Protected and United in the Lord’s Fire

Protected and United in the Lord’s Fire

“His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him.” Dan. 7:9-10.

“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” Rev. 4:5.

The Lord’s throne is protected by a burning fire. Neither devils nor evil spirits can overthrow this throne or penetrate into the counsel of the Lord. This is where God’s pure and unmixed wisdom, love, righteousness, and truth rule. The fellowship between the Father, the Son, the living creatures, the elders, etc., is a fellowship in flames of fire that nothing is able to penetrate and disturb—not even the smallest particle of impurity.

Our God is a consuming fire, and all those who are truly born of Him have received God’s fire in their hearts, a consuming fire against all sin and impurity. Jesus said, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” Luke 12:49.

In former times God had fellowship with His saints by means of the fire that burned on an altar made of stones. Now He has fellowship with His saints by means of the fire that burns on the altar of the heart. Before, they sacrificed bulls and calves, but now our own life is sacrificed—everything that does not endure God’s fire. However, the new life, which is born of God, is an eternal and incorruptible life of glory that endures the fire, and the works that are born of this new life as a result of God’s workings endure the fire.

Jesus could not get the right kind of fellowship with His disciples when He walked here on earth. The heavenly fire was burning in Jesus’ heart, but not in theirs. It was therefore possible for evil to enter into their hearts. But on the day of Pentecost the fire was kindled, and a heavenly fellowship of fire was established between the disciples, the Father, the Son, and the heavenly creatures. Now they were armed and protected against all evil and impurity, and the Lord sat on a throne in their midst.

It was glorious and blessed in the first church as long as the fire was kept burning. But as the fire began to wane, evil entered in, and the result was strife and disputes, envy and jealousy, etc., just as it is today in the religious world.

God’s Spirit and fire in our hearts are the only protection we have against all that is evil and impure in this dark world where we are surrounded by all kinds of satanic powers. Therefore, may the fire of the Lord be powerfully kindled in our hearts, in our homes, and in the church of the living God. Then we will be protected by the Father and the Son and His hosts of angels in our battle against the evil. It is written that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” We partake of a heavenly glory, which can neither be moved nor shaken. Heb. 12:28-29. All of heaven is looking down on us with pleasure if our hearts are aflame for Christ. Then we will be nurtured and molded in the likeness of the image of His Son; it will be true in our life that we are going from light to light, from power to power, and from glory to glory.

If a number of small pieces of steel are to be welded together, they must be heated with a glowing flame. Then they become inseparably one. But if the pieces are cold or lukewarm, they cannot be made into one piece. Likewise it is also utterly impossible to create unity among lukewarm Christians. It is foolish even to attempt it. But God be praised for the exalted and holy brotherhood that is fused together by the Spirit and fire to be one single lump, which neither devils nor people can dissolve, for time and eternity. Not even the smallest particle of evil can come in and disturb this fellowship.

“‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’” Jer. 23:29. Every single word of God is a fire that burns and consumes something of our selfish nature. But if it does its work, it will become both power and glory in us. Almost everyone in the world possesses some human gentleness, love, patience, etc., but if we want to possess God’s gentleness, we need to reckon with our human hardness and strength being broken and crushed. If we partake of this divine gentleness within us it will become a power that crushes bones. Prov. 25:15. Our love will then become a flame of fire that is as strong as death. It melts down and overcomes all the opposition that needs to be overcome. Every Word of God that we receive into our hearts becomes a fire and a hammer that crushes every fortress that rises against the truth of which we have partaken.

There is an eternal fire burning on Zion, and the ungodly cannot dwell there. However, those who walk in righteousness, speak the truth, and endure the fire will dwell on high; their place of defense will be the fortress of rocks, and they will see the King in His beauty. Isa. 33:14-17.

The Lord makes His servants a flame of fire. Heb. 1:7. This is how the heavenly creatures are, and may we also be of those who burn, shine, and serve until the Lord comes. May we be in the midst of the fire here when the trumpet sounds, and then we will be in the midst of the fire up there together with Jesus on His throne of fire in the eternal glory. Rev. 3:21.