A STUDY OF THE WORD "FIRE"
Introduction:
1. Pick up the daily newspaper, or tune in to your Evening News
and you read about the damage done by fire(s).
(1) Hotel fires resulting in loss of lives and millions.
(2) Houses burning with the loss of lives and property.
(3) Out west, forest fires destroying large sections of our
forests and countrysides.
(4) Arson being suspected so often that Insurance companies
constantly search for culprits.
2. Are there any lessons which we can gain by the study of the
subject of "FIRE"?
A. MANY FAMILIAR INCIDENTS IN THE BIBLE CONNECTED WITH FIRE:
1. Gen. 19:24--the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
2. Ex. 3:1-6 -- The burning bush in Moses presence.
3. Ex. 13:21-22 -- Pillar of fire to lead the Israelites by night
4. Lev. 10:1-2 -- Nadab and Abihu brought in strange fire.
5. 1 Kgs. 18:38 -- Elijah used fire as the proof of his being a
prophet from Jehovah.
6. Dan. 3:19-30 -- Three Hebrews cast into fiery furnace.
7. 2 Thess. 1:7-9 -- Christ shall return in flaming fire.
8. Matt. 13:42 -- The wicked shall be cast into furnace of fire.
B. DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES ATTRACT ATTENTION:
1. If you wish to draw a crowd, just let a building catch on
fire. People will hasten to "see." They may have not even
noticed the building beforehand.
2. Saddly, people ignore the gospel until some calamity or some
adversity comes upon them. Let them get into trouble and how
fast they are to seek God. Then, let the problem be solved,
and how fast they are to forget God.
C. THAT WHICH HAS BE GIVEN FOR OUR GOOD IS OFTEN ABUSED:
1. Fire is a great blessing to mankind: Also, a great curse.
(1) It warms our houses; it cooks our food.
(2) But, it can destroy our houses; even take our life.
2. There are many constructive things about us that we need to
constantly watch and be careful about.
(1) Our tongue -- Can be used to teach others about the
Christ; yet, it is often used to curse God.
(2) Recreation -- can be good for us; can also become a
detriment, if it keeps us from worship and service.
(3) Drugs -- can be used as a blessing to ease pain or to
fight a disease; but can destroy lives when abused.
(4) Heb. 13:4 -- Marriage and the bed is a blessing from God;
but, if abused and misused will cause souls to be lost.
D. FIRE TEACHES US THAT LIFE IS UNCERTAIN:
1. Tragedies often occur when we lease expect them. Catch us
unprepared.
2. How often have we heard, "If I had known this would happen, I
would have taken out insurance against the loss." Now, that is
wisdom!! Like closing the barn gate after the horses left.
3. Look at our inconsistencies:
(1) We usually take out insurance on things which never happen
(Auto--never have a wreck; Home--which never burns, etc).
(2) Yet, we KNOW (or, at least we should know) that a judgment
is coming. And people do not make preparation for it.
(3) Will man say, "But, Lord, if I had known I was going to
die when I did, I would have obeyed."
(4) Jas. 4:13-17.
E. FIRE DOES LESS DAMAGE IF NOT FANNED:
1. By flaming a fire, one would intensify the flame. Those in a
burning building are told to close the doors and windows. If a
fire can be confined it can be controlled better.
(1) When a problem comes up in a congregation, it needs to be
settled, not spread with gossip and bitterness.
Eph. 4:31,32; Col. 4:6.
(2) Mt. 18:15 -- Christ gave the solution for solving personal
problems. Keep others out of it if possible.
(3) How often have members sought to excuse themselves from
talking to others about the church; but, let some problem
come up in the church, and they can talk to any and all.
(4) Marriage problems-- rather than talking to the mate, we
talk to the whole world first. We fan the flame.
F. FIRES MIGHT BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL WERE IT NOT FOR COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIALS: How spectacular to see a fire where exploding
combustible materials burst, sending flames hundreds of feet into
the air. Reporters take delight in this.
(1) 1 Pet. 2:1 -- We are commanded to put away these things which
can easily explode and condemn us.
(2) Eph. 4:22-23 -- "by the renewing of the mind..."
(3) Rom. 12:1-2.
(4) As children of God, we cannot afford to have a hard,
unforgiving spirit.
G. THE TYPE OF MATERIAL A BUILDING IS MADE OF WILL EFFECT THE
SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A FIRE TO DESTROY: Some building can
withstand fire better than others. If fire resistant material is
used. Dry and brittle buildings are consumed rapidly.
(1) Eph. 6:10-18 -- We must put on the whole armor of God, to be
able to "withstand the fiery darts of satan..."
(2) 1 Cor. 3:10-15 -- Some are "wood, hay, stubble..." Will not
stand the test when it comes.
(3) NOTE: Some materials are refined and made purer by fire,
while others melt and become completely useless. So it is,
some Christians are made stronger by trials; others give up.
The difference is seen in what we are made of.
H. FIRES CAN CAUSE LASTING DEVASTATION:
(1) The best safeguard is to take preventive measures. We teach
our children "escape routes" in case of a fire. How we are to
save ourselves from the destruction.
(2) Rev. 20:14-15 -- To be lost eternally means eternal torment
in the lake of fire. Rev. 21:8.
(3) We have been given an "escape route": Christ Jesus left us
the path to follow, John 14:6; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; Heb. 5:8-9.
(4) Parents, are you showing your children an "escape route"?
They, too, face the decisions of life and eternity. We need
to prepare them for safety.
(5) We should also seek to rescue others from being lost. We can
lead them from the burning fire. Jude 23.
Conclusion:
1. We have all seen enough destruction of a blazing inferno to
cause us to not want to go to a place like that.
2. There is enough said in God's Word to show us that Hell is not
desiring nor comforting.
3. There is a better place to spend eternity.
4. 2 Pet 3:8-13 -- Wherein dwelleth righteousness.
5. What will your condition be when this world is destroyed by
fire?
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