Through the Fire
By
Suresh P. Babu

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:1-2

Some years back we visited a factory manufacturing ceramic ornamental vessels in the Netherlands. The factory manufactured beautiful bowls, dishes, vases, pots and other ornamental ware that are colorful. The specialty of the factory is blue, red, green and brown colored painting on ceramics that look really stunning. As we walked through the manufacturing line, first they showed how clay is formed into ornamental molds. Then we came to a stage where the molds are dried and painted with a special black coating. The guide explained that it is at that stage, the legendary designs are applied to the molds. We were wondering how these black coats could produce stunningly colorful designs. Then the guide walked us through the next stage where the molds are baked in a kiln at a very high temperature. The process of baking the wares caused the special black coat to turn into different stunning colors and the design is permanently a part of the ornamental jar. It cannot be scraped off and it does not fade over time. Going through the fire made these jars and ornaments beautiful and strong. Likewise, God who the master potter sends us through fire to make us strong and precious. He fashions each of us in His own image first and after He molds us, He allows us to go through the fire to make us unique and special. You may be going through a fire in your own life, but God is with you even in that fire, to help you and keep watch over you. His promise for you is that when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burnt, nor shall the flame scorch you, Hallelujah! Instead you will come out of the fire strong and beautiful declaring the glory of the Lord through your own life.

Prophet Isaiah walked into the temple and there he saw the glory of the Lord God. He saw God sitting on a throne, high and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple. He saw cherubim and seraphim – mighty angelic beings praising God for His holiness, calling unto each other. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”(Isaiah 6:3). Isaiah was immediately reminded of his sinful self and he cried out and confessed his unclean lips. The Lord sent an angel who removed a live coal from the altar and touched Isaiah’s lips with the coal and declared that because of the touch of the coal his sin was purged. That was the grace of the Lord God applied through a fire of sanctification in Isaiah’s life. Isaiah was made holy because of the fire. Even today the Lord wants you to go through the fire of sanctification and allow the fire to work in you so you can be cleansed of all your sins and made whole.

There were three young men – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These were young prisoners captured by the Babylonian invasion in to Israel. These young men were taught the Babylonian language and all the skills necessary to serve in the King’s palace and were set in charge of the province of Babylon. When king Nebuchadnezzar erected a large golden statue and required all the people to fall down prostrate and worship that image, these three young men decided that they would neither worship nor serve any Gods other than the Jehovah, the Lord God Almighty. When the king learnt about it, he was filled with wrath and he commanded the young men to be thrown into a furnace heated seven times than usual. As the young men were thrown into the fire, the king was astonished to see them walk freely in the midst of the fire and along with them as the fourth person, was the Lord God himself (Daniel 3:24-25). That was a fire of trial for the young men, and the Lord honored their steadfast faith and He himself walked into the fire with them to protect them, Hallelujah! In your life if you are going through a fire of trial of your faith, take heart and be strong. The Lord God is walking right beside you to protect you and bless you.

Moses was a shepherd, taking care of his father in law’s sheep. As he came to mount Horeb one day, he saw a bush burning with fire but it was not consumed. Moses was astonished and he wanted to see how this could be. As he approached the bush, the Lord called out from the fire, “Moses! Moses! Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:4-5). The presence of the Lord appeared as a burning fire. God wants you to come into that fire today, the fire of the presence of the Lord. Take time to come into that presence daily. As you come into the fire of His presence, the Lord will fill you with His Holy Spirit, who is promised to be with us daily until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ so that we can live a victorious life. Jesus said, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49). That is the fire of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Seek that fire from the Lord to be poured out into your life even today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for your fire. As I walk through the fire of trial, I pray that the Lord will protect me. Help me to be sanctified and be made whole with your fire of sanctification. I pray for the fire of the presence of the Lord and the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon me every day of my life. In the name of my Lord and your Son Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

If you prayed the above prayer and want to share with us or you have any questions that you need answered, please send us an email to prayer@powerofgospel.org. If you have any feedback, please send them to info@powerofgospel.org. Praise the Lord!