Clouds in our lives are sent many times
to bring showers of blessings.
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Taken, Blessed, Broken and Given: The Baptism of Fire - Part 1
"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
and I am not fit to remove His sandals;
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Matthew 3:11 also (Luke 3:16)
We are to study the Word of God
not simply to understand it,
nor simply to establish a correct doctrinal base.
We are to meditate upon the Word
that we may come into an intimate relationship with Jesus,
He who is the Word.
Each of us know what afflictions are
because they course through all of our lives.
Yet as uncomfortable or painful as they may be,
God will use them to achieve His divine purposes for our lives,
to make us more like Jesus.
The conclusive method of purifying anything is through fire.
Fire removes everything that is not pure and true.
I was in Florida (March or 2009) visiting relatives and ministering hope to our sister in love Susan who is battling cancer. If you’re reading this in a timely manner we appreciate your prayers for her!
Florida is going through their dry “winter” season. As we drove through forested areas, fire crews were conducting ecological burns. Large areas of forest were being “burned off.” This type of activity burns away the dry groundcover that could fuel uncontrolled fires that might threaten the larger trees and properties in the area. By burning away this material the more valuable palm trees and shrubs are actually protected.
This is spiritually true as well. The Lord will allow things to be burned away so that we will draw closer to Him. Things that may even seem good to us often need to be put to the fire because they distract us from our first ministry to the Lord. The good can be the enemy of the best – His presence.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 KJV
"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance,
but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
and I am not fit to remove His sandals;
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Matthew 3:11 also (Luke 3:16)
We are to study the Word of God
not simply to understand it,
nor simply to establish a correct doctrinal base.
We are to meditate upon the Word
that we may come into an intimate relationship with Jesus,
He who is the Word.
Each of us know what afflictions are
because they course through all of our lives.
Yet as uncomfortable or painful as they may be,
God will use them to achieve His divine purposes for our lives,
to make us more like Jesus.
The conclusive method of purifying anything is through fire.
Fire removes everything that is not pure and true.
I was in Florida (March or 2009) visiting relatives and ministering hope to our sister in love Susan who is battling cancer. If you’re reading this in a timely manner we appreciate your prayers for her!
Florida is going through their dry “winter” season. As we drove through forested areas, fire crews were conducting ecological burns. Large areas of forest were being “burned off.” This type of activity burns away the dry groundcover that could fuel uncontrolled fires that might threaten the larger trees and properties in the area. By burning away this material the more valuable palm trees and shrubs are actually protected.
This is spiritually true as well. The Lord will allow things to be burned away so that we will draw closer to Him. Things that may even seem good to us often need to be put to the fire because they distract us from our first ministry to the Lord. The good can be the enemy of the best – His presence.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire;
and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 KJV
The heat and fire separate what is gold (of eternal value)
from what is dross (the imperfections of carnal life).
Anything that is not eternal is temporal and can be burned away.
What is eternal cannot be burned away.
There are numerous reference in the Old Testament to the fire of God.
The carnality of Sodom and Gomorrah were purified by fire.
"Then the Lord rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah
brimstone and fire from the Lord out of the heavens."
Genesis 19:24Amp
God revealed Himself to Moses in a burning bush.
“The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire
out of the midst of a bush;
and he looked, and behold,
the bush burned with fire, yet was not consumed.”
Exodus 3:2 Amp
It was fire that led the Israelites’ way in the wilderness.
“And in the morning watch the Lord through the pillar of fire
and cloud looked down on the host of the Egyptians and discomfited [them],”
Exodus 13:24 Amp
The presence of God was accompanied with fire on Mount Sinai.
“Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire;
its smoke ascended like that of a furnace,
and the whole mountain quaked greatly”
Exodus 19:18 Amp
Fire represents the purity and holiness of God.
The truth of God’s word is a blazing fire
that consumes the lies that hold us in bondage.
“Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]?
says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock
[of most stubborn resistance]?”
Jeremiah 23:29 Amp
We hear His word from the midst of His holy fire:
“Out of heaven He made you hear His voice,
that He might correct, discipline, and admonish you;
and on earth He made you see His great fire,
and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire.”
Deuteronomy 4:36 Amp
It is the truth of God’s Word
that destroys and separates the lies from the truth.
Quoting Scripture is effective and good-
But the destruction of the enemies lies
comes from the presence of God bringing the truth .
The presence of God in truth is what incinerates the lies
that allows us to be all that God wants us to be in Christ.
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the multitude of isles and coastlands be glad!
Clouds and darkness are round about Him [as at Sinai];
righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him and burns up His adversaries round about.”
Psalm 97:1-3 Amp
In Psalm 34:19
King David observed that “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.”
So even when we
are living righteously before God
He will allow afflictions to cross our path.
The word afflictions here in Hebrew means:
“looking down or browbeating; to depress literally or figuratively.”
David also wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray:
but now I have kept Your word.” Psalm 119:67
Later in the same Psalm he observes:
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Your statutes.”
Psalm 119:71
Here is a man who is “after God’s own heart,” making the observation that affliction played a vital role in his relationship with God. (1 Samuel 13:14)
When affliction comes our way we have a choice in how we handle it.
There is a proper response for God’s people
when they are faced with times of trial.
End Part 1
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