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Fire Baptism Was hell prepared for men? NO. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. But this is God's only designed place for punishment. He didn't make a place for man and he won't. He only made one place, and that is for the devil and his angels. Men may choose to spend eternity in that place of fire, or they may allow the cleansing of God’s holy fire while they are here on earth. God hates sin. He promises to burn all his enemies. He promises never to flood the earth again, but promises that the earth will be consumed by fire. 2 Pet 3:7-10 (KJV) "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." We must choose our destinies now: fire now, or fire later. Mat 3:11 (KJV) “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 [1], and with fire [2]:” Fire is one of the physical manifestations of God’s presence. Fire is symbolized as: instrument of His power, a sign of His holiness, and as an illustration His anger against sin. These are all experienced when in his presence. We find these illustrated several times in the Bible: The making of the covenant with Abraham (Gen. 15:17), the appearance in the burning bush (Ex. 3:2), God leading the Israelites by a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:2122; 14:24; Num. 9:1516; 14:14; etc.), His appearance on Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:18; 24:17; Deut. 4:1136; 5:426; etc.), and others (1 Kings 18:24, 38; 1 Chron. 21:26; 2 Chron. 7:1, 3). Fire was used symbolically in Israel’s worship to represent God’s constant presence with Israel (Lev. 6:1213). Lev 6:12,13 (KJV) "And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon[1] the fat of the peace offerings. 13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar[2]; it shall never go out." God’s presence as fire represented both judgment and purification (pur: the words purify and purge come from the Greek word for fire). God’s baptism of fire is our only source of purification.
To be continued…
-Pr. S. Chad Ross November Newsletter 2006 | Servants Will Serve | Pastor's Journal November 2005 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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