A Baptism of FIRE in the Bosom

10/15/2021

Matthew 3, Matthew 11

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father,” (“We live in the right place and don’t get into trouble and know the right things”) for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now...

...the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force....

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
Wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Perhaps this recent upheaval is God’s play that “the egg the Robin dropped is awesome but not the Full Intention for these Days: The baby bird must come out.” Perhaps it’s time for the sons and daughters of God to be manifest, and creation itself groans for manifestation not just compliance.

A baptism of FIRE in the bosom is what is Required and Provided for us.

Is it not?

The water is deep and the current is strong. But he’s asking us to take that chance and jump together.

The fire is hot and consuming. But he’s asking us to walk straight on into the fiery furnace to meet the son of man there.

A response to the above thoughts:

I’ve been digging into, in the Bible, what God says bearing fruit looks like in a person’s life. Fruit is repentance and change occurring that is visible. A decisive difference from what our flesh is. It’s wind and fresh and unexpected Life that only Jesus gives! Not externals.

Here is the Amplified version:

“So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]; and do not presume to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [so our inheritance assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham. And already the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “As for me, I baptize you with water because of [your] repentance [that is, because you are willing to change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret your sin and live a changed life], but He (the Messiah) who is coming after me is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to remove [even as His slave]; He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire (judgment). His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat (believers) into His barn (kingdom), but He will burn up the chaff (the unrepentant) with unquenchable fire.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3:8-12‬ ‭AMP