The Same Holy Ghost Part 7 "The Fire Baptism"
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And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Introduction.
Introduction.
God has always identified His Presence by fire.
God has always identified His Presence by fire.
The first manifestation of God was the light called the Logos.
The first manifestation of God was the light called the Logos.
Flaming Sword (Gen 3:24)
Flaming Sword (Gen 3:24)
Moses and the burning bush (Ex 3:2)
Moses and the burning bush (Ex 3:2)
Pillar of fire leading them. (Deut 1:33)
Pillar of fire leading them. (Deut 1:33)
The fire was to never go out (Lev 6:13)
The fire was to never go out (Lev 6:13)
Strange fire forbidden (Lev 10:1)
Strange fire forbidden (Lev 10:1)
For our God is a consuming fire.
Redeeming the Earth.
Redeeming the Earth.
The earth goes through a process of redemption.
The earth goes through a process of redemption.
Adam lost the title deed to the earth when he sinned, so the earth must be redeemed.
Adam lost the title deed to the earth when he sinned, so the earth must be redeemed.
And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.
Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.
And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.
The entire earth was baptized by immersion in water, yet it was not fully redeemed.
The entire earth was baptized by immersion in water, yet it was not fully redeemed.
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
He said “I will not destroy the earth again with water.” It only had to be baptized once.
He said “I will not destroy the earth again with water.” It only had to be baptized once.
Nothing is sanctified by water, but by blood.
Nothing is sanctified by water, but by blood.
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Peter discussing Noah’s baptism.
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
What God has done to redeem His world, He’s done the same plan to redeem His people, for the unchangeable God changes not in any of His plans or anything. Such a glorious thing!
78 How He led us to Himself, to a tabernacle in us, by three stages of grace; just like He’s led the world in three stages, to come to the world.
As God will come to the world after it’s gone through three different stages of purification, that’s exactly how He comes to us through three stages of grace. I taught that at the beginning; I’ve never changed, since. It’s God’s Word.
87 Now, the first step is “repentance towards God.” And then follows after that, is water baptism, “water baptism,” “Repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.” See, water baptism follows, showing that repentance was genuine. Or, to “remit” our past sins, that has nothing to do with future sin. It only remits.
“Repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.” What for? “Remission.” Taking away of past sin has nothing to do with the future. Just, your sin has been chopped off, what you did.
89 Let me take this board just a minute. [Brother Branham draws illustrations on the blackboard—Ed.] Now, here is a human heart. Now, I’m not…I’m a long ways from being an artist. Here is a human heart; and here is a human heart. Now, this one over here has a snake in it, that’s sin, here he has his life.
This one over here has a dove in it, which is the Holy Spirit, here he has a Life. Well, this one here, he has malice, hatred, envy; that’s what’s causing it, is this fellow here. Well, this one over here has love, and joy, and longsuffering; and That’s what does it, down here.
90 Now, when you are asked, or you are forgiven of your sins, you’ve only done this, taken that away. But the thing that made you do it is still there. That’s the old root of evil; it’s still there. Notice, then you repent and are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ, that He forgave you of your sins. Notice.
91 Then, secondly, comes sanctification, which sets our mind in order for holiness, to think right. Taken away…sanctification is a compound Greek word, which means “cleaned, and set aside for service.”
92 Then, the next, comes the baptism of the Fire and Holy Ghost, that God might dwell in us. And the Fire of God cleanses our hearts from sin, and puts the Holy Ghost inside. Then we bring forth the same Life that This did, because That’s in us. 64-0802 - The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride
In order for the earth to be redeemed the blood of the redeemer had to fall on the ground.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
The earth is still only potentially redeemed. Which is why is still brings forth thorns and thistles under the curse. there must come a baptism of fire.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
108 Now, the world, to be redeemed for this redeemed person, He uses His same method. He baptized it in water, after the antediluvian destruction. Shed His Blood upon it, to sanctify it and claim it. It’s His. Satan tried to say, “I’ll give it to You.”
109 He said, “No, sir, I’ll buy it.” Let it be a witness. He was lifted up, for an ensign, that He bought it. He purchased it.
110 But now it has to go through a baptism of Fire, holy Fire from God, which cleanses the earth and the heavens around it. Then, it’s purchased so that the redeemed can live on it, live in it in peace.
Notice, the baptism of Fire is to cleanse it from sin, from sickness, from disease germs, from sinners, from the devil and all of his group.
He is to be cast out, into the Lake of Fire. Holy Fire from God, comes down from God, out of Heaven, and burns it up, notice, to make it ready for God to dwell in. For, God, in the New World that is to come, is to dwell in the earth. 64-0802 - The Future Home Of The Heavenly Bridegroom And The Earthly Bride
2. Characteristics of Fire
Fire is Hot and warms the atmospheres around it.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Fervent in the original is zealous, eager and constant.
If the Holy Ghost fire is in you, it will make you fervent in Spirit.
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Don’t be lukewarm.
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Bro. Branham said that this was praying in desperation, not giving up.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Be fervent about loving one another.
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
God cannot stomach a lukewarm church.
Now He has cried out to this last age, “You have the Word. You have more Bibles than ever, but you are not doing anything about the Word except dividing and hacking it into pieces, taking what you want and leaving out what you don’t want.
You are not interested in LIVING it, but debating it. I would sooner you were cold or hot. If you were cold and rejected it, I could stand that. If you would get white hot to know its truth and live it, I would praise you for that.
But when you simply take My Word and don’t honor it, I in return must refuse to honor you. I will spue you out for you nauseate Me.”
Now anybody knows that it is lukewarm water that makes you sick at the stomach. If you need an emetic, lukewarm water is about the best thing to drink. A lukewarm church has made God sick and He has declared He will spue it out. Reminds us how He felt just before the flood, doesn’t it?
Oh, would to God the church were cold or hot. Best of all, she should be fervent (hot). But she is not. CAB 09 - Laodicean
The Bride will not be lukewarm.
137 Now notice, when this great moving power of God comes into a son of God, it quickens him, the Spirit of Life enters into him. Then what does it do? It seats them in Heavenly places, right now.
Not they “will be.” We are now. Now we’ve already resurrected, the dynamics and the mechanics is gone to work, quickened us, and we’re quickened up into the Presence of God, where His Spirit is.
And now we are seated together in Heavenly places, in Christ Jesus; in Christ Jesus, sitting in there, that great seat of…that’s already fired up, been raised from the dead.
We’re a part of it. If you’re a part of the Bride, you are, because the Bride is part of the Groom, you know. So we find out that it’s the same thing, and She’ll do just exactly what’s predicted for Her to do in this day.
She won’t be a Laodicea, not by no means a lukewarm. But She’ll be on fire for God, She’ll be moving on in the Spirit of God.
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3. Result of Holy Ghost Fire
This Holy Ghost Fire consumes all the dross.
Dross- Foreign matter, dregs, or mineral waste, in particular scum formed on the surface of molten metal.
Take away the dross from the silver, And there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
How is the faithful city become an harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; But now murderers.
Thy silver is become dross, Thy wine mixed with water:
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: Every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: They judge not the fatherless, Neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, And avenge me of mine enemies:
And I will turn my hand upon thee, And purely purge away thy dross, And take away all thy tin:
And I will restore thy judges as at the first, And thy counsellers as at the beginning: Afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
That temper is dross, that bitterness is dross, that gossip is dross, that suicidal spirit is dross. Let it be consumed.
Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, And will refine them as silver is refined, And will try them as gold is tried: They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: And they shall say, The Lord is my God.
Elijah’s ministry was associated with fire.
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha
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.
John the Baptist.
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, Even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: Behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Elijah at the end time.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Our Elijah
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: And the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, That it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise With healing in his wings; And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
And ye shall tread down the wicked; For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet In the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, Which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, And the heart of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Conclusion.
(Tell story of Yosemite Firefall, show pictures)
All was ready. I had my head sticking up, my arm around my wife. We was looking. And children standing there, all of us looking up, like that. My! It was something, ’cause we was expecting it. It was promised to us.
319 Amen! The Word promises This. “It shall come to pass, before the great and terrible day of the Lord shall come, behold, I will send unto you Elijah the prophet. He shall turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers, and the hearts of the…” “It shall come to pass in the last days, I’ll pour out My Spirit from on High.” “The former and latter rain shall come together in the last day.” All these promises, through the Scriptures, been given. We’re looking upward. Watch at the true Bride across the nation this hour, looking up. Church, He is coming, one of these days. Just as sure as He come the first time, He is coming again. Get everything ready. Separate yourself from shuck. Lay before the Son. Keep looking up. Be under expectation.
320 All at once, we heard something from the top the hill, a voice come down through the loudspeaker, said, “All things are ready.”
321 Then this man, standing right there by the side of me, said, “Let the fire fall.” Here it come, pouring down across that mountain, a glacier of fire and blazes a licking, a sight to behold.
322 Brother, let’s get all things ready, for one of these days the Fire is going to fall. We’re going up. Now let’s get ready for the Fire-falling time. We’re in the last days, we all know that, and we’re ready for the Coming of the Lord.
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(Show picture)
They discontinued the fire-fall in 1968, but in 1973 it was discovered that every year at a certain time the light hits the mountain just right, and a natural firefall still bears the record. Let the Fire Fall.