Breaking Down Strongholds and Building Positive Strongholds of Faith Series: Fire

Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town

Another way in which God will execute His judgements is through fire, as the writer says in Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire. ”

An interesting addition to this truth is that : Hebrews 1:7 “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.”

The word for ministers is ‘leitourgos ‘ [Strong’s #3011]: From ‘laos’, ‘people’; and ‘ergon’, ‘work’. Hence, working for the people. The word first denoted someone who rendered public service at his own expense, then generally signified a public servant, a minister. In the New Testament it is used of earthly rulers (Romans 13:6) ; the apostle Paul (Romans 15:16) ; Epaphroditus who attended to Paul’s needs (Philippians 2:25) ; angels (Hebrews 1:7) ; and Christ (Hebrews 8:2).

3.4.2 Jesus baptises us with the Holy Spirit and with fire

Jesus baptises us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Prophet John the Baptist prepared the way for the fire of God through prophesying and speaking into being the destructive process with  which Jesus was to baptise. John understood the technology of God’s fire as he had himself experienced God’s fire during his life of separation.

Matthew 3:10,11,12 states: “And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. ”

Notice which threshing floor Jesus will clean out first- His own.

He will burn all the chaff away out of His house. Hallellujah!

3.4.3 Fire consumes Satan’s defilement

According to apostle Dr. Noel Woodroffe, Satan’s intention is our defilement. He explains the word “defile” – to make unclean, to pollute, to spoil, to stain, to cause to rot.[ The foundation of  his statement is Daniel 1:1-8.] He continues to expose satanic strategy :

“The king of Babylon changed the names of boys and spoke over them a name of spiritual defilement. The name Daniel means ‘God is my Judge’, so his name was changed to Belteshazzar which means ‘the keeper of Bel’s treasure’, ‘the holder of Bel’s secrets, ‘the one who enters into the deep secrets of Bel [One of Babylon’s major gods.]… King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took the choice young men who were cunning in knowledge and understanding… to stand in the king’s palace…The king instituted a systematic process of defiling the flower of Jewish youth.”

( Dr. Woodroffe N., “The Ultimate Warrior, Avoiding Defilement.”, 1994, chapter 1, p 2, chapter 4, p 27.)

Woodroffe expands on that process mentioning a three year period of training so that the men could have the same spirit, vision heart [The defilement of Babylon in them.] so that they might stand and willingly serve the king. This is a counterfeit of what God does with His choice young men, but, where Babylon’s teachings defile, all scripture is given is given for our spiritual edification. Daniel knew what was going on and refused to let himself be defiled. We can assert our renewed will to stay pure and choose not to pollute ourselves. Our new creature has a will mind and emotions as well, and the will is growing in stature and in the likeness of God our Father. Daniel 1:15 illustrates the result of a conscious decision not to be defiled:

“And at the end of ten days their countenance appeared better and