I am hearing this scripture in so many places during this season. Especially in my own place of prayer.

The truth is, Hebrews 12:29 isn’t really a statement about the existential nature of our God. It’s a summons into God Himself. The God of our refuge.

It’s a plea to live an abandoned life unto His increase.

It’s a call to the Man, Jesus and to His gospel call for us to “take up our cross” (Luke 9:23).

It’s the gate into the inferno of first-commandment love and the fear of the Lord.

All who dare enter (Luke 14:28) this perfectly holy fire are consumed by the Eternal God Himself. THIS is the baptism of Pentecost. Indeed, this is baptism itself. There is no baptism that neglects the consumed life.

If we want to survive the God-ordained shaking that’s on the earth we must also understand: THE CONSUMED LIFE IS THE ONLY LIFE THAT WILL REMAIN. Put another way: If we’re not consumed by Him we WILL be consumed by something else. Let me say this again: If we’re not consumed by Him we WILL be consumed by something else.

This is the Lord’s intentional plan for the Church, so that His Son’s Bride comes forth prepared (Revelation 19:7), without spot, wrinkle or blemish, (Ephesians 5:26-27) wholly leaning on her Beloved (Song 8:5).

“Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12)

In spite of the world’s illusory evidence to the contrary we must learn to walk with singular fidelity to the Voice of the One Who is bidding us into the fire of Himself. Again, THIS (and only this) is the veritable proposition of Pentecost.

This is also the deeply disturbing “why” beneath Annanias and Saphira’s fate in (Acts 5). They had entered into the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling God could not be disloyal and dishonest to Himself. Annanias and his wife were attempting to control the consuming nature of the Lord. And that which offers half-measures to the pure fire of the Lord Himself is the “strange fire” of Nadab and Abihu in (Leviticus 10:1-3).

In this next season, we will see a lot of “strange fire” that bills itself as “an offering unto the Lord” (Leviticus 9:22). It’s only those who dare to let God be Who He is in our lives who will experience anything that can be considered by heaven as true revival.

The Church cannot content herself with asking the question: “Who will dare enter into His fire?”. We must orient ourselves to asking, “Who will dare NOT enter into His fire?”

“This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” (Leviticus 10:3)

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JSB • May 30, 2022