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They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:3-4)


1. We are the same soil but can be bricks or livings stones
God made us with soil as we make bricks with soil. When God made Adam, he didn't bake him with fire, instead he breathed into the soil with his breath and he became a living being. But we human beings found that bricks are as strong as stones, if we bake bricks thoroughly with fire. Nimrod and the Babylonians built cities and a tower with bricks in order to reach to the heavens and to make known their names. But God is building his house with living stones to make known his name and for his eternal purpose (1Peter 2:4-5).

2. Earthly fire produces bricks from soil but heavenly fire transforms the soil into living stones
In Babylon where they built the Tower of Babel with bricks, Daniel's three friends were thrown into the furnace and the fire killed the soldiers who took them but not the three of them. Also the Son of God appeared in the furnace and walked with them. The furnace fire was supposed to consume all of them but they were not consumed because they were surrounded by the fire from heaven. Instead, they were protected, set free from their ropes and their faith was refined and they were reborn as living stones (Daniel 3:19-27). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came like tongues of fire, and untied their tongues. The Babylonians, who built the Tower of Babel to make known their names, were scattered because they couldn't understand each other. But on the day of Pentecost, those who gathered at the house of God from the nations, understood what the disciples were speaking about God's heartbeat in their own language(Acts 2:5-11).

3. Counterfeit fire leads us to death
Aaron's two sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them (Leviticus 10:1-2). After Jesus' ascension, his disciples waited for 10 days more at Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came down like tongues of fire. But only about 120 people were there when the Holy Spirit came down, even though after his resurrection Jesus appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Had the others been impatient, and thought themselves clever enough, so they went out to preach the gospel with their own fire, zeal, passion, instead of waiting for the heavenly fire? There are many earthly fires or ready made fires, even virtual-fires. All of them are counterfeit fires. It is easier, quicker and cheaper for us to get earthly fires and offer them before God. Eventually these counterfeit fires will lead us into death.

4. Jesus came to bring heavenly fire on the earth
We are seeing many fires recently, whether they are visible (gun-fire, bombs, missiles, etc) or invisible (anger, terror, etc). All of them are earthly fire, which kills and destroys. It can only reform, ie change the external form of things. But there is another fire, which Jesus has already brought through his death. This heavenly fire heals, restores and transforms into the completion of God. The Arab Spring (see below) has brought more earthly fires than before.

John answered them all, “I baptise you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)

Jesus said, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!” (Luke 12:49-50)



[ Prayer & Intercession ]

1. Arab Spring brings Israel's Fall?
The Arab Spring was sparked by the first protests that occurred in Tunisia on 18 December 2010, following Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation in protest against police corruption and ill treatment. With the success of the protests in Tunisia, a wave of protests struck Algeria, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen and Libya, then spread to other countries. The largest, most organised demonstrations have often occurred on a "day of rage", usually Friday afternoon prayers. (Is there any spiritual connection?)

2. Barak Obama has encouraged the Arab Spring
In August 2010, US President Barack Obama issued the secret Presidential Study Directive 11, asking agencies to prepare for change. He made a major, but unannounced foreign policy shift regarding the relations to the states of the Arab world. Instead of supporting stability Barack Obama vowed to support change and democratisation in the Arab world. (source: Wikipedia)

3. Arab democracy brings Arab theocracy!
Israel has long been the only democratic country in the Middle East and nothing much has changed, although the Arab Spring has changed some governments from dictatorships. Even though Barak Obama's intention is to help the Arab World to have democratic governments, they are becoming theocratic, ie ruled by Islamic regimes. These transformed “democratic” Arab countries are planning to attack and to wipe Israel from the world map. They seem to have democratic elections but actually they are electing theocratic governments, ruled by Allah (the god of Islam).

4. Not political issues but spiritual issues
Why have almost all the Arab countries been trying to destroy Israel? This is not because of political issues but spiritual ones. The same reason Hitler tried to wipe out the Jews. The spirit of Islam knows God's eternal purpose, so he tries to destroy Israel, because God demonstrates his faithfulness, his covenant and his eternal purposes through Israel.

5. It is a horrible war but the great celebration is coming
What we see happening in the Middle East is a horrible picture of war but God's promise of restoration and prophecy of returning are so clear. He is redeeming and restoring his people and his land for his name's sake. He is coming back as King of kings to reign and as Bridegroom to celebrate with his bride, One new Man, Jews and Gentiles. It is a time of disasters, but it is going to be the time of great celebration.



[ News Update ]

Shalom Love!

Qday LEE
on behalf of the Forge team

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