I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire (Matthew 3:11).
Many Christians have asked, "Having been
baptized in the Holy Ghost, when does one get baptized with fire?" You have
to understand the language of the Scriptures and the style of writing of the
writers of the Gospels and of the Epistles. Matthew as John or Paul, often used
two images to express a character of the one presented.
This is exactly what Matthew did in our opening
verse when he said, "The Holy Ghost and fire"; he was referring to
the same thing. He wasn’t saying you’ll first be baptized with the Holy Spirit,
and then with fire; no! When you’re baptized with the Holy Spirit, you’re
baptized with fire, because the Holy Spirit is the fire of God. One of the ways
He manifests Himself is by fire.
On mount Carmel, when Elijah prayed and called upon
God, He sent down fire that consumed the water in the trench dug around the
altar, and burnt the sacrifice and wood on the altar (1 Kings 18:24-38). When
God revealed Himself to Moses, He used a burning bush to get his attention. You
might say, "Well, that was in the Old Testament; how about
today?" In the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit came on the disciples
in Acts 2:1-4, the Bible says, "...Cloven tongues like as of fire appeared
unto them and sat upon each of them." When this happened, they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit.
Having been born again, and having received the
Holy Spirit, He’s in you with all of His "fire-power." You don’t have
to see Him with your physical eyes, but He goes with you and in you everywhere.
Halleluiah!
When you go out to preach the Gospel and bear
witness to His resurrection power, be conscious that you’re not alone. As you
speak under His authority, the words from your mouth will be as fire, and
people’s hearts will burn within them as they listen, and they’ll be turned to
the Lord.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for the Holy
Spirit who lives in the quarters of my heart; He’s the fire and power of my
life. His light blazes intensely in my heart, making God’s presence real to me,
His passion aglow, and His purity aflame in my spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Study: Acts 2:3-4; Luke
24:32
1 Year Bible Reading Plan : revelation 3:7-22 Hosea 7-10
2 Year Bible Reading Plan : Revelation 11:11-19 Jonah 3-4
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