THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE

The fire of God is the purifying, sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit, burning out of us everything that is not like Jesus, and burning into us everything that is like Jesus.

1. The Fire of God Purifies

Luke 3:16-17 – “John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor; and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Who is the baptizer with the Holy Spirit?

What does the chaff represent?

What happens to the chaff?

When was the initial fulfillment of the promise of Luke 3:16?

Acts 2:3 (NLT) – “Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.”

Acts 2:4 – “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

2 Corinthians 6:17-18 – “Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Zechariah 2:5 – “‘For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

2. The Fire of God Magnifies

Acts 2:11b – “We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

The Holy Spirit fills our mouth with praise!

Psalm 34:1 – “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 34:3 – “Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His Name together.”

John 16:14 – “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

The fire of the Holy Spirit wants to burn out of our mouths complaining, negative, ungodly words, and burn into our mouths words of adoration and praise.

3. The Fire of God Clarifies

Romans 14:10 – “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Romans 14:12 – “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

We will give an account of how we have lived for Jesus Christ and stewarded all that He has given to us.

1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 – “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 – “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

The fire will reveal the motive and the heart behind all that we have done.

What is birthed in the flesh and carried out in the flesh will be burned. That which is birthed in the Spirit and carried out under the leading of the Spirit will be known.

We want to submit to the sanctifying presence of the fire of God now, so the works we do for the Lord will not be burned up then.