| Baptized by Water and by Fire A Study by Pastor John � May 1999 (revised 4.11.10) |
Baptism By Fire
Baptism by water has been practiced by the people of HaShem since at least the time of Moses (circa 1500 B.C.E.). Baptism by fire came through Y'shua.
On the Pesakh/Pentecost following Y'shua's ascension into heaven the talmidim (disciples) were gathered together in an upper room for the traditional sedar (feast). While there they received another type of baptism as Y'shua had promised:
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
This empowerment from on high was in partial fulfillment of an important prophecy revealed by Joel in the 8th or 9th century B.C.E. Joel foretold:
Joel 2:28,29 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Not all of this prophecy has been fulfilled yet. We will witness its complete fulfillment soon as we enter into the final seven years of the age. The disciples however were given a taste of its yet-future fulfillment and this taste empowered them to rock the foundations of the earth as the Way exploded and spread throughout the known world (Acts 17:6)!
Peter cited this prophecy explaining what they had experienced that Day:
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
This was the baptism of fire! Here's how it came about:
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
By His Ruach HaKodesh HaShem baptized ("gathered together in His anointing") everyone present in that room with His Spirit thus confirming the ministry granted to them by Y'shua. Word of what was happening quickly spread throughout Jerusalem and the region and people flocked to the disciples to see what was up. According to the scriptures "a great multitude" of people from all over the world came and experienced the miracle of Pentecost as once again HaShem gave freedom to the captives.
Master Y'shua had said his followers would empowered, but they probably didn't expect anything so dramatic! The assembled throng each understood the words of the talmidim (the Way followers) in their own languages!
As we study The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, the various Epistles and so on, we find these supernatural gifts manifested from time to time as evidence of the empowerment or anointing experienced by the first century Way community.
Even at this first outpouring of Ruach HaKodesh some of those present failed to understand what they were seeing. Peter says that some of these eyewitnesses assumed the talmidim were drunk (Acts 2:15)! In time the Apostle Paul sought to categorize the powers and gifts being received through the ongoing outpourings. He felt these were important signs and spiritual tools from God but that "... all things [need] to be done decently and in order" -- I Corinthians 14:40.
We will discuss the modern day Pentecostal Movement below but there is one point that needs to be clarified here. In many Pentecostal circles it is believed that the gift of tongues is the evidence that one has received "the Baptism of the Holy Spirit." This gift is therefore placed above all others. I have "spoken in years" for many many years and value this wonderful gift, however the teaching that it is the main sign of the Baptism of Fire is simply opposed to what the Bible says of it:
I Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
The gift of tongues is one among many and no gift is given to all nor does any individual gift serve as a litmus test. Paul continues:
I Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.>
Seems clear enough to me. All Believers receive spirit gifts according to their service. It is also clear from verse 31 that we can pray for new gifts. When will they be granted? Verse seven tells us: "... the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." So if one wishes to receive the gifts of Ruach HaKodesh one should begin exercising the gifts already granted by HaShem. Are you a gifted speaker? Speak about Y'shua and his Kingdom! Are you a healer? Then heal in the name of Y'shua, giving glory to HaShem! Are you able to explain difficult topics clearly? Then explain the things of God! To those who have more will be granted as the Master explained (Matthew 25:29). We are different. Use you unique gifts in the service HaShem for the benefit of others.
As foretold by Y'shua of Nazareth and his servants like John an infection entered the Way early in its history and gradually spread like cancer through the Way Movement. This cancer is known by many names including the Error of Balaam:
Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam...
Master Y'shua's brother Jude (compare Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3) also warned about this heretical movement within the early Way Movement:
Jude 11 Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah`s rebellion.
12 These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
14 To these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
This spiritual cancer is referenced in several different ways. For instance:
Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess....
"That woman Jezebel" will soon become "the Great Whore" known as Babylon the Great, she who contaminates the world with the Nicolaitan Heresy:
Revelation 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
I discuss the Nicolaitan Heresy in detail in my verse by verse commentary of The Revelation of Y'shua the Anointed.
As the Nicolaitan Heresy took root and developed among the followers of the Way the various symptoms described in chapters two and three of Master's Revelation occurred. Gradually the Way became the Church and lost most of its spiritual empowerment. I discuss this development in part four of my study The Noahide Nazarene Way: Rise of the Universal Church. With the nationalization of the Way the more dynamic gifts like miraculous healing, tongues and so on faded away and Christianity became the nearly global religion.
To be sure, Church history records scattered outbreaks of what we today call Pentecostalism, the Baptism of Fire, but they were few and far between. There were however always sincere people throughout the Church who desired the Holy Spirit's guidance. Despite occasional periods of optimism the Way remained largely concealed under heavy clerical garb.
But then something truly awesome occurred! Something that most people didn't even notice.
In the mid 1800's the bands HaShem had placed on Israel began being loosened! The spirit of Jewish identity known as Zionism had been building for a while but by the 1840's it was taking hold in the hearts and minds of ever more Jews. The writings of people like Rabbi Alcalay and Rabbi Kalischer began reminded the people of HaShem of their destiny and their duty. As Jews had since 70 CE many longed to return home to Eretz Israel but now they were seeking ways to accomplish it!
The time for the Kingdom was dawning.
The time for the complete fulfillment of Joel's prophecy was nearing!
And HaShem began pouring out His Spirit as He had not in nearly 2000 years! Besides the spark of nationalism He placed in the hearts of the Jewish people, HaShem touched a group that no one would have expected!
A small group of ministers were lead by Ruach HaKodesh to sincerely seek Him in the hope of producing what they considered a "Second Chapter of the Acts Revival." These ministers felt the Christian Church had grown lukewarm (compare Revelation 3:14-19) and spiritually weak and so through much prayer and fasting they sought God for a "Pentecostal Outpouring of the Holy Spirit."
And guess what happened: HaShem heard them and granted the desires of their hearts!
The Second Pentecostal Revival began in small enclaves throughout my ancestral homeland of Wales. What was happening there rocked Great Britain and reverberated around the world!
As the twentieth century dawned many sincere Christians from various denominations began sensing that God had something huge in store for them and for the world.
Then on April 14, 1906 Ruach HaKodesh baptized the African American Reverend and Pastor William J. Seymour with fire! Pastor Seymour prayed and the Holy Spirit of HaShem descended upon his Azusa Street congregation in Los Angeles and continued to do so until 1915! As the Power of the Holy Spirit fell the people were "slain in the Spirit," they spoke in tongues, experienced amazing healings, saw visions and dreams... And the Pentecostal Movement was born.
And Lucifer was furious! He began the First World War as the Ends Times became visible through the fog! And the Pentecostal fires sputtered... but they continued and Pentecostal and Charismatic churches arose among the denominational and non-denominational Believers.
For their part, more and more Jews were realizing that the establishment of the Jewish state after 2500 years was possible! In 1917 the Balfour Declaration was signed guaranteeing that the UK would support and help to establish the independent Jewish Homeland!
And Lucifer was irate!! He began the First World War as the Ends Times became visible through the fog! And then he began the Second World War and raised up an Austrian anti-Semitic colonel to genocide the people of HaShem and prevent the Jews from achieving their destiny.
These two events are directly related!
Today, about a hundred years after the Azusa Street Revival, the Pentecostal fires continue to burn, though not as brightly as before. As the Master foretold with the dawning of the End Times the Christian faith at large has gradually become lukewarm, the Salt has all but lost its savor (Matthew 5:13) and will soon be vomited out in the final seven years of the age (Revelation 3:14-19)!
Soon the one called Rex Mundi, Little Horn, the Man of Sin and Son of Perdition, the Antichrist will arise in Europa and take control of the now-almost established Global Union. He will appear to be a man of profound wisdom and peace. He will unite the nations, end poverty, advance remarkable technological innovations that will seemingly promise the establishment of an Earthly Paradise. And he will sign one very important treaty with Israel! When he and the Israeli government officials sign this treaty the age will have just under seven years left -- but of those seven years Master Y'shua warns us:
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
To save the Jews from annihilation the final seven years will be shortened as Y'shua HaMoshiach destroys the Rex Mundi and the New World Order.
Our job is to assist him!
THEN will the complete prophecy of Joel be fulfilled:
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of HaShem cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
2:4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
2:6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
2:7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
2:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
2:9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
2:11 And HaShem shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of HaShem is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
2:12 Therefore also now, saith HaShem, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto HaShem your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
2:14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto HaShem your God?
2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
2:17 Let the priests, the ministers of HaShem, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O HaShem, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
2:18 Then will HaShem be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
2:19 Yea, HaShem will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
2:20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for HaShem will do great things.
2:22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in HaShem your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of HaShem your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am HaShem your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of HaShem come.
2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of HaShem shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as HaShem hath said, and in the remnant whom HaShem shall call.
THIS Is The Baptism of Fire!
Get Ready and Stand With Israel Always!
Get Ready and Stand With Israel Always!
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