When flying in an airplane, isn’t it fascinating how the things that seem so large when we have our feet on the ground, look so small?  In the air we can grasp how small we really are in comparison to the universe.  But even though we are small, so very small, God Almighty sees each one of us as significant.  Significant enough to freely give each of us a most incredible gift, the Holy Spirit.

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When John the Baptist was in the river Jordan baptizing people, he said, “I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”  Jesus Christ is the one who came and the one who baptizes all who call on His name with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

  

Fire is a light, the Holy Spirit enlightens or clarifies our lives.  He helps us understand and know God.  Fire warms.  God commands us in the book of Revelations not to be lukewarm. Christians use the term ’on fire for God’.  When the Holy Spirit is fully operating in our lives we are hot for God.  Fire is consuming.  The Holy Spirit consumes the junk in our lives and only leaves that which is of God.  It is like heat purifying gold. The dross rises to the top and the pure gold is left.  The Holy Spirit working in our lives makes us pure and holy. The fire, the desire to get to know God, to please Him, to live for Him, and to tell others about Jesus comes from the Holy Spirit.

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The Holy Spirit teaches us about Jesus. (John 14:26)  The Holy Spirit counsels and comforts us. (John 14:26)  The Holy Spirit strengthens and encourages. (Acts 9:31)  The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5)  Through the power of the Spirit we can turn from evil deeds and live righteously. (Romans 8:13-16)  The Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. (Romans 8:26)  We receive the Spirit so that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Cor 2:9-16)  The Spirit gives freedom. (2 Cor 3:17)  The Spirit gives incomparably great power to those that believe. (Eph 1:18-21; 3:20)  The Spirit strengthens our inner being. (Eph 3:16-17)  The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Tim 1:7)  With this awesome gift of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we have everything we need for truly living life.

 

Great people are in the world, but lack the fire of the Holy Spirit.  Many good Christians lack the zeal God wants to give.  Perhaps you are a very good person.  A Bible reading, church going person, who tries very hard to do what is right.  All of these traits are to be admired—but do you realize you have been given the same power that raised Jesus from the dead? (Eph 1:18-20) 

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“The fact is, you can have something very valuable and not even know it.  And you can’t enjoy what it is you have, because you don’t understand how valuable it is.” (David Wilkerson writing about the Holy Spirit)  

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Many of you have accepted Jesus and have been baptized.  In Acts 2:38 we are told to repent and be baptized and you will receive the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, even though you may not realize it, you have received the Holy Spirit.

 

Perhaps you are a good, good person but have never experienced this inner fire in your life.  If you want this gift of God, turn totally to Jesus—He will not disappoint you.  Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has received the Holy Spirit.  Realizing the power of the Spirit comes through prayer.

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E.M. Bounds says this about the Holy Spirit, “The coming of the Holy Spirit is dependent upon prayer.  The measure we receive of Him will be gauged by the fervor of faith and prayer with which we seek Him.  Our ability to work for God, and to pray to God, and to live for God, and affect others for God will be dependent on the measure of the Holy Spirit received by us, dwelling in us, and working through us.”

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Several verses in the Bible tell us to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph 3:18-19; 5:18)  This filling, as used in the original language of the Bible, implies a continuous filling.  A continual going back to the well and receiving more.  Two other verses tell us — “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God; (Eph 4:30) and do not put out (quench) the Spirit’s fire.” (1 Thes 5:16-22)

 

A fire needs fuel.  The fuel of the Holy Spirit is reading the Bible and praying.

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Fire can be quenched by dirt.  The filth of our sins puts out the fire of God. 

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If we have been too involved in the world and not involved with the things of God then we have put out the fire of the Holy Spirit.   Whenever we quench the fire of God, to get it back, we must repent.  We must give up spending so much time on ourselves and our things and get our eyes on God and what is important to Him.

 

Maybe you once had the fire of the Holy Spirit in your life but seems like it is lost.  We can’t lose the Holy Spirit because God promises to never leave us. (John 14:16-17)  So the Holy Spirit is still in us, but we have quenched or grieved the Spirit.  This stops us from being able to turn on and tune into His power.  Turning on the switch to regain the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives has much to do with repenting of our sins.  The power comes back as we spend more and more time reading the Bible and praying.   After repentance, and a returning to time with God, we must ask in prayer to be refilled with the Spirit of God.  We may have to ask more than once, we may have to seek after God harder and harder—God is making sure we really want this most valuable gift. (Luke 11:9-13)

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Realizing that God loves us so much that He made a way for us to change for the better,

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• a way for us to be strengthened in the hard times of life,
• a way to live in inner peace in spite of worldly chaos,
• a way to be continually encouraged and comforted even when we are heartbroken is absolutely fantastic and should stir our inner being to want all that God has to give us. May all who read this want all that God has to give and be determined to seek after and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

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May we not be satisfied until we are on fire for God.