Walk Through the Fire

 

Walk Through the Fire

As we gather to pray over our city, our State and our Nation, we shall consider that often in our lives there is trouble and Christians are not exempt from bad things that happen.

 However as believers we are never alone and God is with us and in us through every attempt of Satan to defeat us. God sends his angels to protect you and watch over you even as you pass through the cold water or walk through the heat of the fire. God knows your very name.

Reading a portion from Isaiah chapter 43: The prophet proclaims; Now this is what the LORD says “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! I will be with you; and when you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, Do not be afraid, for I am with you.

In the book of Daniel it is recorded that the three Hebrew Children were told to bow down to the Golden Idol that king Nebuchadnezzar had made. The edict was that when the trumpet sounds you must bow down or suffer the consequences; who ever did not worship the gold idol would be thrown into the fiery furnace. When the Hebrew young men refused to bow down, they were given another chance and a warning. The young men answered the King, we will not bow down to your image, and we are not afraid. If our God does not deliver us, so be it. But regardless we stand firm for what we believe. About then the King was so angry that he commanded his servants to make the furnace seven times hotter. So when the trumpet blew and the young men did not bow, they bound them with ropes and cast them into the furnace, and the flames were so hot it killed those who tossed them into the fire. Then the King was amazed as he watched, and said, look there are four men walking around in the fire. Did we not cast in three, yet look again, because the fourth man is like the son of God. The king called to them to come out, and when they were inspected, their clothes, and bodies were not burnt and not a smell of fire was on them nor a hair of their head was singed. The king recognized that their God was powerful to deliver them from the flames and made a decree for all to recognize that their God was mighty and no one was to speak against their God.

Psalm 104:4 Compares God's messengers as wind and his ministers a flaming fire.

The Prophet Jeremiah said about God's word this way: “There is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

Jeremiah continued to prophesy saying: “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Hebrews 12:29 Therefore, let us worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

John the Baptist was proclaiming in Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. - - On the day of Pentecost there was a loud noise as of a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire came on all those in the upper room, and they were filled with Holy Ghost Power to minister.

Fire can be a friend or at time our enemy. The fire of God sent by the Holy Spirit is a fire we must not be afraid of. In fact we need to experience a baptism of fire in our spirits. That fire burns out the dross and then energizes us to go forth to conquer the things that cause us to be afraid.

Our citizens need an experience of Pentecost where there is a definite change from darkness into light.

Let us all say: “Oh Lord, let the Holy fire of the Holy Spirit; First fall on me, and then on our citizens.”