GET TOGETHER- OVERCOME THE FREEZE
Lu 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Joh 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
(NKJV)
In Hamilton, Alabama like much of the south and a large segment of our nation it has been very cold the last week. We have had temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit some nights and several nights in the teens.
One thing that I wanted to be sure of during this time was to make sure that our pipes at the church and the ones at our house didn’t freeze up. A very wise man that has gone to be with the Lord told me one time that when the temperature got to 18 degrees to be sure that you left the heat on at least 60 degrees and to leave the water running, not just dripping, but running. Certainly, at our house the temperature was warmer than 60, and at the church I kicked it up to 65 a couple of nights. I wanted to be sure that the pipes in our baptistry didn’t freeze up. So far that has all worked well.
Now from a spiritual point how can we keep from freezing up spiritually? Well one thing just as in the church building and in our house, we want to be sure that there is plenty of heat there. The heat that we want working in us is the fire of the Holy Spirit. That is the fire that Jesus baptizes us with. If we want the heat on in our houses, or other buildings we must be sure that the heat is turned on.
If we want the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must have a life of prayer. If we want the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must be a people who worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. If we want the fire of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we must be people that gather with other Christians in corporate worship. If we want the fire of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we must be people who are willing to give. Fires burn out where there is no stirring. Fires go out where there is no air. We need the wind of the Holy Spirit to bring forth the fire of the Holy Spirit.
If we don’t want to freeze up spiritually we need that living water flowing out of our belly that keeps our spiritual pipes from freezing up. When that water is flowing through us others are drawn to Jesus Christ. When that water is flowing through us we are ready to minister to the people that God is calling us to minister to.
Let me ask you something? How are you spiritually today? Would you say that you are on fire for God, or are you froze up? Perhaps you need a little thawing out. Begin to praise Him. Begin to see prayer as a blessing rather than drudgery. Continue, or reconnect with a congregation in Spirit filled corporate worship. Spend time in His word. Perhaps you are already doing these things. Then rejoice that your spiritual pipes are not frozen and ask the Lord to continually fill you with the Fire of the Holy Spirit and God will use you to help others in the thawing out process.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus we thank You for baptizing us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Lord today may all who read this experience that precious baptism that You promised. May all of us be so on fire for you that cold, dull, dry boring religion could never stop up our spiritual pipes again.
In Jesus Name
Amen
I have gotten the heater going strong in my office right now. I don’t want to freeze naturally, or spiritually.
Your friend/Kinfolk
Preston
