Consuming Fire...

“For our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:29

How many people would actually compare God to a consuming fire? It says in the Bible that God is a consuming fire, but how many of think of Him that way? According to the dictionary, consuming means, “to devour, to absorb or engross, and to be completely engulfed.” If God is a consuming fire, what does this mean for us today?

I’d like to take a couple of minutes and show some attributes of fire.

Attributes of fire:

1. Fire is contagious…
If God is a consuming fire, and we abide in Him, and He abides in us, then it stands to reason we should be on fire as well. If we have been born again, and we are saved, we have something to get excited about! If we aren’t on fire for Jesus Christ, then we must examine ourselves and figure out what is wrong. Just as fire spreads, so does excitement. When others see the excitement that we have for Christ, that excitement will spread and they will get excited too!

2. Fire gets people moving…
We can sit around for so long doing nothing, but when a fire starts, you would HAVE to get up and move! Fire makes us get up on our feet, and move! No more sitting on the sidelines. When the fire is there, we must be moving! There is a lost and dying world out there, desperately needing this fire that we have. We must be moving and telling others about the joy that we have!

3. A consuming fire cannot be quenched…
When a fire is “all consuming”, it cannot be put out. Just look at Jeremiah 20:7-9. Jeremiah is upset here that everyone makes fun and mocks him, so he says that he will never mention God anymore. He tries not to mention God, but he can’t because he says the Word was in his heart “as a burning fire shut up in his bones”! Jeremiah couldn’t stop talking about God if he wanted to. Are we this way? If we are on fire for Jesus Christ, then we can’t quench that fire!

4. Fire burns in a “V” formation…
Have you ever watched fire as it moves? It moves in a “V” formation, and it spreads out as it moves. When we get on fire for God, we can spread that fire into our community and cities, and it will spread out! Don’t underestimate what your one flame can do for God. We may be the only Bible some people read. If we committed to trying to lead even one person a year to Salvation, it would only take one generation before the entire world was reached! If every follower of Christ had one flame, we could light up the World.

5. Fire leaves it mark…
When a fire is done moving through, you can tell that a fire has been there. It leaves what are called, “alligator marks” in wood. You can see the burnt, and you can tell that a fire has been there! When we are on fire for God, people should be able to tell! We should be leaving behind marks from our actions! Can people tell that you are a follower of Christ? Let me ask it this way: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

6. Fire starts with a small spark…

“As a large fire is started with kindling of small twigs and branches, even so a large revival is started by the prayers and obedience of a few people!

A fire gets started small. A forest fire can be started with one match. Don’t underestimate what one flame can cause! If everyone reading this blog had just ONE spark, we would have a HUGE fire. If we want to start a fire for God, we MUST become the fuel for God!

For HIM,
Dan

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