“You’re my heart desire
You’re my all-consuming fire
Make me burn with holy passion
For your name
Building beyond measure
Nothing is greater than the treasure
All the promises, that you have called me Friend
As the deep call’s to deep
All my soul will longs for you
Make it burn
Make it burn, for you
Take my heart and make it burn for you”
According to Dictionary.com the word “Burn” means many things. My commentary (thoughts) are in Red.
John 5:34-36 (New International Version, ©2010)
34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.
From http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/Luke/Resurrection-Jesus
Luke 24:32 (New International Version, ©2010)
32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
After his recognition by the disciples, Jesus disappears. That Jesus is alive is all the disciples need to understand. They can now appreciate that he is with them. All of a sudden the entire discussion on the road makes sense. Like a lost key found or a huge mystery solved, the direction of recent events becomes clear and the way to understand life anew is opened up. Because of this new awareness, the disciples recall their recent scriptural review in a new light: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Their words point to how emotional the exposition had been for them, like a message being sown into the soul.
With a flame relit in their hearts, they return to the gathering of disciples in Jerusalem. The news is too good to keep to themselves. To know Jesus is to be thrilled at the prospect of sharing news of him with others. To Burn with this fire, so intense, that you cannot keep it inside, you HAVE to share it with others.
*to contain a fire
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of[d] the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Romans 6:20-23
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Colossians 3:1-11
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
The Fire of God consumes our “Old Man”, our sin, our “darkness”, our old mindsets, EVERY BIT OF OURSELVES and transforms us into His likeness, into a bondservant of Christ.
In Acts 9 Saul encountered God on the road to Emmaus where he was headed to persecute more Christians. He had an encounter with Christ than changed him. I believe he encountered the Fire of God and he turned His life from killing Christians to being an apostle! Because the Fire of God changes us! Change is not easy, change is painful. The Fire of God is not always a pleasant feeling as it burns away our sin, etc. A year ago I told God I would do anything to experience the Fire of God and I have had to pay a price for that prayer. I have had to give up music, movies, friends, habits, things I thought were harmless. I had to allow the Fire of God to burn all of that away, I am not finished being burned. I will be burning til Eternity. As the Fire of God continues to burn away my “old man” I am able to burn and shine with the Fire of God. Light and Darkness cannot mix. The Fire of God burns that darkness away-it takes a long time, I dont think we are ever done burning. When God is transforming us, burning away our sin, it is painful. Its hard. It hurts. Many times Christians dont want the Fire of God to burn away all of them, so they walk away or just continue to live “on the fence” or “lukewarm” lifestyles.
Revelation 3:16
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:14-22
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans[f] write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[g] I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
We need the Fire of God, no matter how painful it may be, to burn away all of us.
A song I have been writing goes like this, “Take away everything that keeps me from loving You, Burn away all of me until only You remain.” That has been my prayer for a few years now, and it is hard to keep praying that sometimes because I know that the Fire of God can be painful as it Transforms our hearts, minds and lives. But we NEED it. We need to allow the Fire of God to transform us!
*to give off light or to glow brightly
The Fire of God causes us to SHINE or send forth HIS LIGHT so that the world will know who we serve!!!
Proverbs 13:9
The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
Luke 11:33-36
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[g] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[h] your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
Philippians 2:15
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her.”
*to cause to undergo combustion or be consumed partly or wholly by fire.
To be consumed means to undergo destruction; waste away. I believe the Fire of God, as stated above, burns up or causes destruction in our “old man” or our “sinful nature” causing it to burn away/waste away as God fills us with His Fire and burns up all of “us” or “me”.
*to use as fuel or as a source of light
Example:When I lead worship I pray for God to give me a refreshing of the Fire of God so that I can be used to impart that Fire into my worship to Him. As I am leading worship I constantly ask God to let me burn for Him, that I would shine with HIS light and that He would use me. This fire “fuels” me and ignites my passion and desire for God in a new way and I am able to lead worship and bring the people with me into encountering the Fire of God.
The Fire of God can be a “fuel” for igniting passion or desire for Him.
Replies
Hi I was looking for your name, is it okay if I call you, Sierra?
Since becoming a Christian, my life has taken some funny turns. I developed a heart for the kids at the University I work at. I started an email list of college kids and sent out daily emails that opened the door to a small Website. But I looked for bridge music, energetic pop rock that would attract the kids and allow me to share a message or story. I searched French and Italian Websites, so my little Website ended up being a Johnny Apple Seed. But there is definitely a difference in the music on my pages and Hillsong Music. Hillsong music takes you past the door and into the Presence of the Most High.
The closest thing I've felt to the Fire of God was after my second DUI in five years and I invited the Lord into my life. I had talked to Him off and on during my party central lifestyle, thanking Him for not destroying me. But I always knew it took Jesus for the New Birth and I was only there because He held out the scepter by unmerited favor, pure mercy.
On my first day back to work after receiving Him, I was thanking Him for rescuing me. It was pitch black out in the winter and the inside of the truck turned a milky white, I had a hard time seeing through the tears as wave after wave of radiance washed over me. It was like a veil had been pulled back.
I knew there was an angel following me, protecting me and leading me to a point of decision over and over. I never tried to see him or talk to him as I knew even then, he was not at my beck and call, he was on assignment because God sent him in response to my mom and sisters' prayers.
But that morning, I felt another presence in the truck in the passenger seat. In my spirit, I heard him say, "Father, I have missed You... and I understood he meant basking in the Shekinah Glory of the Most High. The only places I ever took him had the smell of sulfur. The veil has never been pulled back since.
So when I read a commentary on the Book of Job and it mentioned we are privy to a conversation that Job and his friends weren't privy to during the verbal sparring. Only at the end, did the Lord reveal Himself and after scolding Job and his friends, they offered the sacrifice and God heard Job and bound up their wounds, so they were friends again, we see once in a while for His purposes, He does pull back the veil momentarily for us to see there is spiritual activity around us all the time.
We just bloom where we are planted. Someday we who receive Christ, will come in as laborers from the field and bask continually in the radiance of the Most High.
Thanks Sierra for this awesome post
Mark