Be on Fire for the Lord

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Billy Joe Daugherty

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1    "Fire Releases Energy"

2    "Fire: Power and Life of God"

3    "Baptism of Fire"

4    "On Fire or Lukewarm?"

5    "How Do You Lose the Fire?"

6    "The Gold of God"

7    "Removing the Shame of Sin and Disobedience"

8    "Lifting Others With Genuine Love"

9    "Be Aglow and Burning With the Spirit"

10    "Reioicing...Patient..Steadfast"

11    "Compassion for Those in Need"

12    "Persecution Will Intensify"

13    "Fire to Reach the Lost"

14    "Rise Up, Army of God!"

15    "Lay Aside Every Weight"

Prayer

Personal Prayer of Commitment

Chapter 1

"Fire Releases Energy "

Fire releases stored up energy! Wood contains stored energy, and fire releases that energy. Fire releases the energy in coal, gas, and oil. Fire gives off light, heat, and power.

We saw this in the great fire storms that ripped through Yellowstone National Park at tremendous speeds, literally exploding giant trees.

God wants the Church to be a fire storm in the earth that will destroy the works of the devil. This is an hour when God is speaking to every person to be on fire for Him.

You may think, "I'm too old." When Caleb was 85 years old, he said, "I'm as strong as I was when we first came and saw this land." Caleb was on fire. He said, "Give me this mountain!"

A person who is on fire is not looking for a rocking chair! He's looking for a mountain to take! He's looking for cities to possess. He's looking for an enemy to destroy. No matter where you are, no matter what your age, God is calling you to be stirred up by His fire in this hour.

Chapter 2

"Fire: Power and Life of God"

Throughout Scripture, "fire" relates to the power and life or the presence and anointing of God.

In Genesis 3:24, it was a flaming sword that was set in the Garden as Adam and Eve were driven out. The flaming sword was set in place to guard the Garden.

In Exodus 3:2-10, it was a burning bush that was not consumed from which God spoke to Moses and gave him a call to go and deliver His people out of the land of Egypt.

In Exodus 13:21, the Lord went before His people "...by night in a pillar of fire to give them light..." We are led by the fire of God.

In Leviticus 6:13, God said, "A perpetual fire shall burn on the altar; it shall never go out." The fire on the altar represented the presence and anointing of God.

In 1 Kings 18:38, Elijah stood before the prophets of Baal and challenged a nation that had turned to idolatry. He prayed and God answered with fire. The sacrifice was consumed, the prophets of Baal were destroyed, and a nation turned back toward God because they realized, "GOD IS ALIVE"!

There are people who are worshipping Baal in our land today, and they need to see the fire of God fall right where they live, the anointing and the power of God that will turn their hearts toward the living and true God.

It was a fiery chariot that took Elijah up to heaven.

"Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

"And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?' And Elisha said, 'Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.'

"So he said, 'You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.'

"Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

—2 Kings 2:8-11

Jeremiah said, "...But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones..." (Jeremiah 20:9). The Word of God is a fire inside of us! Psalm 104:4 says, "Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire." The fire of God represents the life and power or the presence and anointing of God.

Chapter 3

"Baptism of Fire"

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist said,

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit andfire. "

On the Day of Pentecost, flames of fire appeared to the 120 men and women in the Upper Room, and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

"Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

"Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

"And they were all filled with the Holy

Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

—Acts 2:1-4

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is represented by fire. The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower you for service in God's Kingdom. Acts 1:8 says,

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Chapter 4

"On Fire or Lukewarm?"

What was the common thread that ran through the lives of the disciples? They came from different backgrounds, but they were on fire for the Kingdom of God!

Peter made a lot of mistakes, but he was on fire. Jesus loved it, because He knew He could do something with someone who was on fire, even if he made mistakes, even if he sank into the water, even if he denied Him in that critical hour. Peter was a man who could be set on fire for God.

Jesus prayed for Peter.

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32).

I'd rather have a church full of "on fire" people who are a little fanatical than a bunch you have to resurrect every Sunday! This is an hour that we must be on fire for God.

A picture of today's average American church is found in Revelation 3:14-16:

"And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

"So then, because you are lukewarm. and neither cold nor hot. I will spew you out of My mouth."

There's something about lukewarmness that makes God want to spew it out of His mouth!

Are you as fanatical about Jesus as when you were first saved? Or have you become so educated and sophisticated that you've lost the fire?

It's not by accident that you are on fire for God. It's not by accident that you stay on fire for Him. The fire will go out unless you add fuel to it. A fire must have oxygen. You must have the breath of God's Spirit, blowing inside of you and flowing through you on a continual basis, not just a ritual or form of religion.

Chapter 5

"How Do You Lose the Fire?"

What causes people to lose their fire for God? Revelation 3:17 says,

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing...'"

When you think you've arrived, the Scripture says, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12). Be diligent to see that you're found in the faith, that you continue in the grace that you've already received.

You say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing..." Materialism in America has put the fire out of many people. They've become consumed with "things," making a buck and making a living rather than consumed with the zeal of God.

Jesus said,

"And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Mark 4:19).

You say, "I have need of nothing. I'm satisfied. I have a great retirement plan, a great pension, investments, a house, and lands. Why do I need God or need to be on fire?" This is a picture of America. A picture of church goers who are not born again. There are Christians once on fire who walked in the presence and power of God but have turned away. It's time to stir yourself up with the fire of God!

Chapter 6

"The Gold of God"

"...and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich... "

—Revelation 3:17-18

What is the gold of God? The Scripture says that the wisdom of God is more precious than rubies, silver, and gold. The gold tried in fire is the wisdom of God and the faith of God that comes from His Word.

In John 15:3, Jesus said,

"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

In Ephesians 5:26, Paul said in regard to Christ and His relationship to the Church,

"That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

When we hunger and thirst after God's Word and we seek Him in prayer, the Word opens to us by revelation of the Holy Spirit. We receive the gold of God's wisdom tried in the fire and our faith grows.

Where there's no joy, the wisdom of God will put true, Holy Ghost joy in us. Where the love of God is missing, the Word, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, will impart the love of God into our spirits.

That for which the world is craving, we have in Christ Jesus. In Him is life! He said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life..," (John 14:6). He said, "...I am the resurrection and the life..." (John 11:25).

All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus Christ. He's not just Someone we receive and then we go on from there. "For in Him we live and move and have our being... " (Acts 17:28).

It's in Jesus Christ that we find the gold tried in the fire! When we're in relationship with Jesus Christ, His fire will burn in us, and His wisdom will be revealed to us.

Chapter 7

"Removing the Shame of Sin and Disobedience"

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed..."

—Revelation 3:18

What is the shame of which he's speaking? It's the shame of sin and disobedience. When we receive the cleansing of Jesus' blood and the white robe of righteousness, the guilt, shame, and condemnation of sin are removed from our lives. As long as there's guilt, condemnation, and shame in your life, the fire will be quenched.

That's why Jesus said, "...anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation 3:18). What is the eye salve? It's the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus that the eyes of their understanding would be opened, that they would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, that they would know the hope of His calling and the power of His resurrection inside of them (Ephesians 1:17-23).

Lord, anoint our eyes that we might see! I pray that we would see ourselves the way God sees us and that we would see the things that need to be removed from our lives.

Jesus said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten..." (Revelation 3:19). He is saying, "I correct them. I show them the right way. I don't just let them keep going on the path of destruction. I get their attention. I say, 'You're going the wrong way.' I chasten them. I rebuke them. I bring them into the right path."

Jesus loved these people. He didn't want to see them lose what they had gained in Him. He is speaking to us as well. He said, "...Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19).

He is saying, "Be on fire and repent. Turn from the way you've been going to the way of My fire. Pursue Me totally. Let My fire burn in You that the world may know Me through you."

Chapter 8

"Lifting Others With Genuine Love"

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."

—Romans 12:9

The requirements for being on fire for God are: 1) Your love must be genuine and sincere; 2) You must hate what is evil; and 3) You must cling to that which is good.

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."

—Romans 12:10

In other words, don't just be concerned about your own needs, but be interested in the lives of other people. Be in tune with their needs, and show love and kindness to them.

The world is seeking to exalt itself, but the Body of Christ is seeking to exalt its brothers and sisters, to lift them up and encourage them.

Chapter 9

"Be Aglow and Burning With the Spirit"

"Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

—Romans 12:11

This is no lime to be lazy or slothful. The Amplified Version of Verse 11 says, "Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord."

To "be aglow and burning with the Spirit" has to do with being on fire for God. Some people are burning for a new position, or they're burning for favor in the marketplace where they can gain a certain segment of people's business. Some are burning for championships and world titles. As Christians, we're to be aglow and burning with the Spirit of God.

Our pursuit, goal, aim, and objective is the Kingdom of God. "...fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Our fervency is not aimless or disoriented. Our fire has a purpose: we're out to serve the Lord in every way that we can.

Chapter 10

"Rejoicing...Patient...Steadfast"

"Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer."

—Romans 12:12

We have something to rejoice about! We rejoiced when the wall between East and West Germany came down. But the greatest barrier of all was torn down 2,000 years ago! That's when the wall of sin was destroyed that separated us from the presence of God. That's something to rejoice about!

We're patient in tribulation. Patient means "steadfast." When the fire of God is in you, it'll carry you through trials and tribulations. The fire of God is the Spirit of God which is on the inside of you. When there's no fire and trials and tribulations come, many people just give up and quit, "...continuing steadfastly in prayer." This means we are continually in prayer, praying according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit. Prayer must become a way of life for you, not just something that's done on Sunday or in a portion of the day. God says, "Continuing steadfastly." That means praying all the time, flowing in the Spirit of God on a continual basis.

To be "on fire" is to be in prayer. Prayer will kindle and stoke your fire! I believe I'm stoking your fire! The Spirit of God, by the fuel of the Word, the anointing of God, and the wind of the Spirit, is breathing on the fire that's burning inside of you, and it's going to leap into full flame!

Chapter 11

"Compassion for Those in Need"

"Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality."

—Romans 12:13

The fire of God will move you with compassion for those who are in need. Those who are on fire for God are concerned about the needs of other people, distributing (watching out for) the needs of other people.

Then he says, "...given to hospitality." The fire of God is not something flaky. It has a genuine character of love about it for people. The fire of God will cause you to keep your spirit open toward other people.

The hospitality Paul is speaking of is that receptivity toward people, not only those who are your brothers and sisters in Christ, but even your neighbors.

The Good Samaritan on the Jericho Road befriended and showed compassion to the wounded man who, by cultural difference and prejudice, hated him and would have avoided him. But the hospitality of God broke down the walls.

Let's look at this account in Luke 10:27-37:

"...'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.'

"And He said to him, 'You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.'

"But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'

"Then Jesus answered and said: 'A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

'"Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

"'Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

"'But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

"'And went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

"'On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.

"'So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?'

"And he said, 'He who showed mercy on him.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'"

God's compassion and hospitality will break down your barriers, too, whether they be social, cultural, financial, religious, or something else.

Chapter 12

"Persecution Will Intensify"

In this day, it's an absolute necessity that we be on fire for God. There are a lot of people who weren't on fire for God and when a little persecution came against the church, they quit going to church. They left the church. They didn't want to be identified with Christianity.

There are people who went to on-fire churches because they liked a little life, but they never got the fire in themselves. When persecution came against these churches, they said, "I'm going to go where it's not so hot."

In this day and age, persecution will intensify. We hardly knew anything about it in America until the late 1980's. Now, you turn on the television, and Christians are being ridiculed! We're being mocked! What we stand for is being put down.

There's a dividing line coming, and if you're not on fire, you'll be intimidated by the world. Perhaps you've already had people make fun of some of the leaders in which you believed. A lot of people have disassociated themselves and won't stand up for Christian leaders, they don't want to be identified because they're lukewarm.

But people with fire will let their light shine, not under a bushel and not just in church services. They'll take it out from under the bushel and set it out at work, in the marketplace, and in their neighborhoods to let people know they believe in God and in godly principles.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

"Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

—Matthew 5:13-16

Opposition is coming from secular humanism and from the coalition of many denominations that have denied the power of God, yet still have a form of religion. We'll see the forming of one world religion, and there will be opposition to true Christianity, just as there is right now in many of the Moslem nations.

If you're not on fire for God, you'll be intimidated and backed into a corner. You'll be tempted to give up on the godly principles and truths you've been taught. I say, "Let the fire burn! Stoke it, and keep adding fuel to it every single day!"

There's a release of demon power in the earth. Scripture says that in the last days, Satan will come with great fury, knowing that his days are short. We're already seeing it in this hour. Things are happening in the demonic realm that people thought would never happen in America: human sacrifices, teenagers selling their souls to Satan, drug addiction in almost every community.

If we don't have the fire of God, we'll not be able to liberate the people who are bound by devils. It will take fire, not a weak-kneed, namby-pamby, wet spaghetti Christianity!

Chapter 13

"Fire to Reach the Lost"

We need the fire of God to go to the ends of the earth where doors are now opening that have been closed. The opportunities have never been greater. We need the fire of God because these are the last days. This is a time to be fervent.

At the end of a ball game in a close contest, people intensify their efforts. We are in a battle over the souls of men.

Jesus has won the victory, but we must enforce His victory in the earth. The book of Jude says there are people who will literally be snatched out of the flames of hell as a firebrand, pulled out in the final moments of history to be saved (Verse 23). Why? Because someone with the fire of God in their bones said, "I'm not going to let them go to hell! I'm going to reach those people."

Jesus said, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force"

(Matthew 11:12). Violent means "forceful." This is not a time for passive indifference. Some people say, "That's not my personality."

Why don't you accept God's personality in your life? Hebrews 12:29 says, "For our God is a consuming fire." He is on fire for what He wants to do on the earth, and when you get close to Him, that burning desire to see men saved, to live a godly life, to show hospitality, to minister brotherly kindness, to distribute to the necessity of the saints, and to serve Him will get on you!

Chapter 14

"Rise Up, Army of God!"

I say, "Where is the army of God?" My cry is, "RISE UP, ARMY OF GOD! RISE UP!" Let the army of God rise up, not in the barracks eating popcorn or watching TV, but doing the works of the Lord.

Every born-again believer is a member of God's army, but each member needs to rise to position. What will it take to accomplish this? It will be the fire of God that comes inside of you, the zeal of the Lord that shakes you out of lethargy, that enables you to overcome your inferiority complex, the traditions of men, the shackles and chains of your past failures that have held you back and said, "You can't do anything and you can't be anything." As the fire of God moves in you, works of the enemy will no longer hold you down.

Paul said to Timothy, "...stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6).

Paul said to the believers at Ephesus,

"...Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light"

(Ephesians 5:14).

It's time to receive the fire of God today and say, "I remove the indifference. I refuse to be lukewarm." It has to come from your own heart. It's a decision of your own will.

We'll see people more violently opposed to Christianity than ever before. On the other hand, we'll see the most radical group of people on fire for God! Hallelujah! (Radical, according to Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, means "close to the origin, derived from the root, so much so that the root and the stem are almost as one.")

To be radical is to be hooked up with God, to be identified with Him, to be like Him. The fire that's in Him is in us. Oh, Lord, let the fire of Your Spirit burn in us!

Chapter 15

"Lay Aside Every Weight"

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..."

—Hebrews 12:1-2

It's time to cast off the works of darkness, to renounce the hidden things, to repent of ungodliness, to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us. It's time to put aside the cares of this world, the lust for riches, the lust for other things, and no longer just be a church goer. It's time to be on fire for God and be filled with His zeal.

Let the zeal of God consume you now. Pursue what God wants you to do. Pursue serving the Lord. Don't be satisfied any longer just to live and make a living, to raise your children, but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, let the fire of God consume you.

One of the things that has quenched people's fire is the fear of man, what other people might think. Today, let that be broken from your life. Jesus said:

"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

"But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

—Matthew 10:32-33

Why did He say that? He wants people full of fire. He wants the fire to burn in us. He doesn't want us to just go through dead rituals.

He wants people who really believe and aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe. That's what the fire of God is all about—unashamed to stand anywhere publicly and acknowledge, "Yes, I'm identified with Jesus Christ. I'm identified with the Holy Spirit. I'm identified with the Bible. I'm identified with the people of God. I belong to God's Kingdom."

May the fire of heaven fall upon you. May the fire resident within your spirit be inflamed now in the name of Jesus. Lord, I come against every quenching force that has tried to put the fire out, and I command it to be stopped in the name of Jesus! Every temptation of the evil one, every lying distraction that tried to pull you away from a love for God, I pray those distractions be destroyed now in Jesus' name. Lord, restore the first love for You in the name of Jesus.

Let go of unforgiveness and bitterness, for they have quenched your fire! (Say, "I forgive. I release So-and-so. I forget it. I let it go in the name of Jesus.")

Prayer

Lord, I pray for the spirit of slumber to be broken off the minds of people and the spirits of darkness and oppression to be removed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Lord, light a fire for world evangelism, for missions, for witnessing, and for serving You in our hearts.

Father, in Jesus' name, I break the power of the enemy so no stronghold of darkness can stop the fire of salvation, deliverance, healing, and the call to minister. In the name of Jesus, be loosed from every force of the enemy that held you back. Accept your freedom now in Jesus' name. Amen.

Personal Prayer of Commitment

Heavenly Father, I repent of all sin. I turn to You. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sin and was raised from the dead. I renounce the devil and all of his works. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Holy Spirit, fill me now with Your fire to do the will of the Father and to obey His voice.

In the name of Jesus, I stir up my spirit and kindle the fire of the Holy Spirit in me to serve You, Father God, according to the plan You have for me. Amen.

(Signature) ________

(Date) ________

BILLY JOE DAUGHERTY is founder and pastor of Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Victory has a Christian school,

Bible Institute and Missions Training Center. Other Victory outreaches include taking the gospel via radio and television to North America, along with shortwave radio and television to other nations, plus the distribution of books, tapes, and videos. He and his wife, Sharon, minister God’s healing, saving, and delivering power as a team. Their family works alongside them in the ministry.

Table of Contents

1 "Fire Releases Energy"

2 "Fire: Power and Life of God"

3 "Baptism of Fire"

4 "On Fire or Lukewarm?"

5 "How Do You Lose the Fire?"

6 "The Gold of God"

7 "Removing the Shame of Sin and Disobedience"

8 "Lifting Others With Genuine Love"

9 "Be Aglow and Burning With the Spirit"

10 "Reioicing...Patient..Steadfast"

11 "Compassion for Those in Need"

12 "Persecution Will Intensify"

13 "Fire to Reach the Lost"

14 "Rise Up, Army of God!"

15 "Lay Aside Every Weight"

Prayer

Personal Prayer of Commitment