OUR GOD IS A GOD OF FIRE

Hebrews 12: 29

"For our God is a consuming fire."

Throughout Scripture we see God revealing Himself in Fire and showing His power by Fire.

Remember how God revealed Himself to Moses?

Exodus 3: 1-5

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 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. Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.” So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

When God made a covenant with Abraham

Genesis 15: 17-18

"And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch (some translations use torch or lamp) that passed between those pieces. On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram."

(Background). In the earlier parts of Genesis 15 God told Abraham to prepare sacrifices for the Covenant to be made. Then at night Abraham fell into a deep sleep and saw the incident described in Genesis 15: 17-18. It was the time for the actual covenant "rite" to be performed. Note that there are 2 fiery figures that passed between the 2 pieces of the covenant offering - A smoking oven and a burning torch. The smoking oven is refering to God the Father and burning torch (lanp) to God the Word. Remember in Psalm where it says: "Thy Word is a lamp".

When Elijah confronted the false prophets

1 Kings 18: 24, 36-38

“Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

The Promise!

Matthew 3: 11

"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."

Promise fulfilled

Acts 2: 1-4

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

And the best? It is available to all!

Acts 2: 37-38

"Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

What you need? A thirst (desire) and then drinking (acting) in faith!

John 7: 37-39

"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those [a]believing in Him would receive; for the [b]Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."