Fire has been called the foundation of human civilization, and there are few things more vital than starting and maintaining one when you’re in a survival situation. I believe there is a similar truth in the spirit. The Fire of the Holy Spirit is foundational to our Christian walk and that by maintaining and feeding that fire we not only survive this world, but we overcome it.
Luke 3:16-17 MSG
“But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”
Fire purifies, gives warmth, and gives light. We need the fire of the Holy Spirit burning brightly in our lives. Twice in scripture Jesus was described as a man having blazing fire in his eyes. That same flaming passion is available to all His sons and daughters today. Jesus is waiting for us to place our lives on the altar as a living sacrifice so that He can then baptize us afresh in the Holy Spirit’s Fire.
Ferdinand Foch spoke this quote in 1956.
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
This is so true today. The burning ones who are totally sold out and on fire for Jesus are the most powerful and effective weapons in the Lord’s hands, overcoming evil with good.
The cleansing power of the Holy Spirit was demonstrated by fire in the life of Isaiah. This cleansing changes us from the inside out, putting everything good in its proper place and taking out and consuming everything that does not belong.
Isaiah 6:6-7 NKJV
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
“Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”
The Word of God was like a fire in the bones of the prophet Jeremiah. Sometimes we are afraid to speak the Word of the Lord or even tell others that we are Christians. This fire brings with it a holy boldness to proclaim the Word of the Lord with power.
Jeremiah 20:9
“But if I say, “I will not remember Him
Or speak anymore in His name,”
Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And I cannot endure it.”
The Lord calls His ministers (or servants) a flame of fire in Hebrews. This fire is essential for our effective ministry and service to others.
Hebrews 1:7 NKJV
“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
Lord Jesus, let your fire fall, stir up and ignite us with your Holy Spirit fire, to cleanse and consume our lives, to be a bright shining light for all the world to see. May this fire in our bones cause us to never ever drawback but take your Gospel to our neighbors and to the very ends of the earth.