Matthew 3:11 “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.
What we are missing in the church today, and in this youth group, is a baptism of Holy Ghost fire. What is this Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire?
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
The Holy Spirit has been given by the Father in the physical absence of the Son, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is likened to and referenced with fire.
What do we know about fire?
1. If you have ever been burned by fire you don’t come out the same.
-You will be beyond recognition when you have been burned by fire.
The Holy Spirit wants to be the fire that burns you beyond recognition. People will see you as different and new, not the same person you were before. When the Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost not one person who was filled was the same from that day forward. It marked a change in their life and walk with God.
Acts 18:24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit,[d] he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Apollos was saved, the Bible makes that clear. But he was missing the fire. He hadn’t been burned. Priscilla and Aquila explained the way of God “more accurately” meaning the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a necessary part of our Christian witness and faith. When we leave out the fire of the Holy Spirit from our doctrine, we quench the Spirit and falsely represent God.
120 people got baptized with fire in the Upper Room and the whole town noticed in minutes. Here we claim that people are being baptized in the Holy Spirit and the town never notices.
If we want to shake this community for the cause of Jesus Christ it is first going to take the Holy Spirit burning us beyond recognition. We can’t make the fire come. God alone sends the fire. We can call on him to send the fire, just as Elijah did at Mt. Carmel.
God burn me tonight. I need to be burned beyond recognition by your Holy Spirit.
Stories of Spirit-Filled Men and Women in Scripture
-Bezalel
Exodus 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.
-Joshua
Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him.
-Samson
Judges 14:5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring.6 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat.
-John the Baptist
Luke 1:15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
John 10:41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”
Matthew 11:11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.
-Paul
Acts 13:9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
-Stephen
Acts 7:55 But [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[a] at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
If God can place his Spirit in a man to tear a lion to pieces what he can he do with you when he fills you with the Holy Spirit? Paul was filled with the Spirit not only to do miracles of healing, but also of condemnation and disease-giving.
Quotes
“The Spirit reveals, unfolds, takes of the things of Christ and shows them to us, and prepares us to be more than a match for satanic forces.”-Smith Wigglesworth
“The Holy Spirit never enters a man and lets him live like the world. You can be sure of that.”- A.W. Tozer
“The only answer to hellfire is Holy Ghost fire.”-Leonard Ravenhill
“You never have to advertise a fire. Everyone comes running when there’s a fire. Likewise, if your church is on fire you will not have to advertise it. The community will already know it.”-Leonard Ravenhill
“You can’t offend a man that’s filled with the Spirit.”-Leonard Ravenhill
“Fire never falls on the altar. It falls on the sacrifice.”-Leonard Ravenhill
“The baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is indispensable to ministerial success.”-Charles Finney
“The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart. Anyone who has tended a fireplace fire knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally.”-William Booth
“The world boasts its atomic power; some cults boast their satanic power, but where are those who boast Holy Ghost power?”-Leonard Ravenhill
