The Fire of God Powerfully Purifies – Benny Shobo

Hebrews 12:29, “For our God is a consuming fire”.

What is the Fire of God?
I will describe The Fire of God as the intense and warm presence of God which burns with passion in the hearts of all those who serve God in spirit and in truth. This fire is more spiritual than physical, and it creates a valid appetite for righteousness, holiness, purity, love, compassion, empathy, truth and intimacy with God. Luke 3:16 “John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”. Just like we need fire to cook our food, we need the fire of God to live a fruitful and godly life.
The Fire of God produces love, peace, joy, reverence, holiness, humility, grace, mercy, life and passion for God. The very essence of God, is fire and light. Our worship to God ignites the fire of God in us and around us. Those who have the fire of God, are glory carriers of the divine glory of God. Zechariah 2:5 “And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’

In the Bible, the word “fire” appears 474 times. The phrase, “fire of God” captures moments when God wants to demonstrate His power, love, justice and His presence. As children of God, it is vital to understand that we are birthed in and through God’s fire by the Holy Spirit.

Examples of God’s Fire in the Bible

1. The Fire of God fell on the Disciples: Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak” .
2. The Fire of God fell on Saul and changed him to Paul: Acts 22:6-7, “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
3. Moses saw the Fire of God and his life was changed: Exodus 3:2, “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed”.

Ten Things that the Fire of God does for us:

1. It validates us as children of God.
2. It protects, shields and reassures us.
3. It directs us.
4. It purifies, and heals us.
5. It creates a hunger in us to seek God.
6. It awakens us spiritually.
7. It empowers us with strength, boldness and truth.
8. It ignites in us the reverential fear of God.
9. It prepares us for supernatural encounters with God.
10. It brings us to genuine repentance of our sins.

Joel 2:28-29, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the
handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit”.

Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is
more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and fire”.

Ten Reasons for the Fire of God

1. To complete us to walk in truth and power, and not in error.
2. Cause a revival and spiritual awakening in our lives. To remove luke warmness from
   our lives.
3. To remind us of God’s presence and sustenance in our lives.
4. To serve God diligently in spirit and in truth, with holiness and righteousness.
5. To purify, correct, challenge, build and equip us in Christ. The Fire of God saves us
   from the fire of Hell.
6. To keep us active in Christ and in the work of God’s Kingdom. We need the fire of
   God to fulfill our destinies in Jesus Christ.
7. To enable us to powerfully represent God on the earth as Christ’s Ambassadors.
8. To protect, defend and thoroughly equip us to successfully combat the devil and the
   kingdom of darkness.
9. To renew our joy, peace and hope in Jesus Christ.
10. To remind us of the sovereign power of God, His will and mandates for our lives.

Ten Ways that we can reignite the Fire of God

1. Pray Fervently and fast often.
2. Meditate on the Word of God daily.
3. Worship and praise God the Lord in spirit and in truth.
4. Submit and yield to the authority of the Holy Spirit.
5. Be obedient to God and His word.
6. Walk in love, humility and gratitude.
7. Fellowship with other spirit-filled Believers in Christ.
8. Evangelize and share God’s word with other people.
9. Develop a life of faith in God.
10. Honour and reverence God.

God bless you!