The Fire of God by Pastor Don Stewart, II

Greetings to you my wonderful brothers and sisters
Just thought that I would share this with you. It is taken
from one of my sermons I preached in 2007. (My Husband Pastor Don Stewart II)

 

"I came to send fire on the earth, and how i wish it were already kindled!" (Luke 12:49) Jesus is a flamethrower! "Our God is a consuming fire!" (Hebrews12:29)

It's not wise to play with fire! Maybe that's why God chose fire to be the symbol of His presence. It's all throughout the Bible:

Moses met the presence of God as a flame of fire in the midst of a bush(Exodus 3:2).

The people of Israel confronted the presence of God at Sinai where fire came down from heaven upon the mountain (Exodus 19:18)

Solomon dedicated the Temple and fire fell from heaven and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple(2Chronicles 7:1)

Daniel's vision of the ancient of days had God's throne as a fiery flame and a river of fire came out of it (Daniel 7:9-10).

1 WE NEED THE REFINER'S FIRE: Malachi 3:1-3
Story : The Black Death
In 1665 the residents of London were dying by the thousands each day. the bubonic plague was spreading from house to house because of the unsanitary conditions. rats and fleas spread the germs throughout the city. almost 30,000 people died, almost a third of London's population at the time. This plague was so bad experts say the entire population of London would have died if it had not been checked. But on September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out and burned uncontrollably for five days. Most of the structures in Medieval London were wooden, and almost the entire city was reduced to ashes. But when the fire finally died, the people discovered many of the rats and fleas had ben killed in the fire and the epidemic of the Black death was halted. The fire cleaned the city of the impurity that was killing its people.
WE NEED THE REFINER'S FIRE TO COME AND PURIFYOUR LIVES AND GET RID OF THE KILLER SIN!

2 WE NEED THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH Matthew 3:1-3
Story: There was a fired old revival preacher named Peter Cartwright who was famous for telling it like it was. he was preaching one time near Washington D.C. and the people of the church heard that Andrew Jackson was coming to visit . So they pulled Mr. Cartwright aside and said , "Listen Peter, the President is going to be here on Sunday and we know that sometimes you can get kind of offensive, so would you tone it down. We don't want to upset the President." So Peter got up in the pulpit the next Sunday and his first three sentences were these. " I understand that the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson is with us this morning. I have been asked to be guarded in my remarks . Andrew Jackson will go to Hell if he doesn't repent." The church was appalled but when worship was over Andrew Jackson grabbed Mr. Cartwright's hand, shook it and said "Sir, if I had an army of men like you I could whip the world."

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Matthew 3:11

3. WE NEED THE FIRE OF PENTECOST :Acts 1:8 & Acts 2:1-4
Story: In a little town unknown to many there was a small church. One night smoke and flames consumed this little church. People from all over town stood in the streets and watched the church as it burned. The local preacher drove up and noticed several people that he hadn't seen in a while. Walking up to one man he asked" Where you been, I haven't seen you around here in a while". The man responded, "That's because I've never seen this church on fire!"

Charles Spurgeon's Advice to Preachers:
" Set yourself on fire, and people will come from miles around to watch you burn!" Are we a church on fire? Not really. We are an extremely warm church, but the warmth of friendship is not the same as the fire of God. God doesn't light churches, He lights individuals, like he did on Pentecost. The disciples were set on fire individually, then there was a church on fire!

WHAT IS THE FUEL FOR THE FIRE? THE S.P.A.R.K.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)
S- Submission humble ourselves under the authority of God's word daily.
P- Prayer pray daily (distractions, family alter, church prayer meetings)
A- Approaching seek God's face ( intimacy- personal relationship with Jesus)
R- Repentance turn from our sins ( get rid of offensives, un-forgiveness, bitterness)
K Kneeling worshiping our glorious, majestic God who is a consuming fire!

When we do this What will be the result?
God will send Revival that will impact our nation!!!!

God Bless you
Pastor Don Stewart,II