Baptized with "Fire"

 Luke 3

   Are we positioning ourselves so that the word of God can come to us? Was he there because he was an unpopular repentance preacher, and needed to hide? I like to think he was so yearning for the touch of the Holy Spirit again, like he felt when he was in his mother's womb and felt the presence of the Christ growing in Mary nearby.  I always wondered if he was baptized at that very moment. I still think he was in the wilderness because of that very confronting tongue of fire. He had to survive long enough to fulfill his calling.
V2b The word of God came to John in the wilderness.
V7 Here is a sample of John's preaching to the crowds that came for baptism: you brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God's coming judgement? Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. Don't just say ,"we are safe- we're the descendants of Abraham." That proves nothing. Even now the ax of God's judgement is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
V10 What shall we do?
V11 If you have two coats, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.
V12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptised and asked, "Teacher what shall we do?
V13 "Show your honesty, " "Make sure you collect no more taxes than the Roman government requires you to.
V14 What shall we do?  asked some Roman soldiers. "Don't exhort money, and don't accuse people of things you know they didn't do, and be content with your pay."
V15 They wondered whether he was the Messiah.
V16 I baptize you with water, but one is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong.   He will baptize you with the Holy spirit and fire. 

Remember when you got born again and you felt squeaky clean and everything was beautiful?  Your feet weren't touching the floor, then you prayed with someone or shared the word and you felt on fire. Once you experience that there is never satisfaction in anything else, ever again.
   I'm amazed that he has to tell these guys to be honest and not to steal! Yet, in the church we still don't see our sin at times. He's being a prophet, spotting the counterfeit.
   We say sometimes we are having a wilderness experience in our walk with God.  It's really that we have allowed the rains of life to bring our fire to a smolder. John was spending his time in the wilderness girding himself up and came out a roaring flame! As soon as we step out into serving our fire will be kindled right up. The braver in the things of God we get, the brighter that flame.
   My friend, Carol Burnett, who will be speaking at the women's breakfast next month, is a flaming fire.  She  is a pleasure to watch as she gives yield to the the Holy Spirit's fire. She has been around the world stepping out in great courage to do God's work. The prayer volunteers have stepped out with courage and God is fanning their flames! Fire is all consuming, awesome, powerful and magnificent. We are all called to pull people out of the fire and also, into the fire. We have the choice of life or death, to be consumed or burned. Let us be consumed!   Never give up, never give in.