“Holy Ghost And Fire!”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 25 August 30, 2009

This past summer we have been fighting the wildfires that have threatened BC. We have worked at nine different fires and put in over 600 man hours. However, today rather than fire suppression I hope to ignite a fire - and if you’ll permit it - today will be a day of Holy Spirit Ignition.

Matthew 3:11 Jesus shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

We could all do to be touched a new with Holy Spirit Fire.

The Book of Acts shows us how the Holy Spirit turned volatile Peter into a victorious peacher.

One day he denies knowing the Lord a few days latter he proclaims the Lord’s mighty name with an awesome boldness!

Peter became a channel, a river, a gushing torrent of living water. Whereever Peter went there was life!

John 7:38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Looking at the stark differences in Peter:
Matthew 26:70, 58 Peter denied knowing the Lord, / Peter followed him afar off
Acts 2:14, 4:8, 3:6 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them...such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Before a coward - after a bold lion of the gospel!
Before ignorant in the mystery of God - after a fountain of spiritual insight and truth!

Where did Peter get all of this information? Did he go to Bible School after the crucifixion? No of course not - this was the work of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to Peter to such a degree that Peter was able to ignite a flame in others!

This Peter who had denied Christ for fear of being killed, now after being touched by the fire of the Holy Spirit boldly speaks without fear and look at the result! (5,000 saved, healed).

The theologians of their day considered the disciples as unlearned, ignorant men. Acts 4:13 when they saw the boldness of Peter and John perceiving them to be unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and took knowledge that they’d been with Jesus. I love that!

With Holy Spirit fire; Peter wrote two fine epistles, John wrote a Gospel and three epistles and a book that still baffles wise men today - the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Note they were all filled. Now go to; Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost… Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Peter was among them again. This filling may be repeated again and again.

I’m not sure if I’ve got it all figured out yet, but there seems to be a difference between a fresh infilling and the baptism of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, that appeared to you has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Saul was not to begin his life work until “baptized”, “filled with the Holy Ghost.” This was Saul’s Pentecost and for him as for others service began at Pentecost.

Now look at Acts 13:9 Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, This man who was filled in Chapter 9 is filled a new in this passage. The blessing was repeated making him fit for a special work.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the same tense as used in Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; This speaks of a habit, The fullness is always coming!

WANTED SEVEN MEN FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST! Acts 6:3 brothers look for seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, who we may appoint over this business.

These were men whose normal condition was to be full of the Holy Ghost. I have met Christians whose heart condition is not always fully after the Lord!

However, it was the habit of these men that they were full, of the Holy Spirit.... they were consistently being filled!

It is interesting to notice the business for which these deacons were wanted. They were to look after a few decent old Greek widows; and yet even for this business the men must be “full” of the Holy Ghost! None other need apply!

Man have we strayed far from that apostolic practice!

Acts 6:5 .. and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and six others.. The demand for Spirit filled men today is very slack; but even if the demand were to be revived to-morrow, how sad the number in our churches that could be found bearing the trade mark - full of the spirit!
Getting back to Stephen - not just full of the Holy Ghost but he was a man “full of faith and the Holy Ghost!”

This was Stephen’s normal condition right up to the very end of his life! It was true in the begining and at the end!

Probably the easiest way we can get a grip on this is to think of our homes. Before we open the tap the pipe is full of water; when the tap is opened and the bucket filling, the pipe is still full for although the water is pouring out at the tap, it is pouring in at the reservoir, so the pipe is kept full, even though the tap is open and the water streaming from it!

When the tap is shut the pipe is still full of water. The pipe open or closed is always full of water!

May our normal condition be “full of the Holy Ghost”.

Why have I spent so much time deliberating this topic.... Go back with me to Ephesians 5:18 be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Now look at the two verses before... Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].

To redeem the time and to understand what the will of the Lord is we must be being filled with the Spirit.

God does not thunder from a mountain or send prophets with new messages. The last of the profits was His Son from Heaven and His last great gift for this age is the Holy Spirit, who reveals the will of God and fills with the power to do it!

Matthew 3:11 Jesus shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire

Will you allow the Holy Spirit fire to ignite or re-ignite you?

Spread the Fire!