JIM GRAYSON

“A Consuming Fire”

March 20, 2009

Today know this: God, your God, is crossing the river ahead of you—he's a consuming fire. He will destroy the nations, he will put them under your power. You will dispossess them and very quickly wipe them out, just as God promised you would.

Deuteronomy 9:3 (The Message)

So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what wil l happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he's told us this quite plainly—he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

Hebrews 12:25-29 (The Message)

“Indeed, I AM still a consuming fire,” says the Lord, “for I do not change. Many of My children think there are two versions of their God- the Bible version and their ‘today’ version, the latter being One Who does not respond in the manner or power of the former but I say this to you- I still respond as I always have; it is not I Who have changed but you…My people who are called by My Name.

“Take a hard look at the people in My Word with whom I worked. Were they like you? Is your life one which can be used by a Holy God? Do you have faith in Me to do that which I have said I would do, or do you find doubt in your heart of hearts, basing your faith in Me on your own past failures of faith. Listen to Me, My Beloved: I AM not being harsh with you but rather, telling you truthfully what you must hear and know if you are to go forward with Me beyond the point where you are now. You are still holding on to part of the world, a world which will only hold you back and give you nothing in return, for the world is based on and controlled by the enemy of your soul. There is nothing there for you except pain and failure, even death. It is in Me, your GOD, where you will find LIFE but in order for that LIFE to be in you, you must first do what My Son told you- take up your cross daily…daily…and follow Me, not on an irregular basis but every day and every hour of that day. Then, and only then, can I make you that for which you were called.

“Allow Me to consume you and I will make you an instrument of My Love, to preach the Gospel; to heal the sick; to cast out demons and set the captives free; to raise the dead and to cleanse My Bri de of the terrible spiritual leprosy which has blinded and crippled Her for centuries, robbing My children of the blessings and privileges of being a Child of the Most High King. It has robbed My Bride of being the blessing to those I have placed in Her path to bless. One cannot give out of one’s abundance when one’s own heart is empty and bereft of true Godly Love and Power. All you can give is emptiness for emptiness, and that helps no one but if you allow Me to take control of your life, your whole life, I will make you into something of which you cannot even imagine. Only dare to believe Me and trust Me to make your life a life of My Blessings and Love.

“Now, turn away from the world and that which keeps you from being all you can be. Now is the time to give Me your whole self, all of you. Your growth will not always be pleasant, for it always hurts to die to one’s self but, the payment is beyond your ability to comprehend, as joy unspeakable and full of Glory, My Glory. Trust Me and let Me show you what you can be when you are truly filled with My Spirit. Resist Me no longer,” says the Lord, “and I will make you a delight to the world and a fire in My Hand to ruin the ways of the evil one. Come, let us do this together and I will make you all you can truly be. That is My Word to you, My Beloved, and My Word is always good.