Being on Fire for God

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Acts 2: 1-5

In Christendom, we use a lot of phrases that become so commonplace that we sometimes miss the true meaning or essence of those phrases. One of those phrases is “being on fire for God.” This is a great phrase. What most people associate with this phrase is very commendable and on the surface correct. However, we can ascribe meaning to a phrase or even a scripture that, if we are not careful can, in the end, not have the intended effect of the direction that Christ would have us to go in. Think about it. What do you think about when someone uses the phrase “being on fire for God.” Many people think of the scripture listed above to help define the term. We also think of that scripture in emotional terms, as if the essence of the power of being filled with the Holy Ghost is about an emotional response. We think of those disciples as being high on emotions as they flooded the streets of Jerusalem and spoke “with other tongues, as the Spirit gave utterance.” While I will not argue that this was an emotional “experience,” it was not emotions that “fueled” their response of “being on fire for God.” The remainder of this blog post will explain this argument and also help us to hopefully understand the true essence of what it means to be “on fire for God,” with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The Three Properties of Fire

Let’s take a look at what makes up fire and how a fire continues to be sustained. A natural fire is made up of three properties:

• The ignition source;
• The fuel source;
• Oxygen or air

For any fire to start, you must have the three properties of fire working together. When you think of an ignition source, the first thing that may come to mind is a match. The match starts the flame. However, a match in and of itself cannot sustain the flame. As soon as the material of the match is “burned-up” the flame goes out and the fire itself ceases.

The fuel source works in similar fashion. You can have a container of gasoline sitting in your garage with no danger of combustion without an ignition source. That container of gas will remain in a stable state forever without the ignition source being introduced. However, once the ignition source is introduced then the gasoline, or fuel source, starts the process of combustion and a fire is achieved. However, even when combustion occurs, the fire cannot be sustained unless the third property of the fire is introduced.

Oxygen or air is the backbone of sustaining life here on earth. Natural life cannot occur without air. The same principle applies to sustaining a fire. That fire cannot start or be sustained without the introduction of air. Once the ignition has started and the fuel source has been added, it is the oxygen that completes the combustion process and sustains the fire. This is one of the reasons why it is said that to stop a fire you must smother it or remove the oxygen. One way to put a fire out is to apply water to the fire to “smother” the oxygen. It’s the chemical reaction that removes the oxygen from the fire and therefore puts the fire out. That’s why some buildings are equipped with automatic sprinkler systems. The main purpose is for that sprinkler system to remove the oxygen at the source, by chemical reaction, and not allow the fire to spread any further.

Pentecost Fire

On the day of Pentecost, there was a spiritual fire that occurred. The three properties of fire were working, in a spiritual sense. The ignition source was God, the Father. All of those that were in that upper room had come to a point where they believed in God. They were Jews who truly had a desire to live for God, the Father. The evidence is that they were all with one accord and in one place. They had listened to Jesus when he told them to tarry in Jerusalem until they be indued with power (Luke 24:49). The Jews were still questioning Jesus about the kingdom of God before He ascended. They were fully vested in wanting to be a part of God’s kingdom. They were just unsure as to how and when it would come.

The fuel source was Jesus Christ Himself. Following God sparked their interest. However, it was Jesus who fueled their desires. Many of them had walked and talked with Jesus. They were with Him during His teachings. They were also with Him during His time of crucifixion and resurrection. They saw Him in his agony. However, they also saw Him in His Glory. They were Jews by nationality. However, they would become Christians by “new birth.” God, the Father gave them there initial direction in life. However, it was God, the Son, that quickened their mortal bodies by not only being the perfect example but also, and most importantly being the perfect sacrifice.

The last property of this spiritual fire comes in the form of the Holy Spirit. There was a rushing mighty wind (Air) that filled the house where the disciples were sitting. They all were filled with this rushing mighty wind and the first sign was that cloven tongues of fire sat upon each of the disciples. Full spiritual combustion had taken place through the introduction of the Holy Ghost. As they were filled with the Holy Ghost, they were directed by the Holy Ghost in the manner of speaking in tongues or languages that could be understood by all of those devout Jews who were in Jerusalem at that time. Yes, you can say that they were “on fire for God.” However, it was the filling of the Holy Ghost that completed that spiritual combustion cycle. The significance was not in the speaking of tongues, in and of itself. The significance was in the fact that they were filled with the Holy Ghost. That filling lead those disciples to do the work that God, the Father wanted them to do at that time. Tongues were necessary for the multitude to understand the wonderful works of God (Acts 2: 11).

Holy Ghost Filling

Was the day of Pentecost a high time in the Lord? Yes! Were there emotions involved? Yes! However, it was not emotions that completed and continued to sustain this spiritual combustion process. It was not emotions that continued to sustain the disciples in their lives (Acts 2: 41-47). There were times of great emotion and excitement. There were times of great boldness. However, there were also times that the disciples found themselves in jail. Paul experienced many castostrophic incidences where he could not rely on emotions or boldness to sustain or carry him (II Corinthians 11: 21-28). Yet the true disciples remained “on fire for God.” When Jesus stood before Pilate and did not say a word. He was just as on fire as He was when He was preaching the sermon on the mount. The real issue is not how much visible fire that we manifest. The real issue is how much of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost that we have working in our lives. Paul, in his writings, was always exhorting the disciples of Christ to be filled with the Spirit. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we can actual push people to be fueled by emotion and boldness and call that being “on fire for God.” When what we really should be pushing for is truly being filled with the Spirit. There are times when being filled produces an outward emotional response. However, there are other times when there is no outward response but an inner strength that belies all emotions. A prayer warrior, who is filled with God’s Spirit, can do a greater work in the kingdom of God and many people not know of their strength and power before God. Remember, some of the greatest power and energy happens beneath the earth’s core and is not readily visible until there is a volcanic eruption. Even then “that fire” underground remains constant. Let us strive to be filled with the Spirit and allow Him to direct our lives in whatever direction he seems fit. He (The Holy Spirit) is in constant communion with the Father and the Son!

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind blowers where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

John 3: 5-8