"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Matthew 3:11)
"Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe: for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Many equate the "fire baptism" or being "fire baptized" with the "baptism of the Holy Ghost" which they are together yet in the same since different. The "baptism of the Holy Ghost" is for power to witness (Acts 1:8). Its a work of grace upon the life of the believer whereby faith they receive the "immersion" and or "infilling" of the Holy Spirit and thus the divine and human meet and cause an eruption and or outpouring. With these meeting of the divine and human i.e. where the Holy Spirit comes and rest and infills the believer there are signs and "smoke" that come from that eruption. Signs such as speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4; 10:46, 19:6), prophesy (Joel 2:28, Acts 19:6), and praise (Acts 2:11,Acts 10:44). From there gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the edification of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12,13,14). The fire baptism is the act whereby the Holy Ghost begins His sanctification process in the believer. It is the event where the sinful will of the believer is brought into subjection to the power of the Holy Spirit. For fire refines and burns and the surface and other layers are changed significantly. The glory of God is also equated with fire (Exodus 24:17). The glory of God is the earthly response of God's supernatural presence and thus fire is one of the elements symbolizing the mighty and all consuming presence of God. When the believer receives the Holy Ghost they receive the glory of God in the person of the Holy Spirit and fire will accompany not a physical fire but a spiritual fire (Acts 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:19). The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the event of power upon the believer while the fire baptism is opening or gateway event where the sanctification and purification of the believer is started. Both of these events are interrelate for they occur at the same time and work together throughout the believers life, are works of the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the baptizer in both instances. The Word of God along with the presence of the Holy Ghost make a powerful duo in convicting and preserving the believer in salvation and repentance for similar to the case of the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20:9 "But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." The fire baptism sanctifies the believer with a continual burning fervor and flame that can not easily be put out and works its purging throughout the life of the believer. The result of the "fire baptism" event/experience is holiness (Hebrews 12:14), fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and zeal for God! The "fire baptism" is an event/experience that every believer should seek and it beneficial to the well being of the believer. The "fire baptism" makes the believer like the burning bush seen by Moses in Exodus 3:2 "And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed" The depiction of the of the burning bush is parallel of similar to the experience of the believer in the "fire baptism". When Moses saw the burning bush the bush was burning with fire and was not consumed! Wow what a wonderful experience the believer is a continual flame and light for God (Matthew 5:16). Through our walk, talk, life, love, compassion and mercy we show that work and fire of God in us and its moving, burning, purging and cleansing power. We are like the burnt offerings before God a pleasing and blessed smell in His nostrils (Leviticus 9:24, 2 Chronicles 7:1). When people approach us as Moses did the bush they must see and stand in awe of the fire and mighty consuming presence of God within us and showing on the outside. Through the fire of God we draw people that are cold and hard at heart to be warmed and melted by God's fire in Jesus. Those shivering and shaking from the cold of sin to warm by the fire of God's salvation in Jesus. The "baptism of fire" is a powerful and critical asset and gift the life of the believer and is given by God's grace. Through the Holy Spirit's fire we continuely feel the warmth of God's love toward us despite the cold and bitter storms and situations that confront us from the world ( St. John 14:26). In summation the "Fire Baptism" is an event orchestrated by Christ Jesus and worked by the Holy Spirit that begins the process of sanctification in the believer it imparts cleansing, purity, refinement, comfort, warmth, holiness and light!
"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up." (Exodus 3:2)
"And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:9)
"So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7)
"Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe: for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29)
Many equate the "fire baptism" or being "fire baptized" with the "baptism of the Holy Ghost" which they are together yet in the same since different. The "baptism of the Holy Ghost" is for power to witness (Acts 1:8). Its a work of grace upon the life of the believer whereby faith they receive the "immersion" and or "infilling" of the Holy Spirit and thus the divine and human meet and cause an eruption and or outpouring. With these meeting of the divine and human i.e. where the Holy Spirit comes and rest and infills the believer there are signs and "smoke" that come from that eruption. Signs such as speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4; 10:46, 19:6), prophesy (Joel 2:28, Acts 19:6), and praise (Acts 2:11,Acts 10:44). From there gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the edification of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12,13,14). The fire baptism is the act whereby the Holy Ghost begins His sanctification process in the believer. It is the event where the sinful will of the believer is brought into subjection to the power of the Holy Spirit. For fire refines and burns and the surface and other layers are changed significantly. The glory of God is also equated with fire (Exodus 24:17). The glory of God is the earthly response of God's supernatural presence and thus fire is one of the elements symbolizing the mighty and all consuming presence of God. When the believer receives the Holy Ghost they receive the glory of God in the person of the Holy Spirit and fire will accompany not a physical fire but a spiritual fire (Acts 2:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:19). The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the event of power upon the believer while the fire baptism is opening or gateway event where the sanctification and purification of the believer is started. Both of these events are interrelate for they occur at the same time and work together throughout the believers life, are works of the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the baptizer in both instances. The Word of God along with the presence of the Holy Ghost make a powerful duo in convicting and preserving the believer in salvation and repentance for similar to the case of the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 20:9 "But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." The fire baptism sanctifies the believer with a continual burning fervor and flame that can not easily be put out and works its purging throughout the life of the believer. The result of the "fire baptism" event/experience is holiness (Hebrews 12:14), fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and zeal for God! The "fire baptism" is an event/experience that every believer should seek and it beneficial to the well being of the believer. The "fire baptism" makes the believer like the burning bush seen by Moses in Exodus 3:2 "And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed" The depiction of the of the burning bush is parallel of similar to the experience of the believer in the "fire baptism". When Moses saw the burning bush the bush was burning with fire and was not consumed! Wow what a wonderful experience the believer is a continual flame and light for God (Matthew 5:16). Through our walk, talk, life, love, compassion and mercy we show that work and fire of God in us and its moving, burning, purging and cleansing power. We are like the burnt offerings before God a pleasing and blessed smell in His nostrils (Leviticus 9:24, 2 Chronicles 7:1). When people approach us as Moses did the bush they must see and stand in awe of the fire and mighty consuming presence of God within us and showing on the outside. Through the fire of God we draw people that are cold and hard at heart to be warmed and melted by God's fire in Jesus. Those shivering and shaking from the cold of sin to warm by the fire of God's salvation in Jesus. The "baptism of fire" is a powerful and critical asset and gift the life of the believer and is given by God's grace. Through the Holy Spirit's fire we continuely feel the warmth of God's love toward us despite the cold and bitter storms and situations that confront us from the world ( St. John 14:26). In summation the "Fire Baptism" is an event orchestrated by Christ Jesus and worked by the Holy Spirit that begins the process of sanctification in the believer it imparts cleansing, purity, refinement, comfort, warmth, holiness and light!
"There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up." (Exodus 3:2)
"And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:9)
"So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:7)
