For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:24 NKJV
There was an old fiery preacher named Peter Cartwright who was known for telling it like it was. He was preaching near Washington D.C. And the people of the church heard that Andrew Jackson was coming to visit them.
So they pulled Cartwright aside and said: "Listen Peter, the President is going to be here on Sunday and we know that sometimes you can get kind of offensive, so would you tone it down. We don't want to upset the President."
So Peter got up in the pulpit the next Sunday and his first three sentences were these: "I understand that the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson is with us this morning. I have been asked to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn't repent."
The church was appalled, but when worship was over President Jackson grabbed Cartwright's hand, shook it and said,"Sir, if I had an army of men like you I could whip the world."
John the Baptizer proclaims "I baptize you with water for repentance,but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
It has been said, That Change is not merely necessary to life, Change is Life.
And a consuming Fire truly brings about change.
in the firefighting community, there is a phrase that is used to express a critical moment in the beginning stage of a fire.
It is when the temperature gets to a certain level to which everything combustible in a room spontaneously bursts into flames, spreading the fire immediately and instantaneously.
This phrase is called the "Flash Point".
It is the point at which everything that can burn will burn.
The scriptures tell us that burning is a good thing when it comes to the kingdom of God.
Jesus said "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49).
Jesus came to send fire… Jesus is a flamethrower!
The writer of Hebrews proclaims: "Our God is a consuming fire!" (Heb. 12:29).
When a home catches on fire, the fire at first is grasping for everything ..... that it can burn.
Most of the material in the house becomes fuel for the fire.
But there comes a point when the fire has affected the overall temperature of the house to the level, That it has brought it to the flash point. To the point where something powerful is about to happen.
Someone asked Jean Cocteau, the French writer, artist, and film director, what one thing he would take if his house were on fire.
His reply was absolutely astounding. He said, "I would take the Fire."
Now, in one sense, Cocteau's answer seems to be an obvious, .almost practical solution.
If you take the fire from a burning house, then the home will no longer burn.
But I am convinced he meant it in another way.
As a writer and an artist, he knew that fire was passion and passion is an indispensable ingredient in the creative process.
And if he could have one thing, he would choose fire He would choose Passion every time.
Passion that fire in the belly is the catalyst of every believer.
And the level of Passion for God can be seen through the temperature of the fire.
It is the fire of passion that changes a life, and a passionate life .can absolutely change and affect those we encounter!
It seems to me that the Fire, that passion starts in our individual commitment to Christ - Which in turn affects the family, and in turn, affects all those that we encounter.
Your Passion for God is what calls you to be open to a complete and thorough cleansing.
To be a new creation in Christ Jesus.
If you follow your passion for God, it will take you to a spiritual flash point, and at that point is when you will ignite.
Now, if you desire a watered down gospel, you will fizzle.
But if you seek the same fire that John the Baptist was preaching about, then you must be willing to catch fire - To catch fire and burn.
Are you letting the Holy Spirit consume you to transform you? Does the word of God, does Worship bring you into his presence?
So they pulled Cartwright aside and said: "Listen Peter, the President is going to be here on Sunday and we know that sometimes you can get kind of offensive, so would you tone it down. We don't want to upset the President."
So Peter got up in the pulpit the next Sunday and his first three sentences were these: "I understand that the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson is with us this morning. I have been asked to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn't repent."
The church was appalled, but when worship was over President Jackson grabbed Cartwright's hand, shook it and said,"Sir, if I had an army of men like you I could whip the world."
John the Baptizer proclaims "I baptize you with water for repentance,but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
It has been said, That Change is not merely necessary to life, Change is Life.
And a consuming Fire truly brings about change.
in the firefighting community, there is a phrase that is used to express a critical moment in the beginning stage of a fire.
It is when the temperature gets to a certain level to which everything combustible in a room spontaneously bursts into flames, spreading the fire immediately and instantaneously.
This phrase is called the "Flash Point".
It is the point at which everything that can burn will burn.
The scriptures tell us that burning is a good thing when it comes to the kingdom of God.
Jesus said "I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49).
Jesus came to send fire… Jesus is a flamethrower!
The writer of Hebrews proclaims: "Our God is a consuming fire!" (Heb. 12:29).
When a home catches on fire, the fire at first is grasping for everything ..... that it can burn.
Most of the material in the house becomes fuel for the fire.
But there comes a point when the fire has affected the overall temperature of the house to the level, That it has brought it to the flash point. To the point where something powerful is about to happen.
Someone asked Jean Cocteau, the French writer, artist, and film director, what one thing he would take if his house were on fire.
His reply was absolutely astounding. He said, "I would take the Fire."
Now, in one sense, Cocteau's answer seems to be an obvious, .almost practical solution.
If you take the fire from a burning house, then the home will no longer burn.
But I am convinced he meant it in another way.
As a writer and an artist, he knew that fire was passion and passion is an indispensable ingredient in the creative process.
And if he could have one thing, he would choose fire He would choose Passion every time.
Passion that fire in the belly is the catalyst of every believer.
And the level of Passion for God can be seen through the temperature of the fire.
It is the fire of passion that changes a life, and a passionate life .can absolutely change and affect those we encounter!
It seems to me that the Fire, that passion starts in our individual commitment to Christ - Which in turn affects the family, and in turn, affects all those that we encounter.
Your Passion for God is what calls you to be open to a complete and thorough cleansing.
To be a new creation in Christ Jesus.
If you follow your passion for God, it will take you to a spiritual flash point, and at that point is when you will ignite.
Now, if you desire a watered down gospel, you will fizzle.
But if you seek the same fire that John the Baptist was preaching about, then you must be willing to catch fire - To catch fire and burn.
Are you letting the Holy Spirit consume you to transform you? Does the word of God, does Worship bring you into his presence?
If not then you need to let God rekindled your first Love and let that fire in your belly begin to consume you.
Or maybe, you are right where the apostles were on that great day of the feast, the day of Pentecost.
There were 120 gathered together that day in the Home of the Mother of the Gospel writer John Mark.
There were many differences between these 120 on that day,but there was one thing that they all had in common.
They had an expectancy.
And the wonderful thing is they did not even know what to expect. And Personally, I think that is the best that way.
It is such a blessing to see the Holy Spirit at work touching someone unexpectedly.
If you will let God's Word be the Fuel to your passionate Fire,You will soon ignite.
It is not the preacher preaching his best that will set this house of the Lord on fire. It is not the even the music or the musicians doing their best that will set this house of the Lord on Fire.
Or maybe, you are right where the apostles were on that great day of the feast, the day of Pentecost.
There were 120 gathered together that day in the Home of the Mother of the Gospel writer John Mark.
There were many differences between these 120 on that day,but there was one thing that they all had in common.
They had an expectancy.
And the wonderful thing is they did not even know what to expect. And Personally, I think that is the best that way.
It is such a blessing to see the Holy Spirit at work touching someone unexpectedly.
If you will let God's Word be the Fuel to your passionate Fire,You will soon ignite.
It is not the preacher preaching his best that will set this house of the Lord on fire. It is not the even the music or the musicians doing their best that will set this house of the Lord on Fire.
It is when the people of God let it begin to happen and expect it to happen.
And when you expect something, you will have a passion until it arrives.
Have expectancy in your heart have your spiritual eyes ready for the all consuming fire of God.
Create an atmosphere in your study, in your worship and in your praise that will make you combustible.
It is about the substance of Your heart.
In a little town there was a small church. One night smoke and flames consumed this little church. People from all over town stood in the streets and watched the church as it burned.
The local preacher drove up and noticed several people that he had not seen in some time. Walking up to one man he asked "Where have you been, I haven't seen you around here in a long while". The man responded, "That's because I've never seen this church on fire!"
God ignites individuals, which in turn ignites the Churches.
The disciples were set on fire individually, ..... and then there was a church on fire!
What happened on that day? The Scriptures tell us that the disciples , were waiting for the Spirit to come.
They had an expectancy. They knew that something was going to happen.
They were creating an atmosphere for spontaneous Combustion.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come; they were all with one accord and in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were.
Don't you yearn to hear that same sound!
There was no quenching the Spirit on that day. They were ready to burn.
And they were not disappointed.
John Wesley was once asked the secret about his ministry.
He said, "I ask God to set me on fire and let people watch me burn."
My prayer for all of us is this: May our hearts be so conditioned and ready that just a small spark would start a forest flame of passion and desire for God. May God consume you that others will look at you and ask about the fire that is within you. May God bring on the fire in each of our lives.
And when you expect something, you will have a passion until it arrives.
Have expectancy in your heart have your spiritual eyes ready for the all consuming fire of God.
Create an atmosphere in your study, in your worship and in your praise that will make you combustible.
It is about the substance of Your heart.
In a little town there was a small church. One night smoke and flames consumed this little church. People from all over town stood in the streets and watched the church as it burned.
The local preacher drove up and noticed several people that he had not seen in some time. Walking up to one man he asked "Where have you been, I haven't seen you around here in a long while". The man responded, "That's because I've never seen this church on fire!"
God ignites individuals, which in turn ignites the Churches.
The disciples were set on fire individually, ..... and then there was a church on fire!
What happened on that day? The Scriptures tell us that the disciples , were waiting for the Spirit to come.
They had an expectancy. They knew that something was going to happen.
They were creating an atmosphere for spontaneous Combustion.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come; they were all with one accord and in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were.
Don't you yearn to hear that same sound!
There was no quenching the Spirit on that day. They were ready to burn.
And they were not disappointed.
John Wesley was once asked the secret about his ministry.
He said, "I ask God to set me on fire and let people watch me burn."
My prayer for all of us is this: May our hearts be so conditioned and ready that just a small spark would start a forest flame of passion and desire for God. May God consume you that others will look at you and ask about the fire that is within you. May God bring on the fire in each of our lives.
Thoughts inspired by J. Jeffrey Smead
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