Les Paul - The legend & the legacy

Be on Fire for the Lord

B y

Billy Joe Daugherty

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

"Fire Releases Energy "

Fire releases stored up energy! Wood contains stored energy, and fire releases that energy. Fire releases the energy in coal, gas, and oil. Fire gives off light, heat, and power.

We saw this in the great fire storms that ripped through Yellowstone National Park at tremendous speeds, literally exploding giant trees.

God wants the Church to be a fire storm in the earth that will destroy the works of the devil. This is an hour when God is speaking to every person to be on fire for Him.

You may think, "I'm too old." When Caleb was 85 years old, he said, "I'm as strong as I was when we first came and saw this land." Caleb was on fire. He said, "Give me this mountain!"

A person who is on fire is not looking for a rocking chair! He's looking for a mountain to take! He's looking for cities to possess. He's looking for an enemy to destroy. No matter where you are, no matter what your age, God is calling you to be stirred up by His fire in this hour.

Chapter 2

"Fire: Power and Life of God"

Throughout Scripture, "fire" relates to the power and life or the presence and anointing of God.

In Genesis 3:24, it was a flaming sword that was set in the Garden as Adam and Eve were driven out. The flaming sword was set in place to guard the Garden.

In Exodus 3:2-10, it was a burning bush that was not consumed from which God spoke to Moses and gave him a call to go and deliver His people out of the land of Egypt.

In Exodus 13:21, the Lord went before His people "...by night in a pillar of fire to give them light..." We are led by the fire of God.

In Leviticus 6:13, God said, "A perpetual fire shall burn on the altar; it shall never go out." The fire on the altar represented the presence and anointing of God.

In 1 Kings 18:38, Elijah stood before the prophets of Baal and challenged a nation that had turned to idolatry. He prayed and God answered with fire. The sacrifice was consumed, the prophets of Baal were destroyed, and a nation turned back toward God because they realized, "GOD IS ALIVE"!

There are people who are worshipping Baal in our land today, and they need to see the fire of God fall right where they live, the anointing and the power of God that will turn their hearts toward the living and true God.

It was a fiery chariot that took Elijah up to heaven.

"Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

"And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?' And Elisha said, 'Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.'

"So he said, 'You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.'

"Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

2 Kings 2:8-11

Jeremiah said, "...But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones..." (Jeremiah 20:9). The Word of God is a fire inside of us! Psalm 104:4 says, "Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire." The fire of God represents the life and power or the presence and anointing of God.

Chapter 3

"Baptism of Fire"

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said,

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit andfire . "

On the Day of Pentecost, flames of fire appeared to the 120 men and women in the Upper Room, and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

"Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

"And they were all filled with the Holy

Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Acts 2:1-4

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is represented by fire. The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower you for service in God's Kingdom. Acts 1:8 says,

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Chapter 4

"On Fire or Lukewarm?"

What was the common thread that ran through the lives of the disciples? They came from different backgrounds, but they were on fire for the Kingdom of God!

Peter made a lot of mistakes, but he was on fire. Jesus loved it, because He knew He could do something with someone who was on fire, even if he made mistakes, even if he sank into the water, even if he denied Him in that critical hour. Peter was a man who could be set on fire for God.

Jesus prayed for Peter.

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me , strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32).

I'd rather have a church full of "on fire" people who are a little fanatical than a bunch you have to resurrect every Sunday! This is an hour that we must be on fire for God.

A picture of today's average American church is found in Revelation 3:14-16:

"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot . I could wish you were cold or hot.

"So then, because you are lukewarm. and neither cold nor hot. I will spew you out of My mouth."

There's something about lukewarmness that makes God want to spew it out of His mouth!

Are you as fanatical about Jesus as when you were first saved? Or have you become so educated and sophisticated that you've lost the fire?

It's not by accident that you are on fire for God. It's not by accident that you stay on fire for Him. The fire will go out unless you add fuel to it. A fire must have oxygen. You must have the breath of God's Spirit, blowing inside of you and flowing through you on a continual basis, not just a ritual or form of religion.

Chapter 5

"How Do You Lose the Fire?"

What causes people to lose their fire for God? Revelation 3:17 says,

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing...'"

When you think you've arrived, the Scripture says, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Be diligent to see that you're found in the faith, that you continue in the grace that you've already received.

You say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing..." Materialism in America has put the fire out of many people. They've become consumed with "things," making a buck and making a living rather than consumed with the zeal of God.

Jesus said,

"And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Mark 4:19).

You say, "I have need of nothing. I'm satisfied. I have a great retirement plan, a great pension, investments, a house, and lands. Why do I need God or need to be on fire?" This is a picture of America. A picture of church goers who are not born again. There are Christians once on fire who walked in the presence and power of God but have turned away. It's time to stir yourself up with the fire of God!