26 June 2019
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 The quality of materials used by anyone on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay and straw. Their work will soon become evident for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire. And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder. If his work stands the test of fire, he will be rewarded. If his work is consumed by the fire, he will suffer great loss. Yet he himself will barely escape destruction, like one being rescued out of a burning house.
I hear His voice saying, "Wood, hay or stubble? Are you willing to go through the fire so that I can consume the works of the flesh, those that are not inspired by my Spirit, but by yourself?”
There is a difference between hearing the Word of God and seeing the plans of God. I do not refer to seeing in the natural, but to seeing with your spiritual eyes, the eyes of faith.
Moses was dwelling in the wilderness for many years and finally he ended up at Horeb, the mountain of the Lord, where he experienced God. From the midst of the bush the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in the blazing fire. All Moses could do was stare; trying to make sense of that which was incomprehensible in the natural – and only then did he see. The bush was on fire, but wasn’t consumed.
God uses His supernatural fire to draw Moses’s attention and ours. The purpose of the fire is to consume the wood, hay and stubble in our lives. This fire has a way of exposing the hidden snakes, just like Paul experienced on the island.
This fire purifies our hearts and cleans our hands so that we can receive and carry the blessings of God. In the fiery furnace, we face the strongman and the many spiritual battles. This can be overwhelming, but there is only one way forward – the strongman needs to be destroyed. Everything of him – his image, destiny, likeness, all – needs to be burned out of us.
You can sit and face the fire log by log, or you can completely surrender – climbing into the fire – allowing God to consume the wood, hay and stubble in you. In this manner, the fire is controlled and overseen by Him. This is a safe place.
The more we seek to be conformed into the image of Christ, the more everything in us contrary to His nature will be consumed. This gives the fire a meaningful purpose in my life!
Moses said, "I must turn aside now and look at this marvelous sight, the bush is not burned up!”
God called him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!”
Do you know that God is calling us from the fire, by name?
"Retah, Retah!” I respond by turning my head to hear His voice. My eyes open up and I see a bright light deep within the fire. This light goes right through me – exposing all that is hidden.
“Retah, I don't want you to fight the fire, allow Me to burn away all that is not of Me. Look, here I am, be encouraged! You have not been forgotten".
God knows exactly where we are and what we are going through. God looks at us and says, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place you stand on is holy ground".
Just like Moses, we are introduced to YHVH in the fire – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Moses hid his face in shame in the presence of his Holy God. But the fire kept on burning, refining Moses. We read that Moses came face to face with God and was even called His friend. That is the power and beauty of the fire.
We have to face the devastation of the old, and clean up the rubble and start afresh. The fire consumes but also provides heat and energy. It is in the fire that we start to trust God. This is where I learned to keep my eyes on Him alone. He wants us to have an intimate love relationship with Him. Loving Him, needing Him. Requiring Him as first and foremost necessity.
Just as with Moses, I believe that God wants to share His heart with us. He wants to share His love and Kingdom with us. He wants us to love Him above all else, yes, even above our needs. He is the All-consuming Fire and He is found in the fire.
I pray that you would find rest, even in your times of trials. Put your trust in Him, and rest in Him. He is a faithful God!
Let’s run the race of faith my friend and endure till the end.
Retah and family