In 1906, a major earthquake hit San Francisco. It was estimated at 7.8 and 8.3
magnitudes. Aftershocks persisted and
fires broke out in the city destroying many of the remaining buildings. This event caused widespread
destruction. It created a surface rupture
that extended continuously for 200 miles.
Infernos swept the city for three days.
In 1988, Yellowstone National Park saw the largest wildfire
in the recorded history of the park.
Flames from individual fires spread out of control and burned for several
months. Drought and winds were other
factors that affected the fires. More
than 793,000 acres were affected.
Revival fires of the Holy Ghost have occurred over the
centuries, such as Azusa Street revival, in California in the early 1900’s, and
many revivals and outpourings of the Holy Spirit in many countries around the
world.
We find use of fire by God in both the Old and New
Testament. Sometimes it is constructive
and sometimes it is destructive.
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the
priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came
to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
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: 1-2.
“And the Lord went before them by day in the pillar of a
cloud, to lead them the way: and by night in the pillar of fire, to give them
light; to go by day and night.” Exodus
12: 21
“Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone
and fire from the Lord out of heaven.” Genesis 19:24
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he
that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:
he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” Matthew 3:11
“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2: 3-4
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of
fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
Revelations 20: 10
From Genesis to Revelations, we see the power of God used
through fire. The fires in San Francisco
and Yellowstone were extinguished; however for those of us who have received
the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God within us still burns. Sometimes we let the flame die down and
forget to stir up the gift that is within us. Sometimes we lose sight of our goal and
forget the goodness of God.
Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy admonishes him to remember
and stir up the gift.
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the
gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1: 6-7)
Peter also called the
church to remember and to be established in truth and not to follow after
fables.
“Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in
remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the
truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as
I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting in remembrance; Knowing that
shortly I must put off this tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has
shewed me.” (II Peter 2: 12-14)
Yes, let us remember where we have come from, what we have
received, and stir up the Spirit within. Let us keep the flame ever burning. Study
the Word of God, build up our faith, be kind to others, and spread the Good
News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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