The Baptism of Fire

The fire is not the enemy of the believer, it is the purifying friend which empowers you on the outside and purifies you on the inside.

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While we love to talk about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and many discuss water Baptism, not many talk about (or discuss) the Baptism of Fire.

Part of the reason that I think that it’s not discussed, is because many don’t understand what it’s for. Some believe that’s it’s a Supernatural Empowerment while others lean towards the idea that it has something to do with purification, one thing that is definitely for sure about it is that it only manifests as a result of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life:

“I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH FIRE.” Matthew 3:11

While I do believe that there’s a Supernatural Empowerment that takes place as a result of the Fire of God, His Fire has one major purpose on the inside of every believer’s life and that is to remove the dross from the Gold and Silver that God is producing on the inside of your life:

“And I will bring My hand again upon you and thoroughly purge away your dross [as with lye] and take away all your tin or alloy. And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” Isaiah 1:25-26

The word Dross here is what attaches itself to Silver and makes the silver tainted and worthless, but it could be directly translated as “turning backward or backsliding”. Silver in scripture almost always represents Redemption, so it is a backsliding away from the Lord and His Redeeming Ability which is what the Dross represents.

The Fire of God not only removes the Dross, but it also purifies the Silver and Gold a little more each time it is tried by the Fire! So that every time that it’s touched by the fire the more translucent it becomes see-through and the brighter it shines.

“So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely MORE PRECIOUS THAN THE PERISHABLE GOLD WHICH IS TESTED AND PURIFIED BY FIRE. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:7

“And I will bring the third part THROUGH THE FIRE, AND WILL REFINE THEM AS SILVER IS REFINED AND WILL TEST THEM AS GOLD IS TESTED. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God.” Zechariah 13:9

While the Holy Spirit is burning upon the outside of my life for Supernatural Empowerment, He is also burning inside of me to purify my life! So while many believe that it is one or the other of these two things, the Baptism of Fire is both at the same time! That same Holy Spirit which comes upon you in Power is the same Holy Spirit who lives in you to transform your life.

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). But if anyone builds upon the FOUNDATION, WHETHER IT BE WITH GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS STONES, WOOD, HAY, STRAW, The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because IT WILL BE REVEALED WITH FIRE, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-13

The Fire is not the enemy of the believer, it is the PURIFYING FRIEND which Empowers you by the Holy Spirit on the outside of your life and Purifies you on the inside of your life. Transforming you a little more each day into the image of the Son of God through the operation of the Cross that we each carry.

Let the Holy Spirit touch your life with His Fire to Empower you on the outside and Renew you on the inside! While it may not exactly be a comfortable process to endure, it will yield extraordinary benefits for your life going forward. 

“But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].” Job 23:10

    

 

 

 

Featured Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay

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About the Author

Daniel Pontious is a Kingdom Winds Contributor and passionate about teaching and revealing the Heart of the Father and Drawing people Closer to Him. It is his desire to see every member of the Body of Christ Functioning in their Personal Identity In Him!