WORDS OF WISDOM

The Bible tells us that God’s character is that of a consuming fire. Fire in Scripture carries several meanings, not always negative. Luke 3:17-18 (NIV) reads: “‘He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.” As we see, fire means good news, not judgement. In the story of Ezekiel’s prophesying to the valley of dry bones, the bones came together and became an army of living men of flesh and blood. God breathed life into those lifeless bones. But there’s another way to deal with dry bones – by fire. Perhaps you have some bone china at home. It’s very fine tableware, and rings like a bell when you tap a spoon against it. Bone china begins as tons of old bones, ground to powder. That bone dust is mixed with white clay, which is then molded, shaped and decorated and passed through a kiln. Out of the fires then comes lovely pure white china to grace our tables. There are dry-bone Christians – bone-dry Christians, we would say. But when these spiritual skeletons, lifeless believers, are baptized in the Holy Spirit and get God’s fires in their very bones, they come out as vessels for God to take up in his purposes. The process leaves its pure, unmistakable and wonderful mark. Just like a potter using his kiln, God uses fire to produce his work. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). We are his good work, made to produce good works. Don’t talk about burn-out. Talk about fire-transformation. It’s for you! God bless you. REINHARD BONNKE.