Jesus says in the book of Luke,” I’ve come to start a Fire in this earth.”
Earlier this year, I looked across the lake and zoomed in, trying to distinguish what I was seeing. Was it a fire or the sunset? The sunset burst forth with such colors of a raging fire it made you think it was one.
The following picture looks as though there is fire on the water.
That day, the sun set upon the water, and it looked like fire.
Jesus says,” I’ve come to start a Fire in this earth” Luke 12:49
49-” I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything and turn everything right side up—how long I long for it to be finished!
How he longed for: these are passionate words from Jesus. They clearly express a deep desire to see the fire set ablaze because he knew how badly this world needed the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not come to prop up or support the old ways of religion. His purpose here was not to perpetuate more of the same. His kingdom was in no way compared to the kingdoms of this world.
Remember, we’re not asked to do anything apart from God in this kingdom. We’re invited to follow him.
Reread this scripture.
Luke 12:49
“I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything and turn everything right side up—how long I long for it to be finished!
It’s not upside down but right side up.
What fire did Jesus come to bring to the earth?
“One that would bring change”.
Repent means to change, a change of mind, direction, and desire for a changed heart of one’s past sins.
G3340metanoeō (repent)
Fire can be used as a form of judgment, but it is also used in purification -refining.
Jesus came not just to die for the world, but to change the world. He came to set our hearts aflame for His truth and to let it spread across the whole earth.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
THE WORD OF GOD IGNITES MY SOUL
Fire ignites, and God’s Word sets fire to our very souls. For our ‘God is a consuming fire’ (Hebrews 12:29),” Who makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.” (Hebrews 1:7).
(Jeremiah 20:9-10) Jeremiah said
The words are fire in my belly,
a burning in my bones.
I’m worn out trying to hold it in.
I can’t do it any longer!
Then I hear whispering behind my back:
“There goes old ‘Danger-Everywhere.’ Shut him up! Report him!”
Old friends watch, hoping I’ll fall flat on my face:
“One misstep and we’ll have him. We’ll get rid of him for good!”
I remember my first opportunity to be with other Pastors as we traveled to a minister’s conference, and my heart was aflame with God’s word. My testimony was alive, and I was looking forward to the opportunity to hear the other leaders, but the devil desired to try to put my fire out before I even arrived.
A pastor/leader there with his wife said, “Your zeal is going to eat you up without wisdom.”
I never responded. But his wife did; many
have tried to put the fire out of on-fire preachers, but they could not. He was quiet the rest of the way.
Humility invites others on the path to the discovery of the Words of truth to realize our confidence can only rest in the Holy Spirit, who guides us. I’m grateful for the few God-sent mentors that I’ve had in my life.
Read Romans 10
Verse 2
Verse 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Yet, if he would have remembered in the next verse.
And in Verse 3
Paul states that there must be a radical submission to the righteousness of God, putting away our own righteousness.
Romans 10:1-3) Israel’s refusal to submit to the righteousness of God.
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved, for I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
Back to Jeremiah
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones: He couldn’t stop what was alive within his very being.
- He couldn’t because He believed God’s word.
- He couldn’t because that word burned in his heart like fire.
- He couldn’t because that word pressed so deep within him as if it were shut up in his bones.
Scriptures on Fire
John the Baptist declared that Jesus would be the One to “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11).
Holy Spirit in Acts came as “tongues of fire” resting on each believer. At that moment, “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them,” and they began to witness with boldness (Acts 2:3-4).
Our God is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). Examples are the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), the Shekinah glory (Exodus 14:19; Numbers 9:15-16), and Ezekiel’s vision (Ezekiel 1:4). Fire is also an instrument of God’s judgment (Numbers 11:1, 3; 2 Kings 1:10, 12) and a sign of His power (Judges 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38).
Psalm 66:10; Proverbs 17:3). His fire cleanses and refines.
You can stay on 🔥 for the Lord
