“Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire” (Psalm 104:4)
If God would use us, He must be the center of our world. He cannot be on the outskirts of our life; an occasional thought; a side-line. The Lord calls His disciples to lose their lives to gain His. They cannot love anything or anyone more than Him. “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” (Deut. 4:24) When all of us is laid on His altar, the fire falls.
Before God puts anyone in trust with His gospel, He tries their heart. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” (91 Thes. 2:4) Paul understood that faithfulness to his Lord preceded his promotion into ministry. “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Tim. 1:12)
Man cannot anoint man. Jesus alone baptizes with the Holy Ghost and fire. (Mt. 3:11) Get right and get real with God and you will catch His eye. Love righteousness and hate wickedness, and God will anoint you with the oil of gladness above your fellows. (Ps. 45:7) He will be in you as a “well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14) You will minister to others not of your own mind, but through His quickening that teaches you what to say and do. You will not be a pretender, damaging souls with a strange fire; you will be the Lord’s own hands and feet, His mouth to those who need an encounter with the living God.
Many want to be used of God. They marvel at the works of Jesus, and want the same kind of powerful ministry. But without the consecration of their Master, they will not know His anointing. Fire belongs to those who pass tests in the wilderness; who find hind’s feet for their high places; who love not their own lives in this world unto the death. Jesus is still looking for candidates for a baptism of fire! Do you qualify?