The Altar of God — 5 Keys to Keep the Fire of God Burning in Your Life -
Tags: Prayer, Faith and Life, Fire, Faith, Christian Living

The Altar of God — 5 Keys to Keep the Fire of God Burning in Your Life - SCT-mag Jul 5·5 min read

The fire of God portrays the presence, power, purity and protection of God.

The Fire of God in the Bible

Throughout the bible, we see many instances where God showed forth his physical presence through fire to his people.

- God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 3:2)

- He guided the Israelites by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they might travel by day and by night. (Exodus 13:21)

- The fire on the altar served as a constant reminder of God’s power and presence.

And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. (Leviticus 9:24)

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. (2 chronicles 7:1)

Elijah the prophet prayed to God, Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 1 kings 18:38

- For the Lord, your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24

- Tongues of fire fell upon the heads of Jesus’s disciples. Acts 2:3

The Benefits of the Fire of God in our Lives

The fire of God resides within us.

It purifies — It helps us to live a holy and righteous life before God.

It gives us zeal, passion and a love for things of God.

It helps us to totally surrender to God’s will for our lives.

It gives us boldness and courage to share the good news of the kingdom.

It Protects us.

It can be used as a weapon against the enemy.

It can be used to bring judgment.

How to Receive the Fire

The fire of God is received when you are born again and baptized by the Holy Spirit’s power.

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11

As you receive the fire you have to daily live a life that is pleasing to God. By presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

The Reward of Those who Kept the Fire Burning

“ At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.” (Matthew 25:1–4)

No one wants to be found in the situation of the five foolish virgins. They were present but did not have any oil to keep the fire in their lamps burning. So they did not go with Jesus to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. The same can be said for many of us today, we are present physically but we are not dwelling in His presence because we are empty just like the lamps. We are not living righteous and holy lives before God so we cannot go to that next level with him.

On the other hand, we see the five wise virgins were well prepared and waiting to encounter Jesus so when he came they went with him into the marriage feast.

As believers, we must always be prepared spiritually and waiting on God because when He comes we will have a joyous encounter in his presence.

For where the presence of God is there is power and will see signs and miracles taking place, such as healing, deliverance, freedom and transformation.

5 Ways to Keep the Fire Burning in our Lives

- Meditate on God’s word day and night. Read it, speak it and live it.

- Offer up praise and thanksgiving to God from a clean and sincere heart.

- Be prayerful. The Lord hears the prayer of the righteous

- Fasting — Deny self, to clearly hear from God as you seek His direction

- Serve others with a good attitude.

Bible Verses About the Fire of God

For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” Zechariah 2:5

For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. Exodus 40:38

So that the tested genuineness of your faith-more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:7

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11

If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:15–17

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. Exodus 3:2

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

He makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. Psalm 104:4

Also view : 3 Types of Baptisms in the Bible

Books about the Fire of God:

Daily Fire Devotional: 365 Days in God’s Word

A Life Ablaze: Ten Simple Keys to Living on Fire for God

Living a Life of Fire: An Autobiography