The Way of Fire

Intro

Deuteronomy 5:3–7 ESV

Not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today. The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said: “ ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “ ‘You shall have no other gods before me.

Christ Came to Tear the Veil

Deuteronomy 5:4–5 ESV

The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the midst of the fire, while I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord. For you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up into the mountain. He said:

This is how everything worked and works naturally for humans. There is “normal people” then there is a “holy man” who talks to God for them.

This is how we are naturally comfortable. God scares us. naturally. He messes with our lives, makes us holy and pure, stuff like that and everything within us says no. send someone else.

but this is not what God desires, He desires a personal relationship with each one of us. He wants to speak with you.

The problem with sending someone else though is that they cannot save you. Moses was a sinner. As close to God as he was, he wasn’t anywhere near good enough to redeem the people from their sins.

That is why The Father sent the Son, to die upon the cross and be raised again three days later. When Christ died the Viel that stood between the Holy of Holies and the rest of the temple was torn. Signaling that now man could come to the Father through the Son, and know and commune with god as He had intended.

For many though even though they know that Jesus is the way, they still rely of family, friends, sermons , worship, other things than Jesus to carry them to the Father.

Those things aren’t necessarily bad either. they are good, but they cannot carry you to the throne room of God.

It is natural and easy to allow culture or tradition, especially in the case of America to sweep your faith down the drain. Let your minister worry about those things. You just send God a few praises a year and you will be ok.

No you won’t. I cannot rescue you.

The Problem is that only Jesus can save you. Only His presence can make you Holy. I can preach till i’m blue in the face and it won’t amount to anything unless you connect with the holy Spirit.

The Fear of the Unknown terrifies us.

So God speaks to Israel, giving them the commandments. and he calls them near to speak to them directly. After speaking the 10 commandments however the people are terrified and the leaders of the tribes are terrified.

Exodus 20:18–19 ESV

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”

The people tell moses. Moses, you go to God and tell us what he says. We just want to live our lives, we don’t want to die.

The issue hear is, is that Moses doesn’t have the power to change hearts. Only God does. So if you remain comfortable, why would you ever expect to look like Jesus?

If we want to change we must draw near the Father. WE must run to the Fire.

Exodus 20:20 ESV

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

Do not fear, Moses says, God is testing you. He is trying to drive reverence for Himself into you. Not so you are scared of him, but so you do not Sin!

God wants to free you from Sin.

Draw near to the Fire and let Him work.

This is what God calls on you and I to do today. Draw near to Him so that His Fire will make you and I like Jesus!. You won’t look like Jesus from the other side of the room. you must draw near to the Fire!

The People Remained at a distance.

Exodus 20:21 ESV

The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

They did what most will do. they remained at a distance. God won’t touch my life. I have too much to lose.

They you are unworthy of the kingdom. You will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The People chose to remain in their comfort rather than draw near to the Fire of the Living God.

WE would rather keep our lives status quo, that know the fire of God.

Many people choose this. They remain at a distance. they want enough of Jesus to get into heaven, but not enough to mess up their dinner plans.

But my friends, to follow Christ is to lose your life.

Matthew 16:25 ESV

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Many try this weird balance thing, but it cannot last and it will hurt them and those they love in time. when I was praying over this. i thought of Muslim families, who have a son or a daughter that converts to Christianity. it well known that under Islamic law, Apostasy is a capital crime under Islamic law. If you are in a nation where death is not an option however, there the only option is to make the new Christian and outcast. Many families in Islamic nations have been torn apart because one person accepts Christ.

Many Families have come to know Christ because one member converts, breaking tradition. and holding to the cross.

Play God is not dead video

You see this Young girl chose to shatter her fathers heart to follow Christ. She understood you cannot have both. You cannot serve both man and God and she chooses Christ and it costs her everything.

Now many would say perhaps she could deny Christ to spare her father the shame and the pain?

But who are we pursuing? Jesus, the Fire of God, or the this world?

The reality is, the most loving thing this young girl can do, is stand boldly for Jesus.

To cower simply brings Him down. Further condemning her father and family. The only hope she has to redeem her family is stand for Christ.

Closing

Who are you standing for today?

Jesus? Or yourself?

The narrow road, or the broad road?

The Easy way? Or the Way of Christ?

The way to Freedom is the way of Fire.

Draw near the mountain, draw near the presence of God.

Let Him purify your life.