Heaven: “leave[s] us breathless in wonder” (J. Oswald Chambers, 10)
Hebrews 12:18--29 (NIV)
“For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly [fn] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." his phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…”
I. What has “fire” got do with heaven? It is “consuming!” “God is...consuming”
A. For non-CHRIST-followers, GODʼs “fire” devastates.
Psalm 97:1--6 [***NIV; emphasis mine]
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. 2
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are
the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and consumes his
foes on every side. 4 His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and
trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord
of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the
peoples see his glory.
1. “devouring” (NLT) / “consuming” (NIV): “to use up” (v. 29)
Leviticus 10:1--2
1 Aaronʼs sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added
incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his
command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed
them, and they died before the Lord.
Psalm 106:16-18
16 In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated
to the Lord. 17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the
company of Abiram. 18 Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed
the wicked.
Psalm 18:7--8
7 The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry. 8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
B. For CHRISTians, GODʼs “fire” reveals who we are! [*Illus: fire out west w/settlers]
1. See Psalm 18:8
Deuteronomy 4:35--36
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God;
besides him there is no other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to
discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words
from out of the fire.
Acts 2:
Jeremiah 23:29
29“Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks
a rock in pieces?
Jeremiah 5:14
Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people have
spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these
people the wood it consumes.
2. “fire” reveals GODʼs “word;” which in turn reveals our strength.
Proverbs 30:5 [***NASB]
Every word of God is tested ; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30 [***NASB]
As for God, His way is blameless ; The word of the LORD is tried ; He is a
shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 119:105
[Nun] Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
1 Kings 18:38
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the
stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
3. “fire” reveals our home.
Revelation 22:3--5
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be
in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his
name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not
need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them
light. And they will reign forever and ever.
4. “fire” reveals our works.
Revelation 1:12--15
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned
I saw seven golden lamp stands, 13 and among the lamp stands was someone
“like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a
golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as
white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze
glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16In
his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
1 Corinthians 3:12--15
12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood,
hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will
bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of
each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as
one escaping through the flames.
5. “fire” reveals our strength.
Exodus 3:1--4
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of
Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the
mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of
fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not
burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why
the bush does not burn up." 4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to
look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses
said, "Here I am."
II. Application: Will you ask GOD today to consume you?
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