CONSUMING FIRE

 For our “God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:29 NIV

 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24 NIV 

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.   Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.   All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  Acts 2:1-4 NIV

There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. ³ So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”  Exodus 3:2-3 NIV

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 NIV

I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  Luke 12:49 NIV

"Spirit-filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God." —Samuel Chadwick

"My fear is not that our great movement, known as the Methodists, will eventually cease to exist or one day die from the earth. My fear is that our people will become content to live without the fire, the power, the excitement, the supernatural element that makes us great." —John Wesley

“Why did the Lord say, “I came to bring fire” (Luke 12:49)? What does this mean? He is not talking about a natural fire. The Word of God must always be understood in a spiritual context. Therefore, the Lord is speaking about His Fire--His Holy Fire--His Spiritual Fire. How can we say “Holy Fire” if the exact words “Holy Fire” are not found in the Bible? It's very simple. Is the Lord Holy? Yes. Is the Lord an All-Consuming Fire? Yes. Must we say Holy All-Consuming Fire? No, it’s understood that He is both Holy and All-Consuming. He is also many other things, such as Righteousness, Love, Truth, and The Way. We need not refer to all of His attributes when we speak of Him.

Why would Christians misunderstand the Lord when He said that His mission is to cast Fire on the Earth? It's because many Christians have not been taught how to understand the Word of God in a spiritual way. Therefore, many Christians read the Bible with a natural mind, and they take the Word literally in a natural sense. That is why some Christians don’t understand “Holy Fire,” because they can’t find where it literally says those words. A Christian that only understands the Bible in natural terms is like one who sees the light but does not feel the fire. They are distant from the Lord because they don’t yet understand His Word in a spiritual sense. But if a Christian never felt the Lord’s fire before, then how would he know whether he is experiencing it or not? Humility is the key.”  (“What Is the Fire of God?”  Fire of God Church)

 “And another young man that I know … shared with me his experience with glory fire. And he said he was privileged to see the Lord moving signs and wonders and glory manifestations in his church, even when he was very young. And he said that during revival meetings, the fire department was contacted after several people in the neighborhood saw the roof of the church on fire. And he explained that the church roof was not physically on fire, but it was a supernatural fire. And the Holy Spirit was allowing people in the neighborhood to see it.” (“How ‘Glory Fire’ of Azusa Street Revival Can Be Yours” Charisma News, November 13, 2020)

It has been recorded that St. Francis of Assisi and others were in a building worshiping God and other villagers could see flames of fire on top of the building. 

“If it be asked why the fire of God fell on Wales, the answer is simple: Fire falls where it is likely to catch and spread. As one has said, ‘Wales provided the necessary tinder.’ Here were thousands of believers unknown to each other, in small towns and villages and great cities, crying to God day after day for the fire of God to fall. This was not merely a ‘little talk with Jesus,’ but daily, agonizing intercession.”  (10 Things You Should Know about the Welsh Revival of 1904-06 April 1, 2019 | By: Sam Storms)

God is a consuming fire.  He consumes our very essence and being.  He is passionate about us so we need to be passionate about Him.  When you are passionate about someone you want to be with them and share your intimate thoughts and dreams and so it is with God. 

Living in His presence we can have the fuel that we need through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  It only takes a spark to set a fire.  Let’s live with the fire and passion of God to set a “fire” of His love upon the earth.  Be a “fire starter!”

Marcella Ward September 22, 2021