Fire From Heaven – Part 1

1 Chronicles 21:26 “And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.”

This week, Michael writes: How many have longed for revival?  When there is a true revival from the Lord, where does the fire from heaven fall? True Christianity is according to the Word of God or it's not Christianity at all. Jesus Christ himself is “the Word” made manifest in the flesh (John 1:1-4). Any doctrine that is based on human accomplishments and mankind's happiness is "Humanism" and not Christianity. You cannot have it both ways because there is not room on the throne for two. If a person who calls himself a Christian is in it for his own happiness and glory, he's a humanist and not a Christian. Christianity serves the Lord because He alone is worthy.

The context of 1 Chronicles 21 is the account of King David, who took a census contrary to the Lord's command. Joab had told him not to number the people but David didn't listen to the Word of the Lord. The angel of the Lord had drawn his sword to slay Israel and David saw the Angel. David said, “let me not fall into the hand of mine enemies, but in to the hand of the Lord.” That's when David built an alter to the Lord to present burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. He said, "I will not offer unto the Lord something that cost me nothing." Therefore, David bought the thrashing floor upon which he built the altar. Where does the fire from heaven fall?  It falls upon the altar. Fire from heaven either falls in judgment upon the earth or it falls upon the altar to consume the sacrifice for sin.  When people judge themselves guilty according to the Word of the Lord and build an altar, then the fire from heaven falls upon the altar of the Lord.  

Examples of fire falling upon the altar were when fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering at the dedication of Solomon's temple. Another example was when Elijah built an altar to challenge the prophets of Baal. On the day of Pentecost fire from heaven figuratively came down when there appeared cloven tongues like as of fire which sat upon the twelve apostles.  

Jesus Christ will convict the world concerning sin and unrighteousness in judgment. If the Holy Spirit is the power of God to judge our sins as "crimes against God," then God's righteous judgment has fallen upon the altar to consume the sacrifice for sin. For Jesus Christ Himself, who knew no sin, was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him. The sin-nature of the fallen flesh desire of mankind, the God-rejecting world system (aka "the world"), and the deceiving with lies that distract and create doubt of God's holy Word and temptations of selfish pride and ambition by the devil , who then accuses with guilt of sin to steal, kill and destroy; these are the unholy trinity ... the true enemy.

Let's continue Michael's message on "Fire from Heaven" in the next post.

In Christ, Brian