Evening Lectionary Exodus 2: 23-3:10. Luke
12: 49-56
Our Lord God Jesus sends fire upon the earth in various ways: The appearance of fire:The angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire from out of the burning bush, from the bush God (Jesus) spoke to him, “ Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.” Then he said, “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is Holy ground.” Fire identified with God, the fire that was in the bush, but did not burn the bush.
On the
Israelites journey towards the Promised Land the cloud went before them during
the day and a pillar of fire by night. The fire giving them light by night to
see the way ahead. Exodus 13: 21 Again the pillar of fire did not burn the
ground.
Before the Holy Spirit came into the world at Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on people as God directed them to fulfil his purposes.
Before the Holy Spirit came into the world at Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on people as God directed them to fulfil his purposes.
Jesus sending a fire that is within a
person. John the Baptist said that there was one mightier than himself who would baptise them in the Holy Spirit and with fire. Luke 3: 16.
Tongues of
fire were seen on each of the disciples and all those present in the room of
the house at Jerusalem at Pentecost. Acts 2
The fire of
the Holy Spirit within a person; Mrs Smith felt that her head was extremely hot
when the Holy Spirit filled her at the laying on of hands to receive the Holy
Spirit. (Christ Church Walmersley Bury 1982)
Jesus opened
the eyes of Cleopas and the other disciple, “Did our hearts not burn within us
while he (Jesus) talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the
scriptures.” Luke 24: 32.
John Wesley’s
heart was strangely warmed as the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus through Paul’s
letter to the Romans.
The Messiah's Secret
"I came to cast a fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!" Luke 12: 49, 50.
Jesus came to cast a fire, “I came to cast a fire upon the earth.” This fire is one of judgement.
"I came to cast a fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!" Luke 12: 49, 50.
Jesus came to cast a fire, “I came to cast a fire upon the earth.” This fire is one of judgement.
The Day of
Vengeance The fire that destroys and
purifies Luke 3: 17
The Messiah
was expected to bring in ‘The Day of Vengeance’
the Messiah would deliver Israel from their enemies. The second part of
the sentence, ‘And would it were already kindled’ The Day of Vengeance these words indicate ‘ not yet’ it is
future.
On an earlier occasion at the start of Jesus’ ministry, in the synagogue
at Nazareth Jesus read from the book of Isaiah Chapter 61 verse 1 and part of
verse 2. “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken
hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to
those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” The second
part of the verse “And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who
mourn in Zion,” he did not say. This indicates that this was to take place in
the future which confirms the delay of the impending judgement in verse 49. “I came to cast a fire upon the earth,
and would it were already kindled."
Jesus
had to first fulfil the ministry of bringing the good tidings of the coming
kingdom of God, especially to those who were outcasts; those like the lepers and the very poor.
The disciples expected that the Messiah would fulfil Isaiah's prophecy including the second part of verse two. Jesus’ disciples wanted to see Jesus carry out judgement on the Samaritan village that would not receive him. The disciples had gone before Jesus to the towns and villages where he was about to visit with the message about the coming of the kingdom of God. The residents of this village did not want Jesus to enter it, so the disciples thought that they should feel the wrath of God’s judgement. They said to Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them.” Luke 9: 54 Jesus rebuked his disciples, he moved on to another village.
The disciples expected that the Messiah would fulfil Isaiah's prophecy including the second part of verse two. Jesus’ disciples wanted to see Jesus carry out judgement on the Samaritan village that would not receive him. The disciples had gone before Jesus to the towns and villages where he was about to visit with the message about the coming of the kingdom of God. The residents of this village did not want Jesus to enter it, so the disciples thought that they should feel the wrath of God’s judgement. They said to Jesus, “Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them.” Luke 9: 54 Jesus rebuked his disciples, he moved on to another village.
Jesus then
proceeded to tell us in the next sentence the reason why the fire is not yet
kindled, “I have a baptism to be baptised with.” The baptism referring to his
death on the cross at Calvary. The Jews did not expect the Messiah to come and
die, they expected a man like Moses who would redeem them from their enemies.
The prophecy from God given to Caiaphas that one man should die so that the
nation would not perish,” was taken to mean that death of Jesus would see off the threat
of a popular uprising to make him the King of Israel. John 11: 49-51. 6: 15.
“And how I am constrained until it is accomplished.” Jesus discerned the hardness of their hearts. Caiaphas’ prophecy had impacted the Jewish council they were willing to go along with it. Later when they headr from Peter that the Messiah had first to die and be resurrected by God before they could accept him as their Messiah as a nation. The nations leaders were unwilling to look beyond their own beliefs. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and ignored the prophesies of King David that the Messiah would be resurrected from the dead.
The Judgement Seat of Christ. Christians will come before the Judgement Seat of Christ after Jesus calls out his body of believers, the church. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians about the refining fire of Christ that will test the works of the believer. ”Each person’s work become manifest the Day will disclose it, it will be revealed with fire and the fire will test what sort of work." 1 Corinthians 3: 12, 13. Paul informs us that it is the, “Disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every person will receive their commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 4: 5.
How gracious
the Lord is when he looks at motivation of our hearts and not at how successful
we have been or the scale of a Christians work.
I mentioned the various ministries that Christians are involved in from our church,
covering all the organisations belonging St. Mary’s.
Jessie Penn
Lewis, “ War on the Saints.” Appendix “Fire from God: Is a purifying through
suffering (Matthew 3: 11, 12.) or a consuming zeal in spirit, which deepens
into white heat intensity to do the will and work of God, which no trial or
opposition can quench. Fire from God is spiritual, not literal, and therefore
falls upon the spirit not the body.”
Signs of the Times
Christians in their job situations are now finding it difficult to work without at some point clashing with the modern structures that discard Christian values. Increased world tensions over the Middle East countries, war could flare up at any time. Jesus has yet to call out his body, the church before Daniel’s prophecy of the last week is fulfilled. We have yet to see the rise of the antichrist.
