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Let’s think a bit about fire.  It transforms matter into energy.

One small burning candle or lamp will lighten the darkest corner. A well tended campfire will keep a a body alive in the freezing cold. Fire cooks food so that it tastes better, keeps longer and can be easier digest. It kills germs and bacteria, especially when it’s used to boil water. It burns trash, provides energy for industry and technology, purifies metals, transforms minerals into pottery and glass, repels insects and wild animals— toasts marshmallows . . . and it’s beautiful to see.

Fire may also spread uncontrollably. A fire gives off smoke that obscures vision; too much smoke blinds and suffocates. Fires release toxic gasses; they consumes and destroys all animal and vegetable matter as fuel—turning forests, fields, homes and creatures into ash and energy.

Fire is mentioned over 300 times in Scripture. God appears in fire; God sends fires to judge and to purify; God baptizes us with fire. BUT as God IS love, as God IS life, and as God IS light, God IS also fire. His fires are good.

Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.  For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12: 28-29   Berean Study Bible.

John the Baptist said of Jesus that

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11-12

After Jesus death and resurrection, when the Holy Spirit came to indwell believers,

. . . divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
Acts 2:3 ESV

The apostle Paul exhorted believers to keep the Holy Spirit’s indwelling fire alive; he wrote,

Do not quench the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 

Fire spreads. In the last century, Leonard Ravenhill wrote,

You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there’s a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire (or if you are on fire), you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it.

 

 

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• Trees