RHAPSODY OF REALITIES SATURDAY, 9TH MARCH.
“THE FIRE OF CLEANSING” BY PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME.
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, and with fire (Matthew 3:11).
Fire is very significant in Scripture. In some places, it was used to symbolize the Spirit of God and the character in which He operated or manifested Himself. When God revealed Himself to Moses, it was in the burning bush (Exodus 3:3-5). When the Holy Ghost came in Acts 2:1-4 as Jesus had promised His disciples, the Scriptures record that cloven tongues like as of fire appeared unto them and sat upon each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.
Then we read the words of John the Baptist in our opening verse above, where he talked about the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. Now, many have confused John’s statement to mean that both the power of the Holy Ghost, and the fire of the Holy Ghost are synonymous, but they aren’t. When John the Baptist said Jesus shall baptize with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, that “fire” meant judgment.
The fire of the Holy Ghost is about cleansing; it’s called, “The fire of Judgment” or “The fire of cleansing.” The Bible says, “…he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12). That’s judgment! It’s the same thing we see in Malachi 3:2-3: “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”
Thus, Holy Ghost fire is the fire of purification; it takes away the unclean things from your life; it burns them up, that there be no impurities in you; that fire purifies you, removes everything that’s not of God. Thus, you’re sanctified for the Lord’s use; you’re His vessel unto honour, to bring Him glory, and establish His will in the earth. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION
I’m washed, sanctified, justified, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God! There’s no uncleanness in me, for the fire of the Holy Ghost purifies my heart from all filthiness. I’ve become the radiance of God’s glory, and the expression of His righteousness. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
Isaiah 4:3-4 And it shall come to pass, [that he that is] left in Zion, and [he that] remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, [even] every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: 4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, [and] prepared unto every good work.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Mark 14:1-26 & Numbers 24-26
2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Matthew 21:18-32 & Exodus 18
