Send The Fire
Posted by: Blacksmith in Untagged on Mar 04, 2010
We sing very often at the Ramp "Send the Fire," written by William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. Not only do we sing it, but we pray it at the top of our lungs. And then, we have Fire Tunnels, where all our leadership lines the platform and prays for God's fire while the Ramp attendees walk through. We're pretty obsessed with the idea of burning for God. We can't hardly tweet or status update without mentioning it. Therefore, I've been to ponder lately what it really means to be consumed in the fire of God.
Usually, we associate terms like "fire" and "burning" with high energy levels and great zeal. However, scripture doesn't just trigger thoughts about loud voices and expressive worship. It introduces you to much more.
John the Baptist prophesies about Jesus, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matt. 3:11). I like that part. But then John goes on to say, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (v. 12). This description of the baptism in fire is a little disconcerting. Notice the use of words many times associated with judgment: "winnowing," "clean out," "threshing," "burn up," and "unquenchable fire." It seems this fire Jesus brings isn't limited to a fun feeling. It seems there's great purpose in it.
The prophet Isaiah may give us a little more clue about what this fire is all about. In Isaiah 10 God is railing judgment on the king of Assyria because of his arrogance, thinking he's the source of his success. God is also judging Israel for putting their trust in this king rather than in God. While declaring judgment, Isaiah says, "Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts . . . He will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day." Whoa. This fire is serious. Basically, God is saying that He's coming as a fire to burn up this wicked king and all his works.
What's the result of this burning? Isaiah goes on, "And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel . . . will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth" (v. 20). This fire comes and burns up everything that Israel trusts that is not God. The fire ensures that their hope, satisfaction, and trust will remain in "the Holy One of Israel."
So, what are we saying when we pray, "God, send the fire"? Of course we are praying for a deep longing and desire for His presence. But we're also praying God would rid us of everything that steals our gaze. We're praying the unquenchable fire of His love would eat up everything that keeps us from being wholly given to Him. The fire judges us, but in judging us it brings us closer.
So let's keep praying that dangerous and necessary prayer, "God, send the fire."
-Micah
Usually, we associate terms like "fire" and "burning" with high energy levels and great zeal. However, scripture doesn't just trigger thoughts about loud voices and expressive worship. It introduces you to much more.
John the Baptist prophesies about Jesus, "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matt. 3:11). I like that part. But then John goes on to say, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (v. 12). This description of the baptism in fire is a little disconcerting. Notice the use of words many times associated with judgment: "winnowing," "clean out," "threshing," "burn up," and "unquenchable fire." It seems this fire Jesus brings isn't limited to a fun feeling. It seems there's great purpose in it.
The prophet Isaiah may give us a little more clue about what this fire is all about. In Isaiah 10 God is railing judgment on the king of Assyria because of his arrogance, thinking he's the source of his success. God is also judging Israel for putting their trust in this king rather than in God. While declaring judgment, Isaiah says, "Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts . . . He will kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day." Whoa. This fire is serious. Basically, God is saying that He's coming as a fire to burn up this wicked king and all his works.
What's the result of this burning? Isaiah goes on, "And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel . . . will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth" (v. 20). This fire comes and burns up everything that Israel trusts that is not God. The fire ensures that their hope, satisfaction, and trust will remain in "the Holy One of Israel."
So, what are we saying when we pray, "God, send the fire"? Of course we are praying for a deep longing and desire for His presence. But we're also praying God would rid us of everything that steals our gaze. We're praying the unquenchable fire of His love would eat up everything that keeps us from being wholly given to Him. The fire judges us, but in judging us it brings us closer.
So let's keep praying that dangerous and necessary prayer, "God, send the fire."
-Micah