October 14th, 2025
by Rev. Kevin C Benton
by Rev. Kevin C Benton
The Fire of God's Holiness: Rekindling Our Spiritual Altars
In our fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of God's holiness and the reverence He deserves. We often reduce our relationship with the Divine to a transactional one, expecting instant gratification like ordering from an online retailer. But God is not a cosmic vending machine or a fairy godmother granting wishes. He is a holy, consuming fire – a concept that many of us have forgotten or never truly grasped.
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 12:28-29, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." This passage challenges us to reconsider our approach to God. Do we truly serve Him with reverence and godly fear? Or have we become too casual in our faith, forgetting the awesome power and holiness of the One we worship?
God's holiness is not just an abstract concept – it's a transformative force. In the Old Testament, we see powerful examples of God's holy fire in action. On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a divine showdown. When Elijah's turn came, he drenched the altar with water, making the impossible seem even more so. Yet when he called upon God, fire fell from heaven, consuming not only the sacrifice but also the wood, stones, dust, and even the water in the trench.
This dramatic display reminds us that God's holiness can overcome any obstacle, no matter how insurmountable it may seem. The fire of His presence can consume the barriers we've erected in our lives – our doubts, fears, and sins. Just as the people fell on their faces declaring, "The Lord, He is God!" after witnessing this miracle, we too should be moved to awe and worship when we encounter God's holy fire.
But here's a sobering thought: how many of us are truly ready for such an encounter? Elijah had to repair the altar of the Lord before the fire could fall. Similarly, many of us need to rebuild our spiritual altars. Over time, the cares of this world, our own desires, and the enemy's schemes have chipped away at our devotion. We've allowed "graven images" to be carved on our hearts – not literal idols, but attitudes, habits, and attachments that compete with God for our affection.
These "carvings" on our hearts might include pride, offense, heartbreak, or an unhealthy focus on prosperity or possessions. They could be addictions, self-gratification, or unresolved hurts. Whatever form they take, these spiritual obstacles act like water poured on our altar, preventing God's fire from igniting in our lives.
The good news is that God is ready and willing to perform spiritual heart surgery. He wants to remove these graven images and reignite the fire of devotion in our lives. But we must be willing to present ourselves before Him, acknowledging our need for His cleansing fire.
In Isaiah's vision of heaven, we see a powerful picture of this cleansing process. When Isaiah confessed his unworthiness, a seraphim took a live coal from the altar and touched it to Isaiah's lips, declaring, "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." This divine encounter transformed Isaiah, preparing him for his prophetic ministry.
God desires to do the same for us today. He wants to touch the unclean areas of our lives with His holy fire, purging us of sin and iniquity. But this process requires our cooperation. We must be willing to expose our hearts to His searching gaze, allowing Him to identify and remove anything that hinders our relationship with Him.
Maintaining this spiritual fire is an ongoing process. In the Old Testament, priests were instructed to keep the fire on the altar burning continuously. They had to add wood every morning, tending to the flame throughout the day. As believers, we are called a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). This means we have the responsibility to tend the fire of God's presence in our lives daily.
How do we do this? By consciously putting "logs on the fire" of our devotion. This could mean starting our day with prayer and Scripture reading, pausing for moments of worship throughout the day, or ending our evenings in reflection and thanksgiving. It's about creating habits that keep us connected to God's presence and aware of His holiness.
The challenge for many of us is that we've become too comfortable with a lukewarm faith. We falter between two opinions, as Elijah put it to the people on Mount Carmel. We claim to follow God, but our lives often reflect a different reality. It's time to make a decisive choice – if the Lord is God, let's follow Him wholeheartedly.
Embracing God's holiness doesn't mean living in constant fear or adopting a joyless, restrictive lifestyle. On the contrary, it's about experiencing the fullness of life that comes from being in right relationship with our Creator. When we align ourselves with His holiness, we position ourselves to experience His favor and blessing in ways we never imagined.
As we conclude, let's take a moment for honest reflection. Where in our lives do we need to repair the altar? What "graven images" on our hearts need to be removed? Are we ready to encounter the holy fire of God's presence?
Let's not settle for a watered-down version of faith. Instead, let's open ourselves up to the transformative power of God's holiness. May we echo the prayer of Isaiah, inviting God to touch our lips – and our lives – with His cleansing fire. As we do, we'll find ourselves changed, purified, and empowered to live lives that truly reflect the glory of our holy God.
In our fast-paced world, it's easy to lose sight of God's holiness and the reverence He deserves. We often reduce our relationship with the Divine to a transactional one, expecting instant gratification like ordering from an online retailer. But God is not a cosmic vending machine or a fairy godmother granting wishes. He is a holy, consuming fire – a concept that many of us have forgotten or never truly grasped.
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 12:28-29, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." This passage challenges us to reconsider our approach to God. Do we truly serve Him with reverence and godly fear? Or have we become too casual in our faith, forgetting the awesome power and holiness of the One we worship?
God's holiness is not just an abstract concept – it's a transformative force. In the Old Testament, we see powerful examples of God's holy fire in action. On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a divine showdown. When Elijah's turn came, he drenched the altar with water, making the impossible seem even more so. Yet when he called upon God, fire fell from heaven, consuming not only the sacrifice but also the wood, stones, dust, and even the water in the trench.
This dramatic display reminds us that God's holiness can overcome any obstacle, no matter how insurmountable it may seem. The fire of His presence can consume the barriers we've erected in our lives – our doubts, fears, and sins. Just as the people fell on their faces declaring, "The Lord, He is God!" after witnessing this miracle, we too should be moved to awe and worship when we encounter God's holy fire.
But here's a sobering thought: how many of us are truly ready for such an encounter? Elijah had to repair the altar of the Lord before the fire could fall. Similarly, many of us need to rebuild our spiritual altars. Over time, the cares of this world, our own desires, and the enemy's schemes have chipped away at our devotion. We've allowed "graven images" to be carved on our hearts – not literal idols, but attitudes, habits, and attachments that compete with God for our affection.
These "carvings" on our hearts might include pride, offense, heartbreak, or an unhealthy focus on prosperity or possessions. They could be addictions, self-gratification, or unresolved hurts. Whatever form they take, these spiritual obstacles act like water poured on our altar, preventing God's fire from igniting in our lives.
The good news is that God is ready and willing to perform spiritual heart surgery. He wants to remove these graven images and reignite the fire of devotion in our lives. But we must be willing to present ourselves before Him, acknowledging our need for His cleansing fire.
In Isaiah's vision of heaven, we see a powerful picture of this cleansing process. When Isaiah confessed his unworthiness, a seraphim took a live coal from the altar and touched it to Isaiah's lips, declaring, "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged." This divine encounter transformed Isaiah, preparing him for his prophetic ministry.
God desires to do the same for us today. He wants to touch the unclean areas of our lives with His holy fire, purging us of sin and iniquity. But this process requires our cooperation. We must be willing to expose our hearts to His searching gaze, allowing Him to identify and remove anything that hinders our relationship with Him.
Maintaining this spiritual fire is an ongoing process. In the Old Testament, priests were instructed to keep the fire on the altar burning continuously. They had to add wood every morning, tending to the flame throughout the day. As believers, we are called a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9). This means we have the responsibility to tend the fire of God's presence in our lives daily.
How do we do this? By consciously putting "logs on the fire" of our devotion. This could mean starting our day with prayer and Scripture reading, pausing for moments of worship throughout the day, or ending our evenings in reflection and thanksgiving. It's about creating habits that keep us connected to God's presence and aware of His holiness.
The challenge for many of us is that we've become too comfortable with a lukewarm faith. We falter between two opinions, as Elijah put it to the people on Mount Carmel. We claim to follow God, but our lives often reflect a different reality. It's time to make a decisive choice – if the Lord is God, let's follow Him wholeheartedly.
Embracing God's holiness doesn't mean living in constant fear or adopting a joyless, restrictive lifestyle. On the contrary, it's about experiencing the fullness of life that comes from being in right relationship with our Creator. When we align ourselves with His holiness, we position ourselves to experience His favor and blessing in ways we never imagined.
As we conclude, let's take a moment for honest reflection. Where in our lives do we need to repair the altar? What "graven images" on our hearts need to be removed? Are we ready to encounter the holy fire of God's presence?
Let's not settle for a watered-down version of faith. Instead, let's open ourselves up to the transformative power of God's holiness. May we echo the prayer of Isaiah, inviting God to touch our lips – and our lives – with His cleansing fire. As we do, we'll find ourselves changed, purified, and empowered to live lives that truly reflect the glory of our holy God.
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