Fire Puts Out Fire

You didn’t change the subject…only added an aspect, which too was given by me, the Holy Spirit. We established a spark can start a fire, but now consider, “Do you know that Fire puts out Fire?

Lord, I read a statement by Lemony Snicket just now as I googled, that says, “If everyone fought fire with fire, the entire world would go up in smoke.” I guess that means the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality, which is evil. Your word teaches us that is wrong, so what is it that you mean when you asked me, did I know that Fire puts out Fire?

Not that way Elizabeth! The Enemy has his own fire, and it will consume him and those in his camp in the end, so believers, don’t ever fight with his wicked fire…evil for evil.

The Fire of my Holy Spirit is like what is mentioned in the Little House on the Prairie Books, where the Ingalls family saved their house from an oncoming prairie fire by burning a ring of grass around their house. When the fire arrives, it just sweeps around the house, leaving it intact. …the occupants protected and unharmed, along with what is theirs to protect by that fire.

Wow, God! So, are you saying that if we have the right kind of fire encircling us, we can stop the fire of the enemy from reaching us?

Our fire puts out the enemy’s fire?

Can you help me to understand more about this Lord?

I’m curious how that would look or be walked out. Leonard was explaining to me just now that what you describe is called a “backfire”, used to fight fires, for it robs a fire of its fuel when the fires meet.

There is fear in my people of starting their own fire, Elizabeth. Even a fire that could mean their own protection. Fear that their own fire will get out of “their control” and that they will cause more damage to their lives if they confront the enemy with their fire. This is not a lie they are dealing with; Rather, more a matter of their commitment to me. Some people are afraid of success as much as failure.

Even you have wanted to maintain what you “have” in me, and not “risk” being wrong and failing, or “risk” and to actually have me take you up on your commitment and make you succeed as far as advancement in responsibility and scope in the Kingdom of God.

Expanding your reach further means expanding your commitment deeper. Most of my children are in their comfort zone, handling small fires, but would literally panic if I started a forest fire with them.

Do you know what I mean?

Yes Lord, I sure do! As you know, only too well!

I am embarrassed to say, I always personally wanted more influence in the Kingdom of God, but then fears come…even still do…along with the awareness of the verse that says when we are given much, then much will be required.

I think I’ve also been afraid of persecution that comes. It’s a given. Matthew 5:10-12 tells we are blessed to be persecuted, and I’ve taken these verses to heart and memory.

Yet, I have doubted myself and my own commitment and ability to persevere, amidst persecution, as I’m sure many of my brothers and sisters have, who are reading this conversation.

But back to your Fire fighting fire. Now I see that I’ll not be harmed by the enemy’s fire by allowing your holy fire to burn within me and around my realm of influence.

I’ll actually be protected by the fire I have around about me. Good fire sucks out the oxygen that fuels evil fire! And, I would keep the enemy’s fire(s) from spreading further. In fact, the more your fire burns within me, the greater the protection against destroying fire, I would imagine.

Can you tell me more, please?

Just not “adding to” evil fire, helps to extinguish it. It needs fuel to burn.

Yes, Lord… I googled “what causes a fire to extinguish” just now, and it says “A fire will burn as long as there is oxygen, fuel, and heat available. Removal of any of these elements will extinguish the fire” (source: Metropolitan Fire Service)

So that goes right with what you are saying. I need to respond not react… so that I respond in the opposite spirit of that which comes “at me” in way of fire. 

You’re on the right track! In other words, if someone insults you, instead of reacting with an insult back to them, respond with a Christ-like response. Maybe just ignore the insult or say something kind back. Speaking back kindly will really put out fire! If you insult back, it “fuels the enemy’s fire” and soon you’ll both be going at it… plenty of fuel is kindled!

God, I also just read this: “If the conditions are right to put fire on the ground, crews can burn the fuel ahead of the fire, and slow it down significantly. Often times backburning happens at night when the temperatures drop, winds calm down, and humidity rises.” (source: theredwoods.org).

Something in my spirit leaped at reading this too! It was speaking of backburning in case of a forest fire, but spiritually, to me it meant “in the quiet place” with you “at the close of the day” I can “burn the fuel up” of offense, by prayer and giving it to you… so then the next day, the enemy has nothing to burn me with! I’ve already repented, changed my mindset, determined my behaviors, reactions, etc. 

I can then be “proactive” when dealing with spiritual warfare this way… and not “reactive”, as The Enemy would have me be!

Thank you, Lord. This excites me! Evil fires can be extinguished! It takes me “not adding to their kind of fuel”, but rather, letting the fire you set ablaze within me, extinguish evil fire. I really think just “being mindful” of this will help a lot of us, your children, to be overcomers!