The Fire (Part 5)

The Fire (Part 5)

-It cleanses and makes pure:

In Old Testament times, fire was used to destroy anything unholy:

a. Anything affected by leprosy was to be burned in the fire according to Leviticus 13:52.

b. Idols were to be burned in the fire as mentioned in Deuteronomy 7:5;25; 9:21; 12:3; I Chronicles 14:12; Isaiah 37:19; Jeremiah 43:13; and Micah 1:7.  

c. The spoil of the enemy was to be burned according to Deuteronomy 13:16 .

God's fire in the life of a believer is also a refining one, burning out impurities:

Isaiah 54:16 "Behold I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for His work..."

Zechariah 13: 9 "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God."

He is like a refiner's fire according to Malachi 3:2.
 

Jeremiah 6:28-30 says:

"If you are to be used of God, you must have the impurities burned out of your life.  If you refuse this refining process, you will be like reprobate (refuse) silver which is no good: They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders; they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain; for the wicked are not plucked away. Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them." 

Fire is used in the separation process, both in the natural and spiritual worlds:

Numbers 31:23 "Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation:  and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water."

Isaiah 5:24 "The fire devours the stubble, the flame consumes the chaff..."

Matthew 3:10 "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree which  bringeth not forth good fruit."

John 15:6 "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."

When you are truly on fire for God, you are separated from sin and the things of this world.  You are set apart for His purposes and the work of the Kingdom.