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A Study of the Word Fire Introduction: Many daily tragedies are due to fire. Hotel fire resulting in the loss of lives, house fire burns up whole family, forest fires destroy large section of forests and homes. Fires used to destroy proper for insurance reasons or to cover up crimes. What lessons can we learn by studying the subject of fire? I) Many Events In The Bible Connected With Fire A) Genesis 19.24 the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (judgment) B) Exodus 3.1-3 God spoke to Moses through the burning bush ( presence of God) C) Exodus 13.21-22 pillar of fire sued to lead Israelites by night D) Leviticus 10.1-2 Nadab and Abihu used strange fire and were consumed by it E) 1 Kings 18.38 Elijah used fire as proof of being a prophet of God F) Daniel 3.19-20 three Hebrews cast into the furnace G) Matthew 13.42 the wicked shall be cast into the furnace of fire H) Matthew 25.41 everlasting fire I) Acts 2.3 tongues of fire above the apostles J) 2 Thessalonians 1.7-9 Christ shall return in flaming fire II) Disasters And Calamities Attract Attention A) People will run to see a burning building B) People ignore the Gospel until some calamity comes upon them III) Fire Can Teach Us That Which Can Be Good Can Also Be Abused A) Fire is a great blessing to mankind 1. Warms our houses, cooks our food, dries our clothes, etc. 2. I can also destroy our houses, burn our food, destroy our clothes, and take our lives B) There are things we must watch out for 1. Our tongue -- can be used to teach others about God or curse Him, James 3.5ff 2. Recreation -- can be good (relax us, bring joy, companionship); keep us away from services, neglect our families, forget our responsibilities, not study 3. Drugs -- used to ease pain, fight diseases; can destroy lives when abused (playing with matches) 4. Sex -- Hebrews 13.4 marriage and the bed is a blessing from God; if abused and misused will cause souls to be lost IV) Fire Teaches Us That Life Is Uncertain A) Firs that destroy and kill almost always are accidental and unexpected (forest fire started by a kite, the Chicago fire started by a cow kicking over a lantern) 1. Know different business owners have lost everything due to an unexpected fire 2. Too late to get insurance after the fire B) Are we consistent in how we prepare for the uncertain 1. Take out insurance on things we may never need (auto, home) 2. We know that death is certain and we will face God in judgment, Hebrews 9.27; 10.31 3. We will have no excuse on the Day of Judgment V) Fire Can Cause Lasting Devastation A) The best safe guard is preventive measures, teach our children "escape routes" in case of a fire 1. Revelation 20.14-15 to be lost eternally means eternal torment, Revelation 21.8 2. We have been given an "escape route" John 14.6; Hebrews 5.8-9 B) Parents are we showing our children the "escape route"? 1. Show them the way of heaven. 2. We should also seek to rescue the lost, "Rescue the Perishing" Conclusion: We have all seen destruction of a blazing inferno to cause us to not want to got a place like that. God has prepared the fire of hell and a place called heaven. Where will you spend eternity?
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