The first question recorded in the Bible was asked by the serpent in the Garden of Eden: “Did God really say that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Gen. 3:1, NIV).
Immediately we are introduced to someone twisting what God really said to do and yet call it God’s will.
Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons, did a similar thing when they offered unto the Lord what they wanted instead of what God wanted.
Profane fire is irreverent to what is holy; disregarding truth yet calling it truth.
The definition of profane fire: Something not valued as sacred, unbiblical, not respectful, not holy, irreverent
To profane is to treat someone or something disrespectfully, especially someone or something sacred.
Aaron had four sons; two of them offered profane fire and died. They did not leave a legacy.
We will look at seven different types of fires spoken of in the Bible.
Aaron and his sons were priests. They had been consecrated to the Lord, yet his sons exercised their own will above the will of God.
The first kind of fire we will look at is Profane Fire, which leads to death.
Numbers 3:1-4
Leviticus 10:1-4
Two of Aaron’s sons offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.
The Lord had not commanded them to do this, not in this way.
We serve a holy God who wants us to reverence Him in His majesty.
Cain offered what he thought was appropriate but God did not accept his offering.
Abel met the requirements and was accepted in Genesis 4:3.
Know the requirements and walk holy before God.
Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV):
“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
1 Samuel 15:22:
“Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
God wants your obedience to His Word, not your attempted sacrifice
Don’t offer to God mixture.
Aaron’s sons were full of mixture and tried to do God’s will on their terms.
2 Corinthians 6:17 (MEV):
“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
Second kind of fire: Fire of direction
Moses was given direction through God, who appeared in the fire.
Exodus 3:2 (NIV): “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.”
God called to him in the midst of the burning bush.
Third Kind of Fire: Fire that destroys your enemies and fights for you
The God who answers by fire
First Kings 18:22-24 (NIV): Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
First Kings 18:38-39: “Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!'”
Forth Kind of Fire: Fire of protection
God who protects you through the fire.
Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaiah 43:5-8: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.”
Jesus, the fourth man in the fire—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Daniel 3:14-26: “‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’
“They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’
“He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’
“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!'”
Fifth Kind of Fire: Refiner’s fire
Refines you through the fire
First Peter 1:7 (ESV): “So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
First Peter 5:10: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Sixth Kind of Fire: The Tongue
Tongue as a fire
James 3:6, 9-11 (NIV): “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring?”
Seventh Kind of Fire: Holy Spirit fire of boldness and impartation
Holy Spirit Fire
Matthew 3:11: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Acts 2:1-4: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
It is important to offer unto the Lord your full obedience unto His perfect will, not your own rendition of it.
Purity before power! That is the order. That is God’s directive for us.
“Father, show us any areas of our lives where we are offering unauthorized, irreverent and unholy fire and we will turn from those ways and offer unto You that which is holy, pure and of Your perfect will.
“Fill us with Your holy fire to do the kingdom words in Jesus’ name, we pray!” {eoa}
Apostle Dr. Cathy Coppola ushers in the glory of God through worship, preaching His Word by the power of the Holy Spirit and releasing His miracles, signs and wonders to the nations. She is the founder of Cathy Coppola International Ministries, House of Glory Church, Mighty Wind Broadcasting Network TV and Fired Up Conferences. Her weekly services are filled with demonstrations of the power of the Holy Spirit, as He floods the meetings with signs, wonders, healings and deliverances: a ministry where the physically sick are healed, the emotionally hurting are restored, those bound by demonic spirits are set free and families are reconciled to their heavenly Father’s original design. Her TV ministry, Mighty Wind Broadcasting Network TV, can be seen online at cathycoppola.org, MWBN.TV, HSBN.tv, Roku.tv Spotify, and more. She is also a broadcaster on Paula White’s Life Network for Women titled “Live Empowered” and a podcaster at Charisma Podcast Network, Apostolic Fire. With a strong healing, deliverance and prophetic gifting, she ministers to the nations preaching God’s Word and releasing His kingdom authority and power. She has ministered abroad in South America and Africa. She has authored and published three books: From Grief to Glory, Devil! Get Your Hands Off! and Get Up and Lead. She is a also a monthly column writer for Woman of Faith Magazine based out of South Africa and Charisma Digital Magazine. She lives in California, USA along with her husband of 36 years, their four adult children and three grandchildren. You can contact her at:
Cathy Coppola International Ministries
P.O. Box 2923
Mission Viejo, Ca. 92690
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