The Holy Spirit and Fire

Matthew 3:11

“I baptize you in water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After we repent and are saved, we are instructed to follow our Lord into baptism with water. This is an outward manifestation of the inward change taking place in our lives. Paul teaches us that, symbolically, we are buried with Christ in baptism, and raised to walk in newness of life. See Romans 6:4.

Someone who is saved has the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, living in their heart. We could say the Spirit is immersed in them.

But, in addition, Jesus desires to baptize you with the Holy Spirit. He is “in you”, but are you immersed “in Him”? This is a baptism that gives the believer great power to live and witness for Christ.

Many believe the “fire” John refers to in the verse above is the purifying and cleansing effects of the Holy Spirit baptism. Our old ways, like chaff from wheat, need to be burned away.

This “fire” may also refer to the ongoing process of sanctification the Holy Spirit continues to do in the life of the believer. Like silver refined in the fire, our impurities are removed.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Ask your Heavenly Father to teach you more about His Holy Spirit. Tell Jesus you want more power to serve Him faithfully and witness for Him effectively.

Are you baptized in the Holy Spirit? Is His fire working in you?

Dive Deeper: Study Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:29-34; Acts 19:1-7; 1 Peter 1:1-2; Romans 6:4.