FIERY FUNCTIONS OF GOD’S WORD

“My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the FIRE burned. Then I spoke with my tongue” – Psalm 39:3

Based on its likeness with Fire, it is useful to examine Seven FIERY FUNCTIONS of GOD’S WORDS. The Psalmist said: “My heart was hot within me; while I was musing the FIRE burned. Then I spoke with my tongue” (Psa.39:3). David in his meditations developed a fire in his heart that caused profusion of praise. Perhaps this was the secret behind the passion in his Psalms and his zeal for the house of the Lord. David was never too cold to speak or sing!

God is not a stranger to Fiery manifestations: “Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring FIRE from His mouth” (Psa.18:8a); “The voice of the LORD divides the flames of FIRE” (Psa.29:7); “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a FIRE shall devour before Him…” (Psa.50:3a). Jehovah led Israel through the wilderness “all the night with a light of fire” (Psa.78:14). Psalm 97:3 says “A Fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about.” God “makes His angels spirits, His ministers a Flame of Fire” (Psa.104:4). The Lord Jesus Christ baptises with the Holy Spirit and Fire (Mt.3:11b).

Fire ignites the Soul; and God’s Word sets our hearts on fire. A heap of leaves and weeds placed in a pile for burning is only a dead mass until it is ignited! The human soul is like the bonfire heap prior to being torched – a dry and ugly mass! As the Holy Spirit applies the ‘‘match’’ of God’s Word to ignite our souls, God in His mercy quickens us with divine life and light.

Fire burns the Conscience. God’s Word is the instrument that the Holy Spirit uses to touch our consciences, so that we become aware of the things that displease God or contradict His will. On some occasions, Jesus’ Word was like fire burning the consciences of the scribes and Pharisees (Jh.8: 6-10). When we read and apply God’s Word to ourselves, it burns our conscience, showing us what grieves the Lord and leading us to do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Fire refines and purifies, as illustrated in Isaiah 6:5-7. God’s Word is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to purify our lives: “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (Psa.119:9). Jesus says: “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (Jh.15:3).

Fire illuminates the Mind: “The entrance of Your words gives light” (Psa.119:130a). Fire sheds forth light (Psa.78:14). That is why the Bible is considered to be our all-sufficient guide for faith and practice. Rejecting its authority will result in darkness, for only God’s Word illuminates the believer and groups of believers.

Fire energizes the Will. God’s Word in the hands of His Spirit energises the Believer’s will. It gives inward strength so that we desire not just to please Him, but have the will and strength to do so.

Fire warms the Heart. God’s Word is like fire that warms, encourages and cheers up. We are often discouraged, downcast, despondent and cold, until we hear God’s Word faithfully preached or, in our personal devotions we faithfully read and take in the portion for the day – with what result? We are warmed, encouraged and cheered up (Psa.39:2-3; Lk. 24: 32-34).

Fire fuses. The Word of God fuses the Fellowship of the saints just like metals are melted and fused in white-hot furnaces. God’s Word fuses us together to produce the unity of the Spirit, in which “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Gal.3:28a; Eph.4: 3,13). Following the Fire at Pentecost: “the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul…” (Acts 4:32).

Beloved, to what extent is the Word of God functioning and working as fire in your life?