Fire of the Word

"Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jeremiah 23: 29 KJV)

The word of God compares itself to fire, a hammer, an ax, a sword, to seed, to food, to bread, and milk, and meat, and to light, and to the sun, and to stars, and to rock, and to goads, and to water and rain, and to a weapon of warfare, and to a life giving aroma, or to a toxin, and to a fishing net, and a treasure, and a precious pearl, and to many other things.

Truly, "fire" is a fitting symbol of the kind of power within, and the kind of effect resulting from, the word of God.

Fire, under control, is very useful and effective. By it we heat and warm things, and by it we cleanse or purge things, like metals. On the other hand, fire out of control is very destructive. Fire and power are almost synonymns.

We have all heard the warning against "playing with fire," and such words are applicable to the word of God as a fire; it is not to be played or toyed with! The Bible, like fire, can be a means of salvation or destruction.

"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Leviticus 10: 1, 2 KJV)

This Old Testament incident is applicable in the context of the word of God, the Bible and the gospel, all being spiritual fire.

As there are genuine "preachers of the word," who offer up the pure fire of God's word, so false teachers are they who, like Nadab and Abihu, offer "strange fire" or a corruption of the word of God.

The Bible has ignited change in the world and hopefully, a positive change in a great many. None can deny this self evident fact. The chief question is really - "what kind of effect or change has the word of God had on me as an individual?" Is the Bible as "fire" or as "ice" to me? Do preachers preach "cold" sermons or "firey" and passionate ones? Does the preacher's preaching melt hearts? If not, he is probably offering "strange fire."

"And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them. Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them." (Jeremiah 5: 13, 14 KJV)

Lord God says that he will "see to it" that the false prophets, and their own words, become "wind," or a breath or vapor; on the other hand, he promises to bless his own word, as spoken by his true servant, Jeremiah, to be "fire," yea a "flaming fire." It would burn and consume the Israelites who were rejecting the word of Jehovah. Had they heeded God's word, they would have had the word of God to burn away all their sins and spiritual dross.

"For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." (Jeremiah 20: 8, 9 KJV)

"I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am." (Psalm 39: 2-4 KJV)

Both Jeremiah and David knew how the word of God was a fire, for it burned within them in a positive and constructive way. Both, at some point, had determined to quench that fire, to extinguish it, or at least keep it barely lit or burning lowly.

Yet, the word of God, like genuine love, cannot be successfully bound nor quenched. It shall accomplish the will of the Lord. (See Isaiah 55: 11; II Timothy 2: 9 KJV)

"Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it..." (Song of Solomon 8: 7 KJV)

"And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24 : 32 KJV)

Not only the word of God, but God himself is said to be fire, yea, a "consuming fire" (Hebrews 12: 29 KJV). Thus to "Quench the Spirit" (I Thessalonians 5: 19 KJV) is all the same, in effect, as to quench the word of God.

"When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth; Surely every man is vapor. Selah" (Psalm 39: 11 NKJV)

To have this melting effect on one now, in heart-felt conviction of sin and guilt before the Lord, in a positive way, is to be nigh salvation and rebirth; but for one to not have such an experience now will guarantee that the same word become a means, in the Day of Judgment, of their "melting away" eternally.

"As smoke is driven away, So drive them away; As wax melts before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God." (Psalm 68: 2 NKJV)

"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light (or fire) in them." (Isaiah 8: 20 NKJV)

"I indeed baptize you with water unto 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 NKJV)

"Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire." (Psalm 104: 4; Hebrews 1: 7 NKJV)

"Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you." Paul told Timothy. (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

God's people, who have believed on his word, who have believed the record (I John 5: 10, 11 KJV) that he gave of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, have God's word and holy fire within them, burning, and warming their cold hearts and shining light into them; And, they are exhorted and encourgaged to "fan the flame" of that holy fire, rather than "quenching" it.

"May the high praises of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands..." (Psalm 149: 6 KJV)

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." (Acts 2: 3 KJV)

Fire in our words and in our mouths! Weapons to destroy what is false and to be instruments to heal and to cleanse.

"I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?" (Luke 12: 49 KJV)

This fire was intended to be a means in salvation, in purging and in cleansing. But, for those who "play with" this fire, who reject it, who offer "strange fire," it will be the means of their being consumed by it. Oh how powerful is the word of God when attended with his energetic witnessing Spirit!

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. " (Hebrews 4: 12 NKJV)

"Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” (Ecclesiastes 8: 4 NKJV)

"And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." (II Corinthians 2: 4 NKJV)

"For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake." (I Thessalonians 1: 5 NKJV)

"For the kingdom of God is not in word (only or merely) but in power." (I Corintians 4: 20 NKJV)

Friend, if your heart is cold then you need the fire of the word of God to warm it. If your heart is hard, then you need the hammer of the word of God to break it into pieces in order that he might mend and remake it. Will you apply yourself to the word of the Lord today?