GOD'S FORE FOR HIS PEOPLE

Lamentations 1:12-16

Dr. Glenn A jent, Pastor

INTRODUCTION

In His love for his creation, God sometimes uses fire to get the attention of those He loves. God uses all means to help us understand how important we are to Him.

in our text for today, we see jeremiah pouring out his heart to God on behalf of the Israelites who have been slain by sword.

Jeremiah realizes that God has sent fire to got the attention of His people.

The effect is a sense of not being right with God (fire in the bones),faintness and weakness, defeated by enemies, many tears, and a sad realization that no one is near to comfort or to restore. All appears to be lost. What Jeremiah is describing is a people who need to be revived again. He could well describing some of us here today. Let us examine God's fire.

I. GOD'S FIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE

1.God's Fire for purifying (The Fire of God's Presence)

(1) There is a fire raging in the bones because of sin and need for revival ( v.13)

(2) There is a great need to return to God and be by His fire.

Heb. 12:18-19 - "Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with awe and fear , for our " God is a consuming fire "

Mal.  3:2-" Who can stand when He appears? He will be like a refiner's fire"

Even when refined and purified , some of God's people will refuse to tell other about the glorious love of God and His saving grace. Thus, there is also.

2.God's fire for Testifying (The Fire of God's Salvation)

(1) The psalmist experienced fire in his heart when he tried to be silent before wicked people: " My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned: then I spoke " ( see Psalm 39:1-3)

(2) Jeremiah writes of his fear of speaking out God in his prophetic book: " If I say. ' I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,' then his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot" (see jere. 20:7-11)

Never fear! God has promised His Holy Spirit will indwell us and empower us for testifying. Our opposition shall stumble and not prevail (jere. 20:11)

II. GOD'S FIRE FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT HIS PEOPLE

1. God's fire for Terrifying (The Fire of Hell)

(1) Man insists on going to a terrifying place not prepared for him (Matt. 25:41)

(2) God causes His followers to try to persuade unbelievers to come to God through Jesus Christ: " Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11 KJV)

God says that some can be brought to jesus Christ through live, but that others can only be saved because of the fear of fire (see jude 23). thus. there is...

2. God's Fire for Prophesying (The Fire of Holy spirit)

(1) God's Holy Spirit led Amos to write, " Seek the Lord and live, lest he break out like fire.......and devour.....and there be none to quench it" (Amos 5:6 KJV)

(2) Paul warns all of us, " Do not put out the spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt" (1 thess 5:19-20)

God desires for all persons to become his children through repentance of sin and faith in His Son. Jesus christ. He calls you to seek Him and live. Stop fearing the Fire. instead of you burning in Hell fire. let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn in you.

CONCLUSION

God sends his fire ti wake us and warn us so that we see danger and turn to him. To those who are His people, He seeks to get our attention so that fe can revive us again, To those who are not His people, He seeks to get their attention si that they might turn to Him through repentance and faith " Lord, as of old at Pentecost/ thou didst thy pow'r display;/With cleansing, purifying flame/ Descend on us today!" yes, we need God's fire today~!