Bible Reading: Isaiah 33:1-end
“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness shath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burning? He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and that shutteth his eyes from seeing evil” – Isaiah 33:14-15 (KJV)
Our God is a God of Purity, Holiness and Righteousness. He is referred to as a consuming fire in Hebrews 12:29 (KJV), “For our God is a consuming fire.” The devouring fire goes before our God burning up His enemies. (Psalm 97:3). The presence of God burns like fire against sinners while it is soothing and comforting to them that walk in righteousness. God dwells in the midst of fire and the fire of our God is by far a more superior fire than what we have on earth. God’s fire consumes and cannot tolerate sin when God is present. Because of God’s holiness the effect of His anger is referred to as the “…dregs of His cup of fury” (Isaiah 51:22) which is like a burning liquid. When God appeared to speak to Moses He came from a burning fire and God told Moses to put off his shoes because he was standing on a Holy ground. God’s presence emits fire as vividly described in Job 41:21(KJV), “His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.” This is further explained by the Psalmist when he said in Psalm 18:8(KJV), “There went up a smoke out of his nostril, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it”.
It is this devouring presence of the LORD that makes the sinners in Zion (The church) afraid, and fearfulness overtaken the hypocrites. These are adulterers, those committing abomination in the house of God, occult men and women who show the face of Christianity in the open but are involved in satanic works in the dark. These are pretenders in the body of Christ who indulge in unholy acts secretly. They will be consumed by the consuming fire of God at His appearance.
However, for the Spirit-filled and Holy Ghost possessed believers who walk righteously, speak uprightly, despises the gain of oppression, refuses to take bribes and refuses to be among them that shed human blood for their gain, it shall be a time of peace and refreshing. It is on this premise that Apostle Paul says “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 (KJV). This is therefore a call to repentance for you who has not been born again and for those whose Christian fire and love is dwindling. This is a clarion call to return fully to our God in truth and in righteousness.
Prayer: Father give me the grace to abide in you in righteousness.
Brother Joel Ezeugo.