Look at the confidence Elijah has in his God:
1 Kings 18.24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”

So much is said about the fire of God for judgment, but God who is love describes himself as a consuming fire. When Elijah called fire down from heaven that day, it was not for judgment – it was God pleading with his people:
1 Kings 18.37-39 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

Jesus said this:
Luke 12.49-50 I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

John the Baptist prophesied this:
Matthew 3.11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

God is so powerfully revealed in the fire. It is in the fire that Shadrach Meshach and Abednego got to walk around in that the fourth man was revealed. It is the fire of God that burns up the chaff of false words. It is the fire of God that tries every effort of man – and reveals whether it is performed by man or by God. Lamps of fire burn before the throne of God. God led Israel through the wilderness with a pillar of fire by night. God lit the fire on the altars of both Moses’ tabernacle and Solomon’s temple with fire out of heaven. When the Holy Ghost came on those gathered in the upper room for Pentecost, there was a mighty rushing wind, and tongues of fire rested on their heads. God makes his ministers flames of fire.

It’s time that we get to know God in this passion, this intensity, this unwavering confidence. It is absolutely true that by fire and by the sword God will plead with all flesh. Today is the day of salvation – and we’ve been given the sword of the Spirit and the fire of God right now to do some serious pleading.

A literal translation of Revelation 3.18 says: “I counsel you to buy from me gold which is on fire in the fire, that you may be rich…” >>