Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:2-4
Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:12-14
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.” Hebrews 1:7
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 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 1:6-7
Does the fire of the Holy Spirit reside within you? How can you tell? Are you quickly convicted of things by Him? Does your heart ache for the heart of God? Do you feel His promptings? Are you always hungry for more of God? Is He challenging you to change and grow? Is He constantly having you in the scriptures searching out His ‘treasures’? One of the evidences of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of your body is His fire. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and FIRE. Fire is God’s refiner. Are you currently encountering His fire of refinement? Or are you comfortable and satisfied where you are spiritually? What exactly in your life will exist AFTER all has passed through His fire? Things we thought He wanted? Our acts which we thought would bring Him glory? The key isn’t within ourselves, but comes from the very instructions by the Holy Spirit, and the level and depth of our obedience measures it’s eternal value. So all of our rituals and ‘giving’ if they are not by the very instructions of the Spirit of God will be consumed by His fire. Who have you believed to be the ‘mouthpiece’ of the Holy Spirit of God in your life — other than the Holy Spirit Himself? Have we deceived ourselves thinking we can gain eternal rewards by our own intentions rather than by His direct instruction? This doesn’t mean we can then sit back and wait for a Voice from ‘heaven’ to tell us what to do, so we can lean into our selfish greed and pretend that God hasn’t spoken to us. But the ‘still small Voice’ way back in the recesses of our minds — convicting us to stretch and give what actually requires faith … and will truly be a sacrifice because you really can’t afford it… might be the Holy Spirit asking you to step out of your comfort zone. Have you tested those thoughts? Have you brought them before Jesus Christ and asked Him if you are to follow through with them?
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 1 Corinthians 10:4-6
Is it time to stoke the fire of the Holy Spirit within you? What are you doing to make that fire burn even hotter? Are you yielding yourself to Him more and more?
Spend some time asking Him the dangerous questions about yourself. Are you brave enough to do that? How much do you want Him to speak to you?