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  Article by Dewi Higham

The choice of phrase in the Scriptures, when describing the presence of God, provides us with something of an insight into the nature of God. Fire conveys something of the overwhelming power of God, whilst the Dew and the Dove convey His wonderful gentleness. There are also a number of  other pictures, which we could have noted, such as the Wind and the Anointing. The three selected pictures of Fire, Dove and Dew, will provide us with a view of God which is full of awe and grace. Such is the nature of God’s presence, that both awe and grace can be experienced in the same moment.

Old Testament Evidence of Heavenly Fire

The Lord Himself is described as a consuming fire and an unapproachable light. With such references to the nature of our God, it is not surprising that any manifestation of God upon earth often has this ingredient of fire.

The burning bush was an early indication of the burning presence of God, where Moses removed his shoes on the holy ground. The pillar of fire, that led the children of Israel, was a constant reminder of the burning presence of God. The fire and smoke of Sinai were surely terrible manifestations of God, when even Moses trembled. Then, we could mention the sacrifice of Elijah, that was consumed with a fire that fell from the heavens. What awe must have been in the hearts of those who witnessed these things! What awe was in the heart of Isaiah in the vision he received, where the coals from the altar were placed on his lips, indicating the burning nature of our dealings with God!

New Testament Fire

Now, in these New Testament days of worship in Spirit and in Truth, such displays of heavenly fire do not occur, with the exception of some very remarkable events in the history of the church, such as in times of divine visitation. There is, however, such a thing as New Testament fire. It is the burning presence within the heart, when God is present. The two men on the road to Emmaus would be one example of this inward fire, as they spoke of hearts that burned within. The most dramatic and most significant example, however, would be the events of Pentecost, where both the visible fire of God and the inward burning were evident. This inward fire, experienced at Pentecost, marked a new era, where the Lord would reveal Himself in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, as we think of these remarkable events at Pentecost, this visible fire, reminiscent of Old Testament manifestations, is worth noting. We see, in the descriptions, mention of a general fire appearing above the men who had met in the upper room. Then, we note the descent of the fire, that rested on the heads of these men, the cloven tongues being a reference to the nature of fire, where the flames divide, with a tongue like appearance. This, undoubtedly, was a significant emblem of what was about to take place. These men were about to speak with tongues of fire, affecting those who heard them speak, as they cried to God, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ How fiercely this fire burned, in that special period of the early church! This was the first of many divine visitations in New Testament times.

The Fire that Purges, Consumes and Spreads.

What are the qualities of this spiritual fire that comes from Heaven and falls upon men? It might be helpful to consider the nature of fire. We know that fire purges and consumes, and can be fierce and spread over an area. Such is the presence of God and its manifestations.

The Fire that Purges and Consumes.

This fierce purging and consuming can be seen in the preaching of the Gospel. An unsaved man, hearing the Gospel in the power of the Spirit, may become aware of God’s holiness and His condemnation of sin. The initial experience of discomfort might increase to a level which he cannot bear. With those who will eventually refuse the Gospel, we could say that this fire is a foretaste of judgment. But in the case of those who respond to the Gospel, the burning presence exposes sin to such an extent, that they run to Christ for relief.

This fire, experienced by the converted man, is only the beginning. A fire has started in the Christian heart that will not be extinguished. These are the fires of sanctification, that purge the heart from sin. Indeed, every time the Word is preached to the new man, this fire is experienced, as the Holy Spirit searches the heart for sin. This burning presence will even burn down those walls, behind which secret sin is hidden. What a good process is this burning of God, which also removes the dross and refines the heart, producing gold within! Ultimately, the heart of the Christian will be everlastingly aflame with sinless purity.

In other ways too, the presence of God will manifested as a fire within, where hearts will burn with desire and zeal for God. This burning zeal of the devoted Christian can motivate a man to count his life as nothing, and cross the seas to preach Christ. This fire can also be fierce, causing inward discomfort, which is well illustrated in the expression of Jeremiah, “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” (Jeremiah 20:9). The Psalmist, also, provides us with a similar sentiment, “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (Psalm 69:9).

The Fire that Spreads.

We are, sadly, familiar with lethargy spreading throughout a congregation, like some infectious disease, but what a happy reversal is the spreading of godly zeal! It could be described as fire leaping from the pulpit to the seated congregation, where it spreads from person to person. Such a spreading fire is a sure indication of the efficacious presence of God. This fire is seen in abundance in a time of divine visitation, where the influence of God spreads from area to area. The title of a recently published book on Welsh revivals, “Fire in the Thatch”, captures the potential of such a movement. Some fires would burn so fiercely, that the whole roof would be ablaze. In my own land of Wales, three such “fires” covered the whole nation.

These New Testament manifestations of God can be placed side by side with the mighty manifestations of the Old Testament. Perhaps we could even say that these New Testament manifestations are more remarkable. We make such a statement, based on the fact that the New Testament is the fulfilment of God’s eternal plan of salvation, where the Gospel goes forth in mighty power.

Imagine a Service

Imagine a service, where God is present. The service is proceeding, the preacher is preaching and the people are listening. The hearts of the people are quietly being warmed with the themes presented. Then He draws closer, and hearts are on fire. Somewhere in that fire, a man is being saved on the left side of the church. Then another towards the front is being saved. The Lord’s people are deeply affected, some in deep conviction and some in heavenly enjoyment. It seems evident to some that the Lord has come to visit His people again. Such is the presence, that the Lord’s people might cry out like Jacob, “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:17) As we look around the congregation, we see signs of hearts ablaze with the holiness of God and feelings of devotion.  

Some Welsh examples of this Fire

The Welsh people of the 1700’s and 1800’s had no need to imagine. They experienced these services and manifestations of heavenly fire many times over. The presence of God was so manifest that there were occasions when the preachers fainted, and other occasions when the congregation fell to the floor. I trust the reader understands, that I am not speaking of some modern imitation of blessing, but rather, the genuine experience of what happens when a holy God visits a sinful generation. We only have to think of God and His nature, to understand how such a presence would affect us.

This heavenly fire was evident for a prolonged period in the land of Wales. The period in question witnessed an almost unbroken sequence of revivals that lasted the best part of two centuries. The people born into that time were marked out as different. They had, for one thing, an unusual degree of zeal, which caused both preachers and people to travel over hills and mountains to proclaim, or hear, of Christ.

A neighbour in West Wales, a godly lady, known as Ann Sunnybank (Sunnybank was the name of her house), recounted how she remembered the old people, saved in the revival, making their way to chapel after a severe snow storm. The snow lay as deep as the height of the hedges. She recalled how the people seemed to be walking on top of the hedges, determined to worship at the house of God! The younger and more prudent stayed at home, but these elderly revival people had a deeper desire to know the Lord.

These same people handed down to us a form of worship, filled with awe and worship. To be sure, there was also Christian joy. You could call this marriage of godly fear and Christian joy, a trembling joy. These people had experienced God, and it showed in the way they worshipped.