The Significance of Fire

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIRE – LEV. 6:13 BBC MAR. 9, 2008 OFFERING SERIES

KJG LEVITICUS 6:13 THE FIRE SHALL EVER BE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT.

LEVITICUS 6:9-12 9 COMMAND AARON AND HIS SONS, SAYING, THIS IS THE LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING: IT IS THE BURNT OFFERING, BECAUSE OF THE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR ALL NIGHT UNTO THE MORNING, AND THE FIRE OF THE ALTAR SHALL BE BURNING IN IT. 10 AND THE PRIEST SHALL PUT ON HIS LINEN GARMENT, AND HIS LINEN BREECHES SHALL HE PUT UPON HIS FLESH, AND TAKE UP THE ASHES WHICH THE FIRE HATH CONSUMED WITH THE BURNT OFFERING ON THE ALTAR, AND HE SHALL PUT THEM BESIDE THE ALTAR. 11 AND HE SHALL PUT OFF HIS GARMENTS, AND PUT ON OTHER GARMENTS, AND CARRY FORTH THE ASHES WITHOUT THE CAMP UNTO A CLEAN PLACE. 12 AND THE FIRE UPON THE ALTAR SHALL BE BURNING IN IT; IT SHALL NOT BE PUT OUT: AND THE PRIEST SHALL BURN WOOD ON IT EVERY MORNING, AND LAY THE BURNT OFFERING IN ORDER UPON IT; AND HE SHALL BURN THEREON THE FAT OF THE PEACE OFFERINGS. LEVITICUS 6:13 13 THE FIRE SHALL EVER BE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR; IT SHALL NEVER GO OUT.

INTRO:

EXPL:

: IN THE TEXT WE’VE BEEN STUDYING HOW TO HAVE ACCESS TO GOD; GOD HAS COME DOWN AND DELIVERED ISRAEL; HE HAS GIVE MOSES THE PLANS FOR THE TABERNACLE AND THE PRECEPTS IN HOW GOD WANTS TO BE WORSHIPPED. THUS LEVITICUS IS A THE HANDBOOK OF HOLINESS;

IT IS A BOOK OF SACRIFICE AND SANCTIFICATION

BOOK OF BLOOD AND BLESSINGS

BOOK OF CLEANSING AND CLEAN LIVING

IT IS A BOOK THAT REMINDS OF OUR GREAT SALVATION AS EACH PAGE POINTS TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE SEE CHRIST IN THE...

THE BURNT OFFERING - CHRIST GAVE TOTAL COMMITMENT FOR US; HE GAVE HIS ALL, VOLUNTARILY SO WE SHOULD GIVE OUR BEST.

THE MEAL OFFERING – CHRIST WAS PERFECT IN CHARACTER...AND WE WILL BE SIFTED...EITHER BY SATAN OR THE SAVIOR

THE PEACE OFFERING – CHRIST PERFECT COMMUNION AS WE ARE BLESSED TO WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND EA. OTHER

THE SIN OFFERING – CHRIST PERFECT ATONEMENT – FOR WE ALL HAVE SINNED...PRIEST, CONGREGATION, RULERS AND COMMON FOLK..BUT CHRIST ...

THE TRESPASS OFFERING...CHRIST PERFECT PAYMENT – THE RAM WAS OFFERED...AND THE 1/5 REMINDS US THAT GOD WILL GET US BACK TO HIMSELF AND GIVE US ..SOME MORE.

THROUGH EACH OF THE OFFERINGS WE SEE MANY VARIABLES, BUT THE ONE CONSTANT IS THE FIRE.

INTER: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIRE.

TS: AS WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE WE WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRE.

PROP: YOU CAN CATCH THE FIRE OF GOD.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE? WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIRE?

MP I.FIRE SYM. PURIFICATION –9 COMMAND AARON AND HIS SONS, SAYING, THIS IS THE LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING: IT IS THE BURNT OFFERING, BECAUSE OF THE BURNING UPON THE ALTAR ALL NIGHT UNTO THE MORNING, AND THE FIRE OF THE ALTAR SHALL BE BURNING IN IT. 10 AND THE PRIEST SHALL PUT ON HIS LINEN GARMENT, AND HIS LINEN BREECHES SHALL HE PUT UPON HIS FLESH, AND TAKE UP THE ASHES WHICH THE FIRE HATH CONSUMED WITH THE BURNT OFFERING ON THE ALTAR, AND HE SHALL PUT THEM BESIDE THE ALTAR.

PURITY – PURITY AND SAINTS IS A CONCERN OF US ALL. WE DON’T WANT OUR FOOD, FAMILY OR FELLOWSHIP TAINTED WITH IMPURITIES. IN OUR FOOD WE WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM ECOLI BACTERIA; IN OUR FAMILY WE WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THE CORRUPTION OF BAD COMPANY AND IN OUR FELLOWSHIP WE WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM FALSE TEACHING AND PREACHING HUCKSTERS WHO TICKLER OUR EARS, RELIEVE US OF OUR MONEY AND LEAVE US WORSE OFF THAN WHEN THEY ARRIVED.

PURITY AND OUR SAVIOR – PURITY POINTS TO GOD’S HOLINESS. FOR WITH OUT HOLINESS NO ONE CAN SEE GOD. AND INORDER TO APPROACH GOD, GOD INSTRUCTS AND TEACHES US THAT PURITY IS MAINTAINED BY EFFORT AND ATTENTION. WE MAKE EFFORT WHEN WE BRING OUR SACRIFICES AND WE GIVE ATTENTION WHEN WE OFFER IT THE WAY GOD HAS STATED IN HIS SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM.

PURITY AND THE SYSTEMS – THE MAIN VEHICLE FOR PURIFICATION IS WASHING WITH WTER; WE WAS OUR HANDS, AND FACE, WE WASH OUR BODIES AS WELL AS OUR FOOD; WE WASH OUR DISHES AND OUR HOMES. THIS IDEA CARRIES OVER INTO BAPTISM. AS WELL AS THE WORD OF GOD, WE ARE WASHED BY THE CLEANING OF THE WORD. THEN WE ARE WASHED AND CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD; IT IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS...BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YE WHO SOMETIME WERE FAR OFF ARE MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. EPH 2:13.

THEN THERE IS PURITY BY FIRE; FOR IT SEPARATES THE PRECIOUS METAL FROM THE DROSS.....

IMP. PRIEST - THE LINEN VESTMENTS OF THE PRIEST SYMBOLIZED PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS; FOR US THE IMPLICATION THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT NEED TO BE TOUCHED BY FIRE OR TOSSED IN THE FIRE.

ISAIAH 6:1-8 ISAIAH 6:1 IN THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED I SAW ALSO THE LORD SITTING UPON A THRONE, HIGH AND LIFTED UP, AND HIS TRAIN FILLED THE TEMPLE. 2 ABOVE IT STOOD THE SERAPHIMS: EACH ONE HAD SIX WINGS; WITH TWAIN HE COVERED HIS FACE, AND WITH TWAIN HE COVERED HIS FEET, AND WITH TWAIN HE DID FLY. 3 AND ONE CRIED UNTO ANOTHER, AND SAID,, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, IS THE LORD OF HOSTS: THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY. 4 AND THE POSTS OF THE DOOR MOVED AT THE VOICE OF HIM THAT CRIED, AND THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. 5 THEN SAID I,, WOE IS ME! FOR I AM UNDONE; BECAUSE I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS, AND I DWELL IN THE MIDST OF A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS: FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS. 6 THEN FLEW ONE OF THE SERAPHIMS UNTO ME, HAVING A LIVE COAL IN HIS HAND, WHICH HE HAD TAKEN WITH THE TONGS FROM OFF THE ALTAR: 7 AND HE LAID IT UPON MY MOUTH, AND SAID, LO, THIS HATH TOUCHED THY LIPS; AND THINE INIQUITY IS TAKEN AWAY, AND THY SIN PURGED. 8 ALSO I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD, SAYING, WHOM SHALL I SEND, AND WHO WILL GO FOR US? THEN SAID I, HERE AM I; SEND ME.

ACTS 2:1-6 KJG ACTS 2:1 AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE. 2 AND SUDDENLY THERE CAME A SOUND FROM HEAVEN AS OF A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, AND IT FILLED ALL THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. 3 AND THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM CLOVEN TONGUES LIKE AS OF FIRE, AND IT SAT UPON EACH OF THEM. 4 AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE. 5 AND THERE WERE DWELLING AT JERUSALEM JEWS, DEVOUT MEN, OUT OF EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN. 6 NOW WHEN THIS WAS NOISED ABROAD, THE MULTITUDE CAME TOGETHER, AND WERE CONFOUNDED, BECAUSE THAT EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE.

ACTS 19:13-20 13 THEN CERTAIN OF THE VAGABOND JEWS,, EXORCISTS, TOOK UPON THEM TO CALL OVER THEM WHICH HAD EVIL SPIRITS THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, SAYING, WE ADJURE YOU BY JESUS WHOM PAUL PREACHETH. 14 AND THERE WERE SEVEN SONS OF ONE SCEVA, A JEW, AND CHIEF OF THE PRIESTS, WHICH DID SO. 15 AND THE EVIL SPIRIT ANSWERED AND SAID, JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE? 16 AND THE MAN IN WHOM THE EVIL SPIRIT WAS LEAPED ON THEM, AND OVERCAME THEM, AND PREVAILED AGAINST THEM, SO THAT THEY FLED OUT OF THAT HOUSE NAKED AND WOUNDED. 17 AND THIS WAS KNOWN TO ALL THE JEWS AND GREEKS ALSO DWELLING AT EPHESUS; AND FEAR FELL ON THEM ALL, AND THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS WAS MAGNIFIED. 18 AND MANY THAT BELIEVED CAME, AND CONFESSED, AND SHEWED THEIR DEEDS. 19 MANY OF THEM ALSO WHICH USED CURIOUS ARTS BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED THEM BEFORE ALL MEN: AND THEY COUNTED THE PRICE OF THEM, AND FOUND IT] FIFTY THOUSAND PIECES OF SILVER. 20 SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILED.

APP: MAINTAIN YOUR INNOCENT

MAINTAIN YOUR HEART AND MINDS

MAINTAIN CLEAN HANDS, AND FEET

THAT WHICH IS NOT LIKE CHRIST...PUT IT ON THE ALTAR..LET IT BURN..IT’S GONNA BURN ANYWAY...LET IT BURN...HATERED, JEALOUSY, GREED...

ILL: ANGER SPREADS LIKE FIRE

RESIDENTS WHO HAVE LIVED ABOVE A SMOLDERING UNDERGROUND COAL MINE FIRE FOR UP TO 21 YEARS SHOULD GET FEDERAL HELP NOW THAT THEY HAVE VOTED TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND LET GOVERNMENT CREWS TRY TO SNUFF THE FLAMES. “I WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN MY HOME, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO LIVE ON TOP OF FIRE AND GASES,” SAID MARY TYSON, A 70-YEAR-OLD CENTRALIA NATIVE. A RECENT FEDERAL REPORT WARNED THAT THE FIRE, IF UNCHECKED, COULD SPREAD TO 3,700 ACRES--20 TIMES THE CURRENT SIZE--AND BURN UNDER ALL OF CENTRALIA AND THE NEARBY VILLAGES OF BYRNESVILLE AND GERMANTOWN.

SPOKESMAN REVIEW, AUGUST 12, 198

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MPII.

FIRE SYM. PUNISHMENT . 11 AND HE SHALL PUT OFF HIS GARMENTS, AND PUT ON OTHER GARMENTS, AND CARRY FORTH THE ASHES WITHOUT THE CAMP UNTO A CLEAN PLACE.

PUNISHMENT IS RELATED TO THE CRIME; IN THE CASE OF THE SACRIFICE THE ONE MAKING THE OFFERING IDENTIFIES WITH THE VICTIM, THE ANIMAL OF SACRIFICE. THE FIRST STORY OF PUNISHMENT IS SEEN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WHEN MAN AND WOMAN FELL. THE CRIME WAS EATING THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT, GOD ARRIVES AND PRONOUNCES A CURSE ON THE SERPENT. THEN IN THE STORY OF CAIN AND ABEL...THE STORY OF SODOM AND GORMORRAH...THE STORY OF THE FLOOD..THE STORY OF JACOB AND ESAU...THE EPIC STORY OF THE EXODUS...WHERE THE HARDNESS OF HEART IS MET BY PUNISHMENT OF TEN PLAGUES.

ASHES – SYM. PEOPLE OR CITIES UNDER THE WRATH OF GOD. GOD’S FIRE CONSUMES THE ENEMY AND THE RESULT IS ASHES. FROM THE HEAVENS CAME FIRE AND BRIMSTONE AND ...GOD’S FIRE TURNED IT TO “ASHES UPON THE EARTH. ASHES LITERALLY GIVE US AN IMAGE OF COMPLETE AND UTTER WASTE. ASHES RELAYS THE EMOTION OF UTTER GRIEF AND DESPAIR...AS ONE CLOTHES THEMSELVES IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES...AND GIVES US AN EXTREME PICTURE OF MOURNING. REMEMBER BECAUSE OF SIN...THAT THOU ARE DUST AND TO DUST THOU SHALT RETURN...EARTH TO EARTH, ASHES TO ASHES AND DUST TO DUST ARE FINAL WORDS AT THE INTERNMENT.

IMP. GOD WILL JUDGE...RIGHTLY AND FAIRLY; UNBELIEVERS WILL BE JUDGED

BELIEVERS WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT....

DEUTERONOMY 4:24-25 24 FOR THE LORD THY GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE, EVEN A JEALOUS GOD. 25 WHEN THOU SHALT BEGET CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, AND YE SHALL HAVE REMAINED LONG IN THE LAND, AND SHALL CORRUPT YOURSELVES, AND MAKE A GRAVEN IMAGE, OR THE LIKENESS OF ANY THING, AND SHALL DO EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO PROVOKE HIM TO ANGER:

HEBREWS 12:29 29 FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

LUKE 16:19-31 19 THERE WAS A CERTAIN RICH MAN, WHICH WAS CLOTHED IN PURPLE AND FINE LINEN, AND FARED SUMPTUOUSLY EVERY DAY: 20 AND THERE WAS A CERTAIN BEGGAR NAMED LAZARUS, WHICH WAS LAID AT HIS GATE, FULL OF SORES, 21 AND DESIRING TO BE FED WITH THE CRUMBS WHICH FELL FROM THE RICH MAN'S TABLE: MOREOVER THE DOGS CAME AND LICKED HIS SORES. 22 AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT THE BEGGAR DIED, AND WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS INTO ABRAHAM'S BOSOM: THE RICH MAN ALSO DIED, AND WAS BURIED; 23 AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS, AND SEETH ABRAHAM AFAR OFF, AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM. 24 AND HE CRIED AND SAID, FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS, THAT HE MAY DIP THE TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE; FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME. 25 BUT ABRAHAM SAID, SON, REMEMBER THAT THOU IN THY LIFETIME RECEIVEDST THY GOOD THINGS, AND LIKEWISE LAZARUS EVIL THINGS: BUT NOW HE IS COMFORTED, AND THOU ART TORMENTED. 26 AND BESIDE ALL THIS, BETWEEN US AND YOU THERE IS A GREAT GULF FIXED: SO THAT THEY WHICH WOULD PASS FROM HENCE TO YOU CANNOT; NEITHER CAN THEY PASS TO US, THAT WOULD COME FROM THENCE. 27 THEN HE SAID, I PRAY THEE THEREFORE, FATHER, THAT THOU WOULDEST SEND HIM TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE: 28 FOR I HAVE FIVE BRETHREN; THAT HE MAY TESTIFY UNTO THEM, LEST THEY ALSO COME INTO THIS PLACE OF TORMENT. 29 ABRAHAM SAITH UNTO HIM, THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS; LET THEM HEAR THEM. 30 AND HE SAID, NAY, FATHER ABRAHAM: BUT IF ONE WENT UNTO THEM FROM THE DEAD, THEY WILL REPENT. 31 AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, IF THEY HEAR NOT MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, THOUGH ONE ROSE FROM THE DEAD.

APPL: ALL WILL BE JUDGED....PUNISHED OR REWARD

YOU BETTER MIND WHAT YOU SAY AND DO...WE ALL WILL GIVE AN ACCOUT...

CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR

1. HOW’S YOUR THOUGHT LIFE?

2. HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND HOME?

3. HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE WORD OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS?

4. WHAT HAS GOD BEEN TEACHING YOU RECENTLY?

5. HOW ARE YOU DOING IN HANDLING GOD’S PROVISION OF TIME, TALENT, AND MONEY?

6. ARE YOU BEING RESPONSIBLE IN PROTECTING YOUR EYES, HANDS, FEET AND MIND WITH WOMEN OTHER THAN YOUR WIFE?

7. ARE YOU SHOOTING STRAIGHT IN ANSWERING THE ABOVE QUESTIONS--OR TRYING TO BLOW SMOKE?

A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE ROPER ORGANIZATION FOR HIGH ADVENTURE MINISTRIES IN 1990 FOUND THAT THE MORAL BEHAVIOR OF BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY WORSENED AFTER THEIR CONVERSIONS. EXAMINED WERE INCIDENCES OF ILLEGAL DRUG USE, DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AND MARITAL INFIDELITY.

THE PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED, SAYS ONE RESEARCHER, WITH A NEW COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISCIPLESHIP.

NEW MAN, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 1994, P. 13

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YES...

JUDGMENT - OF THE BELIEVER’S WORKS, 2 COR. 5:10

1. NATURE: QUALITY OF THE BELIEVER’S LIFE AS A SERVANT, 1 COR. 3:11–15; MT. 12:36 (IN NO SENSE FOR SINS, HEB. 10:17)

2. OCCASION: AT THE COMING OF THE LORD, 1 COR. 4:1–5; 9:24–27; ROM. 14:10; GAL 6:7; COL. 3:24–25; 2 TIM 4:8

3. RESULT: REWARD FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE; LOSS OF REWARD FOR UNFAITHFULNESS, 1 COR. 3:8, 14–15; REV 22:12

JUDGMENT - OF THE BELIEVER BY HIMSELF, 1 COR. 11:31-32; 2 SAM. 7:14-15

1. NATURE: THE BELIEVER’S CONDEMNATION OF HIMSELF FOR PERMITTING HIS OWN SINFUL WAYS AND HABITS, 2 SAM. 12:13–14

2. OCCASION: SELF-JUDGMENT OF THE BELIEVER AS A SON TO AVOID CHASTISEMENT BY HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, HEB. 12:7

3. RESULT: IF NEGLECTED, THE FATHER’S CHASTENING FOLLOWS, BUT NEVER CONDEMNATION, 1 COR. 11:32; 5:5

JUDGMENT - OF THE NATIONS, MT. 25:31-46; JOEL 3:11-16

1. NATURE: POINT OF TESTING IS THE TREATMENT OF CHRIST’S ’BROTHERS’, I.E., THE JEWISH REMNANT OF THE END TIME

2. OCCASION: AT CHRIST’S RETURN IN GLORY TO SET UP THE KINGDOM OVER ISRAEL, ACTS 1:6

3. RESULT: ENTRANCE INTO OR EXCLUSION FROM THE KINGDOM AS INDIVIDUALS IN THE NATIONS

JUDGMENT - OF ISRAEL, EZK. 20:33-44

1. NATURE: SUBJECTS WILL BE LIVING ISRAELITES AT THE END TIME REGATHERED FROM WORLDWIDE DIASPORA

2. OCCASION: SIMILAR ON THE ISRAELITE PLANE TO THE JUDGMENT OF THE NATION WITH REGARD TO THE GENTILES

3. RESULT: ENTRANCE OR NON-ENTRANCE INTO THE LAND FOR KINGDOM BLESSING, PS. 50:1–7; MAL. 3:2–5; 4:1–2

JUDGMENT - OF THE FALLEN ANGELS, JUDE 6; 2 PET. 2:4, 1 COR. 6:3

1. NATURE: SUBJECTS WILL BE THE ANGELS WHO REBELLED WITH SATAN, REV. 12:3–4

2. OCCASION: EVIDENTLY AFTER THE MILLENNIUM, AT THE END OF HISTORY

3. RESULT: SATAN AND EVIL ANGELS RELEGATED TO THE LAKE OF FIRE, GEHENNA, ETERNAL HELL, REV. 20:10

JUDGMENT - OF THE UNSAVED, REV. 20:11-15

1. NATURE: ONLY THE WICKED DEAD. PERHAPS SATAN AND FALLEN ANGELS ARE FINALLY JUDGED ALSO AT THIS TIME.

2. OCCASION: BASIS OF JUDGMENT IS ACCORDING TO WORKS TO DETERMINE DEGREE OF PUNISHMENT OF THE LOST.

3. RESULT: SECOND DEATH OR LAKE OF FIRE — NOT ANNIHILATION, REV. 19:20; 20:10, 14–15

THE NEW UNGER’S BIBLE HANDBOOK, MERRILL F. UNGER, REVISED BY GARY N. LARSON, MOODY PRESS, CHICAGO, 1984, P. 497.

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JUDGMENT - OF JESUS CHRIST, JN. 12:31

1. NATURE: BEARING THE BELIEVER’S SINS, 2 COR. 5:21; HEB. 9:26–28; 1 PET. 2: 24; 3:18

2. OCCASION: CHRIST LIFTED UP ON THE CROSS, WORLD JUDGED, SATAN DEFEATED, JN. 12:31

3. RESULT: DEATH OF CHRIST; JUSTIFICATION AND SECURITY OF THE BELIEVER, JN. 5:24; ROM 5:9; 8:1, 2 COR. 5:21; GAL. 3:13

ILL: THE FIRE

ONE OF THE FIRST GOSPEL ILLUSTRATIONS THAT EVER MADE A REAL IMPRESSION UPON MY YOUNG HEART WAS A SIMPLE STORY WHICH I HEARD A PREACHER TELL WHEN I WAS LESS THAN NINE YEARS OLD.

IT WAS OF PIONEERS WHO WERE MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS ONE OF THE CENTRAL STATES TO A DISTANT PLACE THAT HAD BEEN OPENED UP FOR HOMESTEADING. THEY TRAVELED IN COVERED WAGONS DRAWN BY OXEN, AND PROGRESS WAS NECESSARILY SLOW. ONE DAY THEY WERE HORRIFIED TO NOTE A LONG LINE OF SMOKE IN THE WEST, STRETCHING FOR MILES ACROSS THE PRAIRIE, AND SOON IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE DRIED GRASS WAS BURNING FIERCELY AND COMING TOWARD THEM RAPIDLY. THEY HAD CROSSED A RIVER THE DAY BEFORE BUT IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO GO BACK TO THAT BEFORE THE FLAMES WOULD BE UPON THEM. ONE MAN ONLY SEEMED TO HAVE UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHAT COULD BE DONE. HE GAVE THE COMMAND TO SET FIRE TO THE GRASS BEHIND THEM. THEN WHEN A SPACE WAS BURNED OVER, THE WHOLE COMPANY MOVED BACK UPON IT.

AS THE FLAMES ROARED ON TOWARD THEM FROM THE WEST, A LITTLE GIRL CRIED OUT IN TERROR, “ARE YOU SURE WE SHALL NOT ALL BE BURNED UP?” THE LEADER REPLIED, “MY CHILD, THE FLAMES CANNOT REACH US HERE, FOR WE ARE STANDING WHERE THE FIRE HAS BEEN!”

WHAT A PICTURE OF THE BELIEVER, WHO IS SAFE IN CHRIST!

ON HIM ALMIGHTY VENGEANCE FELL,
WHICH WOULD HAVE SUNK A WORLD TO HELL.
HE BORE IT FOR A CHOSEN RACE,
AND THUS BECOMES OUR HIDING PLACE.

THE FIRES OF GOD’S JUDGMENT BURNED THEMSELVES OUT ON HIM, AND ALL WHO ARE IN CHRIST ARE SAFE FOREVER, FOR THEY ARE NOW STANDING WHERE THE FIRE HAS BEEN.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF BIBLE TRUTH BY H. A. IRONSIDE, MOODY PRESS, 1945, PP. 34-35

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MPIII. POWER

FIRE SYM. POWER – NEVER GO OUT...

WHEN WE THINK OF FIRE POWER...THINK OF GUNS

IMP. OUR FIRE POWER IS PRAYER AND THE WORLD OF GOD; IT’S THE SPIRIT OF GOD KINDLED TO STIR UP THE GIFTS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.

FIRE

THEOPHANY OF FIRE. IN GENESIS 15:17 THE PRESENCE OF GOD APPEARS AS A SMOKING FIRE POT AND A FLAMING TORCH, AND IN EXODUS 3:2 GOD MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO MOSES “IN A FLAME OF FIRE OUT OF THE MIDST OF A BUSH” THIS ASSOCIATION OF GOD WITH FIRE RUNS THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE. GOD DESCENDS UPON MOUNT SINAI “IN FIRE” IN EXODUS 19:18. (THAT THERE IS THUNDER ENCOURAGES ONE TO THINK OF THE LIGHTNING; BUT THAT THERE IS SMOKE AND A MOUNTAIN MOVES ONE TO ENVISAGE A VOLCANO; CF. 2 SAM 22:8–9.)

WHEN EZEKIEL TRIES TO DESCRIBE THE INDESCRIBABLE—THAT IS, THE FORM ON THE DIVINE THRONE—HE SAYS, “UPWARD FROM WHAT HAD THE APPEARANCE OF HIS LOINS I SAW AS IT WERE GLEAMING BRONZE, LIKE THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE ENCLOSED ROUND ABOUT; AND DOWNWARD FROM WHAT HAD THE APPEARANCE OF HIS LOINS I SAW AS IT WERE THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE, AND THERE WAS BRIGHTNESS ROUND ABOUT HIM” (EZEK 1:27 RSV).

IN REVELATION 4:5 LIGHTNING FLASHES FROM GOD’S THRONE.

OFTEN THE IMAGERY OF GOD’S APPEARANCE IS CLEARLY THAT OF A THUNDERSTORM, AND THE FIRE THAT IS MENTIONED MUST BE AKIN TO LIGHTNING.

IN PSALM 18:14 (A BATTLE THEOPHANY), LIGHTNING FLASHES ARE GOD’S ARROWS (CF. PS 144:6). PSALM 29:7 SAYS THAT “THE VOICE OF THE LORD FLASHES FORTH FLAMES OF FIRE. THE VOICE OF THE LORD SHAKES THE WILDERNESS” (RSV).

THAT GOD SHOULD APPEAR AS FIRE IS APPROPRIATE FOR MANY REASONS. JUST AS ALL PHYSICAL LIFE DEPENDS ON THE FIRE THAT IS THE SUN (CF. REV 16:8), SO DOES ALL SPIRITUAL LIFE DEPEND ON GOD. JUST AS FIRE BOTH PURIFIES AND DESTROYS, SO DOES GOD PURIFY THE RIGHTEOUS AND DESTROY THE WICKED (“FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE,” HEB 12:29 RSV). JUST AS FIRE LIGHTS UP THE BLACKNESS OF NIGHT, SO DOES GOD OVERCOME THE DARK POWERS OF EVIL.

JUST AS FIRE IS MYSTERIOUS AND IMMATERIAL, SO TOO IS GOD ENIGMATIC AND INCORPOREAL. AND JUST AS FIRE IS ALWAYS FLICKERING AND CHANGING ITS SHAPE AND CANNOT BE HELD FOR EXAMINATION, SO IS GOD ALWAYS THE INDEFINABLE WHO IS BEYOND OUR GRASP. (IT IS STRIKING THAT IN 1 KINGS 19:12, IN THE REVELATION ON HOREB [= SINAI] TO ELIJAH, GOD IS NOT IN THE FIRE AS HE IS FOR MOSES ON SINAI, BUT IN THE SILENCE.

HERE GOD, AGAINST EXPECTATION, DISSOCIATES HIMSELF FROM A TRADITIONAL CONSTITUENT OF THE THEOPHANY. HE NEED BIND HIMSELF TO NO NATURAL ELEMENT.)

IF GOD HIMSELF APPEARS AS FIRE, SO DO THE THINGS AROUND HIM. HIS THRONE IS “FIERY FLAMES,” ITS WHEELS “BURNING FIRE” (DAN 7:9). HIS ANGELIC SERVANTS ARE “FLAMES OF FIRE” (HEB 1:7, QUOTING LXX PS 104:4; AND LK 10:18, THE DEVIL AS LIGHTNING OR A METEOR). BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM ARE FIRE AND COALS OF FIRE (EZEK 10:2, 6–7). BEFORE GOD’S THRONE IS A “SEA OF GLASS MINGLED WITH FIRE” (REV 15:2; CF. 1 KINGS 7:23; 2 CHRON 4:2),

AND FROM BEFORE GOD ISSUES A “STREAM OF FIRE” (DAN 7:10). THE “SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD” ARE “TORCHES OF FIRE” (REV 4:5). HEAVENLY CHARIOTS ARE MADE OF FIRE (2 KINGS 2:11; 6:17). EVEN THE EYES OF THE GLORIFIED JESUS AND OTHER HEAVENLY CREATURES ARE LIKE FLAMES OF FIRE (DAN 10:6; REV 1:14; 2:18). IN ACTS 2:3–4 THE HOLY SPIRIT TOO IS ASSOCIATED WITH FIRE (“TONGUES AS OF FIRE”; CF. IS 5:24).

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CLOSE: FIRE SYMBOLIZES CHRIST PERFECT PRESENCE

SONG:

WE PRAISE THEE, O GOD, FOR THE SON OF THY LOVE, FOR JESUS WHO DIED AND IS NOW GONE ABOVE.

WE PRAISE THEE, O GOD, FOR THY SPIRIT OF LIGHT, WHO HAS SHOWN US OUR SAVIOR AND SCATTERED OUR NIGHT.

ALL GLORY AND PRAISE TO THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, WHO HAS BORNE ALL OUR SINS AND HAS CLEANSED EVERY STAIN.

REVIVE US AGAIN; FILL EACH HEART WITH THY LOVE; MAY EACH SOUL BE REKINDLED WITH FIRE FROM ABOVE.

CHORUS: HALLELUJAH, THINE THE GLORY! HALLELUJAH, AMEN! HALLELUJAH, THINE THE GLORY! REVIVE US AGAIN.

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[1]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002

[2]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002

[3]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002

[4]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002

[5]Ryken, Leland ; Wilhoit, Jim ; Longman, Tremper ; Duriez, Colin ; Penney, Douglas ; Reid, Daniel G.: Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. electronic ed. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 2000, c1998, S. 286

[6]Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 306