Scripture
He built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on the Lord, and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.
~ 1 Chronicles 21:26 (CSB)
Quote
Oh that in me, the sacred fire might begin to glow. Burn up the dross of base desire and let Your mercy flow.
~Charles Wesley
David sinned against the LORD by doing something prideful. David’s sin brought him great grief because thousands of innocents died due to his blunder. David purchased the threshing floor of Ornan so he could build an altar and intercede for Jerusalem. When David offered his sacrifice and prayed, the fire of heaven fell and consumed the burnt offering. The burnt offering is different from other offering: in the burnt offering, all flesh is to be consumed by fire. Nothing is to remain except the ashes. If we jump to Acts two, we see two metaphors describing the divine power…When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. — Acts 2:1-4 (CSB) The O.T. word for Spirit is Ruach {Wind} and the Hebrew word for fire is āsh. These are fitting metaphors when we are describing DIVINE ENERGY or supernatural power. Just think of all the things that wind can do.
- First of all, It can get our attention, our undivided attention.
- A mighty wind can reorder our lives. Just ask the residents of Mexico Beach.
- Wind can move us. In the old days, wind moved huge and heavy ships.
- The wind can also refresh us.
- The wind is a symbol of might and power. The wind can do incredible, unbelievable things.
So what about fire? Fire is used as a symbol of divine power for a different reason:
- Fire consumes. We need the fire of heaven to fall and consume everything in our lives that does not glorify Jesus.
- Fire purifies and refines. Pure gold has been purified by fire. It takes around 1800 degrees Fahrenheit to refine gold. That is extreme heat.
- Fire can also give us light.
- Fire can give us comfort and warmth; it too can refresh.
- Fire, like wind, can generate power or energy.
The LORD is not going to give us another day of Pentecost. He is a Creator, not a duplicator. But He has allowed this heavenly fire to fall on more than one occasion. He has stirred the hearts of men with His mighty Ruach more than once. What we need these days is not more meetings, we need the holy fire of heaven to fall on us and consume the junk in our lives. We need a moving of the Ruach ha Kodesh [Spirit of Holiness]. Good sermons aren’t going to cut it. Impressive numbers are not going to get the job done either. There are a lot of folks who are faking REVIVAL but they have built their own fires. God speaking through Isaiah warned us about lighting our own fires….Who among you walks in darkness,and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord; let him lean on his God. Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with torches; walk in the light of your fire and of the torches you have lit! This is what you’ll get from My hand: you will lie down in a place of torment. — Isaiah 50:10-11 (CSB) I’m sorry to be so blunt but I fear that most of what we see today is someone lighting another torch. Let me tell you how we know when it is the HEAVENLY FIRE. The holy fire of heaven cannot be contained or controlled. The churches that are full and turning out the big numbers are better at lighting torches but if the fire was real, it would spread. If the heavenly fire falls on DBC and ignites REVIVAL, it will not stay at DBC, it will spread just like a wild fire. Jonah preached a FIVE WORD SERMON [in Hebrew]. In English, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” Maybe there was more but this is all that is recorded. There were 300,000 people in Nineveh. Jonah didn’t talk to all of them but when he preached, the Holy Fire ignited and word spread like a ragging wild fire throughout the city. No human or group of humans will be able to contain the HEAVENLY FIRE. It will not be under our control. Knowing this, my prayer remains: “Let the Fire of heaven fall.”
- They say it is turning colder and we may get snow Tuesday. Hannah loves snow so maybe we will get about three inches. Personally, I think they missed it. It was not cold at all when I came in last night.
- THANKSGIVING is upon us. We have our TG dinner at GRACE POINT Sunday. Big Mama has already got her ham baked. The folks at GP love to eat and so do I.
- GOLDEN GIRLS today!
- Pigskin Predictions: Alabama over State but not to cover. LSWho over Arkansas. A & M over Ole Miss; Missouri over Vandy and SC over Florida. SC has been missing me up so I am going with them. Upset specials: Auburn over Georgia and Tennessee over Kentucky in the Bourbon Bowl.
- I made a trip to Crow Mountain yesterday to pick up more apple cider. I should have put out the word in case some of you want some good cider. That stuff you get at Krogers is not real apple cider. I be glad to go back if anyone wants any for Christmas. Your just pour one cup or glass out of the bottle and stick it in the freezer. I came back a new way. I took Hwy 35 as soon as I came off of the mountain and went through Woodville. I ate lunch in Woodville and met a man named Herb Prince. He shared his personal testimony with me. I had a good day.
- Roger Burcham looked better to me; Kristen was not in her room but I got there before visiting hours so she may have been in therapy.
- Posting early since this is the weekend blog. Have a great weekend.