THE FIRE OF GOD

Monday 28 April

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:38-39

When we see the word FIRE in the Bible there are several different meanings. In Exodus 13:21 God’s presence led Israel through the desert as a pillar cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They had air conditioning and heating! Here we see the presence, provision and protection of God.

1 Kings chapter 18, the prophet Elijah was calling Israel to repent from Baal worship and turn back to God. He eventually called down fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice on Mt Carmel. This represented the power of God.

We also see the encounter of Moses and the burning bush where an angel of God spoke to him. What about the tongues of fire that rested on the 12 disciples in the upper room at Pentecost? Fire can also mean purification, holiness and judgement at the end of the world.

Have you ever heard someone shout FIRE when they are ministering to someone? Most likely you have. Sometimes it even seems to produce a result. Like all methodologies however the result is not always based on the accuracy of the technique or method used.

The mercy and grace of God overlook our shortcomings as ministers of the gospel to touch the lives of those we minister to. Don’t forget we are all ministers. Having said that, we must not continue in our ignorance but grow in grace which is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Calling down fire like Elijah is not for the Christian. That is ignorance. Let’s find out why.

So what is the fire of God for the believer? Fire ultimately represents the presence of God and the power of God which combined is the Spirit of God. We know that water also represents the Spirit of God as well as oil and wind. You don’t hear anyone shouting WATER, OIL, WIND or CLOUD do you? That would be strange wouldn’t it? So why is FIRE seen in some circles as normal.

If the fire is the Holy Spirit, then we are instructed to fan into flame the gift of God. What Apostle Paul’s instruction directly referenced here was the person of the Holy Spirit not the gifts of the Spirit. How do we achieve this? By speaking in other tongues and meditating on the scriptures.

Some others attempt to put fire on demons when casting them out. There is no such thing in the gospels performed by Jesus or the apostles in the New Testament. Think about it. The authority and power in the name of Jesus is all it takes to deal with any evil spirits.

Furthermore, it is not in the saying of the name but the revelation that you are named with the name and do all whether in word or deed in that name. Jesus cast demons out with a word. Most likely, OUT!

When it talks about John the Baptist we are told that he was a burning and a shining light (John 5:35). This tells us that he was passionate to preach as a forerunner to Jesus and prepare the way of the Lord and make his path straight.

Light in those days was about a flame of fire not some electrical globe. Remember Jesus said He was the light of the world. Another time He said that we are the light of the world. These lights were fires but nobody in the early church went around shouting FIRE to anyone.

The only time it is appropriate is when there is literally a fire in a building and everyone needs to vacate the premises! You get the point.

I hope from the few brief thoughts we have observed here, you have a greater understanding of what is meant in the Bible particularly in the light of Christ by ‘the FIRE of God.’ If every time you see FIRE you think SPIRIT you will have the right perspective.

APPLICATION

Don’t be like a spiritual infant tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine but keep listening to the rightly divided word of truth and reject vain philosophies and traditions of men.