Fire!!!

 Some more thoughts from the sermon on Sunday: "The Holy Spirit" ( http://www.vimeo.com/oneeighty/videos) Because the Holy Spirit is invisible and intangible, there is a unique way that He manifests Himself to us in symbols.  Below I have listed the New Testament symbolic terms.  Each symbol deserves recognition and explanation,but for the purpose of keeping it simple and short, let me elaborate on one of these symbols, the Holy Spirit as fire.

New Testament Symbols Referencing The Holy Spirit

• Wind
• Water
• Dove
• Seal
• Oil
• FIRE

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11

“The chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.  Matthew 3:12

“And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  Acts 2:3-4

“The baptism with the Spirit is closely conjoined with fire.  And this fire, as the succeeding statements suggest, deals with the consuming of evil;  The spirit of burning, likely symbolizes the Spirit of God in His role of fire cleansing away evil.”   Williams, Renewal Theology

Following up on the preaching Sunday, I was encouraged by so many people ready to pray in response to the word.  I found that as I prayed for people the theme was constant...."I am so ready to be free from this" or "I truly need to start doing this and can't seem to do it."  Upon hearing all the requests for prayer, I was able to confidently lay hands on each person and say to them purposefully, THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS TO HELP!!!  He is a FIRE.  He will burn off the chaff.  He is the Helper.  When we find ourselves in deadly cycles and generational sins, we find that it is only God who can make the change for us.  Each believer that I prayed for simply needs to connect with this great Helper so that He can burn that stuff up.  That stuff is.... lack of motivation, meanness to children, lack of diligence in financial management, continuing to run into sins of destruction.  It is ANYTHING that is creating havoc on your spiritual advancement WITH GOD!  The Helper is with us believers!  He is the ONE who makes the difference.  Today, if you call on Him, I trust He will HELP YOU!!!


FIRE!