Bible Studies

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Fire

God has always associated himself with fire. He spoke to Moses from a burning bush (Exodus 3:3, 4). He led the children of Israel at night with a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21). And He descended on mount Sinai in fire (Exodus 19:18). With the appearance of God in a fire there was a definite reaction. The fear of the Lord!

The fear of the Lord is to humbly acknowledge his supremacy. Isaiah 33:13, “Hear what I have done…acknowledge my might.” After Elijah prayed in I Kings 18:37-39, the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice. The people then fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.” After Solomon prayed in II Chronicles 7:1-3, the fire came down and consumed the sacrifices and the glory of the Lord filled the house. When the people saw this they bowed and praised the Lord saying, “For He is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”

As believers we have the fire of the Lord within us. Psalms 18:28, “For thou wilt light my candle…” We are children of the light (I Thessalonians 5:5). And John the Baptist said in Matthew 3:11 that the one coming after him would baptize us with the Holy Ghost and fire. The results are the same. The fear of the Lord! Jeremiah 32:40, “…I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”

The purpose of the fire of the Lord is the same as in the days of old. To guide us like the pillar of fire led the children of Israel. Proverbs 2:6, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” And to consume our sacrifices, Hebrews 13:15, “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Psalm 19:9,"The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever..."

Fire is clean and will burn as long as it has three elements:

HEAT- Faith (the fear of the Lord). We must humbly acknowledge His existence. Hebrews 11:6, “…for he that cometh to God must believe that is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

FUEL- Confession of sins (carnal nature). When we confess our sins they are forgiven (consumed). 1st John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

AIR- Worship (prayer, praise, and fasting). Worship is the air that makes the fire hot enough to purify us. Proverbs 27:21, “As a fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is a man to his praise.”

Blessed be the Lord forever.

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