How to Keep Your Spiritual Fire Burning | Part 1

The Bible says the Holy Spirit is like a fire, listen closely, as Adrian Rogers explains why illustrations of what the Holy Spirit's he's like when mazelike fire bears a fire and there's wind to spread and I want to remind you what fire does. Because the Holy Spirit of God is to your life. One fire is an fire illuminate fire is light, and the Holy Spirit of God is there to illumine you.

Welcome to love finding featuring profound truth. Simply stated by Adrian Roger the day of Pentecost.

The next chapter to Mark the birth of the church and the burst of the holy flame that is the Holy Spirit. Adrian Rogers said these early Christians had of fire that water couldn't drown and swords couldn't kill and jails could not hold one of the most important things we can do is learn how to Kindle that fire and if you have your Bible turned out of the book of acts chapter 2.

As Adrian Rogers begins. Part one of how to keep your spiritual fire burning take your Bible's God's holy Word and turning to the second chapter of the book of acts measure turning to the second chapter of the book of acts. May I tell you that a New Testament spirit filled church is a mighty weapon in the hand of a holy God, and the pattern for the church is found in the book of acts. I will delete several verses in acts chapter 2 and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting in there. Under them. Cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now the passage that I just read to you, took place on a Jewish feast day called Pentecost for 1500 years. The Jews at This feast of Pentecost, but there was never another just like this. It took place 50 days after Passover and what they would do his best. They would take wonderful grain and they would crush it and make flour out of it and then they would take that flour and mix it with oil and the priest would bake that flour mixed with oil into two loaves of bread, you know that oil represents the Holy Spirit the week represents the church of the living God.

There were two loaves there on the day of Pentecost, because now all of those individual grains were becoming one loaf, but there is both Jew and Gentile, becoming one new body hundred and 20 disciples on the day Pentecost went up into an upper room as individual grains of wheat but they came together at Pentecost and we had the birthday of the church and it was a wonderful illustration that now something new, something supernatural was happening. Holy Spirit was coming in great power to buy in the church on that day.

Also, they sacrificed on the day Pentecost in the old Jewish feast day seven lambs and two rams and one young bull were all sacrifice that day. That is, there were 10 animals that were sacrificed.

10 is the complete number and I believe that pictures the complete perfect blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now God is teaching a lesson here and is full of symbolism and so this mighty power that came on the day Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the infant church. It symbolized several ways. First of all, it was symbolized by sound like if you will hear again in verse two and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind, I've been into tornadoes in my life and I can attest to what everyone says does sound like a freight train. The sound of a rushing mighty wind. One time in Florida.

Joyce and I were asleep in the middle of the night and I'm a sound sleeper when I put my head upon the pellets. Lights out, but I woke up and looked in the backyard and I've never seen anything like that. The grass was lying down flat and there was that sound that rule and we ran to get the children away from the windows, but by that time the sound had passed on by. We looked out of the backyard into mighty appraisal lying down flat not a shingle was lifted on the house thank the Lord is that tornado passed by and I often thought of the sound of a mighty rushing wind and wind is an emblem of the Holy Spirit of God. As a matter fact, Jesus taught us that you remember John chapter 3 verse eight he says the wind blows where it will. You can tell from where it comes or where it's going, but you can hear the sound thereof and wind therefore is an emblem of the Holy Spirit of God because it comes from heaven.

It moves at its own will. It is commanded by nobody except God himself is mysterious. We don't know from whence it comes or where it goes and it is invisible but very powerful. What a wonderful emblem of the Holy Spirit of God, there was the symbolism of the sound and then the symbolism of the fire. Look again if you will, in verse three and there appeared under them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

They looked like human candles. Can you imagine 120 people with a flame just flickering over the head just like that that fire upon ETA and fire also is an emblem of the Holy Spirit fire spreads fire consumes fire warms fire encourages fire illuminates and fire energizes and so you have when and fire.

There is fire and wind discredit and it sat upon each of them.

It sat upon the apostles and it set upon the lowliest believers because there are no super sites. This was to be a universal thing the wind and the fire and so first of all this power was symbolized within this power was vocalized look if you will. Now in verse four and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They are speaking now with strange languages languages that they have never learned what I think is important that we just continue to read this. They spake with other tongues in the word tongues means languages. The Greek word loss and so speaking in tongues is called glossolalia as the Spirit gave them utterance. As this was not something that they learned it was something that the Holy Spirit of God.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, and I was going this because tongues are primarily assigned to Jews.

The man out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, they were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

By the way, this was a known language not an unknown language. They all heard them speak in their own language when you go to the book of first Corinthians speaks of an unknown tongue read it carefully, because the word unknown is italicized and means is not in the original translators put it in that try to make it read more clearly, but there they obfuscated the meaning everybody's hearing them speak in their own language and they were all amazed, and model, saying one to another, behold, not all these which speak Galileans by the way, the Galileans were hillbilly so that day. They basically were thought of as backward and unlearned.

How hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born Parthians and meats and Elamites, and the dwellers of Mesopotamia and in Judea Associate in Pontus and Asia in Bergen Pamphylia, and Egypt.

All the parts of Libya roundabouts irenic and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes creeks and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues that is in our languages. The wonderful works of God, and they were all amazed and wind out, saying one to another, what you mean. Of this, others mocking said, these men are full of new wine that is there drunk so the power that was symbolized by fire and by when is now also vocalized and their beginning to speak in languages they never learn that again. I want to remind you this is primarily assigned to the Jews putting your margin. First Corinthians 14 verses 21 and 22, Paul was explained to the Corinthian church about tongues and he says in the law it is written with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak under this people is talking now about Israel to this people. Yet for all that they will not hear me set the Lord. Wherefore, tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not so tongues are assigned to unbelievers. Sometimes people think that speaking in tongues is a sign you feel the Holy Spirit speaking tongues is not assigned God's people about anything. Speaking in tongues is a sign on believers.

Primarily this people. That is, the Jews tongues are mentioned three times in the book of acts, and every time dimension Jews are present, and unbelieving Jews are in the background about the true mark of spirituality is not that you're speaking a foreign language I speak in an unknown tongue. The true mark of spirituality is that you control the one tongue that you best serious I mean I'm deadly serious about that and try to be funny.

If you are filled with the spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is love, the Corinthian church was carnal and divided and childish and immature and they were making merchandise of the what they thought was the gift of tongues but it was not of God.

Now there is a biblical get the biblical gift of tongues is a language known by others, but unknown by the speaker. It is a miracle gift primarily to convince unbelieving Jews. This power was symbolized by wind and fire. This power was vocalized as a speaking in strange languages that they never learn. And then this power was actualized. Go back again if you will to chapter 2 and look in verse four. And here's the key and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

This is the abiding miracle of Pentecost. Sometimes people say we need another Pentecost will be careful you think we need another Pentecost. We could have another Pentecost without an indoor cyclone and tongues of fire sitting on everybody's head is not another Pentecost that we need. We don't need another Pentecost any more than we need another Bethlehem another cowboy Bethlehem was God with this caliber is God force Pentecost is God in us, we need to enjoy Bethlehem enjoy Calvary enjoy Pentecost, but Pentecost was a special day.

It was the birthday of the church and the miracles that were given the mighty rushing wind, and the flames of fire.

These things were illustrative of the mighty power. The feeling of the spirit of God. Therefore, distinct works of the Holy Spirit. I want you to pay attention to what they are.

First of all, they is the baptism of the Spirit. Jesus said you should be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. That's before he ascended to heaven. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is what we're talking about when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, and these individual grains now have become one loaf.

They are bait together by love. They have become one. Just as those of us in this congregation are not many, and they are one and Paul tells us about that.

This is the baptism of the Spirit put down in your margin first Corinthians 12 in verse 13 for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.

That's the baptism the Holy Spirit where many become one.

For by one Spirit, are you 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. For by one Spirit, are you all baptized now. Every so often somebody will ask you, have you received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and they might mean by that. Have you had some esoteric experience.

If you are saved you have received the baptism the Holy Ghost when you become a child of God, you are placed by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, and that is the baptism of the Spirit. It doesn't happen Osama not to others. For this verse of Scripture says by one Spirit, are ye all the Greek language literally says, for by one Spirit had he all been everyone of you baptized in one body every child of God has the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

There is not one Scripture, not one Scripture that ever commands a New Testament Christian be baptized. Holy Spirit, not one, but one note, we are commanded to be filled with the spirit we are already baptized in the Holy Spirit. The minute we receive Christ. For by one Spirit had he all been baptized into one body, that is the work of the Holy Spirit of God that takes many of us and makes us one when we get saved and are placed into the mystical body of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Then there is the indwelling of the spirit.

He also says we been made to drink into one Spirit. P now comes into us. He lives in us and dwells in us.

Jesus said in John 14 when the comforter is come, he will abide with you wherever he dwells in me. He lives in me is the abiding possession of every child of God. Some people erroneously have the idea that you get saved. And after you get saved later on subsequent rate. You may not receive the Holy Spirit put it down, downplaying put it down straight. If the Holy Spirit is not in you.

You are not even say no such thing is getting saved and later receiving the Holy Spirit.

Romans chapter 8 and verse nine but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you, and then Paul says if any man have not the spirit of Christ is not advanced you will belong to him.

If you have the Holy Spirit of God, how you call yourself a Christian because Christ is not in you as Christ is coming to you except by the Holy Spirit. You think Jesus and his body was literally going to come into you and me that his physical bodies and you know the only way that Jesus can be in you is through the Holy Spirit. And if any man have not the spirit of Christ is not of Jesus is not in you you not say melt away to Jesus can be in use by the Holy Spirit to understand that so by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.

That's the baptism of the Spirit were replaced by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ. But then thank God the Holy Spirit is into Sweetman. All have been made to drink in to one spirit so there's the baptism of the Spirit. There is the indwelling of the spirit and then thank God there is the ceiling of the spirit know what happens there is this that what you are putting the body of Christ. You are sealed into this body of Christ by the Holy Spirit of God put down. Ephesians chapter 1 in verse 13, Paul speaks of Jesus and he says, in whom he also trusted, after that she heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom, after you believe ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise over the book of Esther, we read that the King seal. No man can break the King is put a seal upon you, and that seal is not to be broken. You are signed, sealed and delivered by the Holy Spirit of God.

It means a finished transaction in biblical days when there was a deal done, there would be a stamp called a seal and melted wax. It was affixed to a document and admit it is gone it is finished. It is paid in full and we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of God bears the baptism of the Spirit is the indwelling of the spirit, there is the ceiling of the spirit and there is talk late the filling of the spirit we go to dwell more about the filling of the Spirit acts chapter 2 verse four says they were all filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Now that is the abiding miracle move aside the symbolism move aside the emblems move those aside and understand what the abiding miracle is us in verse four and they were all filled with the spirit, I told you there is no command in the Bible for you to be baptized with the spirit is a definite command for you to be filled with the spirit, and that is in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18. The Bible says be not drunk with wine, where the success but be filled with the spirit.

I don't want to be too technical, but I want a that is the imperative mood and with I were to tell you, get up out of here and leave this place right now. It's imperative that you do it do it is not a suggestion that's imperative and the Bible says be filled with the spirit that's imperative that means that this is not just something nice. This is something necessary.

This is not just simply a blessing to enjoy. It is a command to obey and it is passive invoice. It doesn't say get failed to send me feel that is is something that God does. It is supernatural being filled with the spirit.

It is plural in number and literally says be being filled all of the apostle said the promise is to you and your children enter as many as the Lord our God shall call every body is to be filled, the spirit, not just the pastor, not just event does not just require a leader. We are all to be filled with the spirit of young and old. If we say we refill the spirit.

When we are safety comes into us as resident.

But when refilled, he becomes president. He comes not only to abide but to preside in us and so we are to be filled with the spirit. Now the filling of the spirit is conditional. The filling of the spirit comes when we meet God's conditions and the filling of the spirit comes to turn weaklings into witnesses, and Jesus had said and accept the one verse eight you shall receive power that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me now among the illustrations of what the Holy Spirit does. He's like when a slight fire. There is a fire and there's wind to spread and I want to remind you of what fire does. Because the Holy Spirit of God is to your life, what fire is, and Clark illuminates. I want you to write these things down. Now the Holy Spirit is the illuminating fire of God, fire gives light. The light is shining down upon us is coming tonight from fire. Where is the light of the sun light a candle on the incandescent light. Whatever it is. Fire gives light, and the Holy Spirit of God is there to a looming, you it was the Holy Spirit of God that gave the Scriptures and is not a fact. You can read acts chapter 1 verse 16. You're right there in the neighborhood just look at verse 16 and you say many brethren. This Scripture must needs have been fulfilled with the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David Spade who was speaking with David wrote the Psalms, the Holy Ghost.

This is illuminating fire and not only did the Holy Spirit give the Scriptures the Holy Spirit helps you to understand the Scriptures. When I prepare a sermon. I soak it in prayer. I pray and say, God give me understanding, but Jesus said in John 14 verse 26 but the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost and the father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. The Holy Spirit is the teacher.

He teaches us, and shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have commanded you, so the Holy Spirit is the illuminating fire of God and the Holy Spirit is the consuming fire of God. Not only does fire illumine but fire consumes our God is a consuming fire, and it is the Holy Spirit of God that burns away the dross of sin and sometimes we have the idea that being filled Holy Spirit is in attainment. It is not. It is receiving a gift from God very much just like you were saying. The Holy Spirit of God is the illuminating fire of God the Holy Spirit of God is the consuming fire of God the Holy Spirit of God is the transforming fire of God. Another propensity fire is that fire transforms and what does it transforms whatever it is burning into its own likeness. It turns whatever it is burning into the fire itself and the fire just principles you put a poker even in the fire and let it stay in the fire and the poker stays long enough in the fire. You look at it and the fire will be in the program. I went when you are with the Lord Jesus deal with the Holy Spirit. You being transformed from glory in the glory. And because the Holy Spirit of God is the transforming fire of God and not only consumes it transforms coming up on Monday will hear part two of this important message. Maybe today you have questions about who Jesus is what he means to you. How to begin a relationship with God through Christ.

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