THE SEVEN VOICES
OF THE SON OF GOD
Publication #94.76
(Part 5)
THE VOICE OF CARVING
"The Voice of the Lord
DIVIDETH THE FLAMES OF FIRE"
(Psa 29:7)
We first heard the Lord's Voice of Thunder, and it raised us from the restless world of darkness. This was the initial step of Salvation. Upon hearing His Voice of Power, we were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. From this promised gift we gained power to overcome many of the enemies in our land. The third Voice was the call to Sonship. It was this call that drew us from the tutors and governors, and placed us under the direct rule of our Father. To our dismay, we then heard the fourth Voice, the painful one, the Voice that Breaks the Cedars of Lebanon, and like all the other voices it was also for good. As traumatic as it was, we learned what a necessary work it wrought. Our will was akin to the great cedars of Lebanon — it was tenacious, unyielding, and unbending. Its creed was, "MY WILL, O Father, not Thine be done!" He disregarded our stand, however, and thoroughly broke that adamant will with the shattering sound of His voice. And now we come to the fifth Voice — the Voice of the Lord that Divides the Flames of Fire!
Let us keep in mind as we listen to His various voices that they are more than what we hear by the Spirit, that they also incorporate the experiences set before us in our daily lives. For example, in our self-willed determination, if we fail to heed His gentle whisper to follow closer by His side, He might break our wandering legs so He can carry us in His arms. It is a hard lesson, to be sure, but while resting in His bosom we learn of His love, and that obedience is better than sacrifice. When He cripples us by using circumstances to stop us from walking our own walk, it is just as much His voice as if we were to hear Him speak to us audibly.
Now let us hear a little about His Voice that Divides the Flames of Fire. Although the Lord's voice is very capable of dividing anything to which He speaks, it is not likely that He divides His Flames of Fire. We say this because of the Hebrew meaning of the word divideth. Such a thought would also be contrary to His purpose for His flames of fire.
His Word that is alive and powerful will surely cut asunder and divide the soul from the Spirit, the joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It will divide and separate those who walk after the letter from those who walk in the Spirit — but the flames of fire, we think not. They are not divided, for fire is the very essence of His glory.
The Hebrew word divideth means TO CARVE or HEW (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). With this thought before us, we will venture now into the flames, and while in the midst of this fire see in part more of what they are and how they are carved by the Voice of the Lord.
The weeping prophet was acquainted with fire. It was an element He knew well, and at times he was sorely tormented by it. He said, "...HIS WORD was in mine heart as a BURNING FIRE shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing..." (Jer. 20:9).
Although fire is very clearly spoken of in the Bible, most religious equations of these wonderful flames have more to do with satan than with God. It is commonly assumed that fire is synonymous to hell, the supposed prison for the "damned." Some hold to the notion that the inferno has already been kindled and those who die outside of Christ go immediately there upon death and remain there forever, with one brief break, perhaps. That break, as it is taught, will be at the Great White Throne judgment when they will be judicially sealed in hell forever. Afterwards, they will be cast back into its waiting flames where there is no escape. The other popular view is that the hapless sinners remain unconsciously asleep until the resurrection, at which time they will be cast into the fires of eternal damnation.
Regardless of whether their ill-bent concepts are future or present, it is generally taught that this foreboding place is reserved for those who anger God in some fashion or another, or they simply fail to measure up or repent before dying. To compound the problem, they have this age-old, paganistic mind-set of a pitchfork-wielding devil, and he is some sort of head chef of "Hell's Kitchen." This infamous foe has a special tormenting recipe for his entrée that has been called "the Last Days Bar-B-Que." The souls who stumble during their trek through life's wilderness, as the view continues, will be handed over to this evil-eyed cook to be roasted over "the Devil's fire" forever. And top it off, this never-ending for-ever will not be long enough, so another impossible never-ending 'ever' will be added to the first 'for-ever,' so the story goes.
Fortunately, many enlightened brethren in the body of Christ disagree, and there are good reasons to support their stand. For instance: not one place is found in the entirety of the Bible that remotely suggests that satan, the devil, the dragon, etc, has anything to do with fire. This flesh-inspiring enemy will be subjected to the fire when the season is right (Mt. 25:41 & Rev. 20:10); but the traducing adversary is not the keeper of the flames — GOD IS!
Fire is almost always used in the scriptures to denote the Glory of God. It speaks of Life, Light, and Liberty; while satan is associated with death, darkness, and destruction. It is therefore highly unlikely that the merchant of death will be placed in charge of God's Glory regardless of what form it is revealed.
One way God's glory is manifested as fire is in HIS WORD — this is clear. His word is Sharp! It is Flaming, it is Powerful, and above all — it is Alive! It cuts and divides, it separates and destroys, but the Word itself is never destroyed nor divided from the other Flames of Life. In one place Paul told Timothy to rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), but the context is clear. It has nothing to do with separating or scattering the Word of truth. The Greek word for rightly divide (orthotomeo) means to cut a very plain, decisive, clear, straight line. Paul was simply telling Timothy to be diligent in the truths of the Word of God (the Logos); to keep it in a straight line; to cut it to the exact dimensions and image of Christ; to come to a clear and plain understanding of what is real; and not to be tossed to and fro by every imagination and wind of doctrine that blows through town.
In this verse we can hear the Spirit of the Word saying clearly, "Cut the Word straight. Carve the flames of fire. Hew them into a workable, viable, part of your lives."
The Word of God — and please know we do not mean the letter — is a flaming firebrand of Life; and if you have ever heard it, you know the difference and will never be satisfied with anything less. It is much more than a mere teaching of the truth, it is the Truth Himself. His Word quickens the dead, and causes those who sleep to awaken. It also reveals the hidden things of darkness, and then burns them to ashes, while transforming the man.
The Flaming Word of God is marvelous, but when it is shut up in our hearts, when we are unable to send it forth, as it was with Jeremiah, it burns deep in our bones. The fire yearns to find its release, and some day it will, but until that time it abides within. While we wait, however, it is not just complacently glowing as a smoldering ember beneath the ashes. After it is carved to perfection it begins its own carving of our lives.
Before the discomfort that the carving of our lives brings, the pain of the carving of the Word of truth we had previously received will first be known. The Word is made pure, tried seven times, as the Psalmist wrote (Ps. 12:6). This refining will eliminate any fragment of mixture we may have added to it. It may be traumatic, but necessary; for an unrefined Word has little use in spiritual matters. If it is not thoroughly carved it will not be able to cut and consume the wood, hay, and stubble of the world, nor anything else that holds us in death.
It must first be carved into the image and likeness of Christ before it has a lasting effect upon the vessels wherein it dwells, not to mention the world to which it will be sent. This wonderful Word of Truth must be rightly divided, it must have all the imaginations of the first man cut away. It can have no fragments nor rudiments of flesh remaining.
Many in Christ are well versed in the doctrine of Sonship and other Kingdom truths. They have gone through the breaking of their will, and now their primary concern is the will of their Father. Much of what they have learned, however, is usually mixed with the precepts of their own thinking, which is a natural process of learning. Nevertheless, before the truths they have heard can be fiery carving tools in the world, they must first be carved. Everything they imagined Sonship to be must be cut away. Each word received must be tried by fire. There can be no mixture whatsoever. Every false idea must be cast down, crushed, and consumed. Once their minds are renewed, their thoughts made pure, and their doctrines rightly divided — the flame of God will shine brightly in their yielded souls. Another work then begins.
This Word of Fire that has been carved to perfection shall in turn carve the bones, the sinews, the inmost fibers, and hearts of all the other flames of fire — which is namely you and me, brethren! Truly, we are all members of His Body. We are bone of His Bones, flesh of His Flesh, spirit of His Spirit, flame of His Flame — we are ONE and the same!
John identified Jesus as the Word early in his book (Jn. 1:1-14). He also told that He is the Light (the Fire) that lights (ignites) every man (vrs. 9). Yet, in this present age, we do not see every man shining with His Light, but the promise was given. The ones He has come to, they shine, but it is often more inwardly than outwardly. Even so, when the hour arrives they will burn openly as blazing firebrands of life.
In one place Jesus said of Himself: "...I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life." (Jn. 8:12). He then said of us: "Ye are the Light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Mt. 5:14). It is also written: "Who maketh His angels spirits; and His ministers a flaming fire:" (Psa. 104:4, Heb 1:7).
Fire and Light are like a Father and loving Son. They are virtually inseparable. You can't have one without the other. When you see the Son (the Light) you see the Father (the fire). And there is something unique about these two who are one. When God's fiery rays burst forth there is always a change in the things they shine upon.
Fire, the father of light, is the most beneficial element in God's creation. It truly reigns supreme, whether in the natural sense or in the spiritual. Fire is the energy used most often to build, change, or destroy practically anything. There is no limit to the use of fire and light. We could list thousands of things, but keeping with our line of thought, we will mention only three as pertaining to the scriptures and their work in our lives in Christ.
At times fire is the element of enlightenment. It is a guiding light and shows the way for people to walk. This is obvious when we consider God as the pillar of fire that illumined the dark nights for Israel while traversing the wilderness: "In the daytime also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a Light of Fire." (Psa. 78:14). Jesus said, as quoted earlier: "...I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn. 8:12).
At other times the fire of God is for judgment: "For a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." (Deut. 32:22). And, "Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with His anger...His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire:" (Isa. 30:27, see also Isa. 30:30, 66:15, Deut. 4:24, & Heb. 12:29).
God's fire of Glory is the third in order to be mentioned: "And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel" (Ex. 24:17). "And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever." (2 Chr. 7:3).
The Lord first comes as a pillar of fire and lights men's way in the world of darkness, i.e., "Coming into the world He lights every man (Jn. 1:9, Grk). He comes at times in the form of fiery judgment, bringing His indignation upon their rebellion. And then, He comes in the fire of glory that causes them to bow humbly before Him in praise and worship.
These are the fires kindled in the house of His sons, and before He releases them upon creation as flames of fire themselves, they must be carved, shaped, and perfectly hewn. They must be trimmed until they glow with the same brilliant flame as He Himself — then they shall be ministers in His fiery likeness.
John related our likeness to Him when he wrote, "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because AS HE IS, so are we in this world" (1 Jn. 4:17). Indeed, we are like Him, but there is a process that brings us to this place, and we can't help from noticing that both he and David expressed the same thought. The apple of God's eye wrote that "The Voice of the Lord Carves the Flames of Fire," while the apostle of love simply said, "Herein is our Love Made Perfect." — Two ways of saying the same thing.
God's flaming love is made perfect when His Voice comes to the end of its carving work. During the process it may not be totally clear what our likeness shall be, for we have not yet seen the fullness of His glory, but after the carving we will see, for we shall see Him as He is: "Beloved, now are we the sons (children, Grk.) of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him AS HE IS. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even AS HE IS PURE" (1 Jn. 3:2-3).
Have we not read also that our God is a consuming fire? (Heb. 12:29). And let us consider again the verse we mentioned earlier, that His ministers are flames of fire (Heb. 1:7). God is Fire and His Ministers are Fire! What a glorious wonder, and what a title — Ministers of Fire! Only in God's Kingdom are there any such ministers, and it is no secret that more than a few covet this honored position. It is a prestigious office to say the least, but the cost is high for those who hold it. Therefore, few are willing to embrace the costly process that will place them in it.
Prior to the work that carves the flaming Word in their minds, they must first be broken of their own will. Their own ministry, their own congregation, their own kingdom, their own everything must fall upon the Rock and be broken. God's will must prevail. It must be His ministry, His congregation, His Kingdom, His everything. It is then that their candle can be lit and shine forth as ministers of fire. Before the breaking and the carving, they are unfit for His service as ministers of Life and Light, i.e. of Fire.
There are more than we care to count who covet this ministry of fire. It is such a driving force that they attempt to ordain themselves into these high ranks of authority and power. In their self-called, self-proclaimed, self-made ministries, they lord it over the people the same way the Pharisees did. They rule in Christ's stead, whether it is in large denominational steeple-houses, small nondenominational ones, home groups, or any other fragment of shepherd-usurping tyranny wherein people's minds and lives are controlled. They may speak as a lamb or a lion, or with great swelling words their mouths may spew liquid fire as from a blasting furnace. The people may tremble in the presence of these mighty giants in the land — but it is very doubtful that they are the Lord's Ministers of Fire. Most likely they are in dire need themselves of God's flaming Word to carve away their own arrogance and over-abundance of wood, hay, and stubble.
It has been often quoted that "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly" (Prov. 20:27). What we may not have heard, however, is that the candle of the human spirit must be lit before it shines with the Light of the Lord. The Psalmist sang this song: "For THOU WILT LIGHT MY CANDLE: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness" (Psa. 18:28).
Everyone born of a woman has a spirit, but not every spirit is enlightened with the understanding and knowledge of the Lord. They do not shine as His Candle. The world of evil testifies to this fact.
If no flame of fire has touched a candle's wick, it can shed no light and remains in darkness. When Jesus, the Light of the world, lights candles, they become the light of the world, and He sets them on a hill that cannot be hid. Until then, they remain in darkness and no search is made in their inward parts.
Our Lord is a consuming fire and when He touches us He lights our candles. The flaming words that blaze from His lips kindle the tender wicks of our waiting spirits, and with brilliance our dark worlds shine with the same glory. What a wonder it is to be joined to the Lord and become one with Him in Spirit.
I remember Paul penned something on this wise, saying, "He who is joined unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT" (1 Cor. 6:17). Or in the Spirit of the Word we are sharing today: "He who is joined to the Lord is ONE FLAME!"
Elwin R. Roach
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