Baptism of Fire

Baptism of Fire

October 17, 2004

Genesis 2:7

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Jeremiah 1:5

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

If you have life in your body today that life has value because God is the giver of life. Your life is a gift from God. Sin may have distorted the purpose of your life, but the spirit of God is able to bring clarity and understanding to your purpose.

As I studied this message I wanted to explore the word “breathed”. In doing so, received great insight on where to take this message to you today.

In the Hebrew, the word breathed is a primary root word that means, “to breathe, to blow, or to kindle.” I want to focus on the word, “kindle”, because it holds the richest meaning – it means to set or start a fire!

Genesis reveals the pattern for God’s relationship with his creation, marriage, and life. Our life has a specific purpose and design. Part of that is to be “on fire”.

I believe that full redemption has four aspects

1. Salvation
2. Baptism of the Holy Ghost
3. Baptism of Fire
4. Perfection (maturity)

The baptist believe that once you are saved you have attained.

The pentecostals believe that once you are filled with the Holy Ghost you have attained. I know too many H.G. filled people that are still wishy washy and they never come to the fullness of the understanding of Christ.

This morning I want to focus on what is means to be baptized, immersed or consummated by fire:

John the Baptist said:

Matthew 3:8 - 12

He shall baptize you with the H.G. AND with fire. This is two separate works. They can come all at once, but they are separate and distinct.

II Timothy 2:19 - 21

In Acts 2:1 – 4

“And when the day of pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the H.G. and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Fire is a purifier.

Malachi 3:1 – 3

“Behold I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap:

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”

There is a message that I preached several years ago that describes the process used to purify silver and gold. How the ore had to be carved or literally blown out of the mountain, then it was pulverized into pieces, then raked through and washed.

Then it was pulverized again until it was small enough. Then it was washed again.

This is the process of salvation and the baptism of the H.G.

Then it was heated to as high as 2200 degrees! This was to remove the dross or impurities.

Proverbs 25:4 says, “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come

forth a vessel for the finer.”

This process of fire may take place as many as 7 times before the ore is pure enough. This depends on what it will be used for. The more the ore is fired, the softer and more pure it becomes.

Jesus said in Luke 12:49 – 50

“I am come to send fire on the earth: and what will I, if it be already kindled?

But I have a baptism to be baptized with: and how am I straightened till it be accomplished!

When Satan is lurking about there is darkness and despair. That is why you have to renounce him, and push him from your life. When God comes on the scene He breathes life – and in that breathe is FIRE.

That is why you need to praise him through the trials

The tribulations, the difficult times in your life.

He wants you to be a vessel of honor purified – fit for the masters use. When you start going through the fire he is preparing you to be used for His glory on a higher level than before.

HE WANTS TO BURN YOU UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THE CARNAL MAN -- HE WANTS TO BURN YOU TO ASHES!

Isaiah 61:1 – 3

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified.”

When wine is lit by fire, it burst into flame -- that is the H.G.!

When oil is sparked it burst into flame -- that is the anointing. If bondage is not totally destroyed by the oil of His anointing, it will be burned out by fire.