Ascension and Baptism in Fire
The ascension of Jesus is a very significant event. Paul quotes the Psalmist who says that He who descended also ascended on high and distributed gifts to men.
Reinhard Bonnke says the most important 'work' that Jesus did was not on earth but when He ascended, refering to the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Joel 2 says that God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. I believe that with Jesus' ascension, the Spirit has been poured out on all flesh. Have you received it? Have you experienced and do you experience God supernaturally?
Is it that important? Many ask. It is. If you believe in the incarnation and if you believe in the death and resurrection, then you probably claim to believe in the ascension. If you do, then receiving the baptism of fire, is a direct consequence of what Jesus did.
You cannot believe in the Triune God and that Jesus is the Son of God and explain how being baptized in the Holy Spirit is an option. If God is one and if Jesus is the Christ, i.e. the anointed one, anointed in the Holy Spirit, and If you belong to him and are a member of His body by the cleansing of the blood, then you are also baptized, which means fully submersed in the Holy Spirit. You are knit together and fully saturated with the Holy Spirit, intertwined in the very fabric of God. That is the reality of Heaven. The resurrected body of Jesus is the temple of God, and you are called to be a member of that body.
In my opinion, living without the baptism of the Holy Spirit or even worse refuting it, is living in denial. He comes with fire. He comes to clean the house and purify it, make it shine like gold.
Why is this such a big issue? Because people want things to remain as they are. Why? Because they are afraid of change. But being a Christian is all about change. The truth never changes. But the truth makes us change everyday. We can never conform to the truth by our knowledge and strength. The truth is the Son. The Son is the Christ. The Christ is the baptizer of the entire human race in the Holy Spirit, not just anyhow, not with a ritual, not with a religious service, but by an experience best translated in the natural as BY FIRE.
We can all setlle for a salad or a club sandwich. But a grilled steak has a special place on the menu. What do you want to serve to the world? A coleslaw Jesus? I have come to know him as the red hot spicy sizzling Jesus, and that is exactly how He is to be served.
Many people describe the Trinity as a happy family. I would rather describe the realty of God's being as an exploding laughter. The Trinity is love. Love is fire. Love is blantantly searching to spread. Baptizing with fire is a direct consequence of the incarnate Son entering Heaven, with a resurrected body. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is as near to you, as is your flesh near to you thanks to what Jesus did! THAT is the Gospel! That is the good news! You are no longer alone, no longer an orphan, no longer left with no helper and friend, but you have One living inside of you! There you go. Receive it! In the name of Jesus.
God is love. We all agree. But what does that love look like. I would like to suggest to you that the love of God is fiery passion, best manifested by God Himself. Receive the Holy Spirit and see for yourself! God bless you!
