I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I desire thatit were already kindled! (Luke. 12:49)
Our Lord Jesus Christ said these words to his disciples – those who always walked with him, and dwelt with him for a long time. They heard Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, they have witnessed great and glorious miracles that God did through him; moreover, the disciples themselves were given the power and authority to cast out demons, to heal every disease and even raise people from the dead. The demons obeyed them, and no sickness could resist their words. To these same disciples, which are filled with God’s grace, Christ said that He came to bring fire on the earth. Note that at that time the fire Christ was talking about was not yet on earth, as Jesus said that He eagerly awaits the time when fire will be sent down to the earth.
But this fire was supposed to be kindled by someone; of all the thousands of people surrounding Christ, someone had to be the first to be ignited by a spark of fire that was in the heart of Jesus. Who else but his disciples, who always spent time with him, were supposed to have that fire kindled in their hearts?! This is why Christ spoke to his disciples, trying to explain to them that there is still a greater level of grace in the walk with Him, there is more and much greater than power over sickness and evil spirits – it is the baptism of the Holy Ghost fire!
Oh, how our Savior grieved, that, despite preaching the kingdom of heaven, his disciples were still lacking fire in their hearts, of which he was saying! Beloved, it is possible to spend our whole life following the Lord, doing ministry for Him, and at the same time, we can go without the most important thing – without the fire of the Holy Spirit within our hearts. Oh how the heart of our Savior grieves when He sees thousands of his followers, who, like the disciples, serve Him, but do not have the fire on the inside!
The fire that Jesus spoke of – was the movement of the Holy Spirit, which cannot be described in words. Notice that Jesus did not even try to explain to the disciples what it means to be baptized by the fire of God’s grace. To understand what Jesus had in mind, you need to experience the all-consuming fire yourself. The church of Jesus Christ in our days needs so much more than the correct systematic doctrine; it needs not just a regular passionate worship and periodic crowded conference, or events. The church of today is lacking FIRE! I think Christ is looking at us today, with the same words: “I came to bring fire upon the earth. Why do you serve me, not having it in your hearts? ”
Where are todays Christians whose hearts are burning with the fire of God’s grace? Where are the followers of our Master, who carry the torch of faith in the pitch darkness, illuminating it with the light of God’s love; where are those who are willing to give up the pleasures of this world and put their entire life on the altar of service?
Being filled with the Holy Spirit cannot be quiet and unnoticed Christianity; it is the unquenchable fire. Wherever it goes, everyone around it is set on fire. If in our hearts we have a divine fire, then all the people around us must have their hearts either ignited, or burnt. There are only two possible results from contact with the Holy Spirit, either light up to God, to serve Him earnestly, or get hardened by the burning conscience of an un-repented heart. Apostle Paul says:
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? (2 Corin.2:15-16)
Pavel Gurzhiy