Christ in all the scriptures
The God who answers by fire Leviticus 9
The key to this chapter is verse 24, which announces God's approval to the delight of the people. The entire contents are a summary of all that has gone before, the offerings, the priesthood, and now the initiation of the priestly worship of Israel. This is a new beginning, the first public gathering for worship, the first sacrifices offered, the first order of ceremony established, culminating in the answer of God from heaven. Following seven days of continuous preparation, in which the priests learned the meticulous order of ceremony, the day of glory arrived. It was the eighth day of ceremonial procedure. Eight in scripture indicates a new beginning (seven days completes a week, and the eighth day starts a new week). Never before had there been anything like this. The people who had served the godless Pharaohs in bitter bondage were now the happy servants of the God of heaven. Thus the only priesthood that God instituted on earth came into being. He ratified their service in unmistakeable fashion...Moses and Aaron blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared in the whole congregation, and the fire of God kindled the sacrifice on the altar-Leviticus 9v22-24. THIS WAS DIVINE APPROVAL INDEED!
The significance of this should not be lost upon us. God kindled a fire that would never be extinguished (refer Leviticus 6v9v12v13). In this, the first dedicated offering, God answered by fire, a fire that was never to be put out. This was the Divine stamp on Israel's priesthood. He is the God who answers by fire, no one could mistake the symbolic evidence. No one did, for this sent the people into raptures (9v24). On a number of occasions, in history, God answered by fire from heaven, in times of great moment:
Leviticus 9v24 Aaron
Judges 6v21-24 Gideon.
Judges 13v19-23 Manoah
1st Kings 18v24-39 Elijah.
1st Chronicles 21v26-28 David
2nd Chronicles 7v1 Solomon
The wording at the confrontation by Elijah of the false prophets of Baal in 1st Kings 18 is significant, "The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God (other versions He is the God!), all others are false. The result was emphatic, "Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord He is the God, the Lord He is the God." One prophet against 450 false prophets prevailed as vindicated by God. Likewise, the people of Israel were left in no doubt that God ratified the design and construction of Moses, and the Aaronic priesthood by fire from heaven, and the glory of His presence. What was it that caused the Lord above to so endorse and glorify the worship of His people? The priesthood had honoured the institution of God; the offerings (all of them) were sacrificed in order; Aaron and his sons were sanctified; the people were sanctified and blessed. Everything was done in accordance with the will of the Lord.
Fast forward to the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2, at the initiation of the Church. God ratified the work of Christ in His death and resurrection by sending the Holy Spirit in cloven tongues of fire, so visible it was seen by those from all nations of the earth. Thus was the new age ushered in, and within 30 years the known world was evangelised. The statements in the Acts of the apostles reveal the wonderful reality of God speaking to the world in no uncertain terms...at Thessalonika, where the city was in uproar, "these that have turned the world upside down have come hither"; Paul to King Agrippa-Acts 26v26"this thing was not done in a corner". The fire of God spread across the entire world, and, indeed through the centuries of time, for the fire has never gone out, and never will. Nigh on 2000 years and the Spirit still works, still saves. The Church will go through many barren times, face many problems, but "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. THE FIRE WILL NEVER GO OUT! At this the people shouted with joy, and this should be our joy today, for in our weakness God's strength is made perfect. The fire that the Holy Spirit kindled within us on the day of our conversion will remain until the end. If, perchance, it is waning a little the way to fan it is to return to the time of first awakening individually. If our corporate testimony is waning, it is to return to day of Pentecost, when the Church lived in the first light of the apostles' doctrine, and all things were done for His glory. In days of departure and weak testimony, the need is to heed the call of Paul to "stir up the gift of God that is in thee..." 2nd Timothy 1v6. The word used is "anazopureo", which literally means to rekindle, to fan the flame, which is fading away, to bring to life what is dying down. The flame has not quite gone out, but because of the hardship of the way, Timothy has been cooling down a little, has become less forthright, less courageous, less lucid than before. This is a reminder we should be on fire for the Lord, "who maketh His ministers a flame of fire"; this is applied to angels but we are now fellow servants with them. Our Lord, at the end of His life, entered the temple to rid it of the moneychangers, and the disciples remembered that it was written of Him, "The zeal of thine house hath consumed me"-from Psalm 69v9. He declared the lukewarmness of the Laodiceans nauseated Him. We are told not to quench the Spirit; we must become passionate about the things of the Lord. It was General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army who said, "The tendency of fire is to go out; it needs constant rekindling". No one doubts the fire for the Lord in his heart!
We remember the honest exclamation of the couple who walked with the Lord on the road to Emmaus..."Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?-Luke 24v32. Listen to the Apostle Peter's thoughts of the perspective of the blessed people of God with hearts on fire for God...
1st Peter 1v3 Abundant mercy; 1v4 An Inheritance Incorruptible, Undefiled, and that Fadeth Not Away; 1v9 Joy unspeakable; 1v22 and 4v8 Fervent Love; 2v9 Marvellous Light; 4v10 Manifold Grace; 5v4 A Crown of Glory; 5v10 Eternal Glory; 2nd Peter 1v1 Precious Faith; 1v4 Exceeding Great and Precious Promises; 1v11 An Abundant Entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom; 1v17 the Excellent Glory; 3v13 New Heavens and a New Earth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness. Nothing half hearted or lukewarm about any of this, Peter's Christianity. The spiritual fire was burning in the life of Peter, will it burn in ours?
On this note, may I wish all readers a merry Christmas with your families, as we remember the joy brought to the world by the coming of our Lord. I will resume studies early in the New Year; meanwhile may you all experience the presence of the Lord in all your celebrations. Thank you all for your continued support.
George
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