The Fire of God

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist speaks of a baptism Christ will bring that involves the Holy Spirit and fire.  He said "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Another way to say baptism is initiation, debut, introduction, inauguration, launch, rite of passage.  God wants us to enter into a new level of consecration in Him that involves fire. 

In the old testament, fire was used for the dedication of offerings made to God, as burnt offerings.  This was made for a sweet savour to God.  As it says in Lev 3:16 11Then the priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar as food, an offering by fire to the LORD."  In order for fire to burn, there must be a sacrifice on the altar.  We are to be that fuel in a spiritual sense.  When we are truly and fully surrendered to God, we give Him something to burn and His Spirit consumes us and it is a pleasing aroma to God.

Fire was also used in judgment when the children of Israel rebelled.  It says in Numbers 11:1 "Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp."  The same fire of God that can consume the saint and use him for glory can consume the lukewarm and devour the enemies of God.  This is to eliminate the sin that pollutes and poisons God's house.  In the end God will get his glory but it is far better to be an object He uses for his glory and eternal pleasure than punishment and eternal anger.  The purpose of judgment is to turn peoples' hearts back to God before He destroys them entirely.  In this case, the children of Israel repented when the fire broke out and God stopped the death.

Fire was also used for guidance as the Pillar of Fire in Exodus 13 21By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.  The Holy Spirit similarly is a guide leading us into all truth.  When following God's presence, he takes us through a safe and secure path where we are able to conquer every enemy and gain land for God.  This is why it is vital to stay focused on God and follow His leading not our own understanding or vision. 

Fire was used for protection in Exodus 14 for 19"Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night."  Praise God at crucial times in our life, God's presence is like Fire.  His angels are flames of fire shielding us from known and unknown enemies.  His ministers are flames of fire (psalm 104:4)

Fire was meant for purifying.  In Zechariah 13:9 it says, "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" God sends His Spirit's fire on us to burn out the impurities that make us dull and dirty.  He cleans us up as we yield to Him so that He can shine more brightly through us and so that He can be proud to call us His own, so He can recognize us as His own and so that we will recognize that He is our God, the one we serve and adore and none other.

Fire was used for cleansing the land.  In Duet 7, God gave instructions on how the children of Israel were to respond when they defeated their enemies.  It says 5But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire."  Once our vessel is clean we are able to take ground for God's kingdom and destroy the idols that have other people and places captive.  We do this through intercessory prayer and using the gifts of the Spirit to impart healing and deliverance to people.

Fire not only describes God's person (He is a consuming fire Deut 4:24) but God's movement (he answers by fire 1 kings 18:38),  and appearance (His eyes are like fire Rev 2:18).  Fire is a Key component of God and by the power of the Spirit, He wants to immerse us in fire to launch us into a realm of greater authority and effectiveness for the sake of His kingdom.