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I always have a sinking
feeling when a prayer leader or cleric says pray for Holy Ghost fire to consume
so and so problem or person or enemy. The feeling is from a dilemma as to what
is right and what is proper or what is Biblical.
The little (it is an
extensive little, by the way) I have read of the Bible does not say AT ANY
POINT that Holy Ghost fire consumes. Neither are there instances of fire coming
from the Holy Ghost burning up any body.
The first encounter with the
Holy Spirit is in Acts of the Apostles: at the birth of the Church in Acts 2.
Jesus had told his followers to wait for the Comforter, Teacher, Memory
helper, etc, (John 14: 26 and in other parts of the scriptures). These are just
a few of the many reference to the Holy Spirit in the Bible. But at NO SINGLE
REFERENCE was mention made of His predilection for consuming people.
What I know of is that one
of the stubborn prophets once called for fire from heaven to consume some
senseless soldiers who kept repeating the mistake of the ones that went before
them to arrest this man of God (2Kings 1:10). Earlier, in 1Kings 18, there was
the battle of Mount Camel, where fire came down and consumed an altar of
water-soaked offering.
If we have been blind to
Bible's comparison of God's Almighty abilities because (metaphor) He is a consuming fire
(Deuteronomy 4: 24), we should be calling on His tongue too: it is like a
devouring fire in Isaiah 30: 27.
My little study of the Bible
shows me that God can use ANYTHING. He used Moses' staff (Exodus 14), Aaron's
rod (numbers 17), sound as that of a big army (2Kings 7), flood of Kishon
(Judges 4), and so on.
Let me correct my claim in
the third paragraph: the Holy Spirit was there in the beginning. Remember He
was roaming the earth at creation. As God spoke, things took shape. It is that
power that makes things be. THAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.
He makes whatever you call
on by faith manifests. He is why all your bottles of Olive oil becomes
anointing oil; pure water becomes Holy Water; He even intercedes for us with
groaning (Romans 8: 26).
THEREFORE, IT IS WRONG TO
SEE HIM SOLELY AS A FIRE THAT CONSUMES. HE CAN MAKE YOUR FOOTMAT INTO YOUR
ENEMY'S UNDOING OR MOVE DUST INTO BLINDING YOUR ATTACKERS. Just be sure you are
not your own enemy!
It is great injustice to say
Holy Ghost fire consumes only when it appeared as harmless tongues of fire on
the heads of the Church member, filled the Apostles with boldness and made them
speak in tongues (we will do this tongues thing another day) in Acts 2;
appeared as a dove at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3: 16).
Apart from endangering the
already warm planet with the steam from screams of “Holy Ghost Fire consume!” we are
all in grave danger of misunderstanding a vital part of the Trinity.
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