God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God and Fire

God And Fire

 Fire as divine love and protection

 Isa 4:5  And the Lord will create over the whole site, over every dwelling place of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy (a defense of divine love and protection).

Fire as purification

Mat 3:10  Even now the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees! Therefore every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Fire as empowering

Mat 3:11  "I baptize you with water for repentance, but the One who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to take off His sandals. He Himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Fire as Atonement

Lev 16:27  "But the bull of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be taken outside the camp, and they shall burn their hides, their flesh, and their refuse in the fire.  Note: The fire of the sacrifice was to purify causing the separated elements to ascend to the heavens.

Fire as Transformation

2Pe 3  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. …But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Fire as essential to all life

Nature tells us that fire is a necessary condition of life; its mission is to sustain life; and to purify, even when it dissolves. Extinguish the stores of fire in the universe, and you extinguish all being; universal death reigns.   All matter and in fact your body is in a constant state of fire – scientifically speaking.

Fire as the sign of God’s being.

• When God comes to EZEKIEL there is a "fire unfolding itself” in one place and the "the appearance of fire" in another. 
• Revelation speaks of Christ's eyes as a flame of "fire " and seven lamps of "fire" as the seven Spirits of God. 
• In Daniel a fiery stream is said "to go before God," in another place God’s throne is fiery flame, its wheels are burning fire, and in another place God’s eyes are lamps of fire. 
• Zechariah says God is a wall of fire.  The Psalms say God’s touch causes the mountains to smoke and
• Psalms and Hebrews speaks of God's ministers as flames of fire.

Fire as chastisement or judgment

In Deuteronomy 4:24, “Our God is a consuming fire,"

The Hebrew word for consuming is the word for eat and is so translated over 600 of the 655 times it occurs.  Most strikingly is this connection of fire and life shown in the facts of nutrition. For we actually burn in order to live; our food is the fuel; our bodies are furnaces; our nutrition is a process of combustion; we are, in fact, "aflame to the very tips of our fingers."

 (Deu 9:3)  "Know therefore today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you.

 (Deu 7:22)  "The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.

 Note that  in Deu 4:31 six verses after “Our God is a consuming fire”,  “For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

 Zep 3:8, 9  “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.  “For then I will give to the peoples purified lips, That all of them may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him shoulder to shoulder.

 Isa 4:4-6  When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, then the LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.  There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

 Isa 6:5-7  Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."

 Mal 3:1-4  “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.  “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 fullers’ soap.  “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.  “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

 Tit 2:14  who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

 Note the word torments in the Bible is the root word dealing with the testing method of determining the purity of precious metals.

 Fire showing a favorable answer from God

• Let us note, also, how often "fire" is the sign of a favorable answer from God: when God appears to MOSES at the Bush it is in "fire :"
• God answers GIDEON by "fire ;" and
• DAVID by "fire." - 1 Chron. xxi. 26.
• Again, when He answers ELIJAH on Carmel, it is by "fire;" and in "fire"
• ELIJAH himself ascends to God. So God sends to ELISHA, for aid, chariots and horses of "fire :"
• When the Psalmist calls, God answers by "fire." - Ps. 18. 6-8.
• And by the pillar of "fire" the Israelites were guided through the wilderness, and
• in "fire" God gave His law.
• And in "fire" the great gift of the Holy Ghost descends at Pentecost.

NEW TESTAMENT

Referring to the judgment of the Jews and the fall of Jerusalem Jesus stated:

(Luk 12:49)  "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!  Yet is is taught that all Israel will be saved.

 (Mar 9:49)  "For everyone will be salted with fire.  Either through trials, chastisement or purifying judgment.  Salt is a preservative and has a burnt offering connection – every burnt offering was sprinkled with salt.

 1Co 3:13-15  each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.  If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

 Ps. 18:12 says that "coals of fire" go before God,

 The mysterious “fires” of Gehenna, of which Christ speaks (kindled for purification), as in a special sense the sinner’s doom in the coming ages. But taught by the clearest statements of Scripture (confirmed as they are by many analogies of nature), we see in these “fires” not a denial of, but a mode of fulfilling, the promise-“ Behold, I make all things new.”

 See Is. 47:14-5, quoted by many Fathers, where the Septuagint has a remarkable reading - "You hast coals of fire, sit upon them, they will be to you a help."

Early Church Fathers

S. AMBROSE, on Ps. i., says: The fiery sword at the gate of Paradise shows "that he who returns to it comes back by fire."

ORIGEN says, "As bodily diseases require some nauseous drug * * or actual cautery, how much more is it to he understood that God, our Physician * * should employ (for healing) penal measures of this kind, and even the punishment of fire. * * The fury of God's vengeance is profitable for the purgation of souls. That the punishment, which is said to be applied by fire, is applied with the object of healing, is taught by IS. iv. 4." - De prin. ii. x. 6.

S. JEROME says: "Fire is God's last medicine for the ten tribes, and for heretics, and for all sinners," that after God has tried death and destruction, and they have not even then repented, "He may consume them as He did Sodom and Gomorrah; that when consumed, and when the divine fire shall have burned up all that is vilest in them, they themselves shall be delivered as a brand snatched from the burning." - In Amos iv. ii. "Therefore (i.e., to effect a cure) the world which 'lies in the evil one' is burned with divine fire in the Day of Judgment, and the bloody city is laid upon coals of fire." - In Ezech. xxiv. "When they perish in fire * * or are destroyed in the fire of their prince the devil, or certainly are burnt in the fire of which the Lord said, 'I am come to send fire on the earth,' and are (thus) brought back from their former ways and do penance, the whole earth shall be full of the glory of the Lord." - In Hab. ii. 12. Indeed,

S. JEROME is full of this teaching, see, e.g., his remarks on Mal. iii. 2-3; Hos. iv. 13 ; Joel ii. I ; Amos vii. 4, &c., &c. "Finally, after tortures and punishments, the soul brought forth from the outer darkness, and having paid the very last farthing, says, I shall behold His righteousness. * * Now he who after God's wrath, says that he sees God's righteousness (justification) promises himself the sight of Christ."- In Micah vii. 8. So the old commentator (in S. JEROME), speaking of God, says, "He is fire, that He may expel the devil's cold." -In Ps. clxvii. 18. To the same effect much might he quoted from S. GREGORY of Nyssa. The evil man after death will not become "a sharer in the divine nature, till the cleansing fire shall have removed the stains mingled with the soul." - Orat. de mort., ii. p. 1067. And again, " Thus • • the soul which is united to sin must be set in the fire, so that, that which is unnatural and vile * • may be removed, consumed by the eternal fire." - De an. et Res. ii. p. 658. Here the eternal fire cleanses.

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

God’s Judgement brings Salvation!

• 2 main attributes of God – Justice and Mercy.  (Psa 130:4)  But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be honored and respected.
• Garden of Eden – Judgment and mercy demonstrated (Gen 3:15) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
• Your salvation happened because you felt convicted – which was a judgment resulting in salvation. 
• “In a sense most real, judgment is present and continuous - The world is full of judgment days.” - Emerson

 (Exo 34:6,7)  Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;    who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished..." 

Despite “everlasting” judgment on Sodom:

(Eze 16:53)  "I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and those of Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore your fortunes among them, 

 Judgment and Mercy Demonstrated

We may note a remarkable reading in the Septuagint, "I will set judgment unto hope." - Is. 28 17. 

(Psa 62:12)  And lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work. 

(Psa 99:8)  O LORD our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, And yet an avenger of their evil deeds. 

(Psa 101:1) I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises. 

(Psa 33:5)  He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD. 

(Psa 36:6)  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. [meaning safe sailing – no shipwrecks in deep water]  O LORD, You preserve man and beast. 

(Isa 40:1)  "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.  "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins." 

(Isa 1:27)  Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness. 

(Isa 26:9)  At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 

(Isa 51)  "Pay attention to Me, O My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.  "My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly. 

(Isa 30:18)  Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. 

(Isa 33)  The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.  And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The respect of the LORD is his treasure. 

(Isa 33:22)  For the LORD is our judge, The LORD is our lawgiver, The LORD is our king; He will save us-- 

(Isa 45)  "I am a righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. 

(Zec 9:9)  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation,  

(Isa 2:4)  And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. 

(Isa 40:10)  Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.  Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. 

(Isa 59:17)  He put on righteousness like a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle. 

(Isa 61:2)  To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 

(Jer 33)  'In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.  'In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell in safety; and this is the name by which she will be called: the LORD is our righteousness.' 

(Hos 2:19)  "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion, 

(Eze 24:13)  "In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you, Yet you are not clean, You will not be cleansed from your filthiness again Until I have spent My wrath on you. 

(Rev 14:6)  And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people;  and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."

 Jesus Brings Judgement Resulting In Salvation

(Psa 2)  'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.  'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'" 

(Joh 12)  "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." 

(Joh 9:39)  Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind." 

(Mat 12:18)  "BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES. 

(Joh 5)  "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 

(Joh 3:17)  "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” 

(Jam 2:13)  For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.  (Rom 12:21)  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

 The Dead Preached To – Justice & Mercy demonstrated again.

(1Pe 4)  but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

 Restoration Of All Things

(Act 3:21)  whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all [things*] about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.  *NOTE THE WORD 'THINGS' IN THIS VERSE IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS

What Is Truth? 1, 2 and 3

How To Develop Your Gifting

How To Develop Your Gifting

How To Develop Your Gifting

How To Do The Right Thing

How To Do The Right Thing

How To Heal Deep Wounds

How To Heal Deep Wounds

Remember you're aiming for the "but God" stage" - that stage when you can say, "Yes, this and that happened, but God worked it out!"

Miracle Mind Sets 1, 2 & 3

Miracle Mind Sets 1, 2 & 3

Miracle Mind Sets 1, 2 & 3

Miracle Mind Sets 1, 2 & 3

Miracle Mind Sets 1, 2 & 3

Miracle Mind Sets 1, 2 & 3

• They acknowledged the power and authority of Jesus the Christ.
• They came humbly.  They didn't try to bargain or earn their miracle.
• Their faith was IN Jesus the Christ, NOT their faith.
• Some didn't have to be in the presence of or touched by Jesus the Christ.  His word was enough and some didn't even have to hear Jesus speak it directly to receive their miracle.
• They were open to receiving whatever help came, be it unexpected, unwelcome or unwanted.
• They were willing to do something they didn't feel like doing.
• They got with people of like mind, faith and purpose to create "group faith." 
• They had to trust others, receive help from others and let others carry them if necessary in the pursuit of their miracle.
• They were able to receive instruction.
• They persisted despite obstacles, crowds, unfavorable status in life, rejections and setbacks.
• They got out of their environment to pursue their miracle.
• If they had doubts or some unbelief, they brought those to God and trusted Him to help them overcome it.
• They accepted miracles don't always come easy and that sometimes things seem to get worse before they get better.

When Jesus said, "I give you power", he wasn't delegating or transferring power.  He meant, " I, Jesus the Christ, give you power."  The electric company gives your house power, but it is NOT your power.  You have access to that power but the power belongs to the electric company.  It is never delegated or given to you; you are allowed access.  The power of Jesus the Christ is manifested in proportion to the degree Jesus the Christ is formed in us AND followed, obeyed and believed IN by us.  Jesus's power is NOT delegated or transferred TO us.

Faith must be properly worked to be effective.  The power of God is manifested to the degree Christ is formed in us via faith, obedience and transformation. 

Maturity vs. Immaturity

Maturity vs. Immaturity

Maturity vs. Immaturity

Maturity vs. Immaturity

Maturity vs. Immaturity

Maturity:
Recognizing that no operation of the will of men can stand in the way of a God centered life
No excuse making
You do what needs to be done
You avoid misconduct
You don't act rashly
You are not hypocritical or deceptive
You see faults but don't exaggerate or hyperfocus on them
You say what needs to be said and speak plainly
You don't resist or resent valid criticism
You're always sincere, never pretentious
You follow your conscience regardless of pressure
You learn from your mistakes
You avoid corruption by others
You seek the truth ALWAYS regardless of where it takes you