Be a Smoking Mountain on Fire for God
E.A. Johnston passionately calls believers to embody the consuming fire of God, becoming like a smoking mountain on fire to ignite revival and holy desire in their lives.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston explores the powerful imagery of God as a consuming fire from Hebrews 12, encouraging believers to become like the smoking mountain on fire for God. Drawing inspiration from Moses and the Apostle Paul, Johnston passionately prays for a holy fire that ignites revival and deep spiritual desire. Listeners are challenged to surrender their lives and cultivate a flame that draws others to Christ.
Full Transcript
In Hebrews chapter 12, we see a great cloud of witnesses and a race to be run. We also see a burning mount all together on a smoke. Verse 18 begins, For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness and darkness and tempest.
The passage goes on to say of that terrible scene of Sinai all together on a smoke, and so terrible was the sight that Moses said, exceedingly fear and quake. There must have been some scene, friends, to make a mighty man like Moses quake before that smoking mount which was on fire. The last verse of Hebrews, chapter 12, sums it all up by declaring, For our God is a consuming fire.
I got to thinking about God being a consuming fire, and that smoking mountain on fire for God. And I thought I wanted to be more like that mountain myself because I want to be more on fire for God. Moses was on fire for God.
The Apostle Paul was on fire for God. I want some of that flame to spread to me, and I wrote a little poem which captured the burning holy desire to be more on fire for God. Give me a fire, O Lord.
Give me a fire for thee. Give me your fire, O Lord. Let it burn brightly in me.
Give me a fire, O Lord. The wood of my life I give to thee. Consume my ashes, O Lord.
And let a revival begin with me. Give me a fire, O Lord. Give me a glimpse of hell and eternity.
Make me a fire, O Lord. So my life may be burned out for thee. Give me a fire, O Lord.
Increase my desire for thee. Make me a flame, O Lord. That draws others to you through me.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Scene at Mount Sinai
- Description of the smoking mountain and fire
- Moses' fear and trembling before God
- The terrifying presence of God at Sinai
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II. God as a Consuming Fire
- God's holiness and power
- The meaning of 'consuming fire' in Hebrews
- The call to reverence and awe
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III. Being On Fire for God
- Examples of Moses and Apostle Paul
- Desire to be like the smoking mountain
- Prayer for a holy fire and revival
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IV. Practical Response
- Surrendering life as fuel for God's fire
- Increasing desire for God
- Becoming a flame that draws others
Key Quotes
“For our God is a consuming fire.” — E.A. Johnston
“There must have been some scene, friends, to make a mighty man like Moses quake before that smoking mount which was on fire.” — E.A. Johnston
“Give me a fire, O Lord. Increase my desire for thee. Make me a flame, O Lord. That draws others to you through me.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Pray daily for God to ignite a holy fire within your heart.
- Surrender your life fully to God as fuel for His consuming fire.
- Seek to be a visible flame that inspires and draws others to Christ.