light, and perhaps a deeper understanding of just who God is, and a glimpse of His desire for His Creation…Us. Then, in the innermost area of the Temple, God Himself. Residing in the inner sanctum, where only the “Religious High Priest” could interact and see the true Fire Of God. BUT, JESUS CHANGED EVERYTHING ! Jesus came and died for us. In the moment of His death, the curtain that kept God Himself from the average person, you and me was TORN ! Jesus made all of us able to SEE GOD….Jesus Himself. The time spent having to continually sacrifice an unblemished animal to temporarily cleanse one’s sin was over. Jesus made Himself the final sacrifice, that all who believe in Him, follow Him, give their whole being to Him are complete. Complete in the restitution of relationship with God The Father.
NOW ALL OF US CAN COME TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR US. Ephesians 2:18
IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR TRESPASSES, ACCORDING TO THE RICHNESS OF HIS GRACE. Ephesians 1:7
THEREFORE, BRETHREN, SINCE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE TO ENTER THE HOLY PLACE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE INAUGURATED FOR US THROUGH THE VEIL, THAT IS, HIS FLESH, AND SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A SINCERE HEART FULL OF FAITH, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED CLEAN FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE AND OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER. Hebrews 10: 19-22
We are a temple of God. Priests of His Kingdom. When you accept Jesus as your Lord, Savior and King, you have certain things that happen inside you. You take your sins, your struggles, and your flesh and lay them on the Brazen Altar and you burn them out of your life. Repentance from the things that pull you down; make you struggle in shame, guilt, and frustration. Moving further in, you enter a clearer understanding of who God is … enlightened in the Hope and Clarity of what He brings to your life. Then, there He is. Look into the eyes of Christ as they burn in total love for you. One with Him. Way beyond a simple emotional response to a feel good moment. YOU ARE HIS AND YOU BURN WITH THE FIRE OF KNOWING YOUR LIFE IS COMPLETE AND FINISHED IN THE WORLD AND SELF, YET JUST BEGINNING INTO ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HIS KINGDOM ! Yes. You Are Alive in the promise of Eternal Life with Him in His Kingdom.
It is time to recognize that the Fire of God is cleansing and purifying and moves you towards being complete, free, and reborn. The fire of the world is destructive. A strange fire that consumes and lays waste to hard work, dreams, hopes, and all that is good. In ancient times, the prophets of evil thought surely their fire from darkness could overcome the power and fire of God, bur Elijah showed them the true power of God. In our world today, we are watching the world attempt to burn itself down. Destroy history, destroy natural law, destroy individuality….destroy the very fabric of humanity and decency. Burn down everything. THEY WILL FAIL, BECAUSE GOD IS GOOD, GOD IS LIGHT, AND GOD IS LOVE. We are His temple, and His Holy Fire lights our lives and path toward righteousness, Holiness and a life of Blessings and Completeness. Embrace Him ! The truth is that the awesome fire that burns in God is His complete love for each of us, and His power as the one and only God. Feel the warmth of His Love, and let the Light of salvation and life cover you ! Feel the Fire/Feel His Love/JAA
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. John 1:1