CIRCUMCISION OF FIRE

1. CIRCUMCISION was a SIGN, a token of the COVENANT between God and Abraham, “And ye shall CIRCUMCISE the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a TOKEN of the COVENANT BETWIXT ME and YOU” [Genesis 17:11] The COVENANT was a pointer to God’s offer of SALVATION, that should come through Jesus Christ and of which Abraham wore toga of FATHER of many nations,  “As for me, behold, my COVENANT is with thee, and thou shalt be a FATHER OF MANY NATIONS” [Genesis 17:4] The agreement provided for all men to access SALVATION of God through FAITH in Jesus Christ, irrespective of race or nationality. It is certain, rituals of CIRCUMCISION and sundry ordinances that went with such did not SAVE those who received them; that they without us should not receive the BLESSING and “That the BLESSING of Abraham MIGHT COME ON THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST; that we might receive the PROMISE of the SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH” [Galatians 3:14] Again, CIRCUMCISION was a token of our REDEMPTION from SIN and was actualized in Jesus Christ,  “In whom also ye are CIRCUMCISED with the CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST” [Colossians 2:11]

2. The male genital is perhaps the most covered part of the BODY, signifying  SIN hidden in us and is purged by the SPIRIT of Christ to reveal the NEW MAN after His likeness, “It is the SPIRIT THAT QUICKENETH; the FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING: the WORDS that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT, and they are LIFE” [John 6:63] CIRCUMCISION, that is, removal of foreskin, had the pattern of that which was to come but lacked the power to deliver from destruction “… All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, DIED IN THE WILDERNESS by the way, … Now all the people that came out were CIRCUMCISED: ...” [Joshua 5:4-5]Church in the wilderness hinged God’s approval on outward SCARS of CIRCUMCISION but God was not so minded; God weighs the HEART, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But HE IS A JEW, WHICH IS ONE INWARDLY; and CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” [Romans 2:28-29] CIRCUMCISION OF FIRE is not of men wielding blades but of FAITH in the GOSPEL preached in the NAME of Jesus Christ. The same WORD, preached to Israel with FIRE and quaking from Sinai and was rejected is delivered to us and received by FAITH, “For unto us was the GOSPEL PREACHED, as well as unto them: but the WORD PREACHED DID NOT PROFIT THEM, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in them that heard it” [Hebrews 4:2]

3. CIRCUMCISION OF FIRE consume “FORESKINS” of corruption, the OLD MAN in us is purged and in his place, the NEW MAN after the MIND of Christ, “That ye PUT OFF concerning the FORMER CONVERSATION the OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful LUSTS; And be RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT of your MIND” [Ephesians 4:22-23] The GOSPEL is the WORD of God revealed in Jesus Christ, which to those who BELIEVE is the flaming sword of CIRCUMCISION; cutting beyond FLESH to dividing asunder of SOUL and SPIRIT, “For the WORD OF GOD is quick, and powerful, and SHARPER THAN ANY TWOEDGED SWORD, piercing even to the dividing asunder of SOUL and SPIRIT, …” [Hebrews 4:12] Preaching of the WORD pierces the crevices of the SOUL to execute REPENTANCE in those who receive the GOSPEL in good conscience. REPENTANCE is permeated with AGONY incomparable to knife cutting through flesh, the SORROW of LOSS of ALL THINGS, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST Jesus my Lord: for whom I have SUFFERED the LOSS of ALL THINGS, and do count them but dung, that I MAY WIN CHRIST” [Philippians 3:8] However, our “LOSS” is surpassed by GAIN of KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST and of the LOVE of God; our MINDS being renewed to SEE beyond present ANGUISH, as it is written:  “… EYE HATH NOT SEEN, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM” [1Corinthians 2:9]

4. CIRCUMCISION OF FIRE does not heal, the FIRE of God’s WORD never stops cutting and burning, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But HIS WORD WAS IN MINE HEART AS A BURNING FIRE shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay” [Jeremiah 20:9] The two men on the way to Emmaus were perplexed and close to giving up when Jesus appeared and renewed their MINDS with fresh FIRE of CIRCUMCISION “And they said one to another, Did not OUR HEART BURN within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he OPENED TO US THE SCRIPTURES?” [Luke 24:32] With their HEARTS on FIRE, they returned with boldness to Jerusalem, “Saying, The LORD IS RISEN INDEED, and hath appeared to Simon. …. And AS THEY THUS SPAKE, JESUS HIMSELF STOOD IN THE MIDST OF THEM, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you” [Luke24:34-36] While they yet spoke, Jesus appeared in their midst! Beloved, the Lord is waiting for you and I to be CIRCUMCISED with FIRE; before making His entry. Let us humbly submit to CIRCUMCISION and allow FIRE of TRUTH to consume all “FORESKINS” of “… DISHONESTY, not walking in CRAFTINESS, nor HANDLING the WORD OF GOD DECEITFULLY; but by manifestation of the TRUTH commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” [2 Corinthians 4:2] Will you be CIRCUMCISED? Accept Jesus Christ today as your Lord and Saviour amen