The most descriptive image we get of God is found in Hebrews 12:29 "OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.”
For some of us the fire has burned out, and this verse tells us our God is a consuming fire, a fire that never burns out. And some need a touch of the fire that is burning in the heart of the Lord.
Mattew 3:7-12 John the Baptist preaches one of the most authoritative messages in the word of God. The entire message is in 5 verses. John is not a long-winded preacher; he is direct, pointed, he is a preacher that has something to say specifically. As we read his sermon, it’s filled with hope for the hopeless, faith for the discouraged, power for the powerless, and excitement for the apathetic. John lets us know at the very beginning regardless of past failures, disappointments, discouragement’s, the believer’s future can be bright. That’s the message I have for you this evening. As a believer your future can be bright. John informs us that failure can turn into success, defeat into victory, darkness into light, and ashes can turn into fire.
The first six verses of Matthew chapter three set the scene for the sermon that’s coming in verses 7-12. Verses 1-6 can be described in 6 words: MAN, MESSAGE, MOTIVE, MISSION, MANNER, and MINISTRY.
Verse 1 "In those days John the Baptist came” - MAN
Verse 1 "Preaching in the desert of Judea and saying "Repent,” - MESSAGE
Verse 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is near.” - MOTIVE
Verse 3 “This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: A Voice of one calling in the desert saying "Prepare the way for the Lord” - MISSION
Verse 4 "John’s clothes were mad of camel’s hair.“ -MANNER.
Verse 6 “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” - MINISTRY.
Johns preaching was simple, his message pointed, limited, direct. He didn’t preach a lot of theological things that were happening in the kingdom of God. But John had a single-minded purpose in the kind of communication to the people. His ministry was powerful, bold, with courage, and power and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. And the bible said this kind of ministry was so attractive to the people that they came from all over the region. Jerusalem, Judea, Jordan. Beginning with Verse 7, not everybody who came to hear the message of John came for the right reasons.
Verse 7 - "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Saducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?”
This verse informs us that among the mass of humanity that came to hear John preach were the Pharisees and Saducees. Both were the religious leaders of the day. Theologically and philosophically both were on opposite sides. Opposed to each other. Totally divided and yet they were the religious leaders of the day. What kind of religion do you suppose they had? Not unity, but divisive.
Pharisees were self-righteous. The would sometimes pray "Oh Lord look at me, I’m fasted this week. So people would look at them and say, my a holy person you are. They were hypocritical. On the outside they had the look of holiness.
Saducees, whatever the Pharisees were they were not. Though the Pharisees were hypocritical they had some spiritual understanding. The Saducees had a particular religion or philosophy that didn’t let them believe in the after life or angels, or redemption or salvation. The only thing they believed in was the power of money. They were business owners of the day. When Jesus turned over the tables of the moneychangers in the temple, do you know who was in charge? The Saducees. They sold the sacrifices.
So John is baptizing in the River Jordan, preaching the message of repentance. He sees 2 major religious groups heading toward him. And the first words out of his mouth was you brood of vipers. You bunch of snakes. Brood meaning offspring. Son’s and daughters of Satan. You children of vipers. This was their spiritual condition and was why he came to them with such hard and harsh terms. The Pharisees and Saducees were the pastors of the day, the evangelists, priests, pastors. Instead of preaching a message of hope, encouragement, power and God’s love and holiness. They were preaching a message of defeat and despair.
Verse 8 - Paul introduces the subject of fruit. He says, “produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
I’m calling upon you to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Then he speaks to the mass of humanity who came to hear a message of hope. “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Verse 9 - "And do not think you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
Don’t believe just because you attend church that your relationship with God is OK.
Verse 10 - "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Can’t you picture the scribes and Pharisees listening? He says you believe religion or salvation is in who you are or what you do. Go has an axe poised and ready and the ax is aimed at your legs. And God is going to cut you down, because you have as the basis of you faith nationality. God doesn’t care about nationality or gender. You believe the basis of you faith is your ability to give and serve. God will cut those people down.
Neither the Pharisees nor Saducees had fruit in keeping with repentance. They didn’t have it. You’ll be cut down as trees and thrown into the fire. But John also has a message of hope for all those newly baptized converts. John has a message of hope and to those he says keep fruit in keeping with repentance. Don’t be like the scribes but produce fruit.
Verse 11 - The prophet identifies for us 3 fruits of repentance to be exhibited in the lives of the believers. These fruits are called BAPTISMS
WATER BAPTISM, H.S. BAPTISM, FIRE BAPTISM
1. Water Baptism.
Our relationship with Jesus that was based on his death, burial and resurrection. We see reference here to the person the Godhead. Baptism in water is representative to the work of Jesus Christ did for us. Before we can be baptized in water we must be baptized into Christ. Recognizing Jesus died for us, buried, and resurrected. Every person that recognizes that in the spirit of repentance has been baptized into Christ. And the result should be a life of holiness. So the purpose of the baptism in water is HOLINESS FOR SERVICE.
2. Holy Spirit Baptism
Purpose is in Acts 1,2. POWERFUL WITNESSING. Acts 1:8.
3. Fire Baptism
He Jesus will baptize you with fire. Use to read this as just two baptisms. To who are we baptized into fire? God! A reference of the trinity.
Baptism into Christ produces fruit for the purpose of holiness for service.
Baptism into the Spirit allows us to have fruit for powerful witnessing.
What fruit of repentance comes from our baptism into God?
Greek word means ENTHEOS.
En – INSIDE GOD.
Theos – THEOLOGY - God.
BAPTIZED INTO GOD.
We have one English word where we get Entheos. It’s ENTHUSIASM. Literal meaning to be baptized in God. God in you. Enthusiasm for preaching and serving and living.
The only people who can be enthusiastic in the literal sense of the word are those who are baptized in God. Unbelievers are enthusiastic about whatever. In the true New Testament sense of the word they are not enthusiastic.
John the Baptist says you don’t have to be like the Pharisees or Saducees. You don’t have to be defeated or down cast or worldly minded. But you can exhibit the fruits of repentance in your life.
A Baptism in Water will give you holiness for service.
A Baptism with the Spirit will give you powerful witnessing.
A Baptism of Fire will give you enthusiasm for life as God intended for you to live it.
Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life ....ENTHUSIASTIC kind of life.
When John looked at his audience he sees that they had no enthusiasm for living. Religious bondage, economic problems, sickness, and poverty. Walking around like dead people. The fire had gone out. So John says you not only need baptism in water, and baptism in the Holy Spirit, but baptism into God for Enthusiasm.
As I look about this congregation I can say that our congregation is not that all too different.
For some the fire has gone out of the marriage. The honeymoon is over. The fire and Enthusiasm has burned out. Your either bored at your spouse or continually angry with you spouse. Enthusiasm would be the last word. I know that for a fact.
For others the fire has gone out of your work. You’re no longer challenged by what you do. Pay is lousy. Atmosphere is defeating. Boss is demanding. You hate to get up in the morning and punch that clock. For you know today will be like yesterday and tomorrow like today. Enthusiasm is the last word you would use.
For some the fires has gone out of your worship. You don’t want to lift your hands anymore. The only reason you do is when you look around you see everyone else is, so not to stand out you do it but your heart is not in it. When it comes to the choruses you just move your lips and if you sing at all it’s not from you heart, but from you mind. When it comes to worship, enthusiasm is the last word you would use to describe it.
For some I have discovered when the fire goes out of worship it’s not too long after when the fire goes out of your Christian service. You don’t want to teach Sunday school anymore. Don’t want to serve on any committees. Don’t call me pastor. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t care whether I come to Sunday school, or Sunday morning or Sunday evening. I don’t enjoy singing or lifting my hands or praying. Enthusiasm is the last world you would use to describe it.
There are those who would say the fire has gone out of my faith. I don’t know if I can trust God anymore. You know what happened to me last week or last month. I prayed and committed that thing to God. And for some reason God chose not to answer. I don’t know if I can have faith in him anymore. And because he didn’t meet my need, I don’t know if I can commit my needs of today or tomorrow. For some enthusiasm would not be the word to describe you faith.
There are those who say the fire has gone out of my goals and dreams and aspirations for the future. I use to have great hop for the future. An agenda for the future. All of these goals I wanted to accomplish in my life. Now I’m not sure enthusiasm is not the word I would use.
4. There are many things that can extinguish the flames of enthusiasm.
a. Physical Exhaustion puts the flame out of Christian service.
b. Emotional Burnout
c. Spiritual Depletion; No enthusiasm for anything
d. Sickness; No enthusiasm to pray and believe God today for my healing.
e. Death; God why did you take my loved one? Why did you take my friend? We had such great plans and goals, and now cause my loved one is gone so is my enthusiasm.
f. Unrealized expectations; We’ve all had goals, dreams unfulfilled. Because we didn’t fulfill them, we step back and say I just won’t try cause I failed before I won’t try again.
g. Negative word or Critical word. Someone has spoken to you. Maybe they misinterpreted the good intentions you had. So they spoke angrily at you and your response is; if that’s the way you going to act toward my good intention I won’t bother to do anything anymore.
ILLUST: The Nation of Israel led by Moses out of Egypt. Moses and Miriam and Aaron are full of enthusiasm. God had not only brought them out of Egypt but also through the Red Sea and in the process destroyed all their enemies. So on the other shore we see Moses and Miriam leading Israel in worship and Praise. They sing with enthusiasm, and dance and enthusiastically Israel begins to plan for their future. They chart their course; nothing can stop them now. God is with them and they’re going all the way to the Promised Land.
But the time we get to chapter 11. 2 years and 2 months removed. We see a different Israel. Roaming about in a hostile and hot environment. The excitement and enthusiasm is gone. The desert was their fire extinguisher. The food they had to eat, the people they had to battle was their fire extinguisher. Putting out the excitement.
Exodus 11:1,4. Watch out for the rabble. Everyone’s got one. Verse 1 they’re complaining. Let’s move it. Verse 4 they’re wailing. Who do you think you are? Verse 10; It’s not just a group, now it’s every family. It’s contagious. A system of wailing. A specific time to give in to wailing ad defeatism.
Moses new as long as the embers have burned out of their hearts and the full of ashes they would never make it to the other side. Never fulfill God’s plan. Moses knew he had to turn the ashes in their hearts into something of beauty. To rekindle the flames. To restore an unenthusiastic people into the realm of enthusiasm.
So Moses began to pray. God spoke to Moses and get down to the tabernacle and you talk to the leaders and you get them to the tabernacle. I’m about to do something special in you heart and life. When Moses and the leaders gathered in the tent of dwelling, of the presence of God, Moses and the leaders began to cry out.
Verse 11 - The spirit fell and the anointing descended. Glory of God filled the tent.
These men were baptized with the fire of God. And by the end of the day these same prophets left the tent and went through out Israel preaching and prophesying. What were they prophesying?
Come down trodden, lift up you hands cause God is ruling and God is reigning.
They were saying to the sick, don’t look at your problem, look at Jehovah Rapha for he’s the God who heals you.
To the financially hard-pressed come on God will open up the windows of blessing.
To the unenthusiastic come on we can make it.
To the unexcited come on. God is in the midst.
What was it that changed their hearts?
BAPTISM WITH FIRE!
THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY GHOST UPON THEM
They were baptized into God. When we’re baptized into God, our whole outlook changes, our perspective is different. Instead of discouraged were encouraged. Instead of a lack of excitement were excited. The baptism with fire changes things.
John the Baptist tells these people you not only need to be baptized in water unto repentance. He says to these people who are hurting. To these people who have ashes in their hearts, burnt wood. You need to be inflamed with the power of God’s Holy Spirit. And I know such a one who is coming after me who is greater than I am and He’s so great that I’m not worthy to tie his sandals. And he shall baptize you with fire from God with excitement and enthusiasm and life for living.
This message was not only good for John the Baptist. This applies to 20th century believers. It applies to us, to this church. For each one of us in someway we can say the fire has burned out, and I need to be baptized in God. Our church needs to be baptized with fire.
Baptism in water, that’s the beginning.
And baptism in the Holy Ghost, that’s wonderful.
But how many times do we hear preached you need to be baptized in God.
Fire of enthusiasm over every part of our lives.
WE NEED TO BE BAPTIZED WITH ENTHUSIASM.
You need to be baptized in Enthusiasm for its out of that, supernatural results happen. The only way is baptism with fire. A church or person who is baptized with enthusiasm will:
Pray enthusiastically
Worship enthusiastically
Get along with your spouse.
God says when you do that you give me something to work with and I will do my part and pour out supernaturally.
Call upon the name of the Lord who is a consuming fire.
