Saturday June 4 730 8pm William Bell Baptism of Fire 3

Now we have been talking about the six baptisms that are found in the New Testament and our first message was on the baptism of John who preached the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. Secondly, we talked about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And then lastly, or rather the next lesson that we have for you is the baptism of fire. And we're going to be looking in just a moment from a passage in the scripture in Matthew chapter three where we talk about the baptism of fire. And there are certain things that we feel are very important to learn about this subject. And so let's go ahead and get into it for this evening. In Matthew chapter three, beginning at verse seven, the Bible says, when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance. And do not think to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from the stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew three in verse 10. So John says, I indeed baptize you with water under repentance, but he was coming after me is mightier than I who sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy spirit and fire. Matthew three in verse 11, his winnowing fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly cleanse out or clean out his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Now this text is presented to us in Matthew chapter three, but along with this text, we have a context that we want to talk about and we'll get to that in a moment. But remember that many have claimed to be baptized in the fire. Now, I suppose maybe they're looking at Acts chapter two, where the Bible talks about their appearing to the apostles, cloven tongues or divided tongues as a fire. And it sat upon each one of them. And they spoke with tongues as the spirit gave them utterance. Now the fire there is really a metaphorical because the text says it was like as a fire. So there was symbolism, just as you see fire kind of divided in the flames and cloven, so to speak. Uh, that's what that appeared to be, but it was actually tongues that sat upon each of them. It wasn't fire. So from that perspective, we need to make that distinction. But if that's what people mean about being baptized in the fire, then I can understand it. On the other hand, there are those who look at Matthew chapter three and say they were baptized in the Holy spirit or with the Holy spirit and fire. But in this case, we're talking about a different kind of fire. We're talking about the fire of judgment, which we'll be talking about as we move through the message. Now it's important for us to determine Matthew's context in Matthew chapter three. And he begins saying, in those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, repent for the kingdom of heaven is drawn near. Now he's talking about the kingdom about to arrive. This is the kingdom that the prophets have looked forward to. And so he says that this is he verse three, who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah saying the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make his path straight. Now that for, therefore we have a prophecy that is being referred to in the ministry of John. That is all about this concept of baptizing people in Jordan, but also, uh, baptizing them with the view to the coming of the kingdom and therefore with a coming of judgment. Now to see this, uh, context of judgment, uh, from which Matthew draws his message in recording the language of John, the, uh, message of John, I should say, uh, we have Isaiah 40 that talks about this. Now in Isaiah 40 in verse two, the Bible says, speak comfort to Jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned for she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Now that's a retribution. That's a taking of vengeance on Jerusalem for her sins. And then we have the text in verse three, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert, a highway for our God. Every Valley shall be exalted in every mountain and Hill brought low. The quick places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Now, after that, we have the message that says the voice said, cry out. And he said, what shall I cry? All flesh is grass. All its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. So this is a message about those who were rebellious in Israel, who rejected the Messiah being as a, as grass that withers. And as a flower that fades away in verse nine, he says, Oh Zion, you who bring good tidings, get up into the mountain, old Jerusalem, you who bring good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lifted up, be not afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, behold your God. Now look at what's taking place. They're saying, say to the cities of Judah, behold your God. This follows the preaching of those good tidings of the gospel. But then he says in verse 10, behold, the Lord, our God shall come with a strong hand. So this is the coming of the Lord and his arm shall rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him. There's the judgment and his work before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd and he will gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those who are with young. So we're talking about the gathering of Israel here. We're talking about the judgment, the coming of the Lord and the rewarding each man, according to his works. Now that passage is quoted in Matthew chapter 16, verses 27 and 28 for the son of man is about to come in the glory of his father with his angels. And then he will reward each according to his work. Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom. So this was a passage that was about to be fulfilled in the time of, uh, Matthew's writing and in the time of the new, uh, new Testament era in the first century. Now that being the case, we've seen the judgment context of Isaiah 40, but there's also another text in the old Testament from which I believe John is drawing his language in order to talk about this fire. So let's take a look at another text and that's going to be in Malachi chapter three. And, um, also we'll look in chapter four, but in Malachi three, the text says, behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. Even the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight. Now I want you to take note of the fact that it says the Lord, whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple, but let's keep going. It says, behold, he is coming. There's the coming of the Lord says the Lord of hosts, but who can endure the day of his coming and who can stand when he appears for, he is like a refiners fair, a fire and like the notice he is like a refiners fire. That's why it's asking who can stand when he appears because the refiners fire was the fire used in the, uh, smelting of iron and, and, uh, gold and silver, particularly where they would, um, burn off the refuse from the, or, and then have the pure gold, uh, left and the pure silvers. And so he says he will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord and offering in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord as in the days of old, as in former years. And I will come near you for judgment against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien because they do not fear me says the Lord of hosts. And that's what John, the Baptist was saying to those Pharisees and those Sadducees. In essence, he says, old generation of vipers who has warned you to flee the wrath that was about to come or the coming wrath. Now, in addition to this, where you see this messenger is introduced with a view to a swift coming judgment, the Lord coming and appearing at his temple. Then we have in chapter four, another reference to this time of fire notice. Well, behold, the day is coming doing what burning like an oven and all the proud. Yes. All who do wickedly will stubble or will be stubble. Notice they'll be like stubble and the day which is coming shall burn them up. That's illusion to the fire says the Lord of hosts that will leave them. Now watch what is going to leave them. Neither root nor branch. Do you hear that echo in Matthew three in this verse, in terms of John reiterating this fact that he's going to gather every tree that does not bring good fruit into his barn, but the chaff he's going to burn, uh, every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is going to be cut down and cast into the fire. And so he goes on in this text so that we can identify very clearly who he's talking about. The text says in verse, let's just skip down to verse four. It says, remember the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded him in horror for all Israel with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I send you Elijah, the prophet before the coming and great coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Now this was Elijah, the prophet who would come before the great and awesome day of the Lord. But what would he do? He would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Lest he says, I come and strike the earth with a curse. Now to whom is this prophecy referring? We can find the answer very clearly, uh, very, um, quickly in the gospel of Luke chapter one, verses 16 and 17. When John, excuse me, when Zechariah and Elizabeth have their first son and named him John, the Bible says, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He will also go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. And so they, uh, named the child, John, this is a reference to John, uh, being born at this time. And this fulfills that prophecy of Elijah, because it says this is applying to John, but we can go further to Matthew chapter 17, where Jesus meets with Peter, James, and John in the Mount of transfiguration. At the same time, Moses and Elijah appear to him and they have a discussion, uh, on various things. However, what we are seeing here is once this discussion is over, which, uh, Moses and Elijah passes away, which symbolizes the passing of the prophets and leaving Christ alone so that the kingdom of God is present. Uh, this was the vision that was given. And Jesus said, tell this vision to no one until the son of man is risen from the dead. Then in verse 10, it says in the disciples asked him saying, why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? Jesus answered and said to them, indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah is come already. And they did not know him, but did whatever they wished. Likewise, the son of man is also about to suffer at their hands. And the Bible says, then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist. So this text has nothing to do with Elijah Muhammad. It has nothing to do with any leader in the Hebrew Israelite movement. This was a prophecy concerning John, the immerser in the first century, but notice he draws from this context of judgment, both in Isaiah and both in Malachi. Now, what he does is he associates the fire in Israel's last days, uh, from the prophecy in Deuteronomy chapter 32 and verse 22. So let's look at that prophecy. This is when Moses was giving a farewell address to Israel before his death and talking to them about what was going to occur with them in their last days. So in verse 22, the Bible says for a fire is kindled in my anger and shall burn to the lowest Gehenna. It shall consume the earth with her increase and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. Now remember, this is an Israel's last days before the great and awesome day of the Lord come. And therefore it was during the time in which John the Baptist came as a messenger, preparing the way for Christ. Now, another point that we want to make regarding this fire is that during the time that Moses went up into the Mount and Mount Sinai to receive the tablets from God, the commandments from God, he ascended into the Mount in order to meet with God. But God also descended to the top of the mountain in a cloud, et cetera. But here's what the text says about it. Now, Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. It's smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace and the whole mountain quaked greatly. Exodus 19 verse 18. So we're seeing that God descends in the mountain. Now, what is the essence of this? This mountain was a temple mount. It was the presence of God, which signified where God was in the height of the mountain was the most holy place. And Moses was ascending up in order to go into the presence of God. But God in that cloud and in that top of the mountain with this fire was seated on his throne. And you'll see that when you get to Exodus chapter 24 and verse 17. So let's go over there and look at that very quickly in Exodus 24. And you will see the imagery of the throne of God. So it says in verse nine, then Moses went up also Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and 70 of the elders of Israel. And they saw the God of Israel. And there was under his feet, as it were a paved work of Sapphire stone. And it was like the very heavens in its clarity. But the nobles of the children of Israel, he did not on the nobles of the children of Israel, he did not lay his hand. So they saw God and they ate and drank. Now the Lord said to Moses, come up to me on the mountain, be there. And I will give you the tablets of stone and the law of commandments, which I've written. My point is this is where the glory cloud was, but God was there on the throne in the top of the mountain. So we need you to understand that this is all about God's presence in the temple. But it says when he ascended, there was all of this fire. He descended in fire. Now, another example of fire in the temple is in the 10th chapter of Leviticus, where Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire on it, put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And the Bible says, so fire went out notice from the Lord and devoured them and they died before the Lord. Now they were before the temple administering or ministering with this fire that they were to offer with the sacrifices. And as a result, God, whose presence was in the temple, the Bible says fire came from the Lord and devoured them. Now this is very, very important because this is telling us regarding this, this fire in relation to the temple of God. That's significant. When we're talking about Malachi and excuse me, Matthew chapter three, when we're dealing with John the Baptist and this fire now in the 25th chapter of Exodus, you will see that the coming of the is on his throne. And, uh, Exodus 25, uh, the point that I want to make here is that this is where God would meet with them because the Bible says he would speak with them from above the mercy seat from between the two caribou, which are on the arc of the testimony about everything, which I give you in commandment to the children of Israel. So God is saying, I'm going to speak to you about everything. I'm going to command them. And, uh, this is, uh, important. The significance of this is showing that God does this work from his temple. Now in Michael chapter one and the verse is, uh, one, he says, hear all you peoples listen, Oh earth and all that is in it. Let the Lord God be a witness against you. Uh, the Lord from his Holy temple, notice the Lord from his Holy temple for behold, the Lord is coming out of his place. What's his place? The temple. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under him. Why? Because he's a consuming fire because he comes in fire. The mountains will melt under him and the valleys will split like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. And this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Are they not Jerusalem? According to Micah one, one through five. Now this shows you that when God is in the temple, he's on his throne again, Exodus 25, 21 and 22. But this is why when the man of lawlessness in second Thessalonians chapter two, who tried to impersonate God becoming this false prophet, making himself to be God, he does so in God's place in the temple. That's what second Thessalonians two verses three and four says that the man of lawlessness had to be revealed before the coming of the Lord and that he exalts himself above all that was called God or that was worshiped so that he, as God sits in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. So where's God in the temple above the mercy seat on the throne. Now that's where judgment begins in the temple. Why? Because it's from the throne seat of God. The Bible says in Matthew chapter 25 and verse 31, when the son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit upon the throne of his glory. Matthew 25 and 31, all the nations would be gathered before him. He would separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And then what does he say? He says, the righteous will go into life eternal, but the wicked will go into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. So you could see there again is the consuming fire, but it's associated with God sitting on the throne in the temple, of course, the Lord there. And so that's why in first Peter four 17, the Bible says, well, the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? That again is showing you where judgment, where all of God's actions takes place on his throne in the temple. And now the Bible says the Lord comes in flaming fire, and this must be understood as the Lord coming in his house, as we've just seen from first Peter four 17, the Lord coming on his throne of glory in Matthew 25, 31 and Matthew 16, 27 and 28. But also second Thessalonians one seven says that he would give to those who are trouble rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. Well, isn't that Matthew 25, 31 for sure in flaming fire. So when he comes on the throne of glory and sits on his throne of glory, the Bible says that's when he comes in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Well, behold, the Lord will come with fire. That's a quote from Isaiah 66 verses 15 and 16 for behold, the Lord will come with fire and with his chariots like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebuke with flames of fire. Isaiah 66 and verse 15 for by fire and by his sword, the Lord will judge all flesh and the slain of the Lord shall be many. Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouth watch shall be consumed together by what? By this fire, God, a consuming fire says the Lord for I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues and they shall come and see my glory. Again, Matthew 25 and 31. Now that shows you that this end of the world that the Bible talks about, for example, in second Peter three, when it mentions the fire is nothing but God coming on his throne before some who stood in his presence died in the glory of his father with his angels. It is judgment from the temple. We know that because second Peter three is a reminder of first Peter and first Peter four 17 says judgment would begin at the house of God, but the heavens and the earth, which are now preserved by the same word are reserved for fire unto the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Second Peter chapter three and verse seven. We also see in second Peter chapter three verse 10, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise. The elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. That's what Malachi said. It was going to burn like an oven. And so Peter is simply, uh, using the same language that John did to talk about this time, uh, inverse, uh, 12, this time associated with the judgment of the Lord coming in relation to the temple to fulfill the prophecy and the message of John the Baptist. Now he says, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat. So we have to keep things in their contextual, uh, in their context and have the right historical perspective. Now, Jesus alludes to this world being burned up in the 13th chapter of Matthew. When he talked about the parable of the tears, he says, the field is the world. The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tears are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sold them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age and the reapers are the angels. Therefore, as the tears are gathered and burned in the fire, just like John said, he said he was going to gather the wheat into his barn, but he was going to burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Every good tree that brought forth good fruit was going to be blessed. And though that ones that did not, he says, he's going to cut them down and burn them in the fire. And that's the same thing. As the tears are gathered and burned in the fire. So it will be when at the end of this age, the son of man will send out his angels. They will gather out of his kingdom, all things that offend and those that practice lawlessness and we'll cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.