Fire

 

Our Father is described as a fire in scripture:

"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."
                                                    Deut. 4:24

The above truth is repeated in Hebrews 12:27-29, as well. Many people find this description of our Father to be frightening, and perhaps, in the context of judgment, unmerciful. I think, if we look at the depths of it, we might feel differently.
 God being fire in the context of the Hebrews verses, refers to the removal by fire of "those things" that can be shaken (v. 27). The shakeable things, according to the Greek root of the word, are things that flatter, fawn upon (false flattery), agitate, disturb, and trouble. So the fire is directed to those things that plague and deceive creation. Those things which cannot be "shaken" will remain. The unshakeable things are those things that comprise the kingdom of God (v. 28)
Similarly, in Luke 3:17, John the Baptist warns the crowds that the Messiah who is coming, will separate the useful kernel of wheat from the useless chaff, and ultimately burn up the chaff with an unquenchable fire. The word "chaff" in Hebrew means something that is carried on the wind. The root of the word means "squeezer, oppressor, extortioner". So again, the fire is directed at a malevolent thing. 
Let's look at the fire of judgment in another passage of scripture:

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."
                                                       2 Peter 3:9-10

First point here is that the Lord waits patiently to bring this judgment, giving mankind the longest time possible to repent and enter into the haven of His salvation, His kingdom. But, at the appointed time, it says that at a surprising moment, the heavens will "pass away". The meaning of the phrase in Greek means "of persons moving forward". The Greek root meaning is "to arise, to come forth". This is a forward movement of creation, a rising or coming forth of the spiritual and natural heavens of creation. When we "move forward", we have to pass by those things that are not moving forward.
Again, the scriptures use this language in the following:

"Therefore, is anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
                                                        2 Cor. 5:17

Something new is happening. Old things have passed away. "Old things", according to the Greek, means "that has been from the beginning. primal, ancient, first place, principality, rule, of angels and demons." These old things that will not be included in the new creation are demonic principalities. No one should mourn the passing away of these things! The scripture from 2 Cor. goes on to say "all things" have become new. Not only is the newness for man, but for all created things at the same time.
Going back to the 2 Peter scriptures above, it is stated that the elements, and the earth are "burned up". The Greek meaning of "burned up" refers to "laid bare, light", in other words, revealed. Not only does fire release the form of heat energy, but also light energy. The purpose of the burning is to expose what is hidden. To bring the light of fire to what hides in the darkness, even the darkest recesses, that we are not aware of. Our Father will expose these things.
The throne of God in Rev. 4:5 is described as being surrounded by noise, fire, and light. The Spirits of God present there are "lamps of fire".Therefore, where the Father is enthroned will be surrounded by noise and fire. In the Book of Acts 2:3, as the Holy Spirit baptized the believers in the upper room, He appeared as "tongues of fire" upon their heads. In Luke Chapter 2, John the Baptist describes the coming Messiah as One who would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (v. 16). So fire is very much associated with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Continuing in 2 Peter is the following:

"Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,"   (v. 11)

The word "dissolved" above, though perhaps sounding frightening, really means: "to loosen bonds and ties, to set free, discharge from prison, to deprive of authority." What the Lord is dissolving here are those evil powers, and the bondage they have  exercised over man, and over creation.

Continuing in the following verse 12, we are advised:

"looking for and  hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat?"

We are told in verses 11, and 12, above, that we are to "look for" these things to happen. That this is holy and godly to do.
"Look for" means "expect, hope, wait for, to watch for". We are to hope for this "dissolving".
We are also instructed to "hasten" it!  Now that we understand what the fire and dissolving are truly about, it is easier to understand why we should "look for" it. But it is shocking to me that the Lord tells us that we are to actually "hasten" this to come about. It is amazing to know that we even have the ability to "hasten" it! We need to find out what "hasten" means, in order to understand how we are to do it.
The word "hasten" means to desire earnestly, to make haste. The root meaning is very powerful. The root means to "put a foot on the vanquished". It means "sitting at a teacher's feet" or "laying hold of the master's feet".
Many wonderful things in scripture, happened at the feet of Jesus. Here is just one example:

"Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them."
                                                                  Mat. 15:30-31

These incredible things happened at His feet. Bondages were broken, healings came forth. Miracles were accomplished and people glorified God as a result. Here is something else that scripture describes at His feet, that also agrees with the root meaning of the word "hasten":

"Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule, and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death."
                                                                1 Cor. 15:24-26

What is taking place under the feet of Jesus is exactly what we have been learning about. These "old things" have been conquered, and placed under His feet. To "hasten" the events, in obedience to the scriptures, we must, ourselves, take up a position at His feet. He is our teacher and our master. At His feet is where the bondage is broken and all things are made new.

Again, as we return to 2 Peter and continue in v. 13, we are told to "look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless."
                                                               2 Peter 3:14

How are we to be blameless and without spot? We have these things by His blood. But we can find this continuing condition at the feet of Jesus. Look at the following description of the Son of God:

"And in the midst of the seven lampstands  One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;
His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;"                                       Rev. 1:13-15

It says His feet are like fine brass. The term "fine brass" means, "like gold, if not more precious". The root meaning is powerful: "frankincense tree, holy incense, a white resin burned as incense, to make white, to purify." In the verses above from Revelation, we see a living, glorious example of the product of the fire of our Father! Even His own Son, incorporates flames of fire into His being, and has been through the fire of a refining furnace.

So the ability to become blameless, and without spot can also be found at the Feet of Jesus! Holy incense to be burned, releasing its fragrance, and purity are found there. This is the place where we need to abide. At His feet is where the old is conquered, burned away, and the new is purified, and comes forth. 


Peter is telling us, that if we truly understand the purpose of the fire of God, we can look forward to that day, and be at peace about it. The fire of God is not unmerciful for those to whom He has shown mercy. We are not to fear it, nor wait passively for it, thinking it is far away and far to come, but we are to be eager to see it, even to hasten it, not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of all creation.


Our Father is a consuming Fire!


"All Honor, All Glory"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHOM-hOi7uU
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