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After The Fact

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From Profession To Perfection

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1 John 2:6

6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Profession – “He that saith he abideth in him”

  • early stages of our Christian walk
  • zealous, unafraid, unashamed, excited to tell
  • giving testimony to our faith, sharing our story, being a witness

At this stage Satan comes to destroy your thoughts and words that you lose all good things to say about God. Your testimony, encouragement and exhortation will be every now and then if ever.

People in this stage are having to fight against obsession and possession and into growing their confidence in salvation.

Progression – “Ought himself also so to walk”

  • taking profession and getting on the move, taking action
  • when our walk begins to confirm our talk
  • this is the beginnings of true sincerity and sacrifice to God

At this stage Satan comes to take your time, energy and willingness so that you lose all desire to continue and obey or taking action for the glory of the kingdom of God.

People in this stage are are rebuking possible infestation and vexation and growing in their faith by their actions and profession.

Perfection – “Even as he walked”

  • starting to stop choosing life to go our way and submitting to God’s will
  • leaving childish things behind, growing up, moving on, maturing (or perfecting)
  • removing yourself from situations, actions and words that would destroy what you do
  • stepping into the pleasing favor of God and beginning to see miracles and wonders happen

At this stage Satan begins to attack all that is important to you: family, friends, jobs, possessions, and everything else important to us.

People in this stage are beginning to exorcise their flesh and starting to find balance in life, hope, happiness and devotion to God.

As we pass from Profession to Progression and from Progression to Perfection you can begin to identify where you are in God’s will based on the sorts of things you are enduring.

 

The Power of Persistence

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Luke 8:36-37, 43-48

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Matthew 9:19-22

19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

36-37 – It was crowded and difficult to maneuver around to see Jesus. Unless you were going to be strong enough to get to Jesus you were pushed out of the way

43-44 – We find a point of desperation; how desperate was this woman after she had suffered for 12 years with something she could not explain? How desperate was to find a solution after she has spent everything she had? This desperation was finally enough to use faith to push through when she could not see Jesus…to get where He was.

45-48 – Now the woman knew she had touched Jesus. Jesus wanted the woman to know that He knew she had touched him. As she testifies the witness of her miracle stirred all whom heard her speak.

As we serve God we often times cannot see where He is due to being so crowded with life. But if we can learn to be persistent and desperate enough to be moved by our faith we too can see miracles come into our lives

Finding Balance In God’s Promises

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Isaiah 41:10

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee” – God wants to trade His fellowship for your Fears

Fear tries to overtake us all

  • fear of death
  • fear of failure
  • fear of losing security
  • fear of the future
  • fear of being alone

God answers these fears:

  • Death: “to die is gain” – Philippians 1:21
  • Failure: “I can do all things” – Philippians 4:13
  • Security: “My God shall supply all your need” – Philippians 4:19
  • Future: “Lo, I am with you always” – Matthew 28:20
  • Being alone: “I will never leave nor forsake thee” – Hebrews 13:5-6

“Be not dismayed, for I am thy God” – God wants to give His comfort for your confusion

Dismay = “Why did this happen to me”

Confusion = “I don’t understand why God let this happen”

No matter what happens we belong to Him – through good and bad God doesn’t change. We are his, even in difficult times!

“I will strengthen thee” – God wants to give His strength for your weakness

We have so many reasons for feeling week and weary:

  • sickness
  • regrets over our past mistakes
  • conflict with temptation

The great thing about God is that

  • God never becomes weary nor feels faint
  • Rather, he gives power to us whom faint
  • He imparts strength to those he loves

“I will help thee” – God wants to give His help for your helplessness

Sometimes all we can do is cry out for helplessness

Remember to reach for Jesus because he is reaching out to you

“I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” God wants to give you salvation for your sins

  • Christ is the son of God’s right hand
  • Jesus has made righteousness through a life of salvation available through faith
  • He took the sins upon Himself so that we could give them away

Break The Cycle

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In order to gain victory over temptations and the vexing nature of sin we must begin to break the cycle; the constant repetition of the same mistakes while knowing to do otherwise. To begin and start trusting God with what we cannot change by replacing and changing our behavior with the instruction of God. Taking the discipline we receive from our lives and learning to turn it into discipleship.

  1. Stop hiding. We must stop living in denial from the fact that we have failed. Repenting from our mistakes is the only door we can go through to getting our lives back together again.

Proverbs 28:13

13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

  1. Get rid of it and get something new. We must get rid of old habits and be renewed in the spirit of God and put into our lives new things. Get rid of stuff from your past and bring in new things to take your mind away from the person you once were.
    1. Media you watch, listen to or interact with that leads you into temptation
    2. Replacing your bad habits with good ones (less junk food, eat better food)
    3. Praying for God’s spirit to help you when you feel like you cannot continue

Ephesians 4:22-24

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Colossians 3:5-10

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

  1. Don’t give the enemy a chance. Present yourself to God daily so that you may understand better what you can do to improve how you not only handle temptation but ultimately breaking the sin cycle.

Ephesians 4:27

27 Neither give place to the devil.

Romans 12:1-2

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  1. Remember that you can do it with God and cannot without Him. Without divine supernatural power to rebuke Satan then we are more susceptible to temptations only working through our own strength.

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

Compassion: The Catalyst for Change

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Luke 10:25-37

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

We all are longing for change, for better, for the good in the world to come. But what will bring that change? Some say God and some say Jesus. Some say being born again and others say being filled more with the Holy Spirit. Some say praying more, studying more, attending church daily. Some would say to have more passion in worship and others would say the bible. Others say more teaching, more preaching, more singing, bigger churches, bigger budgets, more programs and more structure.

In this continual search and discovery for the meaning of our purpose there are a few in life that stumble into the revelation that God meant for us to hear. Some have their eyes opened to see what God wanted us to envision (even without our natural sight).

I have been searching in my own life to find where it all changed for me. I am only but beginning to open my eyes to understand what God wanted me to see and understand about my Heavenly purpose on earth. The turning point in my life was between my destruction and my brand new life; the point between having no hope and living by faith. This point was between me being a hopeless, busted up lifeless drug addict with no solution and now knowing that I can do all things through Christ.

The change that brought my life to new meaning was inspired by a love that was shown to me that I did not ask for, was not looking for nor knew could deliver me from the life I was in. The turning point of this parable is when we find what begins to make things better. This certain man had no neighbors before yet he found one when he could not look for himself.

Compassion is the catalyst for the good that can be done in someones life. Although we in our judgments, opinions and ideals can fall short of this Jesus reminds us by our very salvation that without compassion we could not be new creatures.

Without compassion the world would be lost. Without making the conscious decision to show compassion and make a difference the world will suffer.

Compassion defies logic, normal thinking and looks only at the need in front of it. I would not be standing here today unless someone had shown compassion on me.

While we all cannot be the catalyst in every situation around us we can easily identify the good that we could do by the blessings God has given us to use. It is easy for me to see that by being blessed to play music and sing that I should encourage others by giving of my own time and effort. I am standing here to day to give you encouragement to continue in the good that you can give for others. The sad truth of it all is that people are being overlooked, walked away from, ignored, bullied and made to feel worthless.

Jesus Christ came into our lives so that we would never feel that way again. And as we live our lives we must learn to be the catalyst for change. We are the compassion that this broken world needs. We are the arms to hold the hurting. We are the thoughts to inspire new hope and greatness in others. We are the love to lead people from suicide and despair. We are the patience to help people like the person I used to be continue to strive for the best with purpose. So as we conclude in this moment, be reminded that you are wonderfully created with the compassion that Christ showed to you so that you can be the catalyst for change in others!

Watch Out For Quicksand

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Matthew 7:24-27

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

What are you standing on?

  • are your Christian values easily compromised?
  • Are you prone to sin easily and without much temptation?
  • Are the people around you showing Godliness or are you just trying to fit in?

Quicksand (Sand easily moved or readily yielding to pressure)

  • choices that look like easy fixes that lead to hard drama
  • words you say that make you feel better in the short-term and leave you asking for forgiveness in the long-term
  • praising at church but caught in sin in a very quick amount of time

Psalm 69:1-8

69 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.

The Rock (as support and defense of his people)

  • in the rock you have stability, a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness to you by how he blesses us continually
  • a firmly planted rock is unmovable. So is firm faith standing on the stability of God
  • God wants you to stand on your faith and be stable in His promise
  • balance in your life is by standing firm on the rock when the winds of life blow around you

1 Samuel 2:2

2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

2 Samuel 22:32

32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?

Psalm 62:2

2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

1 Corinthians 16:13

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Proverbs 10:25

25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Philippians 1:27

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

 

 

 

We Are Barabbas, But Now We’re Free

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Mark 15:6-15

6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

The convicted and condemned murderer, also notorious for sedition and robbery, sits dejectedly in his filthy cell, watched closely by Roman guards. He cannot help but ponder how excruciatingly painful his encounter with crucifixion will be. He has seen many of these hellish nightmares of Roman justice as he walked the roads of Judea and Galilee, conspiring with other rebels willing to resist—and even kill—the hated Roman occupiers. But this time, the Romans had caught their man and justly sentenced him to be executed on the stake.

The Romans were infamous for how they cruelly lined their roadways with crucifixes—their manner of warning would-be enemies of the State to mend their ways. This slow death was designed to torture the condemned for up to three agonizing days! Criminals punished in this way usually died of asphyxiation, no longer able to lift their chests one more time for another searing breath. The pain of crucifixion was so intense that it gave its name to extreme agony: excruciating, which derives from Latin words meaning “the pain one experiences while being crucified.”

This convicted murderer dreads the next few days. Sleep is impossible. He fidgets as his mind races, imagining the worst.

So what about Barabbas? Where does he come into this story? It is a moving reminder at Passover time each year that God leaves nothing to chance. Even the man who receives unmerited pardon is in the story for a reason: to remind us what we were and who we are now.

Many look at the name “Barabbas” and think it is just a name. Perhaps they realize that it is an Aramaic word. But what does it mean?Bar means “son of” and abba means “father,” with the connotation of closeness and intimacy similar to our “dad,” “daddy,” or “papa.” Therefore, Barabbas is “the son of the father” or “the son of his dear father.” That Passover day in AD 31, there was a guilty “son of the father”—Barabbas—and a totally innocent “Son of the Father”—Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

We are Barabbas. We have truly become “the sons of the Father” because of what Jesus did in our behalf. We have been released from the penalty of eternal death because our Savior and affianced Husband, Jesus the Christ, died in our stead.

All of this came about when the true Son of the Father took the place of Barabbas, who represents us all. As the despised Roman guards marched up to him, he was expecting the worse was about to begin. But instead, they broke off his heavy chains, dropping them to the stone floor with a clang that echoed through the corridors of the prison. Slowly, reality began to sink in: They were letting him go! Before long, Barabbas learned that the innocent Jesus of Nazareth, whom some considered a prophet, had given him a new lease on life—a fresh start, a new life. He was free! No crucifixion awaited this murderous, thieving rebel after all! He undoubtedly could not believe his “luck.”

Because of the gracious act of Jesus, the true Son of His dear Father, the iron shackles have been broken from us, and we walk about as truly free men and women. His sacrifice and resurrection make it possible for God to give us of His Spirit, to bring us into His household, the Family of God. We are regenerated to a new life, and made part of the very Family in which Jesus is the Firstborn. The Father invites us to be His Son’s Bride, whom Jesus is preparing for the Great Marriage Supper, giving of Himself totally for us, so that we can be totally free of sin as He is.

10 Life Transforming Actions To Making Your Life Count

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Ephesians 5:1-21

5 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

10 Life Transforming Actions To Make It Count

We’ve got to learn to make it count for something. To redeem the time while we can. To be happy while we still live. To enjoy life through Christ before we die. And while we’re here, to show the difference to the lost and dying world.

  1. If you have burdens that are heavy or you have sinned and need forgiveness, repent.
  2. If you have things you want God to know are important to you to change, pray.
  3. If you want to grow in your knowledge of God and find direction, read the word.
  4. If God has been good to you for things in your life, thank him.
  5. If you want to be supported in your ministry, support the ministry.
  6. If you want your loved ones to be saved, witness to them.
  7. If you want the word to come alive in your church, live the word (be a doer).
  8. If you want people to come to your church, publish good works (tell somebody).
  9. If you want God to know how much you care about him, worship him in righteousness.
  10. If you want your church to grow, find something you can contribute to.

 

Valley Faith: Finding The Rose of Sharon

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God is the beauty and hope in unlikely times and unlikely places

Song of Solomon 2:1-3

2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

The rose of Sharon is a large hibiscus shrub. It grows about 12 feet tall, has large three-lobed leaves, and a lovely rose, purple, white or blue flower. The uniqueness of the rose of Sharon lies in the fact that it blooms at an unlikely time and in unlikely places. The rose blossoms in the fall, when few other shrubs are in bloom. It grows well in unfavorable conditions and does not seem to be partial to the city or the country.

Unfavorable growing conditions? In our honest moments we sometimes marvel that the soil of our lives could produce anything beautiful. It is full of the stones of selfishness, the weeds of deceitfulness, and the acidity of our pride. Yet the Rose of Sharon persists, blooms, and grows, even when other plants are dormant.

The lily is a very noble plant in the East; it grows to a considerable height, but has a weak stem. The church is weak in herself, yet is strong in Him that supports her

While it doesn’t look like God is among you it is simple not in natural view. If you pray you will see him.

Hebrews 11:2-4

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

If we never endure the valleys we will not learn to hope when we are struggling to survive.

James 1:12

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The Fire of God

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1) God consumes what makes a person remain an unbeliever and makes them a believer by the things to which He purifies in our lives: free from sin, power over satan, and life eternal

Hebrews 12:29

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

2) God wants to speak to us through the fire.

Exodus 3:2

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3) God revealed that his fire is all about us even when our natural eyes cannot see it

2 Kings 6:17

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

(To the servant there was need of a more manifest vision, and for this Elisha prays, and God vouchsafes to grant it, that the servant may become as confident as his master. It is not that the troops may be gathered that Elisha prays, they are there already, but that the servant may have a seeing eye bestowed upon him to discern how well he and his master are protected.)

4) God showed us to not be afraid of the fire when we take a stand by faith. For when the fire will destroy the enemy it will protect one whom serves God.

Daniel 3:25

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

5) The fire of god will destroy every natural and carnal thing in us, like it or not.

1 Kings 18:38

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

6) The fire of God will show you exactly what you are and where your passion is

1 Corinthians 3:13

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

7) God not only wants you to outwardly declare your salvation and freedom from sin by water; God wants to declare inwardly to yourself and to Satan that you are free and with that power you rebuke his attempts to destroy you.

Matthew 3:11

11 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:

8) The fire of God came to consume what would have made our tongues unworthy to speak in the Heavenly language (or in tongues). Now as we walk in the spirit we are able to speak to God literally and spiritually.

Acts 2:3

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

9) God wanted us to rejoice because we have the assurance that if we are put in the fire in His name then we will not burn: not on earth nor in hell! Embrace the protecting fire

1 Peter 1:6-8

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

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:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

10) Without having Jesus Christ as your Savior you will fall victim to the consuming fire

Revelation 20:15

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.