JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL - GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

JEWELS FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL

SESSION 11

BIBLE SKILL ON P.105

GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 9:3 Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee.

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

Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Numbers 11:1 And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Numbers 16:35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Judges 6:21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.

1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

2 Kings 1:10 And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

2 Kings 1:12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

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.

Job 1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Ezekiel 22:31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.

SUSIE: The consuming fire seems to represent the omnipotence of God—the fact that He is all-powerful. It can represent His jealousy for his people, His acceptance of an offering, or His wrath against those who turn from Him.

SUSAN: I concur. When we come to God and submit ourselves to Him, like a wildfire He consumes all of the real estate of our lives. Every person or event that comes into our lives, whether seemingly negative or positive, is ultimately for our good and God’s glory. Everything that happens to us is according to His divine design for His ultimate purposes for which we were created.

SUSIE: I think you are saying that the Lord envelopes and consumes everything in our lives. When things seem out of control, like a forest fire, God is truly causing a “controlled burn” to get rid of the chaff (the worthless things) in order to allow room for the best things to grow.

SUSAN: The literal pruning of my legs seemed to be a fiery trial in my life, but my Heavenly Father wanted to cut off that which endangered my life and prevented me from fulfilling His purposes through my earth-suit.

SUSIE: God as a consuming fire can be devouring the enemies of His people or demonstrating acceptance of sacrifices from His children. Either way, He is demonstrating His power.

Leviticus 10:1-3 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

SUSAN: The consequence to disobedience can be as severe as death.

SUSIE: The consuming fire of God’s jealousy cannot tolerate disobedience, and those who do not follow His commands may find themselves consumed (literally or figuratively). Since God is the all-powerful Creator, it is His right to do with us as He wills.

SUSAN: Aaron, as a father, was probably numb. But Aaron, as a priest, accepted God’s judgment against his sons. Aaron could not defend their flagrant disobedience and flippant behavior in the presence of a holy God.

SUSIE: In the 21^st century church, we are sometimes in danger of forgetting that the same God who fills us with His Holy Spirit as an all-consuming fire fueling our service to Him is also the God who can send fiery judgment on those who reject His offer of salvation.

SUSAN: As Christians we are sometimes guilty of filling our bodies (His temple) with good things in place of God Himself. Being filled with God Himself can be expressed in as many different ways as there are people. The filling with God’s Holy Spirit brings some to quiet reflection and others to joyous expression.   We are each uniquely fit for God’s service, a divinely designed presentation.

SUSIE: We are unique individuals, but God within us reaches out to His other exceptional children and unites us to spread His all-consuming love like a wildfire in our communities.  May we, the church, submit ourselves to be consumed by God’s Spirit for the benefit of His kingdom.