Consuming Fire...Indeed!

For our God is a Consuming Fire. Hebrew 12:29

Consuming Fire in the greek à Katanalisko pyr

Literal translation: To consume for the purpose of purification.

 

This scripture is SO powerful to me. Each time that I read it or it comes up in my mind is as the first time I read it. This is one of those scriptures that I feel…. it comes alive and I am like “forrel Lord!! You really are a consuming fire”.

It’s hard to believe that this year is almost over, right?!  At the beginning of the year I did a 21 day fast for the purpose of surrendering my life completely to Christ. I mean, yea I was a Christian prior to that but there were some areas of my life that I was still holding back from God. I wanted His hand of protection, His favor, His best, His perfect will, etc. but I didn’t quite trust that he could handle the areas that I was holding back. In some instances I thought that maybe he didn’t care about some aspects of my life. Perhaps God was only concerned with the big things like my career and my family because I could see the gratification in that area. I mean,  He did a great job of allowing me to get an education, protecting my family from danger and surrounding me with people who I could demonstrate His love to and who also demonstrated His love to me but in other areas I could not “see” his provision. In certain areas I just had to trust that he was also in control and being completely transparent, although I said I did, my actions did not say the same. So, the fast was my “white flag”, my surrender, my “Lord I’m going to truly give you my life and whatever you decide to do with it is what I’ll roll with”. That has truly been the BEST decision of my life. That is the point that I first experienced this verse in Hebrew 12:29, Our God is a consuming fire.

This entire year has been “Jesus Bootcamp”. I know God now more than I ever have before but it seems that each day I know Him better. Over the last year I have experienced God in a way that makes honoring Him with my life a top priority. God’s desire to mold us into the image of His son, Jesus Christ is dependent on our willingness to say “yes”…Yes Lord to Your will and YOUR way. God will began to consume you in such a powerful way. Things that you didn’t even consider a problem will become evident. God will search your heart and show you all of the things that are preventing you from being like Christ. Jesus clarified what exactly I was feeling and referring to as “Jesus Bootcamp” in John 15.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch

in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that

bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit…Abide in Me, and

I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides

in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine,

you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,

bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

(John 15:1-2, 4-5 NKJV)

Think it’s a game?!?! This scripture is packed with implications for our lives as Christians striving to give God more, love and honor Him with our lives, and be salt and light to a world molded in sin and iniquity. The pruning process that God takes us through is NO JOKE! It requires you to be vulnerable, it requires for you to rely on a source that is greater than you, it requires you to completely give up power. But while it’s painful, in the midst of the tears shed, in the midst of making mistakes and learning, God will continue to sanctify you and mold you. As Christians we are constantly on the potter’s wheel. Although molding is not easy it is necessary for the clay pot to operate in the purpose for which it was created. Friends, God wants to be a consuming fire for you…he wants to be your potter. In order for this to happen we have to submit to the process of purification. The beauty is…the purification, although not an easy process, is the BEST time of my life. There is so much freedom and liberation in knowing that you are being molded into the image of Christ, that you are operating in the purpose for which God created you, and that God is pleased with your obedience. Christ came so that we might have abundant life and His greatest desire is just that. He desires for us to live in His presence, live in His peace, His Love, His abundance. His greatest desire is for YOU…yes YOU! Amazing right?! The perfect, justice, HOLY, sovereign creator of the entire world is crazy in love with you (sinful, rebellious, and a host of other things)! I’m not worthy of a love so great and you aren’t either…but as Christ took nails in His hands and feet, thorns on His head, and a sword through His side while being spit upon and mocked…he redeemed and justified you and I if only we would accept Him. There are NO words that would adequately describe this love. That my friends is 7 Degrees North, complete elevation. May God bless you.

Lord, thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for the process of purification. Thank you for being a consuming fire. Thank you for being patient with us….unfortunately it takes us soo much to submit to you but you stand with your arms opened wide waiting for us to submit. That is amazing and my human mind cannot even comprehend that time of love. I think that is why people have a hard time trusting you and accepting you…because we haven’t experienced that love anywhere on earth so it’s just not a part of our human reality. But thank you for Your Holy Spirit that confirms the reality of you to me. I am 100% sure that you are real and that you are even concerned with the details of our lives here on earth and beyond. Thank you for putting so much thought into our lives. Thank you that your love NEVER fails. Thank you that we are already victorious through you. Search our hearts and show us, us. Your molding is a continuous process, grace us to endure to the end. It is our reasonable service to give you our lives Lord. I Looooovvvvveee Youuuu!! Amen!

With Love,

Kristin Sarai