Our baptism in fire…

John the Baptist said that: “He who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Mat 3:11)…

And the way you can know you are in this baptism is the more the Wind of the Holy Spirit blows, the hotter the fire burns.

There is a very important and crucial rhyme and a reason for all of this madness, because for us to enter into Glory we must first go through the fire of transformation.

It is through this fire baptism that we are being transformed into the image of Christ, and are being prepared for His return.

There are three things you need for fire: heat, air, and a fuel source.

God’s presence is the heat and the wind of the Holy Spirit is the air, and the more the wind of the Spirit blows, the hotter the fire.

Now, who is willing to be a fuel source for this Holy Fire?

That would be us, meaning you and me, as God’s born-again covenant children.

Fire changes the composition of a substance at a molecular level, and likewise it is through our baptism in fire that we are being changed as well.

Proverbs 17:3

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

Are you being crushed in God’s crucible and are the flames of God’s refining process being turned up in your life?

There are two processes for purifying gold and silver, and both are used as metaphors in cleansing and purifying God’s covenant children:

Water – used to wash away sand and gravel from the chunks of metal mined from the earth.

Fire – used to burn and melt the metals to purify them.

Water and fire are both spiritually analogous to the Word and the Spirit.

The crucible is a metal refining pot and it is where the impurities are separated out; and it is used for both gold and silver, before they can be worked into fine vessels (Prov. 25:4).

These refining pots are all a part of the purifying process for both gold and silver, and they are a metaphor for how God purifies us for His service. (Prov. 17:3; 27:21).

Malachi 3:3

3 He (God) will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness.

The refiner knows exactly how much heat to apply so as to purify and not to cause the metal to boil over and to be loss.

Likewise the “Master Refiner” knows our limits as well:

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

                                           
The refiner knows how valuable the gold is, and so he is extremely careful not to lose one ounce of gold in the process.
                                         
Some sources tell us that the refiner allows the silver to be refined until he can see his image reflected in the pot; and then he knows that it is pure.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

But the LORD trieth the hearts

The heart of man, in the Bible, is likened to silver and gold.

The heart of a man is of great value to God; but also we are told in its natural unregenerated state, it is deceitfully wicked (Jer 17:9).

It is because the refiner knows the value of the precious metals once refined, that he goes through so much effort to bring about that refinement.

Likewise God knows our value, that after having gone through this refining process, that we may be used in His service.

You see the problem is flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50), and the reason is the old man of our flesh, by its very nature, is contrary to the ways of God, because of sin.

So what is this sin that has caused our separation from God?

Our sin nature, which we ALL have inherited from our father Adam, is most evident in our natural inclination and predisposition to do our own thing and go our own way, without any regard whatsoever to the original plans and purposes of God.

Isaiah 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.

Sin is ANYTHING that we do that goes against or is contrary to the original plans and purposes of God.

Sin is what brings disharmony into the natural order of things, as we find existed in the original creation.

In the biblical record of creation (found in Gen 1&2), after each thing was created, God said that “it was good;” and so the reason why sin is such a big problem and why it cannot be tolerated in God’s presence, is because it brings disharmony and confusion into God’s perfect order.

God created man to be in sync,  communion and in fellowship with Him 24/7.

If we want to know what God’s original plan and purpose was for Adam, and therefore for us as well – as his offspring, then we have but to look at Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible calls “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45).

In first John 2:6 we are told that anyone who says he abides in Christ ought himself also to walk, even as Jesus walked!

The long and short of this whole thing is that there is a process that we each have to go through, in training for our earthly service and also in preparation for eternity.

It is this very process that is our baptism by fire, and it is through the friction and heat of our earthly trials and tribulations, including the ones you are going through at this present moment, that God is in fact purify the dross from your life.

1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.

Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls!

Come join the Adventure!

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                   ΙΧΘΥΣ
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior
—
Ps 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

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