Fiery Passion for God

As the wind has spoken to us of such a joyful, extraordinary, unbridled life that is freely given to us through Christ, as it has revealed the Sovereignty of God, so Fire opens our minds to the purity and wonder of a life-giving God who pours out His Spirit and fire upon his people. A Fire that purifies, ignites and burns within our hearts as we are changed and transformed as the Holy Spirit works in us to make us a holy people. A people that belongs to Him alone.

In 1904, in a small town, New Quay, Wales, something extraordinary happened. During a worship meeting, a meeting in which ordinary people longing for more of God were worshiping and praising God, a young girl stood up and cried out, “Oh Lord, I love you with all my heart!” And the Fire Fell!!! Her name was Florie Evans and that was the beginning of a spontaneous revival—known as the Welsh Revival—that touched not only thousands of lives in Wales but impacted nations for Christ. During the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit, men and women were deeply convicted of sin and were desperate for forgiveness and redemption. The Holy Spirit did a mighty work, cleansing, redeeming and transforming lives. The young people were set on fire with a deep love for God and a desire to share what He had done. They were filled with a love for God and His people.

This same Holy Spirit, who had fallen on the early disciples like tongues of fire, had fallen in a similar way on people all across Wales who were desperately seeking God. No one man could claim leadership of this move; although the name Evan Roberts is associated with the revival, he did not lead it nor start it. He was part of it, but the Holy Spirit led. The wind blew where it wanted and brought a shift as the Spirit discerned and decided. In answer to man’s desire, his desperate hunger to encounter God in a real and personal way, the Holy Spirit fell, bringing a purifying, life-changing experience for all who were open to His touch. This was the other that John the Baptist had spoken of. Here was the promise of Jesus, Who said He would baptize in the Holy Spirit and with fire. I believe this outpouring's dramatic impact on the people lasted an entire generation, and this move was marked by song (worship) not preaching. A people worshiping God with open hearts, wanting, seeking an encounter with God.

Jeremiah 29:13                                                                                                                                              Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

These words were written by the Prophet Jeremiah while the people were in exile in Babylon. They were experiencing judgment and God’s wrath, yet Jeremiah knew that God had far better plans for them and was calling them to come back and cry out to Him so that He could bless them and return them to their land. To humbly bow before Him and ask Him to take them back, to restore them and make them wholly His again. Today the Lord’s call is no less loud or real; repent and believe. He longs to show mercy and to refresh us. All He asks is that we come with humble hearts, no agenda, only a deep, deep desire for Him, and like in the days of old, at Pentecost, He will pour out His Spirit on all flesh, a baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire.

Hebrews 1:7

And concerning the angels, He says,“Who makes His angels winds, and His ministering servants flames of fire [to do His bidding].”

His plans for us today are equally good because He will make us flames of fire for His eternal purposes. I love to read testimonies of how God uses people to do His work, but I have to confess I want a testimony of my own. I want my own story. Not because I want to stand out but because I want the real, authentic encounter with God that sets me on fire. I want to experience God firsthand so that the flames of fire are on me, burning up the chaff and impurities in me so that I may burn for Him. Not just a once-off experience but a lifestyle of being with Him. And so he invites me to come, just as I am into the place of meeting, to bring my Bible with me because it is alive and it is his message, His personal message to me. I want to know His Word, not so that I can write a thesis but so that I can know Him and myself through the scriptures. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7                                                                                                                                             That is why I remind you to fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

I am the woman at the well, a sinner, yet in Christ I am forgiven; like the leper, I am sick, but in Christ I am made whole and healed; I am Mary, bound by demons and tormented, but in Christ I am set free. God’s Word is alive and in it we encounter Christ. As we seek Him and long for more of Him, He touches us and fills us with His Holy Spirit, who sets us on fire. A fire that cleanses but also gives us a love for others, a love for God and a love for people. I remember being baptized by Jesus in the Holy Spirit and being overwhelmed with a love for others. I just wanted to share what I had and for others to know this overwhelming love. Sadly, I have had to fan this love more and more as I encounter hurts and nastiness in our messy world. None of us are immune, but the antidote is more of God’s Holy Anointing Fire.

Hebrews 4:12                                                                                                                                            For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person] and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

It is Paul who encourages us to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, to put ourselves on the altar and allow God to burn us up so that out of the fire will come wholeness, healing and a pure heart. Our passion and love for God is fueled in the furnace as we open our hearts to His truth, to His Word that penetrates us to our very core. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow.

Romans 6:6-7                                                                                                                                           We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways]. For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection. We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

As I am writing this, I am looking out over a field that has recently been burned to clear away all the old bushes, those that are hard and dry, holding out the sunlight and preventing new growth. It has just rained, and I can see the new green shoots of grass coming up. A picture of our own lives as we allow God to burn up all the old “stuff” so that the new can emerge and grow unhindered. The Holy Spirit is faithful, and as we long for His presence in our lives, as we yield to Jesus and allow Him to baptize us in His Holy Spirit, we shall have the power to be His witnesses. As we embrace His baptism of fire, we will be humble and pure, worthy of our calling as we serve the Lord our God.

Ephesians 5:26-27                                                                                                               So that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.

May we never mistake enthusiasm or zeal for Holy Spirit fire. It is not about our personality, which may be bubbly, strong, or determined, but about a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, Who, according to His will, fashions us to fit God’s purpose. He can make the quiet and gentle like a ferocious lion and the loud and fiery like a gentle lamb. It is all about the Holy Spirit. Just like we have seen the Holy Spirit is like a mighty wind, so too He is a consuming fire. A fire that will consume all that is not of God and refine us like gold so that we may stand untarnished and blameless before the Lord. Jesus loves us so much; look what He has done. He has loved us and given Himself up for us to make us holy, cleansing us by washing us with water through the word and presenting us to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish; holy and blameless. Our God is a consuming fire and burns up all the dross. 

In the Bible, God is described as a "consuming fire" both in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29. The phrase symbolizes God's holiness, justice, and jealousy for His worship, but it also represents the idea of having one's mind, attention, and focus consumed by a passion for God. I don’t know about you; I want my mind consumed with a passion for God. I do not want to be lukewarm.

Leviticus 6:12                                                                                                                                             The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not [be allowed to] go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat portions of the peace offerings up in smoke on it.

It is on the altar that the fire burns—a fire that may not go out. And so we intentionally come to the Lord and surrender ourselves to Him. laying everything on the altar so that He can burn up all that is not of Him. How do we do that? We ask Him, we tell him we are willing, and we ask that He would purify us, search our hearts, and weed out all our ungodly ways. Not a once-off request but daily so that the Lord can work His cleansing, transforming work in us and changing us. 

Jeremiah 5:14                                                                                                                                          Therefore, thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Because you [people] have spoken this word, behold, I am making My words a fire in your mouth [Jeremiah] and this people wood, and My words will consume them.”

Our lives are a journey, sometimes in the fiery furnace, sometimes in the smoldering fire, but always hot, always consuming, always refining-that is the way of God. May we always have fire in our belly, in our bones and fire in our mouths, a fiery passion in our hearts for the things of God. A passion expressed in love and kindness as we love one another as Christ has loved us.

Let's Pray:                                                                                                                                                       Father, we don’t always know or understand Your full plans for our lives, but we know You want the very best for us. Help us to yield our lives, our wills, and our desires to You that You may sift and burn away anything that hinders our walk with You. May we lay ourselves on Your altar so that You can refine us and keep us on fire for You. Flames of fire, passionate for those things that please You and a burning love for one another.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.