The World is on Fire...

THE WORLD IS ON FIRE.

No one has to tell us that the world is on fire. We can see it. We can feel it. There are things that are happening all around us that we cannot change. We cannot stop it. We cannot fix it. So what do we do?
We let the fire do what the fire is intended to do - purify us. "Look! I am sending My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. Then the LORD you are seeking will suddenly come to His Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly is surely coming," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. (Malachi 3:1)

The LORD is sending messages right now. Listen to what He is saying. Hear the Word of the LORD. Take it to heart. The Word of God is a sharp two-edged sword that is dividing the soul and the spirit, the joints and the marrow, the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word cuts. It exposes. It lays bare everything we have done, everything we have thought, every motive of the heart. Let it. Stand before God naked. Let Him see it all. Don't hide anything. Then cry out, "God, help me. Forgive me. Heal me. Set me free." Then one by one confess your sins and turn your back on them. Don't ever look at them again. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Cling to Him. Let Him do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

"But who will be able to endure it when He come? Who will be able to stand and face Him when He appears? For He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the LORD. Then once more the LORD will accept the offerings brought to Him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as He did in the past. At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against those who cheat employees of wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear Me," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. (Malachi 3:2-5)

God is putting us all on trial. Let Him. Stand in the courtroom of heaven without excuse. Do not point the finger at anyone else to tell why you did what you did. Humble yourself and accept your guilt and confess your sin. Let God cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Lay it down. Let go. Then trust God to do what He says He is going to do.

"This is what the LORD says: 'I will give Jerusalem a river of peace and prosperity. The wealth of the nations will flow to her. Her children will be nursed at her breasts, carried in her arms, and held on her lap. I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child."

"When you see these things, your heart will rejoice. You will flourish like the grass! Everyone will see the LORD's hand of blessing on His servants - and His anger against His enemies. See, the LORD is coming with fire, and His swift chariots roar like a whirlwind. He will bring punishment with the fury of His anger and the flaming fire of His hot rebuke. The LORD will punish the world by fire and by His sword. He will judge the earth, and many will be killed by Him." (Isaiah 66:12-16)

This fire that is consuming the earth right now will do one of two things, it will either purify us or it will punish us and kill us. The choice is ours how we respond to the circumstances. We cannot change what is happening in the world, but we can let those circumstances change us.

"The sinners in Jerusalem shake with fear. Terror seizes the godless. 'Who can live with this devouring fire?' they cry. 'Who can survive this all consuming fire?' Those who are honest and fair, who refuse to profit by fraud, who stay far away from bribes, who refuse to listen to those who plot murder, who shut their eyes to all enticement to do wrong - these are the ones who will dwell on high. The rocks of the mountains will be their fortress. Food will be supplied to them, and they will have water in abundance." (Isaiah 33:14-16)
There are certain standards that we will all adhere to in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We will all be honest and fair. We will all refuse to profit by fraud. We will all shut our eyes to all enticement to do wrong. We will all treat others like we would want to be treated. If we are not doing that, repent. God is eager to forgive.

The LORD of Heaven's Armies says, "The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed - roots, branches, and all. But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked (principalities and powers) as if they were dust under your feet, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. (Malachi 4:1-3)

So no matter what happens, face Jesus and open your heart wide. Give Him your worries. Give Him your fears. Say, "I am guilty of allowing worry and fear in my heart, will You please forgive me." Then tell Him what you need and thank Him for what He has done. At that point the peace that passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Then rejoice. Again I say, "Rejoice!" God is always up to something good, and if God is for you, who can be against you.

Be blessed my friends. We are living in crazy, amazing times. We are about to see everything that was written come to pass. We will see it with our own eyes, and we will experience it. May we all be able to let go of what is holding us in bondage.
​
Terri