On Fire for God Lev. 24:2 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Have you ever noticed how many things that are associated with God involve burning and fire?
God – Our God is a consuming fire, Heb 12:29, He led Israel by night in a pillar of fire, Ex 13:21, on mount Sinai, the Lord descended upon it in fire, Ex 19:18.
Jesus – his eyes were as a flame of fire, Rev 1:14, his feet… as if they burned in a furnace, Rev 1:15, he said, I am the light of the world, Jn 8:12.
The Holy Spirit – when he came, there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, Acts 2:3.
His Angels – who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire, Ps 104:4, the angel of the Lord appeared unto Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush, Ex 3:2.
His Supernatural Horses – the Lord protected Elisha from the Syrians by a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire, 2 Ki 6:17.
Even Hell – the Lord says, “Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels,” Matt 25:41.
And then consider all of those burnt sacrifices which were a sweet savor to the Lord – there are hundreds and hundreds of references in the Bible to fire and burning.
So, have you ever heard of anyone being “on fire for God?” That’s what Jesus said about John the Baptist, “He was a burning and a shining light,” Jn 5:35. He prepared an entire nation for the coming of their Messiah. How about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – you talk about being on fire for God!!
How is it that all these people and things are on fire for God and we are not? Isn’t that what we are supposed to be? Paul said, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light,” Eph 5:8. Did you think that we were supposed to be some sort of cool LED light? No. We, too, are supposed to be on fire for God! That’s how we give our light. John Wesley said, “Catch on fire and others will love to come watch you burn.”
Why is it that you aren’t on fire for God?
Perhaps because you’ve already been burned – you are to “burn continually” as a “light” for God – however, you’ve been burned by a friend; you have gotten burned out; you are burned up in your anger; or you are burning with lust; you are fired up about something other than the Lord; you got fired from your job; you fired off a heated comment or note to someone… and so you are already burned and, therefore, cannot burn for God – none of these change the fact that you are to be on fire for God.
Perhaps because you aren’t filled with the Spirit – the light that burns continually is “oil olive” a type of the Holy Spirit – you can’t be on fire for God without the Spirit of God – and for so many of us the fire of the Spirit of God has been quenched – there is only a spark and a flicker from time to time but no fire – no fire in our singing – no fire in our praying – no fire in our testimony – and no fire in our pulpits – Alexis de Tocqueville said, “I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors;…in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institution of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” We need to be emptied of all that quenches and be filled with the Spirit of God instead!! Then we’ll be a flame of righteousness.
Perhaps because you aren’t cleansed with the word of God – the oil olive was to be “pure” – Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you,” Jn 15:3 – and do you know what happens to you when that word gets in you? You burn!! The disciples said, “Did not out heart burn within us… while he opened to us the scriptures?” Lk 24:32. Jeremiah said, “…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,” Jer 20:9. You need to get into that Bible until it builds a cauldron of clean, hot fire in you that cannot be contained – then you’ll be on fire for God!!
Perhaps because you aren’t crucified with Christ – the pure oil olive was to be “beaten” – that was the only way to get it out of the olive – David prophesied of Jesus on the cross and said, “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels,” Ps 22:14 – when he tasted death for every man the fire of God’s wrath was upon him – the light of the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; his miracles don’t shine nearly as much his gospel does – Paul knew that he would never have the power of the Lord’s resurrection without “being made conformable to his death,” Phil 3:10 – and so Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ” and “I die daily” – the disciples were told that they would have to take up their cross daily – you’ll never shine with the fire of God without the “beating” that comes from the crucified life.
Perhaps because you aren’t saved by God – the children of Israel were commanded to “bring” the pure oil olive – and you have never come to the Lord to be saved – we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, Rom 12:1-2 – won’t you come to the Lord today and get on fire for God?
Conclusion: Christian you are to be on fire for God; ye are the light of the world; walk as children of light – quit burning for all the wrong causes – empty yourself of everything but the Spirit of God and be filled with the Spirit – get enough of the word of God in your heart to kindle a continuous flame – take up your cross and let the light of Christ shine through you – and if you aren’t saved, come to Jesus.