So what can we conclude? There are many instances where fire is represented Biblically simply as fire. God Himself has been represented as fire in several occasions such as the burning bush and the pillar of fire that led Israel. Beyond that however there seems to be two major themes we can identify. The first is that fire is clearly a method of judgment from God; either in past judgments or referring to the coming judgment. Secondly, God refers to fire often as a means to purify and refine those who believe. That is really it beloved. Judgment and purification. One we definitely do not want to be calling down upon us and another we probably don't mean to. Let's look again at the lyric from earlier;
"Flood our hearts with holy fire." Really? When you read the rest of the lyrics, filled with references to raining down and dancing in a barren land, it becomes apparent that Jesus Culture has no idea what they are talking about Scripturally when they try to write songs they think are worship. That is not exactly a surprise when their lead worshiper has been proven already to be unable to discern what is from God and when she is being visited demonically:
http://www.828ministries.com/articles/Jesus-Culture--The-End-Re-by-Anthony-Wade-God-131102-521.html
Yet this is the fastest growing worship trend in America today. It seems as if pastors, churches, and congregants do not stop to ask if a song is worthy of being called worship. As long as it makes it to Christian radio - which is entirely secular by nature! The mantra of repeating over and over again our desire for holy fire to fall from heaven is strikingly ignorant of Scripture and sloppily irreverent to the very fact that God one day may give us what we want. I know the objections already and they simply do not hold up to the light of the Word of God. You want the manifest presence of God? Maybe you forgot that that Holy Spirit already lives inside of you. He does not have to "rain down" as much as you need to let Him rise up! That really sums up our Christian problem sometimes. We are always seeking an outside experience because we do not want to do the real work of an inside changing. It is easier to get "soaked" on the outside and pretend that we are "spiritual" then let the Holy Spirit into those closed areas in our life to do some real spiritual surgery.
You say holy fire because you want more zeal for God? Pray that you become more zealous. You want more love for God - ask Him for it. You want to be more committed, passionate, and determined? Pray for those things. They need not be flammable. Words matter. What we say to God matters. What we sing to God matters. I am stunned sometimes at the lyrics of the songs that we call worship today. We sit in churches across this land singing man centered songs that we pretend glorify God. We hear man centered preaching we pretend teaches us about God. All the while dancing and singing that He rain down judgment or purification over us. One day beloved, He may very well answer.
Reverend Anthony Wade - May 11, 2014
