Philosophy View of Fire
A process in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
A burning sensation.
The shooting of projectiles from weapons, especially bullets from guns.
Biblical View of Fire
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1 Corinthians 3:13 KJV
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
James 3:6 KJV
Have you ever been burned by fire either when you are cooking or at some other point in your life? The after-effect is very painful, you will feel intense pain as your skin is full of sensory receptors, it will also start peeling once the fire breaks the outer layer of the skin.
God describes HIS WORD as like fire and a mighty hammer that smashes rock to pieces. As we meditate on God's word, it will burn our heart so that we are moved out of silence into speech. It can also smash hardened hearts into little pieces or hammer home the truth to people who don't want to listen to God.
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
There are a lot of symbolic uses of fire in the Bible which corresponds to fire’s practical uses.
Examples
According to Zechariah 13:9, God is a refiner who brings the Israelites “through the fire” in order to “refine them as silver is refined”
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Zechariah 13:9 KJV
Malachi 3:2 stated that Fire is pictured as a purifying agent in people’s lives.
But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.
Mal 3:2 KJV
Proverbs 17:3 compares the relationship of fire with spiritual refinement: “The crucible is for refining silver and the smelter of gold, but the one who purifies hearts by fire is the LORD.” Throughout the Bible, we see the presence of God physically manifested as fire.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Proverbs 17:3 KJV
According to the book of Genesis 15:17 God sealed his covenant with Abram by passing through the animal sacrifice as “a smoking oven and a flaming torch.” During the Israelites’ exit from Egypt, the Lord appeared as a protective wall of fire at night: “So the LORD’S column stayed over the tent during the day, and there was fire in the smoke at night. In this way all the Israelites could see the column throughout their travels”
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
Genesis 15:17 KJV
Exodus 3:2 reminds us that the fire symbolized the guiding presence of God among the people. God also appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush on Mount Sinai
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
Exodus 3:2 KJV
In the book of Deuteronomy 4:24 God uses fire to also demonstrate his anger and righteous judgment over humanity. God’s supremacy over false idols is demonstrated as fire: “The LORD your God is a raging fire, a God who does not tolerate rivals”
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Deuteronomy 4:24 KJV
Many of us can relate to stories such as the condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah, we see where fire was used in God’s punishment for sin.
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.
Genesis 19:24 KJV
In the last days, fire is pictured as a tool of judgment that both burns up the dross and purifies the holy: “The day will make what each one does clearly visible because fire will reveal it. The fire will determine what kind of work each person has done. If what a person has built survives, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer the loss. The apostle Paul is the author of the book of 1st Corinthians he tells us that we will be saved, though it will be like going through a fire”
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 KJV
Foretell the fires of hell, meaning to predict the future or a future event. John the Baptist explained Jesus’ work in the final days: “He will gather his wheat into a barn but he will burn the husks in a fire that can never be put out”.
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 3:12 KJV
The Fire of God is not only an important form of God’s interaction with the human mind, but also a manifestation of His Power and Glory, an expression of His wrath and His reaction to sin. The Fire of God is timeless. It may be experienced by today’s Christians just as clearly and powerfully as it was experienced in Bible. God as a consuming fire is not just about his judgment or discipline. It is also about his glory and majesty. The Old Testament gives a good example of what took place after Solomon finished praying.
When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2nd Chronicles 7:1KJV
God is fire
• A fire that consumes, a wrathful fire
• A fire that brings light and warmth
• A fire of love
• A regenerative fire
I was with a group of close friends I can remember listening to one of the ladies who is a Christian talking about a wild date she had enjoyed, she began to expound herself by saying that is life. I know she was wrong of course, but how could I tell her without sounding as if I am self-righteous or sanctimonious. I thought to myself maybe I should keep silent, but as she continued talking I felt a burning desire to interrupt her. The truth of God's word was burning like fire. I felt that I needed to use its mighty hammer to smash her incorrect perception into pieces.
Jeremiah had tried to keep quiet once, and he noticed the same thing. I can't stop, If I say I will never mention the Lord or speak in his name. his word burns my heart like a fire, it is like a fire in my bones I am weary of holding it in.
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 20:9 KJV
When I decided to answer that individual and let all those fiery words out, I asked her to read Romans 23:3 with me she was taken back, she did not believe that she was a sinner. My heart burned to tell her the truth about her sin and the Saviour who died for her. We read that verse and discussed it together. I watched the hammer demolish her excuses.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 23:3 KJV
READ AND BE BLESSED
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