The Eternal Regenerating Fire

So let us begin our journey through God’s love story the Bible, and go deeper into the eternal regenerating fire of the living God. To the book Zechariah and a vision given to God’s prophet Zechariah. It was one of many visions given to the prophet. They visions of time present, time future and time eternal. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

In God’s natural creation, amongst the indigenous people who had a special relationship with the land, there has been the practice of regeneration. Regeneration is the ability of the natural environment to renew after damage. A regenerating fire releases nutrients into the soil that are essential for plants to grow and thrive.  

As it is in the natural, so it is in the spiritual, as God created all things. 

Throughout God’s love story the Bible, there are many references to fire. There emerges two types of fire. One that brings new life or the one that brings judgement. 

Depending upon who we choose to give our allegiance to, determines our perception of the fire. That choice defines our relationship and identity as either, children of light or children of darkness.

God is a relational God who loves unconditionally. For it is out of His unconditional love that He gives each individual a free choice. Free choice to give total allegiance to Him and worship only Him. As a result become a child of His light, where His presence brings life. Or to reject God and worship anything other than Him. As a result become a child of darkness, where His presence brings judgement.

So let us begin our journey through God’s love story the Bible, and go deeper into the eternal regenerating fire of the living God. To the book Zechariah and a vision given to God’s prophet Zechariah. It was one of many visions given to the prophet. They visions of time present, time future and time eternal.  

Zechariah 2:1-5 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

The LORD, that is the Eternal One says of Jerusalem, ‘For I will be a wall of fire all around her and I will be the glory in her midst.’

The Hebrew word that has been translated as Jerusalem, has a deeper meaning than just the reference to the ancient city in the Middle East. It means ‘teaching of peace.’ 

With this word picture of the the Eternal One being a wall of fire all around Jerusalem, we can understand the beautiful eternal regenerating fire of God. The wall of fire in this vision is the Eternal One’s presence. The eternal presence of the living God.   

As God’s eternal regenerating fire is intricately woven into an eternal covenant relationship of allegiance and intimacy. This place of peace and safety, freedom and life everlasting is where the Eternal One rules and reigns in the hearts and minds of the people. Where those from every tribe and nation, have given their total allegiance to God and worship only Him. All those throughout the ages who have a covenant relationship with the Eternal One, have become the temple or dwelling place of God’s glory.

God promises He will be the glory in her midst, in this context Jerusalem. The Hebrew word that has been translated as glory means not only splendour, but also honour. This place of peace where the Eternal One’s glory dwells, is where the Lord God Almighty is reverenced and honoured for who He is. For He is love, joy, peace and patience. He is good, kind, gentle and faithful. The Father, Son and Sprit, who as one created the heavens and the earth and all things good. 

This promise is a reference to the eternal age of peace and joy. An eternity when evil and all those who have rejected God and His right to rule and reign have no place and no power.

Judgement of evil has been judged as such and totally eliminated. Many centuries after this vision was given to Zechariah, another vision that depicts the fulfilment of God’s promise was given to the Apostle John.  

Revelation 21:1-8 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

The renewed heaven and earth has come down out of heaven from God. The Ancient city, is now a new Jerusalem. The Greek word that has been translated as Jerusalem means double peace. Peace both physically and spiritually. The reference of this dwelling place of peace is again linked to a covenant relationship with God. The New Jerusalem is prepared as a bride for her husband. Where the dwelling place of God is with all those who has received Him. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 

This is where we physically and spiritually experience our eternity. Where there is no more death, no more immorality, no more destructive forces of evil or selfish desires rule and reign. For all the former things have passed away.

Revelation 21:9-15 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

This is a spectacular vision of God’s glory. The new Jerusalem has the light of God. John describes it as like a most precious stone clear as crystal. 

Revelation 21:22-27 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The glory of God illuminated it, for the Lamb is it’s light. Once again the honouring of God is linked to our eternal dwelling place. 

Until then, we can know and experience in part the peace and joy of God. As His Spirit dwells within everyone who has given their allegiance to Him and worship only Him. We can stand in God’s eternal regenerating fire and in surrender to Him, be transformed by Him. 

Knowing that at anytime in the Spirit we can come into the most intimate and special place deep within God’s heart. Where in Spirit and in truth we celebrate who He is.

What we do in this life matters. It will be put through the eternal regenerating fire of God. The Apostle Paul puts it this way. 

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Our first work is to receive Jesus, receive God. Salvation only comes through receiving Jesus’ and His right to rule and reign. Giving total allegiance to God and worshipping only Him. 

Upon Jesus’ return the regenerating fire of God will assess whether what we have done in this life has been of God or of self. That is if we have been led by the Spirit, or been driven by our own selfish ambition and lust for power and self glory. 

In surrender to Father God’s will, being led by His Spirit and being transformed by Him, is like building with gold, silver and precious stones. Where everything that is led by God, surrendered to His will, has eternal value. 

God places the highest value on our salvation and an eternity with Him. He also cares about our time of this life. His heart’s desire is that we know and experience Him each and every day. Living in the fullness of His victory, even in this world damaged by evil.

Not being in surrender to Father God’s will, being led by their selfish desires, in bondage to self is like building with wood, hay and straw. Where everything that is led by our own selfish  desires will be burnt up and have no eternal value. Even a good work, unless it is led by the Spirit of the living God, will not have any eternal value. As it is self driven it will not bring any glory to God nor be an effective witness of Him to the world. 

Anyone who has received Jesus, received God will receive the reward of an eternity of a new life with the living God. This is our reward. In a covenant relationship with the living God for all eternity. Children of His light, passed from judgement. The eternal generation fire of His presence brings forth new life. His eternal life everlasting. 

The eternal regenerating fire of the living God will burn up that which is of self. Breaking the chains of bondage of our selfish desires as we bring them to Him. Place them in His hands and receive more of His character, victory, freedom and identity. Not just for all eternity, but in this life in this world damaged by evil.

Let us pray> Father we thank you that our eternity is in your hands. May we each day place into your hands this life journey. Be led by your Spirit, being transformed by you. Each day knowing and experiencing You more. To live in the fullness of your victory, even in this world damaged by evil. In Jesus mighty name, amen. 

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!