“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? 30Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.” Jeremiah 23:29-30
The word is like a fire, but the fire needs to burn so hot that it comes out of a man. It needs to burn so hot that a man cannot contain it. It needs to burn so hot that the bones can no longer keep it shut up. It makes it so you can’t shut up.
“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:9
Many Christians have a hard time preaching the good news to others. We need that to turn around. We need the Spirit to move so mightily on this generation that the word of God is like a burning fire that we cannot keep shut up in our bones. Grant it to us O Lord
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” Isaiah 42:1-3
This prophecy is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ and His bringing salvation to the Gentiles. Praise God, for I am a Gentile, a saved one. The Spirit of God plays the major part in salvation. Verse one says that the Spirit was upon God’s servant; again that servant is the One and only Jesus Christ. It was the power of the Spirit that brought forth salvation to the Gentiles. Verse three talks about a “smoking flax.” That is what happens when a fire is about to go out. It represents a life that is soon to be snuffed out. It represents Gentile’s desperate and holding out for truth, desiring salvation, but they have not much hope left. Church, there are millions of these smoking flax people all around us. We must not let the last flicker of hope go out. The answer again is found in verse one. It is a Spirit led, Spirit filled, Spirit powered believer who can cause the fire to burn. So much of what the church offers today is worldly and fleshy and void of the Spirit. No doubt many who use worldly means to reach the lost have sincere intentions. But we must understand that it is the world that smothers the fire, it is the absence of the Spirit that deprives fuel for the fire. “Quench not the Spirit.” (I Thessalonians 5:19). The Spirit does not need our help; we need the help of the Spirit. The Spirit of God just needs someone to perform through. If we quench the Spirit there is no other way for us to “bring forth judgment unto truth.” This generation like never before needs to be confronted by a Spirit filled people. You must be one.
“That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:2-3
Today is not much different than the days of Nehemiah. I hear reports all the time, not about Jerusalem, but about the church and the desperate state many are in. They may be doing well financially (rich and in need of nothing), but they are spiritually broken down. However, there is a remnant in the midst of this, you may be one of them, who will not be afflicted by this. Some will have to “come out from amongst her.” Some will be rejected by her. These remnant will be the Nehemiahs for our generation who lead the rebuilding of the wall and gates.
“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.” Leviticus 10:1-3
Christians are so willing to sing songs about the holiness of God. However, if they are not living holy lives, is it any different than Nadab and Abihu? Lord, help us to walk holy before we ever sing about holiness.
“And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.” Exodus 27:20
Aaron and his sons were ordered to use this oil to make sure the lamp burns night and day. This signifies to us that the Lord wants our fire always burning for Him. Lord, grant it to us that your Holy Ghost fire will always burn in us.
“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
The ax can be laid to your roots at any time. How’s your fruit?
“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Lk. 12:49
The NKJV says this verse with more clarity. “I came to send fire on the earth, how I wish it were already kindled.” What Jesus is saying is that the fire will be kindled at a later day. What day would that be? The day of Pentecost. That is the day the church received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and FIRE. We are called to be salt and light to this world. How often have you heard you are to be fire? Well, that is what you are to be so let it be kindled, let it burn.
“Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?” II Sam. 14:31
Absalom used fire to get Joab’s attention, this is why God wants us to be baptized in the Holy Ghost and FIRE. Fire gets people’s attention
“The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.” Pro. 30:15-16
John the Baptist said there is one coming after him that will baptize us in the Holy Ghost and fire. This baptism of fire means a couple things; a fire that refines us, and a fire that makes us zealous for God. So with that said, I pray that we all have that fire that says I can’t get enough, I want more of God.
