Fire! A Bible study about having The Fire of God
1. What is ‘having the Fire of God?’
A. What do you think it is?
B. Having the Fire of God is being deeply and completely zealous, passionate, desperate, hungry, and fervent for Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
C. True spiritual fire is a chemical reaction of 1. God’s touch on a person’s life and 2. their reaction/dedication to it
D. Having the Fire of God necessitates continually and repeatedly stirring up zeal for God
E. Having the Fire of God means giving the only reasonable response to the extreme call to give everything.
“Love so amazing so Divine, demands my soul, my life, my all”
F. What is Fire, what is it about, what does it look like, and why is it important?
-It’s not just emo
-Let me wet you appetite…
-It’s about being jealous for God (zeal for house)
-Getting a hold of that passion in life that we were all made for
-What’s it look Like?
Enthusiastic, but different and better
“enthusiastic”
[en_thu_siastic: meaning, “God-possessed.”]
-Having God’s Fire suggests that you are being consumed (Rom 12:1; Mk 9:49-50)
Having God’s Fire means being consumed for Jesus
2. Inspirational Examples of Fire
1. Phinehas:
Num 25:10-13 KJV-Based And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous7065 for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy7068. 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous7065 for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. (In Spanish = same word “Selo” -SRV)
Ú Same Hebrew word used for jealousy! Ex. Gen 30:1, Num 5:14 & 30
2. The Baptist & The Prophets
Mar 1:2-6 WEB As it is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face… 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness… 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him… 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey.
Joh 5:35 WEB [About John the Baptist…] ß ß
He was the
burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his
light.
The Point? Ú Go be a Baptist! – Or what ever denomination that exemplifies Jesus? But that’s the thing, if you’re a REAL Methodist for example, you’ll burn with the Fire that Wesley pointed too!
The prophets did all kinds of crazy things! What motivated them? What gave them the guts to do it?
Jer 20:7-9
(“Fire in bones!”)
3. Wesley Quotes
Thus the Spirit descended in fire upon the apostles, so ratifying their commission, as this does that of the priests. And the descent of this holy fire into our souls, to kindle in them devout affections, and such an holy zeal as burns up all unholiness, is a certain token of God's gracious acceptance. (Wesley - Lev 9:24)
Thus he who had burned with holy zeal for God and his honour, was now conveyed in fire into his immediate presence. (Wesley - 2King 2:11)
“…zeal for the glory of God and the souls of men swallows him up . But, though he is all on fire for these ends, yet he is not provoked to sharpness or unkindness toward any one.” (Wesley - 1Cor 13:5)
[“Wesley” - John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible]
4. Comacazies For Jesus
Comacazies always produce fire!
(911) There is a right and a wrong way to burn…
Let’s compare Comacazies with getting angry… “Did Jesus ever Get Angry?”
Right or wrong: Moses strikes the rock (Num 20:7-13)
Right or wrong: Jesus flips over the tables, (Joh 2:14-17; Mar 11:16-17) and gets mad over unwillingness to approve of healing on the Sabbath (Mar 3:1-5)
Right or wrong: Paul’s anger over idols (Act 17:16 – 3947 παροξύνω)
“For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, (2Co 10:4 MKJV).”
5. Jesus Got Angry
Joh 2:14-17 MKJV And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting. 15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and the oxen. And He poured out the money-changers' money and overthrew the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, Take these things away from here. Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise. 17 And His disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal of Your house has eaten Me up."
Psa 69:7-12 WEB Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face. 8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, An alien to my mother's children. 9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 10 When I wept and I fasted, That was to my reproach. 11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. 12 Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards. [These are Biblical signs of zeal. Compare Lk 6:26]
Mar 11:16-17 MKJV And He would not allow any to carry a vessel through the temple. 17 And He taught, saying to them, Is it not written, "My house shall be called the house of prayer for all nations?" But you have made it a den of thieves.
Mar 3:4-5 MKJV And He said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they were silent. 5 And looking around on them with anger 3709, [οργης] being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, Stretch out your hand! And he stretched it out. And his hand was restored whole, like the other.
G3709 ὀργή orgē or-gay'
From G3713; properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment: - anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.
[Be angry and don’t sin Eph 4:26]
6. Elkanah
A Hebrew name “Elkanah = “God has possessed” or “God has created”” (BDB)
אלקנה from H410 [El] and H7069 [Kanah]
H7069 קנה qânâh kaw-naw'
A primitive root; to erect, that is, create; by extension to procure, especially by purchase (causatively sell); by implication to own: - attain, buy (-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess (-or), purchase, recover, redeem, X surely, X verily.
7. Wasted Without Fire
If you do not yet have the Fire of God, If you have been settling for less, then the sad new is that you’ve been duped to giving your life away to worthlessness. But the good news is, you don’t have to stay that way!
Is what your living for worth dying for? If not, then its not worth living for either. Jason Dueñas recently spoke on “wasted” (Don’t waist your life)
Guard against getting wiser than your youthful zeal. Any “wisdom” that casts scorn on more zealous beginnings is a purest form of utter foolishness.
3. God is Fire
Having The Fire of God becomes significantly more important
when we see what God is like
Deu 4:24 KJV-Based For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Heb 12:29 KJV For our God is a consuming fire.
1Jo 1:5 KJVA …God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Jam 1:17 KJV/WEB Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.
Isa 42:6 WEB I, Yahweh…. give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles…
ð Where do you think that the light comes from? –We’ll come
back to this…
Gen 15:17-18 KJV And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram…
(Animal parts covenant: Jer 34:18-19)
Exo 3:2 KJV And the angel of the LORD appeared unto
him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold,
the bush burned with fire, and the bush was
not consumed. (Also see: Angels ministering spirits/fire Heb 1:7, &
Rev 10:1)
Exo 19:18 KJV And mount Sinai was
altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke
thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
24:17
And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the
mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
F. “Pillar of Fire”
(4 Places- Exo. 13:21-22, 14:24, Num. 14:14, Neh. 9:12 & 19)
Rev 4:5 KJV And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 1:12-16 KJV-Based And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shinning in his strength.
(Also in: Rev 2:18, 19:12. Jesus the same as yesterday & forever: Heb 13:8)
H. More ‘God = Fire’ verses: 2Sam 22:9, 2Ch 7:1-3, Rev 20:9
I. Transition…
Rev 15:2 Sea of glass mixed with fire
Rev 3:15-16 WEB "I know
your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you
are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
· We Should be like Him
Not only is He fire, and not only
does He like fire, but He wants us to be like him in fire
1Jn 4:17 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness ß on the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (Conversely: 1Jn 3:2-3) ß
4. We must have God’s Fire
A. Salt, Light, City, Lamp
Mt. 5:13-16 Salt…You are the light of the world, city, lamp (all light was made by fire!!) ß
(“Salt” necessitates “Fire”: Lev 2:2-16, Ezk 43:24, Mar 9:49-50. Also Read Lk14:33-35)
Joh 5:35 WEB [About John the Baptist…] ß ß
He was the
burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his
light.
Act 2:3-4 MKJV-Based And tongues as of fire appeared to them, being distributed; and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
C. Zeal
Psa 69:9 WEB For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
Jn 2:17 NIV His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." (After driving out the $ changers)
Rom 12:11 not lacking in eager/diligent/business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
· Not Lacking in it Rom 12:11, · Always Zealous/Right Zeal Gal 4:18, · “Phinehas” Num 25:5-13,
· Others: 1King 19:10, Pro 23:17, Tit 2:14
Isa 64:7 WEB There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you
Ý
D. Awake and Shake ß
Isa 52:1-2 WEB Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments… 2 Shake yourself from the dust; arise, sit on your throne, Jerusalem: loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, captive daughter of Zion.
(Also: Samson Jdg 16:20.)
5. The Salvation of Fire
1. Test Your Salvation in General [from foundations]
2Co_13:5 WEB Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified96. [αδοκιμοι96]
Ú Don’t be too offended and proud than to examine your Salvation!
Ú He’s not asking you to do anything that he’s not willing to do himself (Compare Gal 2:2; 2Jn 1:8-9)
1Co_9:27 WEB but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected96. [αδοκιμος96]
Rev 3:15-16 WEB "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
2. The Extreme Devotion of Fire
Luk 14:25-27 WEB Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me, and doesn't hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple. 27 Whoever doesn't bear his own cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple.
READ Verses 28-32
Luk 14:33-35 MKJV So then, everyone of you who does not forsake all his possessions, he cannot be My disciple. 34 Salt is good, but if the salt has become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned? 35 It is not fit for the land, nor for manure, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. -Read: Mat 10:31-39-
Mat 10:37-39 WEB He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn't worthy of me. 38 He who doesn't take his cross and follow after me, isn't worthy of me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it; and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.
3. Remnant Mentality
[from “Foundations” teaching]
Rom 9:27 WEB Isaiah cries concerning Israel, "If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, It is the remnant who will be saved; [See Isa 10:22]
Remember He says later:
Isa 64:7 WEB There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you
[The remnant is specifically mentioned 16 times as a theme throughout Isaiah. Do you see that the remnant are the few who stir themselves up?]
Rom 11:5 WEB Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
2Th 2:3 WEB Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction,
1Ti 4:1-2 WEB But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;
Mat 24:12 WEB Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love 26 [αγαπη] of many 4183 [πολλων; the greater part] will grow cold.
4. Jesus Doesn’t Jive With Quick Shallow Commitments
[Taken from “Connection” teaching]
Mat 8:19-23 WEB A scribe came, and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." 20 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 21 Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead." 23 When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Eat flesh drink blood, Jn 6
5. Summary
i. fundamental call
Fire is the basic fundamental call to follow Jesus
Basic Call to discipleship, the only way to not be “spit out”
ii. The Wrong question
So many ask the wrong question: “Are you saved?” “Are you Born Again?”
When we should be asking, “Are you completely burning hot for Jesus?”
iii. Be ready
Be ready, or get cut into pieces (Mat 24:40-51)
iv. Only Option
Fire is not optional. It’s not just something cute that youth groups get pumped up about.
Going extreme for Jesus is the only way to live
“The church has been sub-normal for so long that when anyone gets up to a healthy normal temperature, they think he’s got a the flue!”
Few answer this call… Few will Make it!
Lk 13:23-24 WEB; also think Jn 12:39 “Could not believe…”
[repeat]
Isa 52:1-2 WEB Awake, awake, put on your strength, Zion; put on your beautiful garments… 2 Shake yourself from the dust; arise, sit on your throne, Jerusalem: loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, captive daughter of Zion.
(Also: Samson Jdg 16:20.)
6. Fake Fire AKA: “Strange Fire”
Lev 10:1-3 WEB Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came forth from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, "'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, And before all the people I will be glorified.'" Aaron held his peace.
A. Self/Demon generated Often burns solely off of emotions, not the reality of or obedience to God. · Often puts value on your loud personality instead of the depth of True fire.
B. Doesn’t last (“they look like they are on fire!” –But they soon “burn out” )
Mtt. 13:5-6 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. [Not remaining fruit: Jn 15:16]
C. It allows Sin When some one is “On Fire!” and they have sin in their life, then it is the fake defiling fire based on sinful man. Unredeemed emotions quickly and easily counterfeit God’s Holy Spirit, in an unholy way.
Think: Vega Story in Puerto Rico (Kissing in basement then… “God really moved today in church!”)
D. Loud people, especially former drug addicts/street people are much more prone to it
7. True Fire<