Saturday March 04th, 2023
Meditate on: Luke 3:16 NLT
« John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. »
Read: 1 Kings 18:31-38 NKJV
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two measure of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.”
34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.
35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
Message:
In 1 Kings 18:38, the fire consumed the water.
In this context, water represents tears and sorrow.
The Holy Spirit is the Comforter who licks up your tears and gives you comfort.
For all those tears you shed at night behind closed doors, God sees you and He will send His Holy Spirit to comfort you.
Note that Elijah had purposely asked that water be poured on the sacrifice.
There are certain sorrows that are self caused; the Holy Spirit comforts us in such also (John 14:18).
That is why I have good news for anyone who may have made several mistakes in the past: the Holy Spirit will wipe your tears and give you a fresh start in the mighty name of Jesus.
The fire also consumed the dust.
Humans are made of dust (Genesis 2:7). The dust represents human flesh.
One of the names of the Holy Spirit is the Transformer as we see in 1 Kings 18:46 Coping Words (CW):
« After Ahab had left, the hand (the power) of the Lord came upon Elijah, and he tucked his mantle (coat) into his belt, and outran Ahab’s chariot to the entrance of city of Jezreel.»
When the Hand of God (another name of the Holy Spirit) came upon Elijah, he became stronger and faster than chariots drawn by horses.
He was transformed. In Judges 15:14-15, we see the Holy Spirit transform the jaw bone of an ass into a weapon of warfare. Romans 8:11 GNT says :
« If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you. »
When the fire of the Holy Ghost comes on you, you no longer live by the flesh but by the Spirit.
The moment you are baptized by the Holy Ghost and fire, you become transformed.
May you experience the transforming fire of the Holy Spirit, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Application: Make time to pray in the Holy Ghost for at least one hour daily.
Author: Pst Enoch A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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