VB090 On Fire With God’s Word
On Fire With God’s Word
[2Tim 1:6; 2Cor 7:1; Jn 15:2-3; Ps 119:28,105,130]
Do you want to be on fire for Jesus? Do you wish you had the same fire that you had earlier in your walk with Him? The good news is, you can stir it up again!
In Second Timothy 1:6 Paul told Timothy,
2Tim 1:6 (ESV) –For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
Fan into flame is to activate, or refresh the living fire inside, to keep at full flame.
Gift is charisma, a gift of grace, a free gift. A spiritual gift.
The laying on of my hands: An act of ordination.
Paul was talking to Timothy about fanning the flame of the gift of God inside him. You have to be determined to stir up your inner fire. You can’t just hope spiritual fire happens in your life. You have to be diligent when it comes to adding spiritual fuel to your heart, to rekindle a flame that once burned hot.
The most important fuel to add to your spiritual fire, to build and maintain your fervor and intensity, is the Word of God. If you want to be on fire for God, you have to be on fire with His Word!
It’s not enough just to start a fire – you need to sustain it. If you continuously feed that flame with the right fuel, your fire will grow stronger and brighter the longer you walk in God’s Word.
God’s Word is fuel that is already lit. It is fire in itself, the presence of God, Himself. And when you take the Word of God into your life regularly, it keeps your heart on fire.
In Jeremiah 23:29, the prophet wrote, “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD…?” The Bible is not just another book — it makes available the very presence, power, and the fire of God.1
When you take the Bible into your heart, it drives out darkness. It provides illumination. It brings warmth into the places of your life that have turned cold. And it spreads its flames to others nearby. Nothing compares to the fire of the Word of God.
In Jeremiah 20:9, Jeremiah also wrote, “…His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones….” Again, the prophet refers to God’s Word as fire.
If you give the Word of God first place, and final authority in your life, it will have an awesome effect. When your spirit is stoked, you will want to share the scriptures with others. Knowing the Truth, allows you to spread the Truth.
In Luke 24 where Jesus and the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, where they didn’t recognize Him, yet they were really affected by His presence and His words.
“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them…. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself…. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (see, Lk 24:15-32)
Their hearts burned when the Scriptures were opened to them. The Scripture and spiritual fire are connected. And this word “burn” in verse 32 is the Greek word that means to be ignited, or to be set on fire.
When the Word of God is consumed, it releases its strength and convicting power. Its fiery power begins to transform the believer from the inside out.2
Like a lighted match put to kindling, when you put the Word of God in your heart, you will begin to burn with spiritual fire.
Fire brings warmth, God’s Word brings warmth and comfort in times of difficulty. When you’re wondering what you’re supposed to do, opening your Bible, the Word of God with its divine fire will warm your heart and give you peace, strength, and hope. It reminds me of soaking up the warmth of a fireplace.
Fire burns garbage and junk, God’s Word burns trash from our lives. You have junk in your life — things you need to get rid of. You’ve tried to deal with it by yourself, yet it’s still there. It keeps popping up over and over again.
When motivating the Corinthians, Paul said,
2Cor 7:1 (NKJV) –Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
We cleanse ourselves through the promises of God. Like fire, the Word cleanses our minds, including our memories.
When we feed on the Bible, the Word has the ability to burn away unwanted junk. It burns any stubble that remains in our soul from our former life. It burns up the rubbish of sin and doubtfulness. The Bible will take out the garbage!
Fire is a purifier, God’s Word will purify your soul and cleanse you. The Word of God renews your mind and purifies your thoughts. The fire of the Bible cleanses you. Jesus said,
Jn 15:2-3 (NKJV) –“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
In v.2, Jesus said, “Every branch that bears fruit He [the Father] prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” To prune[G2508] kathairo (ka-thai’-ro) v. is literally “cleanses,” (spiritually) to trim and purify (Jn 15:2).3
In v.3, Clean[G2513] katharos (ka-tha-ros’) adj. pure because of the word (literally) down to the essential only (to the very essence only).4
Fire illuminates, God’s Word will light up your life and shine on your path. God’s Word will be a light for you. It does what a lamp does in a dark room. When you “switch on” the Bible, all of a sudden you can see what you need to do. The Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, comes on you and the eyes of your heart enlightens, that you may know, how to make your decisions (see, Eph 1:17-18).
Psalm 119:105 says,
Ps 119:105 (NKJV) –Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
And verse 130 says,
Ps 119:130 (NKJV) –The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
The Scriptures are God’s lamp. If you feel like you’re in the dark and you don’t know what to do, go to God’s Word and receive it, and believe it. Remember, the Bible itself is fire. When the Scriptures enter into you, suddenly you have illumination. You can see what you previously could not see.
As fire, His Word divinely energizes you. Psalm 119:28 says,
Ps 119:28 (NKJV) –My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.
When you feed on the Bible, it imparts power to you. It imparts to you energy and divine strength. There is nothing like the Bible. If you feel weak, take the fire of God’s Word, it will transform you into a mighty spiritual warrior. If you feel that your fire is on low, read or listen to the Word, and come to life again with the fire of God.
Let’s Pray:
Father, your Word is the most important fuel we need to stir up your Spirit in us. It always fans the “coals,” of our hearts. Without Your Word, We would grow cold and be of no use to you. Thank you that we have a hunger and a thirst to read the Bible. A daily diet of Scripture will sustain us.
Lord your Word strengthens us when we take it in. We cannot trust anything but your Word. We cling to your Word again today. Lord we are thankful for the way your Word helps us through good times and rough times. Amen.
My Proclamation:
When I read the Bible and a word or phrase jumps out at me, I thank God, for enlightening me. I don’t have Jesus to teach me firsthand, however, the Holy Spirit — the Helper, Comforter, and Teacher lives in me. When I don’t understand what the Bible is saying – I stop and ask my Helper/Teacher. I say, “Holy Spirit, what did you have in mind when you wrote this verse?” And He always reveals the Word to me in a way that stirs me up! I remember what He says.
I know what Jeremiah must have felt when he had a fire shut up in his bones. The revelation of God’s Word is powerful and I want to share it with others.
God bless you my friend,
1See, VB015-VB018, Inspiration of Scripture.
2See, VB082, Power From the Inside Out.
3Zodhiates, Spiros. Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible–NASB (Chattanooga: AMG, 1984; rev. ed. 1990), 1843.
4Ibid.
