“And fire”
The most frustrating struggle - superficial Christians.
The most worrisome item - carnal Christians.
The greatest challenge - a generation that knows not God.
The answer to every one of those items is found in a single key statement of John the Baptist preaching - “Holy Ghost and fire.” It is the “and fire” aspect of his message that I particularly wish to focus on.
I. We have become used to a water based Christianity. Water based referring to the manner of cleansing applied to the Christian life.
A. We become used to the tolerant cleansing by washing. Washing of water by the word is a very kind way to be cleansed. The washing of baptism and foot washing are low cost ways of cleaning. But the scripture speaks of another cleansing, this one by fire.
B. Water cleanses the outside, but fire purifies the inside. Ore dug from the earth is washed with water to remove surface earth and dirt, but in order for it to be totally cleansed, it must go through the fire to burn out the dross.
C. The first mention of fire or flame in scripture was the angel with the flaming sword, restricting Adam and Eve’s entrance into Eden. The second mention of fire in scripture is in connection with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord rained on those cities with fire and brimstone. It was an instrument of cleansing the earth.
D. Fire is one of the most drastic cleansing agents known to man. Dr. whose house burned last week, “I couldn’t believe it burned. There was nothing there but concrete and steel. What was there to burn.”
II. Listen to scriptural declarations concerning the truth I am about to share with you:
A. “Behold the axe is laid at the root of the tree, every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire.”
1. Fruit - fruit of the spirit,
2. fruit of souls.
B. Our God is a consuming fire
C. Numb 31:23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make [it] go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
D. Zech 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God.
E. Mala 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
F. 1Cor 3:13 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. {it shall be: Gr. it is}
G. Let there be no doubt, “. . . and fire!” is still a dynamic part of God’s way or working.
III. Fire cleanses and destroys. It can either clean or destroy. That which allows fire to be a cleansing agent will be cleansed. That which stubbornly refuses to allow fire to cleanse is so cheap and tawdry that the only result of the heat can be destruction.
IV. “. . . and fire” at work in the book of Acts!
A. Simon the Sorcerer - cleansed
B. Annanias and Sapphira - destroyed
C. Notice: from the outside Annanias and Sapphira would seem to be of more value than Simon.
V. What we need “. . . and fire” to be applied to:
A. Christians who commit fornication. Young people and adults who are involved in preverted sexual relationships. Perversion is anything that takes the normal use of something and uses it in another way. (Ill. - Using a wrench for a hammer.) It is a perverted use
1. 1Cor 6:18 (KJS) Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
2. 1Cor 10:8 (KJS) Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
3. Gala 5:19 (KJS) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
4. 1The 4:3 (KJS) For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
5. Jude 1:7 (KJS) Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. {strange: Gr. other} 8 Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
B. Sex before marriage is wrong, sex outside of the marriage is wrong, unmarried couples - heavy petting - touching below the waist, breasts, etc. is wrong, laying down together for a kissing session is wrong. Completing sex involving everything but genital contact is wrong. It is sin.
C. “Holy Ghost and fire” Fire will burn out the dross or burn you up.
D. Guidelines to help you deal with lust:
1. If you are not married to a woman don’t ever be in her apartment. If you are not married to a man don’t ever be in his apartment.
a. It opens the door for sin.
b. It has the appearance of evil, even if nothing is going on.
2. Seriously considering implementing a concept to deal with dating. “No couple ever to be alone without one or the other family being with them at all times. ( relationships and how they grow.)
3. Pornography
VI. What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.
