Going Through the Fire

2 Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

We won't enjoy His glory without His fire. His fire consumes a willing sacrifice now, or an unwilling sacrifice later. It is not the 'flesh' that will taste of His glory (1 Corinthians 1:29), for 'the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord' (Proverbs 20:27). His Word searches out the inward parts, igniting us with His fire, burning out the dross of worldly things. 'Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?' said the disciples of Jesus' words (Luke 24:32). His 'rhema' words search us, try us, locate us, take us through the fire, reveal His glory!

Peter tells us the 'fiery trials' also come to make us partakers of Christ's sufferings that we may rejoice in His revealed glory. Again: no fire, no glory! It was in fire that the early Church was born on each head a tongue of fire at Pentecost.

It was from a bush of fire that Moses heard God's command. The fire may be unpleasant, but the glory is worth it! Jesus counsels you, today, to 'buy of Me gold tried in the fire' (Revelation 3:18).

John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the One Who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, and with fire! Let us welcome the fire as we would His Spirit. From whatever source comes the heat of unkind words, the pain of persecution, the blessings He would seem to withhold He is at work, dear one, forging you in the character of His mould!