Word Fire

[Lazarus Short]

In my not-quite-daily read thru the Bible for my essay "Heaven, Yes - Hell, No" I came across this in Jeremiah (23:29):  "Is not my word like as a fire?  saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?"

If that is so, would a lake of such fire be something like immersion (study) in God's Word?  Is that how the wicked are reconciled to God, by extended/required Bible study?  I'm sure to them it would be like a second death in the beginning.  :laughing7:

[sheila]

love..is a burning fire...SOS 8;6....fire and hammer blows[David's heart began to beat him] break up and pulverise hearts

made of stone[rocks].

   Good post,Laz.     

[marie glen]

..like it was for us, immersed in the Spirit of God.. (1 Cor 15:23,24)

But.. :laughing7: :laughing7: I think you're right!

[Shev]

The world will definitely be judged by the word:

Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
8
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
9
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints. (Psalm 149:5-9)

The two edged sword is, of course, the word of God. However, Jesus Christ being the true Word of God, I see this judgment by the word as more verbal. I guess a good example would be the two disciples who were privileged to have the scriptures revealed to them by the Lord Himself:

Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!  26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"  27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.  29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"  (Luke 24:25-32)

To me that is the real fire of the word - speaking the oracle of God by the Spirit.

:dsunny:

[Rhodes]

That is awesome Shev!  :banana:
I wrote something the other day on my blog about Rev 14 re- "smoke of their Torment goes up forever and ever" - here is a bit of it (forgive my loose style!)

"Christians often pray that God would send His fire. Well beloved, this is what this verse is all about. God is a consuming fire, and a  jealous God according to Hebrews 12:29 & Deut 4:24. He is in us and all other gods, even the desire for other gods will be challenged and exposed and burned. Hallelujah! This is nothing to do with some pagan idea of God burning people in some pit of darkness where their are demons and the devil and all sorts of tormenting tools and apparatus.

Just go through a few years of God's fire and you will know the torment that this scripture is speaking about...I do!! His fire brings us into His image and brings our mind into His mind. You shall have no other Gods before Me is something He takes very seriously. It is the heart He is dealing with...not bulldozing temples in Syria.

Whatever the Beast is, God's fire will destroy it out of our lives. Or said another way...if we have any beast in us or are bound to the beast in any way...whenever we get near Jesus His fire will touch those things.

Those who do not worship the beast or his image or take the marks HAVE  ALREADY been through the fire of God to bring them to that place of purity. This is what God is doing all the time in our lives. He will be challenging your love for the world, the things in the world."

I think the fire is the working of the Word of God in the heart and how we wrestle against it and finally come to agree with it- Him.

Blessings

Dennis Rhodes

[Shev]

That is awesome Shev!  :banana:
I wrote something the other day on my blog about Rev 14 re- "smoke of their Torment goes up forever and ever" - here is a bit of it (forgive my loose style!)

"Christians often pray that God would send His fire. Well beloved, this is what this verse is all about. God is a consuming fire, and a  jealous God according to Hebrews 12:29 & Deut 4:24. He is in us and all other gods, even the desire for other gods will be challenged and exposed and burned. Hallelujah! This is nothing to do with some pagan idea of God burning people in some pit of darkness where their are demons and the devil and all sorts of tormenting tools and apparatus.

Just go through a few years of God's fire and you will know the torment that this scripture is speaking about...I do!! His fire brings us into His image and brings our mind into His mind. You shall have no other Gods before Me is something He takes very seriously. It is the heart He is dealing with...not bulldozing temples in Syria.

Whatever the Beast is, God's fire will destroy it out of our lives. Or said another way...if we have any beast in us or are bound to the beast in any way...whenever we get near Jesus His fire will touch those things.

Those who do not worship the beast or his image or take the marks HAVE  ALREADY been through the fire of God to bring them to that place of purity. This is what God is doing all the time in our lives. He will be challenging your love for the world, the things in the world."

I think the fire is the working of the Word of God in the heart and how we wrestle against it and finally come to agree with it- Him.

Blessings

Dennis Rhodes

That is some great insight, Dennis. Can I have the link to your blog too? I would love to read more!

Your brother, Michael (Shev)lane

[Rhodes]

http://restinunion.com/2015/10/20/tormented-in-fire/

:thumbsup:

[Ross]

An example of burning away the dross is the process of purifying gold.
The gold is so hot it is in the liquid form; all the rubbish floats to the top- this is called dross.
This dross is then taken away. The gold resets as pure gold.

The truth is a consuming fire that cannot be quenched or ignored when presented by our One mediator- Christ.

Many will try to run;
but, to me,  the truth is impossible to ignore. The reality outweighs the copies or imitations.
We were all personally influenced and changed by Christ. Each of us can give a testimony about our own conversion.
All pretty major to us.
MAGNIFY THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WE HAD TO ALL MANKIND AND THE CORRECTION NEEDS TO BE DRAMATIC, SPECIFIC; PRECISE;
Who will want to go anywhere else?

The truth literally sets us free.
To learn that truth is not a five minute thing. So the lake of fire- the truth burning away the lies could indeed be a little illustration of that change.

1 Cor 3;13-15 " The work of each person will become evident, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If the work that someone has built on it remains he will receive a reward. If someone's work is burned up he will suffer loss, however he himself will be saved, BUT ONLY AS THROUGH FIRE."

[Rhodes]

Amen Ross!  :)

[joeteekay]

Good thread everyone. God IS a consuming fire. Everyone is/will experience His loving cleansing fire. The Elect in this eon. The rest of humanity in the Lake of Fire associated with the White Throne Judgement IMO.

:dsunny:

[Shev]

http://restinunion.com/2015/10/20/tormented-in-fire/

:thumbsup:

Thanks Dennis! I enjoyed the blog entry on Hannah Whitall Smith too - she certainly wrote a very eloquent narrative of transcendent revelation!

[Ross]

G'day Shev;
Just read your article on the mercy seat.
Brilliant. Indeed magnifies the reality of what Christ has actually achieved and done for us all.

G'day Rhodes;
Notice your a Manjimup man.
I grew up in Narrogin. Am currently in Gosnells- have been for the last 28 years.
My brother and sister live in Mt Barker. He has a bachelor of divinity and is a Baptist minister. She works as a counsellor for drug rehabilitation. Noble works. Yet not giving true freedom.
I cannot talk beliefs with him or my sister, or my family.
My in-laws have a missionary sister, a reverend Baptist and major Girls' brigade links. My wife and daughter work at Southern Hills Christian College. 
Love them all.
Cannot give verbal teachings. Have to live the silent example.
They are not yet blessed to know the truth.
Knowing all will be saved but each in his own turn releases any sense of failure.
1 Thess 4;11 " Make it your aim to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own affairs, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you. [12] In this way you will live a proper life and be dependent on no one."
C.U

[Rhodes]

wow Ross, great to meet you brother. We are not locals as such, as you would know, you have to born here to be one. We came down from Secret Harbour in 2005/6. My wife is an enrolled nurse. I met her in Carnarvon. Her background is Catholic, then born again spirit filled Catholics, then they left that for AOG type churches. Mine- not from a religious upbringing at all in Sorrento, Victoria. Came over west after High school in 1980. Worked on Trawlers in Shark Bay through the 80's as well as the Hamersley Iron railway for a few years. Got saved in 89 while living in Perth at home, when my first  marriage blew apart. Began in a Christian Outreach centre church in Perth, then in Geraldton with the Fisheries Dept. went to AOG church...then more of the same in Australind and then Anglican in Carnarvon.
Down here we a had a stint with the Bible Baptists(Jim and sue Moore)and their extended family including Norm and Evelyn the parents. They all came from Barker.
After I came back from a trip to Uganda where many were healed and saved, we were told we were not welcome any more. Then we had a year and a half at home...then went to the local 4 square church for a year until the Lord took us out of there to teach us. That was when he showed us the wonderful truth of the victorious gospel.
So as you would know that does not go down well with Bible baptists or Baptist Union people who we are already ostracised by because we believe in the things of the Spirit for today....but nor does it fit with the Pentecostals in 4 Square. :)
On top of that we have our children in the Catholic School here. I have to say that the Catholics are more open than any protestants we have met. SO not knowing any believers, been out of church since 2010, makes it hard to get work here. I am not a Pub man either so basically go from week to week and month to month without speaking to anyone except shop keepers and my immediate family. Strange life!
:dontknow:  :laugh:  :LH:  :gimmefive:

Dennis Rhodes

[Ross]

May seem strange at the time as we go through life- however starts to make sense about the incredible way we are taught about life.
Experience is the best teacher. By definition wisdom comes from experience.
Can identify with what you are saying. I find the conversion of Paul backs up what we have gone through.
He had no say. Had a personal experience. Then went away so as to have divine revelation and rely on no man.
Admits he was the chief sinner. Some of the stuff he was doing before hand was so nasty to people they doubted his conversion.
Yet he is the one who is the example to follow. Reading his teachings from that perspective makes much sense and releases the bondage of the law.

* Ah! The local identity! Say no more.
You have seen a bit of Australia. Interesting the little differences of communities even though the  same country.
I spent a couple of years in Meekatharra since my wife was posted there in 81 as a primary teacher.
I worked for the water supply and went and serviced Cue, Mt Magnet, Wiluna, Sandstone. What an experience.
Then we had kids after moving back to Perth.
The kids went through Dale Christian School primary whilst my wife was there as a teacher.
Now have a couple of grandkids.
My dad came out from Holland. Did that after the 2nd war. Have come to realize this helped to expand view points of the history of other countries. He made the interesting point that two countries can describe an event from different perspectives.
My mum grew up out at Bencubbin since her dad went to the war.
I had been to Pentecostals with my brother for a while when he was a minister in Coobelup. Was involved with that healing and casting out demons stuff. Strangely enough never felt anything alive in that situation.
Started studying spiritual warfare. Seemed plausible and real. Until one day basically it was like a "wait a minute. This is pointless. Achieving nothing."
Since that time have left the Baptist where I was a leading musician, deacon, Boys' Brigade leader.
Have never felt so alive since coming to know the truth.
The truth literally sets us free. Inspires devotion to an awesome loving Father with a plan so magnificent you are bursting at the seams, yet know this will be shared with others as He sees fit, and at their appointed time.

All pretty amazing really.

[Shev]

G'day Shev;
Just read your article on the mercy seat.
Brilliant. Indeed magnifies the reality of what Christ has actually achieved and done for us all.

G'day Rhodes;
Notice your a Manjimup man.
I grew up in Narrogin. Am currently in Gosnells- have been for the last 28 years.
My brother and sister live in Mt Barker. He has a bachelor of divinity and is a Baptist minister. She works as a counsellor for drug rehabilitation. Noble works. Yet not giving true freedom.
I cannot talk beliefs with him or my sister, or my family.
My in-laws have a missionary sister, a reverend Baptist and major Girls' brigade links. My wife and daughter work at Southern Hills Christian College. 
Love them all.
Cannot give verbal teachings. Have to live the silent example.
They are not yet blessed to know the truth.
Knowing all will be saved but each in his own turn releases any sense of failure.
1 Thess 4;11 " Make it your aim to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own affairs, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you. [12] In this way you will live a proper life and be dependent on no one."
C.U

Thank you for the kind words, Ross. I am glad it was edifying!

[Ross]

You're welcome. The term gospel does actually mean good news after all.  :winkgrin:
Mutual encouragement is truly uplifting in many regards.

[marie glen]

.."did not our  hearts burn..?" -- amen! The truth sets free and is a fire, enthusiasm, Spirit which burns in our heart and mind..

"experience is the best teacher" -- amen, amen! i think the truth is very down to earth, very sensible and logical, not hard to figure..

The elect experience much of the purifying fire of God's Spirit and Presence during this life and the not yet saved, imo, during what (surely?) will be a long 'day' of judgment (Gr "krisis-decision"; the way et thinks of it, there is no decision involved).

great thread!

[Ross]

" The elect experience much of the purifying fire of God's Spirit and Presence during this life. "

Amen!!!

He does indeed discipline whom He loves. In fact says if He is not doing that then you are literally illegitimate. [ Heb 12;8]
Christ says the dad's of this earth won't give their child a rock to eat. Take that to another level. No man would set fire to his child to force him to love him. How then would our loving Father do so?

God's love exceeds our attempts at love. Yet, I.M.O we have to have examples of love to learn what it really means.

[CHB]

Yes, we only love because he first loved us. There is a cause for all things.

CHB

[Ross]

Amen!!
Eph 3;17-21 Highlights the incomprehensible magnitude of that love in our current state of being.