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Fire Baptism part 2 of 3 To be in God’s presence is to be in the presence of absolute holiness where no sin or unrighteousness can stand. To be in the presence of God is to have the overwhelming sense of one’s uncleanness and the overwhelming desire to be clean (see Isa. 6:16). Isa 6:1-5 (KJV) "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." God is able to judge and destroy the sin and purify the repentant sinner. The Holy Spirit is the gift Jesus gave His disciples (John 20:22) and is the presence of God at work in the life of the believer and in the world. John 20:21-23 (KJV) "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:” Most stop here; but the sentence is incomplete: 23 “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." This is the baptism of fire, the recognition of sin, the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The presence of God’s Spirit brings the overwhelming sense of one’s uncleanness and the overwhelming desire to be clean. The statement “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire,” means that Jesus had and has the ability to immerse (baptize) people in the presence of God so that they are aware of their sin and their need to be cleansed of that sin. What sin are we talking about? We have heard in the past about repentance; but what if we can't repent? We must recognize sin. How many have the conviction of the Holy Spirit? How many have that conviction over all sin in their lives? Have we become hardened? The baptism of fire brings back that recognition. If we stop speaking in tongues, the language dries up. It is the same with the fire. It must be renewed daily. How can we intercede if we are not baptized with fire? We must recognize sin. We must hate what God hates. It is the war against sin. It starts with our own lives, then goes out into the world. To be continued…
-Pr. S. Chad Ross
December Newsletter 2006 | Biblical Separation | Fire Baptism part 2 of 3 Pastor's Journal December 2005 | The Power to Please God | Missions
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