The Fire (Part 4)

The Fire (Part 4)

-Empowers your ministry.

You are chosen by God in  midst of the fires of affliction. You are empowered by God to fulfill your ministry through His consuming fire:

Isaiah 64:2 "As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence."

Isaiah 48:10 "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

Psalm 104:4 "Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire."

-Indicates the presence of God.

The symbol of natural fire was always used to indicate the presence of God in the Old Testament:

Deuteronomy 4:12 "And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire..."

Exodus 40:38 "For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys."

The spiritual fire of God burning in your soul also indicates His presence.  Your ministry is validated by the presence of God.

-Provides guidance:

When people are mobilized for the work of the Lord, they must have direction.  The fire of God is a symbol of the direction He provides for His people:

Exodus 13:21, 22 "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night; He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

Numbers 14:14 "And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land; for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night."
 Deuteronomy 1:33 "Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day."