OUR GOD A CONSUMING FIRE

HEBREWS 12:2

A. "FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE"
  1. Here are a few striking words used in Scripture to describe the essential character of God:
    1. "God is a Spirit" - John 4:24
    2. "God is Love" - I John 4:8
    3. "God is Light" - I Tim. 6:15-16; I John 1:5
  2. In our text - Paul speaks of God as being a consuming fire:
    1. A fire which devour the adversaries - Heb. 10:27
    2. This expression is used quite frequently in the Bible; compare Ex. 24:17 with Num. 11:1; 16:35; Deut. 4:24; 9:3; Ps. 50:3; 97:3; Is. 66:15; Dan. 7:9; 2 Thess. 1:8 B. OUR GOD A CONSUMING FIRE
  3. It is important for us to note briefly in what connection God is spoken of as a consuming fire:
    1. In the punishment of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram - Num. 16:23-33
    2. In the reminder to Israel to consider the solemnity of the covenant God had made with them - Deut. 4:1-24
    3. The assurance that came to the people not to be afraid of the power of the enemy, because God would go before them and consume the enemy - Deut. 9:1-4, 24
    4. The announcement of the second coming of our Saviour - Ps. 50:3; 97:3
    5. In the punishment of the wicked - Is. 66:15; 2 Thess. 1:8
  4. We have a few notable instances when God punished the wicked with fire:
    1. Sodom and Gomorrah - Gen., 19:24-28
    2. The punishment of the emissaries of king Ahaziah - 2 Kings 1:9-14
    3. The disciples of the Lord knew that God had been a consuming fire to the wicked on numerous occasions, and when the Samaritan refused to five them hospitality, they desired that they could cause fire to come down from heaven and devour the Samaritans - Luke 9:54
  5. How serious is our relationship with God with whom we have to do:
    1. Reverent fear should guide us in our thoughts, words and actions
    2. Sin is in the sight of God the most serious problem in the universe C. LET US NOTE A NUMBER OF BENEFICIAL IMPLICATIONS OF OUR OPENING TEXT
  6. As a fire our God consumes:
    1. On the altar, the fire as a symbol of God's presence was ever burning Lev. 6:9-10
    2. In that great contest between Baalism and the God in Israel, fire was the deciding factor - 1 Kings 18:36-39
    3. But this holy fire cannot suffer sinners to come into His presence - Lev. 10:1- 2; Num. 26:61
    4. It was the coal of fire from the altar that cleansed the prophet Isaiah from all impurities - Is. 6:6-7
  7. As a fire our God purifies:
    1. In the book Malachi God speaks of Himself as a refiner and purifier" - Mal. 3:3
    2. John must have reference to this work of God when he compares his ministry with that of the Lord - Matt. 3:11-12
    3. Said the Lord to Israel, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction" - Is. 48:10
    4. God will purify this sin-stained and polluted earth with fire - 2 Pet. 3:10-13; Is. 34:8-10
  8. As a fire our God empowers:
    1. What a real power fire is
    2. Think of the fire-driven engines that push the mighty ironclads like ploughshares through the deep
    3. Where fire is there is power
    4. Can He be in us without feeling a Divine power and seeing its might work
    5. When the life coal of the altar touches the tongue, what a power will reveal itself in our life
    6. Jesus spoke of John the Baptist as "a burning and shinning light" - John 5:35
    7. When the disciples were together for ten days and sought the Lord, "cloven tongues like as of fire" signaled the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:1-4
  9. Thus we see why the Bible speaks of God as a consuming fire:
    1. It indicates His Divine purity
    2. It warns against the tolerance of sin in our life


Design © John Bryant 2011