Our God is a Consuming Fire. We know that. At least, we are familiar with the concept and have read those words many times in our walk as a Believer. He is a ‘Consuming Fire’ and He gave us a Fiery Law אֵשׁ דַּת Esh Dat
The concept of Fiery Law, or Esh Dat in Hebrew, conveys that it comes from the outside. This Fiery Law must be taken ‘in’ and responded ‘to’ by choice for it to take hold in one’s heart. This concept is what separates human beings from animals. Animals cannot have a ‘fiery law’. Animal responses come entirely from inborn instinct and are pre-programmed. Humans make moral choices that come from ‘somewhere’ outside of themselves for good or bad.
God was Fire at the Burning Bush. He was Fire on Mount Sinai. (Moses spent 40 days and nights on the Mountain-of-God in the Presence of this Consuming Fire.) He was Fire at the Altar of the Tabernacle. He was the Fire that led the Children of Israel through the Wilderness. He was Fire at Pentecost. He was and will be Fire when His wrath is poured out. Israel sinned at Mt. Sinai. Moses broke the Sapphire Tablets written by the Finger of God when he saw the golden calf his brother, Aaron, had fashioned for the people. The people of Israel and Aaron chose to make that calf.
The Consuming Fire took up residence in the in Courtyard of the Tabernacle for the next 400 years. The Altar consumed every burnt offering. That altar and the fire coming from it sent a very clear message. The message was this: to come near or draw near God, as the Book of Leviticus states, one must bring an offering and blood sacrifice to the Priest. The Priest would have to be available ‘360/7’ to receive a blood sacrifice for atonement for the sins of the people and once each year in the Holy of Holies. The Levites were to bear the iniquity of Israel and stand between them and God.
At least this was true until…. the arrival of Messiah. The 70-week ministry of Messiah was to accomplish what Daniel describes in 9:24 as ‘putting an end to these offerings’. This end of sin-offering was the pivotal point of human history in all of God’s creation. Yeshua willingly laid down His life as the sin offering for us. He became the final offering, taking all the sin of the world on Himself. Yeshua was to be the last sacrifice offered, needed, or accepted by God on behalf of everyone…. ever again. No future altar is needed. No further offering is required for anyone. The only acceptable sacrifice, now, is the sacrifice of Praise.
This Fire of the Holy Spirit came on a Mountain in Sinai. It led the Children of Israel through the Wilderness for 40 years. It filled the Temple of Solomon (for a period of time…. until it had to leave). It came forth from Heaven to fill Yeshua at His baptism and…. It returned to heaven as He drew His last breath on the cross.
After His resurrection, God returned the Spirit to its intended owner(s) at Pentecost…. making It available to all Believers. Now, this Fire comes to and takes up residence in any who are ready to believe and willing to carry it inside of them. The whole purpose of the Messiah’s coming was to return the Spirit that Adam had lost in the Garden due to his disobedience and unbelief. It is available. What can happen if we say, “Yes” to being one of those who will carry it? The world awaits to find out. In fact, it is groaning.
Those first-century Believers turned the world upside down when the Spirit’s Fire came to dwell in them! “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you shall be my witnesses” to the world Acts 1:8
Today….. in the 21st Century….. surely, we can be an influence too. It is the same Holy Spirit Fire that was available to the 1st Century Believers.
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
The concept of Fiery Law, or Esh Dat in Hebrew, conveys that it comes from the outside. This Fiery Law must be taken ‘in’ and responded ‘to’ by choice for it to take hold in one’s heart. This concept is what separates human beings from animals. Animals cannot have a ‘fiery law’. Animal responses come entirely from inborn instinct and are pre-programmed. Humans make moral choices that come from ‘somewhere’ outside of themselves for good or bad.
God was Fire at the Burning Bush. He was Fire on Mount Sinai. (Moses spent 40 days and nights on the Mountain-of-God in the Presence of this Consuming Fire.) He was Fire at the Altar of the Tabernacle. He was the Fire that led the Children of Israel through the Wilderness. He was Fire at Pentecost. He was and will be Fire when His wrath is poured out. Israel sinned at Mt. Sinai. Moses broke the Sapphire Tablets written by the Finger of God when he saw the golden calf his brother, Aaron, had fashioned for the people. The people of Israel and Aaron chose to make that calf.
The Consuming Fire took up residence in the in Courtyard of the Tabernacle for the next 400 years. The Altar consumed every burnt offering. That altar and the fire coming from it sent a very clear message. The message was this: to come near or draw near God, as the Book of Leviticus states, one must bring an offering and blood sacrifice to the Priest. The Priest would have to be available ‘360/7’ to receive a blood sacrifice for atonement for the sins of the people and once each year in the Holy of Holies. The Levites were to bear the iniquity of Israel and stand between them and God.
At least this was true until…. the arrival of Messiah. The 70-week ministry of Messiah was to accomplish what Daniel describes in 9:24 as ‘putting an end to these offerings’. This end of sin-offering was the pivotal point of human history in all of God’s creation. Yeshua willingly laid down His life as the sin offering for us. He became the final offering, taking all the sin of the world on Himself. Yeshua was to be the last sacrifice offered, needed, or accepted by God on behalf of everyone…. ever again. No future altar is needed. No further offering is required for anyone. The only acceptable sacrifice, now, is the sacrifice of Praise.
This Fire of the Holy Spirit came on a Mountain in Sinai. It led the Children of Israel through the Wilderness for 40 years. It filled the Temple of Solomon (for a period of time…. until it had to leave). It came forth from Heaven to fill Yeshua at His baptism and…. It returned to heaven as He drew His last breath on the cross.
After His resurrection, God returned the Spirit to its intended owner(s) at Pentecost…. making It available to all Believers. Now, this Fire comes to and takes up residence in any who are ready to believe and willing to carry it inside of them. The whole purpose of the Messiah’s coming was to return the Spirit that Adam had lost in the Garden due to his disobedience and unbelief. It is available. What can happen if we say, “Yes” to being one of those who will carry it? The world awaits to find out. In fact, it is groaning.
Those first-century Believers turned the world upside down when the Spirit’s Fire came to dwell in them! “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you shall be my witnesses” to the world Acts 1:8
Today….. in the 21st Century….. surely, we can be an influence too. It is the same Holy Spirit Fire that was available to the 1st Century Believers.
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--