FIRE

All of creation including the powerful fire praise and worship the Almighty Living GOD, fulfilling His word.

 

 Praise the Lord from the earth,

You great sea creatures and all the depths;

 Fire and hail, snow and clouds; 

Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Psalm 148:7-8

 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.

Psalm 29:7

 Clouds and darkness surround Him;

 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. 

A fire goes before Him, And burns up His enemies round about.

Psalm 97:2-3

GOD has all authority over all of creation. There are times when man cannot stand against the force of fearsome fires, hail, floods and stormy winds. Man stands helpless, unable to protect himself and others during times of natural disasters that are so very forceful and destructive. The most experienced firefighters, an army of numerous mighty men, the most modern high-tech equipment fail us. The only One Who does not need to move a finger but only speak a word to quench the fire, to change the course of the wind and to send down rain, is the Almighty GOD, The LORD, the GOD Who created and sustains the universe. He is the Holy GOD and GOD of love and compassion. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is faithful to His promises and His mercy endures forever. 

It is impossible for us to stand against this great and awesome GOD in pride and rebellion. How important it is then, for us to submit to GOD and fulfil His word as the fire and stormy winds do, so that we may be protected and blessed! May we diligently seek Him and worship Him.

Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! 

That the mountains might shake at Your presence-

- As fire burns brushwood, As fire causes water to boil-- 

To make Your name known to Your adversaries, 

That the nations may tremble at Your presence!

Isaiah 64:1-2

In many instances in the Scriptures, the Presence of GOD is associated with fire.

And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. 

So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

Exodus 3:2

For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, 

and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, 

throughout all their journeys.

Exodus 40:38

 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, 

and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. 

Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 

And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, 

Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 

Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. 

And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Exodus 19:17-20

Although GOD is a consuming fire, Moses was not fearful of GOD because He knew the heart of GOD which is love and had a close relationship with Him. The most compassionate GOD extends His grace through the fire to draw us to Himself to His heart of love.

Consuming Fire

Different substances are affected in different ways by fire depending on the intensity of the fire and the period of exposure. Most substances are consumed if the fire is intense and burns for a long time. 

 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. 

For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, 

much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 

whose voice then shook the earth; 

but now He has promised, saying, 

"Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven."

 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, 

as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, 

let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 

For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:25-29

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; 

and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:6

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. 

Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Luke 3:9

Fire consumes things that are flammable. Similarly, GOD’S fire consumes things that aren’t spiritually lasting or eternal. During the different seasons in our lives GOD points out to us various things in our lives that we need to let go. If we have listening ears and an obedient heart, well and good! If not, and especially if someone is praying for us, the LORD will shake us in some way so that it would be easy for us to let go of things that hinder our relationship with GOD. The shaking could come in the form of sickness, an accident, a problem with a relationship, financial situations and so on. These could be GOD’S pruning scissors. We could still be holding on because of insecurity or stubbornness. Our spiritual ears may be dull or we may not be listening to what GOD is saying to us because we are preoccupied with various other things. Then, GOD in His mercy brings us to the place of being refined with fire. If we are attached to flammable things or if perishable things are attached to us, when fire comes, sadly, we will be consumed together with such things. It is only the soul and spirit of man that are eternal and that will not be consumed by the fire of GOD.

When there are bushfires, those who are at risk are given warning to quickly move out of their homes. Some people take the warning and obey and are saved. Others find it difficult to let go of their house, property, animals and so on. Some individuals say that they want to stay and protect the house from the fire when even the experienced and well equipped fire fighters cannot stand against the raging flames! How sad it is to hear of such instances where people perished because of their foolish decision! They underestimated the power of the fire and did not heed the warnings!

GOD requires our whole lives and expects us to lay our most precious possessions, positions and persons on the altar of sacrifice like how Abraham laid his precious son Isaac on the altar of obedient sacrifice. Isaac was saved from death and Abraham and Isaac experienced a new GOD-centered relationship!

 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 Now if anyone builds on this foundation 

with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; 

for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; 

and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 

If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; 

but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Our work and service for our Master will also be tested by fire and rewarded accordingly.

Are we serving GOD according to His will and in line with His purposes?

We may be toiling hard in our service for the LORD and our work might seem prosperous in the eyes of the world. On that Day, at the testing with fire, it will become clear as to whether we built with wood, hay and straw that are carnal and perishable. If so, all our effort, energy and time spent in our service for the LORD will be in vain! It would be like giving your life to build a beautiful house and then watch it being destroyed by fire within a few minutes!!

We need to face reality and know the absolute Truth. GOD is GOD and we cannot change Him nor the principles He has set. We have to humble ourselves before Him, seek Him diligently and change our ways so that we may find His mercy and come under His grace and favor. We need to live according to His ways and serve according to His will.

Refining Fire

 "But who can endure the day of His coming? 

And who can stand when He appears? 

For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap.

 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; 

He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, 

That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness. 

"Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the Lord,

 As in the days of old, As in former years. And I will come near you for judgment;

 I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, 

And against those who turn away an alien-- Because they do not fear Me," 

Says the Lord of hosts. 

"For I am the Lord, I do not change; 

Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

Malachi 3:2-6

When GOD refines His people in the fire, He sits with His eyes constantly on them, like a refiner of silver. He knows how long the silver needs to be in the fire. He wants the silver refined and not over exposed to the fire and spoiled. The moment the silver is purified and refined in the fire, He removes it from the fire. When an observer asked the silversmith “How do you determine the silver is perfectly refined?”, the silversmith answered her, “Oh, it is simple! The moment I see My image clearly reflected in the piece of silver, it is done!!” So it is with the LORD and His people.

Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, 

but the wicked shall do wickedly; 

and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

Daniel 12:10

 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. 

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, 

Nor shall the flame scorch you. 

For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; 

I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

Isaiah 43:1-3

 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; 

and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, 

"Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" 

They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 

"Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire;

 and they are not hurt, 

and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

Daniel 3:24-25

Everyone who desires to live in the Presence of GOD on earth and then in heaven will be put through spiritual fire on earth to be purified of everything deserving of hell fire! Hell fire is unquenchable and eternal. It was prepared for the rebellious devil and his angels. Unfortunately, those who follow their ways also are destined to be eternally doomed there.

 For You, O God, have tested us;

 You have refined us as silver is refined. 

You brought us into the net; 

You laid affliction on our backs. 

You have caused men to ride over our heads; 

We went through fire and through water; 

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Psalm 66:10-12

After we are refined by fire, we will reflect the glory of GOD!

 For I,' says the Lord,

 'will be a wall of fire all around her, 

and I will be the glory in her midst.' "

Zechariah 2:5

We may put in much effort, time and money to build and run our Churches.

In the end, only what has been paid for, by the blood of JESUS, what has been purchased on the cross, and those things that reflect the LORD JESUS in the Body Of CHRIST will be valid and will last! Everything else would be wasted energy, time and money!! Those would be deviation from the Truth and diversion from the path of Righteousness.

Revival Fire 

 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

 For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, 

whose name is Holy: 

"I dwell in the high and holy place, 

With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, 

To revive the spirit of the humble, 

And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 57:15

One who has a contrite heart is open to listen to criticism, take correction and is quick to sincerely repent and make amends. Such an individual is a candidate for revival!

Carnal and materialistic attachments and attractions are removed as we let go of these in obedience to the LORD.

We are cleaned of all impurities such as pride, stubbornness, selfishness, hurt, anger and so on as we respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and repent of such sins. The blood of JESUS CHRIST cleanses us from all sin.

All relationships with people are purified as we lay our closest loved ones on the altar to give the LORD JESUS the first place in our lives!

Then the LORD will send His revival fire to renew, rekindle, reawaken and revive our spirits.

But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 

'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, 

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; 

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, 

Your young men shall see visions, 

Your old men shall dream dreams. 

And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; 

And they shall prophesy. 

I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: 

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 

The sun shall be turned into darkness, 

And the moon into blood, 

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 

And it shall come to pass 

That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.'

Acts 2:16-21

Following the fall of Adam and Eve through disobedience, they were driven out of the beautiful Garden of Eden and were kept out by cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way.

 So He drove out the man; 

and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, 

and a flaming sword which turned every way,

 to guard the way to the tree of life.

Genesis 3:24

Those who overcome, in the end, will be given access to the tree of life!

 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, 

which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '

Revelation 2:7

Unquenchable Fire 

His winnowing fan is in His hand, 

and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, 

and gather His wheat into the barn;

but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Matthew 3:12

 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 

It is better for you to enter into life maimed, 

rather than having two hands, to go to hell,

 into the fire that shall never be quenched-

- where 'Their worm does not die,

And the fire is not quenched.'

 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.

 It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, 

to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-

- where 'Their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched.' 

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. 

It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, 

rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire-

- where 'Their worm does not die, 

And the fire is not quenched.'

Mark 9:43-48 

 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 

'You shall not murder, 

and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause 

shall be in danger of the judgment. 

And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' 

shall be in danger of the council.

 But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:21-22

 For behold, the Lord will come with fire And with His chariots, like a whirlwind, 

To render His anger with fury, And His rebuke with flames of fire. 

For by fire and by His sword The Lord will judge all flesh; 

And the slain of the Lord shall be many.

Isaiah 66:15-16

 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,

 in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, 

and the elements will melt with fervent heat; 

both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, 

what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 

looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, 

because of which the heavens will be dissolved, 

being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, 

look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:10-13

 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, 

from the Lord out of the heavens.

Genesis 19:24

 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this,

 that the Lord, 

having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, 

afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, 

but left their own abode, 

He has reserved in everlasting chains 

under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 

as Sodom and Gomorrah, 

and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, 

having given themselves over to sexual immorality 

and gone after strange flesh, 

are set forth as an example, 

suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Jude 1:5-7

"And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men 

Who have transgressed against Me. 

For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. 

They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

Isaiah 66:24

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, 

because your faith grows exceedingly, 

and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 

so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God 

for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 

which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, 

that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, 

for which you also suffer; 

since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 

and to give you who are troubled rest with us 

when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, 

and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-8

 But you, beloved, 

building yourselves up on your most holy faith, 

praying in the Holy Spirit, 

keep yourselves in the love of God,

 looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 

but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, 

hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Jude 1:20-23

Then the beast was captured, 

and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, 

by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast 

and those who worshiped his image. 

These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 19:20

 Now when the thousand years have expired, 

Satan will be released from his prison 

and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, 

Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, 

whose number is as the sand of the sea. 

They went up on the breadth of the earth 

and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. 

And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 

The devil, who deceived them,

 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone 

where the beast and the false prophet are. 

And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, 

from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. 

And there was found no place for them. 

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, 

and books were opened. 

And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.

 And the dead were judged according to their works,

 by the things which were written in the books. 

The sea gave up the dead who were in it,

 and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them.

 And they were judged, each one according to his works.

 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. 

This is the second death.

Revelation 20:7-14