“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from Heaven, and consumed the Burnt Offering and the Sacrifices; and the Glory of the LORD filled the house.
2 And the priests could not enter into the House of the LORD, because the Glory of the LORD had filled the LORD‘s House.
3 And when all the Children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the Glory of the LORD upon the House, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endures for ever.” 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
The same “Pentecostal Fire” that fell from Heaven and consumed the Sacrifices in the Old Testament times continues to fall and consume the heart and life of those who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire.
“11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but He that comes 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:
12 Whose fan is in His Hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12.
The fire which comes does not bring judgment, as the Believer’s judgment was consumed by our Sacrifice, the Sacrifice God provided…the only acceptable Sacrifice – Christ Jesus. However, it will bring chastisement to burn up the chaff (flesh) and separate it from the grain (spirit). This fire from Heaven will endue the Believer with power from on high (Luke 24:49) and equip them for service in the Kingdom of God.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4
Jesus Christ commanded all Believers to received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5) which is a an experience separate and apart from Salvation. However, just to be clear, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not a requirement of Salvation as some man made doctrines teach. When one is Baptized in the Holy Spirit, always and without exception, they will speak with other tongues as the Spirit of the Lord gives the utterance (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:15-17, Acts 19:2, Acts 19:6, 1 Cor. 14:39).
The fire of God that consumed the Sacrifices in the Old Testament is a free gift to Believers today and is made possible only by Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus Christ and His finished work on Calvary’s Cross, the fire of God can now accompany the Holy Spirit into the heart and lives of Believers as we are Baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). This fire is a consuming fire. It will correct and convict the Believer from that which is not of God…it will burn up the chaff with an unquenchable fire.
Have you received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire since you believed?
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 