Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Far from the Lord is indicative
of the overwhelming glory of God, which is beyond the scope
of men to even imagine. He is that one who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach
unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see, to whom be honor and
power everlasting. Amen. No man can see Him until
he is pleased to reveal himself. No man hath seen God at any time.
The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,
He hath declared Him. Though he is not defined by the
fire, yet he is pleased to manifest his glory in that fashion, even
as he has revealed himself in him who is the light of the world.
John the Immerser testified on this wise, I indeed baptize you
with water, but one mightier than I cometh, the lachet of
whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you
with the Holy Ghost and with fire. In the visitation of fire,
he would demonstrate his power to bring his predestined will
to pass, both swiftly and without remedy. I believe the Apostle
Paul had this in mind when he wrote to the Romans, saying,
Esaias also cried concerning Israel, Though the number of
the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant
shall be saved. For he will finish the work and
cut it short in righteousness, because a short work will the
Lord make upon the earth. The Lord does efficiently go
about to call His own sheep by name, giving them ears to hear
and a will to follow Him whose voice they are called to recognize.
He is both determined to manifest His righteousness in the earth
and to bring the redemption of His people to pass by the shedding
of His own blood on Calvary. We see the fire of God fall upon
that one who is the apple of his father's eye, as he became
sin for his people, and the fire of God's justice burned hot upon
him as he cried, I thirst, and implored the Lord for mercy in
our behalf. Has there ever been a more clear
manifestation of the determination of God to judge and condemn sin?
He laid down his life because it was impossible that any man
could take it from him, and he suffered under the wrath of the
very fire which his own hands had kindled. We see the fire
of God fall upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and
it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance. There have been many since that
time who have claimed to have this same experience. We cannot
tell definitively if any of these subsequent utterances are indeed
from above or simply the product of man's religiosity and the
power of suggestion. There was no doubt as to the
veracity of that gift on Pentecost, however, because of the fire
of God. Men may duplicate these utterances,
but they cannot duplicate that which is the greater miracle
which occurred on Pentecost. Now when this was noised abroad,
the multitude came together and were confounded, because that
every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were
all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not
all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in
our own tongue wherein we were born! Now when they heard this,
they were pricked in their heart and said unto Peter and to the
rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? This
is the evidence that the fire of God fell that day. It was
not simply that the disciples babbled in languages with which
they were unfamiliar. But rather the Lord was pleased
to call his sheep, as he said, My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. When the Lord is pleased to send
his word to the ears of the hearers, then we can be certain that the
fire of God has fallen. How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? And how shall they preach except
they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings of good things. This is that gospel which brings
life and immortality to light. Great is the work of God, who
sends forth His fire of mercy to accomplish His determined
purpose to call His children out of every kindred, tribe,
and tongue upon the earth. Men can imitate preaching. They
can imitate believing. They can even imitate being sent
by God. But they cannot imitate hearing,
for in such is the manifestation of faith, which is the gift of
God, not of works, lest any man should boast. The Lord speaks
in a voice that cannot be heard by any, but those to whom is
given to hear it. And I heard, as it were, the
voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters,
and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord
God Omnipotent reigneth." Have you heard His voice? For a free
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