Dear beloved: Many good Christians are laboring mightily in their own flesh and strength to try to live spirit filled lives, to live lives of righteousness and good works. But they are laboring under weakness because they have not been truly baptized with the fire and the total immersion of the Holy Ghost in their life. In the 19th chapter of Acts, Paul encountered some believers that had been laboring in that condition for many years; they were saved believers but they did not even know that there was a Holy Spirit. Acts 19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples v2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." v3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?'" So they said, "Into John's baptism." v4 Then Paul said, " John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." v5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. v6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. v7 Now there were about twelve men in all.
John the Baptist prophesied in Matthew 3:11, when he said, "there is One coming who is mightier than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am unworthy to untie, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!" And we know that baptism came on the day of Pentecost, when 120 who were in one accord and who were waiting for what had been promised to them by Jesus, were filled with that fire when a mighty rushing wind filled the room, and cloven tongues of fire rested upon the heads of each one of them. The fire of coarse didn't just rest on their heads, but penetrated their bodies, souls, and spirits, and they evidenced that transformation when they began to speak in tongues. What had been a bunch of weak and cowering disciples was instantly transformed into the power preachers and evangelists, the ones whom Jesus had entrusted to spread the gospel of the Kingdom of God to even the remotest parts of the earth.
Beloved, we need a fresh filling of that fire right now. Many in the church are fearful to even talk about tongues, miracles, and healings; the devil has beaten down the body of Christ so much, power is out and decorum is in. If you have never received the baptism of fire, seek the Lord Jesus in worship and let the Holy Spirit baptize you with that fire. The devil is ramping up his attacks on believers as the end day draws near, he knows his time is running short! Don't settle for less than all the Lord has for you. If you are already a spirit baptized believer, ask the Lord for a fresh filling, that you will be rekindled and refreshed to do all that the Lord has called you to do. May God bless you this day as you seek the Lord for His fire! in Christ, Jim www.gathertheoutcasts.com
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