““I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”" Matthew 3:11 ESV
The greatest man to ever walk the face of this earth was the Godman – the Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Him that we may be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire.
When we become born-again through believing in Christ as Lord and Savior and repenting of our sins, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One Who sanctifies us and transforms us into new creatures. No longer are we bound by our darkened, depraved state. Instead, we now live for the hope of eternal glory with the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
It is only by Holy Ghost fire that our old nature can expire.
When it comes to the Holy Spirit, He is the One Who brings fire from On High, for it is only by spiritual fire that our old nature can expire. Only through Christ’s Blood do we receive Him Who descends on us as a dove. Only by God can we live for God here in this life.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV). When God is in us, we no longer belong to ourselves. We are purchased by the Blood of Christ and called to live in newness of life.
The beautiful transition from death to life, darkness to light, and deception to truth is one that can only be accomplished by God. For it is God Who is Life, Light, and Truth.
The beautiful transition from death to life, darkness to light, and deception to truth is one that can only be accomplished by God. For it is God Who is Life, Light, and Truth. It is God alone Who is the Giver and Revealer of all. Blessed be His Holy Name.
“Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them”” (Isaiah 42:5-9 NKJV).
When we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, all things become new. Our passions, pursuits, desires, wants, and hopes begin to shift. Our dreams, aspirations, and vision for our lives become clearer. With each passing day, these shift from what was once wholly consumed on temporal things and now become directed towards that which is eternal. As this transition occurs, we move into a state of being baptized with fire.
Just as gold is refined by fire, so the soul is refined by God.
Fire refines, and refinement can be painful. Just as gold is refined by fire, so the soul is refined by God. God will sometimes break us down in order to build us back up. When He does this, we must understand that nothing is done without purpose, and purpose is found in pain.
When God allows us to be tested by the fire, it is so that we might arise into a more glorious state. Not because of what we accomplish but of what we are departing from.
When God allows us to be tested by the fire, it is so that we might arise into a more glorious state. Not because of what we accomplish but of what we are departing from. As David Wilkerson once said, “God’s great concern is not so much about what people are falling into, but what they are falling away from.”
When we are falling away from God, we are falling into the ways of man.
When we are falling away from God, we are falling into the ways of man. When we are being purified and refined by Holy Ghost fire, we begin to become more holy and sanctified.
Sanctification is the path to holiness, and holiness is to be consecrated and set apart. The only way we can be set apart is if we venture down the path through Holy Ghost fire.
The “genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7 NKJV). The genuineness of faith is tested by trying times.
Whatever response we choose amid adversity will determine the level of faith we have in Thee Almighty.
When difficulty arises, we have a plethora of responses. We can either grieve and be saddened for a time, or we can dwell in our grief and sadness; we can either be cowardice and quickly fall away, or we can remain steadfast and endure; we can either lean on the arms of the flesh and attempt to push through the adversity on our own, or we can seek God continually and allow Him to see us through. Whatever response we choose will determine the level of faith we have in Thee Almighty.
The ancient philosopher, Seneca, once said, “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” We become perfected by what we endure, in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of Christ. We grow closer to perfection in this life when we continually die to self and seek Him Who “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3 NKJV).
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV). Let us allow God’s Holy Flame to purge us of our iniquity. As we do this, may others see us endure our fiery trials as brothers and sisters in Christ, that the world’s response may be ““Look!...I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”” (Daniel 3:25 NKJV).
May the aura of the Holy Ghost be evident in the way we endure suffering, persevere in faith, and remain steadfast in God and His Immutable Word.
There is no greater journey than the one that is tested by fire. There is no greater purification than that which is done by Holy Ghost fire.
There is no greater journey than the one that is tested by fire. There is no greater purification than that which is done by Holy Ghost fire. May we be baptized and resurrected each day into stronger saints who have lived to see the salvation of the Lord.
God is Faithful!
PRAYER
O God in Heaven, Him Who is a Consuming Fire, purge us of our iniquity and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May the Blood of Christ wash away our sins and make us whiter than snow. O Great King, ignite within us the desire, courage, and steadfastness to walk according to Your Will and endure all seasons. God, we are in constant need of You. We are weak and lowly of heart. We are those who need Your strength, wisdom, and guidance. O God, You created all things and know us more intimately than we know ourselves. Bless us in Your sanctifying work. May we be vessels of the Light of Christ, revealing to all the power, magnificence, grace, might, and holiness of God Almighty. Holy Spirit, be in us and with us, forever and always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine
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