The Church on Fire
John the Baptist’s baptism - repentance
Do better, stop doing, start doing, turn over a new leaf
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Water Baptism of the believer - death, burial, resurrection.
Fighting against discrimination of something in your identity
Real Bible Christianity does not save your identity, it gives you a new one
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Mathew 3:12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. (NKJV_
Jesus’ Baptism in the Holy Spirt
The Holy Spirit Come
“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4 NLT
Holy Spirit fire - salvations, miracles, joy and generosity
Holy Spirit fire characterised the Church
Empowering
Rocket fuel - 2760
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To give SLS extra power to get it off the ground, twin five-segment rocket boosters, built by Orbital ATK, tower more than 17 stories tall, burn six tons of solid propellant each second and help SLS break free from the clutches of Earth’s gravity.
Spirit of the Age, World, Anti Christ. ME, My best, highest, Man’s best w/o God
Follow me
Transformation - Making steel from iron ore and coal - 1700 c
Change in Peter - burning up the chaff
Purifying - Purifying gold - 1600 C
Modifications
Results of the 1st Fire Brought 2nd kind of fire - threats, intimidation - sparks of persecution
> responded in prayer and refilling in the Holy Spirit, > more generosity, miracles, salvations,
More persecution
Jesus also brought a promise of persecution for those who truly follow Him
Persecution is push back from the kingdom of darkness
If there’s no push back, why?
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The World’s Hatred
““If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.”
John 15:18-20 NLT
Promises of persecution from the apostles
2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (NLT)
Persecution has NEVER hurt the church
Actually seems to thrive, why?
Acts 20:23…the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (NKJV)
Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (ESV)
I have decided to follow Jesus!
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