Focus: The Fire of God's Word

Text: Lk.24:32

"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?"

The word of God is many things to the believer. It is the sword of the Spirit, milk, meat, honey, two-edged sword, hammer, and other things.

Jeremiah presents the word of God to us as 'fire.' He says, "Is not my word like as a FIRE? saith the LORD" (Jer.23:29). He goes on to say, "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… 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" (Jer.5:14; 20:9). God's word is like a fire. 

It burns in our hearts, burning off the moral chaffs in us, purifying our souls, cleansing our minds, consuming evil in us, warming and igniting our hearts, and stirring us to action.

The two disciples on their way to Emmaus said to themselves, "Did not our heart BURN within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" As they listened to Jesus Christ speak with them, their hearts were set on fire. They experienced the heat and light energies of Christ's words. Take a look at the effect of that burning in their hearts. Luke reports, "And they rose up the SAME HOUR, and returned to Jerusalem…" (Lk.24:33). Remember that they had just returned from Jerusalem, but upon catching the fire of God's word from the lips of Jesus Christ, they got back up on their feet to return to Jerusalem and share with the rest of the disciples their experience with the risen Christ. They couldn't wait anymore. They had a sense of urgency. There was need for them to quickly return to Jerusalem and get the message of the risen Christ out. No delays. No waste of time. No dilly dallying. Remember that it was already in the evening when they returned from Jerusalem, and they were already set to get back there, for the spiritual fire of Christ's words that were burning in their hearts.

Interestingly, the Word and the Spirit are internally and eternally connected. John the Baptist told the people that Christ "shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire" (Mt.3:11). God the Father is also associated with fire. Remember the burning bush of Moses. We read in the Word that our God is "a consuming fire." He is the God of fire; He answered Elijah's prayer by fire. 

Luke tells us concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of FIRE, and it sat upon each of them" (Act.2:3). O how we are in desperate need of the fire of the Word and the Spirit! Let it burn in our hearts. O how we are in need of preachers and teachers of God's word, who release fire into our hearts as they declare the truths of God's word! 

We need the baptism of the Spirit's fire afresh in our lives. Let God's word burn in our hearts, stirring us up and galvanizing us into action. Jesus Christ says, "I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?" Amen!!!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter