Watch You Burn

"Do not put out the Spirit's fire!" 1 Thessalonians 5:19

 

Here is a seven question quiz on Supernatural Fire in the Old Testament.  How many can you answer correctly?

 

1. What two sinful cities were destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven?

 

2. When the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, what did they follow by night?

 

3. What did the seraph touch trembling Isaiah's tongue with?

 

4. What did the angel use to guard the entrance to Eden?

 

5. How did God first appear to Moses?

 

6. What two men saw a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire?

 

7. What mountain did the Lord descend upon with fire?  

 

God loves fire. He allowed the ancients to invent it. The above are only a smattering of myriad references in the Bible reflecting use of fire. Are there any references to fire in the New Testament? Yes, and they’re glorious. Except for the obvious warnings about the fires of hell reserved for the devil, his angels, and those who refuse to take the free gift of forgiveness and life from Jesus, I believe most of the instances of fire in the New Covenant are good and empowering messages that should cause us to "go after Jesus more!"

 

When Jesus came, everything changed! He took our deserved punishment. He endured God's wrath for our sin.  No longer does the Sinai mountain quake to cause fear, but to invite us to experience God's powerful love! No longer does fire keep us from the Garden. The fire of the Holy Spirit draws us in! No longer does God wipe out whole cities through fire and brimstone (He told James and John they didn't really know Him because of their desire to call down fire on a Samaritan village; Luke 9:54), but He’s wooing whole cities to Himself! He’s going to come back from heaven "in blazing fire with His powerful angels" (2 Thess. 1:7); but for Jesus-lovers, it’s a welcoming warmth and a new beginning!

 

Do you want empowering and life like never before?  Ask for the Spirit's fire to descend upon you! He came like "tongues of fire" resting on each one at Pentecost and the "fired-up ones" turned the world right-side-up!

 

John said that Jesus came to "baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11). I take that fire not as bad news, but as a declaration: "I'm going to empower you to do greater things in My Kingdom than you could even imagine!"

 

The overwhelming vision of Jesus that John had describes the One who loves you this way: "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire!" (Rev 1:14) Burn right through me Jesus, burn away the dross and make me more like You!

 

What is stirring inside you for the Kingdom? What do you want to stir inside you for your daily walk with Jesus? 

 

Let God set you on fire! People will come watch you burn!

—Rev. Paul W. Kummer