THE FIRE OF THE LORD
MATTHEW 3:11 – 12
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: 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
THIS MORNING I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT MAY NOT BE POPULAR, BUT ONE THAT IS NEEDED
THIS MORNING I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU NOT ONLY ABOUT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, BUT ABOUT THE FIRE OF THE LORD THAT COMES WITH THE HOLY GHOST
WE DO NOT HEAR ENOUGH PREACHING TODAY ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND EVEN LESS ABOUT THE FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST
ALTHOUGH MANY MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT, ALONG WITH THE BAPTISM COMES THE FIRE
WHAT IS THE FIRE?
FIRE IS MENTIONED OVER 500 TIMES IN THE WORD OF GOD
FIRE HAS ALWAYS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAN’S LIFE
WHILE NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE WHERE FIRE FIRST CAME FROM, EVERY GENERATION EVER RECORDED THE USE OF FIRE
GENESIS 19:24 IS THE FIRST RECORDED MENTION OF FIRE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
GEN. 19:24
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
MATTHEW 3:10 IS THE FIRST RECORDED USE OF THE WORD FIRE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
MATT. 3:10
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire
IT IS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT THE FIRST MENTION OF FIRE IN BOTH TESTAMENTS ALSO SPEAKS OF AN ACT OF JUDGMENT
AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THERE IS AN ACT OF PURGING, PURIFYING ASSOCIATED WITH IT AS WELL
MATTHEW 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
GOD AND FIRE GO TOGETHER
AS WE STUDY THE SCRIPTURES WE SOON LEARN THAT GOD AND FIRE HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER
For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire (Gen. 8:20). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled from heaven (Lev. 6:9, 13; 9:24), and afterwards rekindled at the dedication of Solomon’s temple
(2 Chr. 7:1, 3).
Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah’s presence and the instrument of his power (Ex. 14:19; Num. 11:1, 3; Judg. 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isa. 6:4; Ezek. 1:4; Rev. 1:14, etc.).
God’s word is also likened unto fire (Jer. 23:29).
IN THE FIRE WE SEE GOD’S PLEASURE
LEVITICUS 9:24
And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
1 KINGS 18:38
Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
1 CHRONICLES 21:26
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
2 CHRONICLES 7:1
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
IN FIRE WE SEE GOD’S ANGER
LEVITICUS 10:1
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
2 SAMUEL 22:13
Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. 14 The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them. 16 And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
BUT IN OUR TEXT WE SEE FIRE IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT
HERE IN MATTHEW 3:12 WE SEE THE FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST AT WORK PURIFYING, SEPARATING, PURGING, CLEANSING
IF WE ARE TO SEE A MIGHTY MOVE OF GOD IN OUR LIVES TODAY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ALLOW THE FIRE OF THE HOLY GHOST TO DO A WORK IN US
A WORK OF PURIFYING, A WORK OF SEPARATION, A WORK OF PURGING, A WORK OF CLEANSING
TITUS SAYS OF CHRIST
TITUS 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
JAMES TELLS US
JAMES 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded
1 CORINTHIANS 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
2 TIMOTHY 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
HEBREWS 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
2 CORINTHIANS 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
IF WE ARE TO SEE GOD MOVE IN OUR LIVES WE MUST ALLOW THE HOLY GHOST TO SEPARATE THE CHAFF AND BURN IT AS WELL
TOO OFTEN WE GET UNDER CONVICTION ON SUNDAY MORNING AND BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON WE ARE RIGHT BACK TO BEING DEFILED AGAIN
IF WE ARE GOING TO SEE GOD MOVE IN OUR LIVES WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BURN UP THOSE THINGS THAT DEFILE US
REMEMBER MATTHEW 13, AND THE
PARABLE OF THE SOWER
SOME NEVER SEE GOD MOVE BECAUSE THEY NEVER PREPARE FOR GOD TO MOVE
SOME SEE GOD BEGAN TO MOVE JUST TO SEE IT WITHER AWAY BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT ARE LEFT IN THE FIELD
THAT ROOT OF MURMURING,
THAT ROOT OF COMPLAINING,
THAT ROOT OF CONTROL
THAT ROOT OF PRIDE THAT DRIVES US TO REBELLION
THAT ROOT OF CRITICISM
THAT ROOT OF MY OPINION BEING BETTER THAN GOD’S
SOME SEE GOD BEGAN TO MOVE JUST TO SEE IT WITHER AWAY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF DEPTH
ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE THE GOOD GROUND WILL SEE A MOVE OF GOD
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SE GOD MOVE IN YOUR LIFE IN THESE LAST DAYS
IF SO THEN IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE OF US THE HOLY GHOST BURNING UP SOME THINGS IN OUR LIFE
WILL YOU BE THE WHEAT THAT WILL GO INTO THE GARNER, OR THE CHAFF THAT GOES INTO THE FIRE?
