Paul
writes to Timothy 'I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which
is in you' (2Tim 1:6)
so,
to help the church with this, Heavenfire offers this brief word, because
'“Is
not my word like fire,” declares the Lord' (Jeremiah 23:29)
Satan's Mistake
There is a wisdom destined
for our glory. Hallelujah! Lay
aside the confusion. Cast off that downcast and downtrodden self-image.
Step free from suffering. Wisdom is being revealed through scripture,
and it is bringing to you nothing less than God’s glory and victory over
Satan! The secret wisdom of heaven – the wisdom of God himself – has been
revealed to us, and the purpose of this great revelation is our
glory!
This is what Paul writes
to the Corinthians:
“we speak of God’s
secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for
our glory before time began” 1Cor 2:7
Let’s be clear right
from the outset that God’s gift of glory to us is no afterthought.
The Lord Almighty didn’t decide to allow his glory to overflow to you
simply to get you out of that mess you’ve got yourself into! Right from
the start – “before time began” – God destined his glory
for your life. That mess you’re in is the consequence of Sin
and of Satan, so get ready to shake it off!
The “wisdom” that Paul
speaks of is the life of Jesus Christ in the believer. Whoever calls on
the name of Jesus, and receives him as Lord into his/ her life, will receive
God’s wisdom. And it is God himself who has drawn you and me to call on
that precious name. Just a few verses earlier, Paul wrote:
“It is because
of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from
God” 1Cor 1:30
So again let’s note,
and fix it in our mind, that it is God’s purpose
that we should receive his wisdom and glory.
When we receive Jesus
we have full access to the wisdom of God and that wisdom enables us to
see that God’s glory is upon us. The world cannot see this glory, nor
can it understand the wisdom of God. To continue from Paul’s letter:
“None of the rulers
of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified
the Lord of glory.” 1Cor 2:8
I tingle every time
I read those magnificent words. My spirit harmonises with heaven as I
see the revelation of God. Satan and his followers – “the rulers of
this age” – made one almighty error when they crucified
our Lord! If the Devil had understood what he was doing, he wouldn’t have
done it. Why? Because by his crucifixion Jesus won the eternal victory
over Satan, Sin and Death. More though, because the Lord of glory, through
his incarnation, his death and resurrection, was giving that glory to
all who would believe in him!
What is this glory?
The glory is the splendour, honour, and power of God
made visible and/ or audible in the life of the believer. Glory
is closely associated with heaven’s fire in the bible. Wherever the glory
(OT kawbowd, NT doxa) is revealed, heaven’s fire is
usually present, either explicitly or implicitly. Exodus 24:17 records:
"To the Israelites
the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain."
(For more on the connection between Glory and Heaven’s
Fire, see chapter 7 of my book Seeking Heaven’s Fire, available
for purchase on this site)
In calling Jesus “the
Lord of glory” Paul is drawing us to the Lord’s heavenly nature as
the “consuming fire” (Heb 12:29) made flesh! The ‘Lord of glory’
is indeed the consummate believer touched by heaven’s fire. He is our
perfect model of what an on-fire Christian can achieve. Nothing will be
impossible for you if you get set on fire by the Lord’s presence!
As Paul wrote to the
Corinthians, and as I spell out in chapter 8 of Seeking Heaven’s Fire,
God’s glory is destined for all who believe. Jesus said:
“I have given
them the glory that you gave me” John 17:22
and Paul wrote:
“those he called,
he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” Roman
8:30
If the “rulers of
this age” made a cosmic error by crucifying Jesus, then believe this
brothers and sisters. By attacking you – if indeed you are in Christ,
and a believer and recipient of his wisdom and glory – they are making
just as big a mistake! Satan doesn’t understand everything, as we’ve already
shown, above. He doesn’t understand the trouble he’s getting himself into
by coming against the children of glory – you and me. We have the triumph
over sin and suffering; all the flaming arrows of evil one will be extinguished;
and Satan will be crushed beneath our feet because of the Calvary triumph
of Jesus. Rise up with Easter fire, church! Stand up, shake off, and live
victorious in Christ!
