Sermon for 3/24/2002
Luke 3:16
Introduction:
A. Bill Taylor will read Luke 3:7-9, 16-17
B. French Gunter will read Mark 9:42-48
C. Jenny Mosier was working at the Northside Church of Christ as the Children’s Minister. She was there and lightening struck the steeple. The building burned to the ground. VEF- To listen to Larry Jones, the Minister; the elders, and the members, one realizes that this has only increased their excitement for Christ’s mission for the church. Their response to the fire maybe best seen in the sign in their parking lot: "We’re still on fire." May the Northside Church be on fire until the Lord comes.
WBTU:
A. In our study of the 3:16’s of the Bible we come to the book of Luke.
B. Introduction to Luke:
1. Luke was a doctor and a Greek.
2. Being a doctor he pays close attention to detail. Contains more detail that the other gospels.
3. Being Greek, he wrote this gospel for the Greeks. Matthew wrote for the Jewish population and Luke wrote for the Greek population.
4. Halley- "Greek civilization represented Culture, Philosophy, Wisdom, Reason, Beauty, and Education. Therefore, to appeal to the Thoughtful, Cultured, Philosophic Greek Mind, Luke, in a complete, orderly, and classical story, which has been called the "Most Beautiful Book Ever Written," depicts the Glorious Beauty and Perfection of Jesus, the Ideal, Universal Man.
C. Read Luke 3:16, 17.
D. Same story as last week. John preaching in the wilderness and baptizing. Jesus comes to be baptized of John.
E. However, there are some minor differences to the story. Compare Luke 3 with Matthew 3. Contradictions. The gospels do not agree.
F. In law if the witnesses tell the same exact story under oath their testimony is thrown out. Collaborated and concocted the story to agree. Eyewitnesses tell different details because they come from different backgrounds and different angles and different points of view. This makes their testimony even more valid. If agree in all the details, their accounts are not believable.
G. Fire. What is fire? 2 basic definitions. Fire = 1) A rapid, persistent chemical reaction that releases heat and light. 2) Intensity, enthusiasm, inspiration.
H. The Bible describes fire:
1. Bible has the chemical reaction. Peter at the courtyard of the high priest. Paul on Malta where the snake came out.
2. Bible also describes trials and tribulations as fire. These trials and tribulations are intense.
Thesis: This morning I want to discuss the two most prominent areas of fire in the New Testament: The Holy Spirit and Hell.
For instances:
A. The Holy Spirit.
A. (1 Th 5:19 NIV) Do not put out the Spirit’s fire
B. The Holy Spirit brings intensity, enthusiasm, and inspiration.
C. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles as tongues of fire and after this they went out with great intensity, enthusiasm and inspiration.
D. As Christian people with the Holy Spirit living in us we should have great intensity, enthusiasm and inspiration.
E. In Luke 3:16 these two the Holy Spirit and fire should be joined as one. The Holy Spirit’s fire.
F. It is interesting to link water baptism with fire. We are buried in the grave of baptism so that we leave and we are then on fire for God.
G. We don’t hear much about this in the Christian church.
H. The coming of the Spirit is to have the effect of fire. Fire, chemical reaction, comes and consumes the fuel. We are the fuel and the Holy Spirit wants to come into our lives and consume us for God until we are no more.
I. It is like a candle. Shine brightly and intensely until the candle is no more. The Holy Spirit wants to come into our lives and have us burn for God until there is no more of us left.
J. The only fireplaces God has today in the entire world are the hearts of His people....We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The fire of the Holy Spirit is to burn in the fireplaces of our own hearts.” (T.T. Crabtree,
K. Fire consumes -- burns out the sinful and unnecessary “stuff” in our lives. Fire purifies -- makes us clean and holy before God. Fire prepares (as in food) -- makes us tasteful and pleasant to each other. Fire cheers -- when we are caught in the cold grip of despair and discouragement, He cheers us on to victory. Fire softens -- the Holy Spirit softens the heart of the sinner and he repents. Fire unites -- (as in uniting different kinds of metals) the Holy Spirit brings unity to the people of God. Fire empowers -- “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” (Acts 1:8).
L. He doesn’t want to destroy you; he wants to consume you. God wants our lives consumed with him and him alone. He’s the lover of our soul; he’s a jealous God.
M. One man put it like this, When the fire of God touches your life
people will come and see you burn. Are you burning brightly for Christ Jesus today? Has he got first place and first call upon your life, if not you need to be touched again by the
fire of God?
N. · If your consumed you’ll be committed to all Gods doing in this
church.
· If you’re consumed, the job, the family, the interests in life will be
secondly compared to seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness.
· If you’re consumed, you won’t settle you’ll be a man or woman
of advance.
· If your consumed, you’ll seize every opportunity you get to share
your faith with the lost. (Jer 20:9 NIV) But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
O. Charles Spurgeon in Lectures to his students. "Brothers, I beseech you, keep to the old gospel, and let your souls be filled with it, and then may you be set on fire with it! When the wick is saturated, let the flame be applied. ’Fire from heaven’ is still the necessity of the age...When the fire once started upon a vast prairie or forest, all that is dry and withered must disappear before its terrible advance. The consecrated flame will, perhaps, consume you, burning up the bodily health with too great an ardor of soul, even as a sharp sword wears away the scabbard; but what of that? The zeal of God’s house ate up our Master, and it is but a small matter that it should consume His servant."
P. He will come like a refiner’s fire. ).
A refiner’s fire is a fire that refines. God says here that he’s a
refiner and his presence is like a fire that refines but what does that
mean.
The word refiner today is not a common word, a lot of people would not be
able to describe it because that job is not as common today as it was in
biblical times.
A refiner in biblical times was a person who basically took a piece of
metal that was formless and impure and he’d put the metal in the
furnace and he’d heat it up to an intense heat until all the dross
and impurities came to the surface and he’d wipe them off.
He’d do this again and again up to seven times he’d go through
the same process until he knew the metal was clean and pure.
And the way he would know that the metal was pure was that once he looked at it
he’d see the reflection of his face in the metal.
And this is beautiful picture of the refining that God wants to do in our
lives. He won’t leave us the way we are, he’ll chase after us
until we change.
He wants our attitudes and our weaknesses, any hidden sins, any
disillusionment that’s held us back, any fear or condemnation he
wants it all to go through the furnace of his presence so all the dross
that’s in our hearts may come to the surface,
For one reason and one reason alone and that’s so the reflection of
Christ may be seen in everything we are and everything we do.
Q. Hebrews 12:29- Our God is a consuming fire.
II. Hell.
A. Mark 9 tells us to do anything to avoid hell.
B. Where the fire is not quenched. It does not end. Here on earth, fire lasts as long as there is fuel. In hell, fire lasts forever and ever.
C. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, he puts the realization of hell in our hearts. No longer any fear, but we need to be convicted of hell.
D. (John 16:8 NIV) When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
E. (Jude 1:23 NIV) snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
F. Hell should be on our minds with non-Christian people.
G. God is a consuming fire. His fire is burning against sin. His fire can be felt in this world as we see the results of sin. God hates sin.
H. As Christian people his wrath does not rest upon us, but upon those who refuse to have the fire in their lives.
I. One day God is going to have enough and his fire will be unleashed upon this old world.
1. (2 Pet 3:7 NIV) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2. (2 Pet 3:10 NIV) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.(2 Pet 3:11 NIV) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives(2 Pet 3:12 NIV) as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
3. Everything will be consumed and the fire will be over except for one thing, the souls of those who do not know Jesus Christ.
J. Jesus talked more about hell than heaven. Gives us a terrible description in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
K. Back to Luke 3:17.
1. On the farm, must separate chaff from wheat kernels. Chaff is worthless.
2. John saw that Jesus’ coming would part men into two classes, those who submitted to the Holy Spirit’s fire and those who would not.
3. There are two fires, to one or other of which we must be delivered. Either we shall accept the purging fire of the Spirit that burns sin out of us, or we shall have to meet the fire that burns up our sins and us altogether forever and ever.
4. If we are not consumed now by the fire of the Holy Spirit, we will suffer the fire of hell forever and ever.
Conclusion:
A. This old world is getting hot. The fire of sin is all around us. We get thirsty wanting water that will forever quench our thirst.
B. We must go to Jesus Christ for the water that will quench our hot souls.
C. Cs. Lewis "The Chronicles of Narnia"
"Are you not thirsty?" said the lion. "I’m dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the lion. "May I- could I- would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. The lion answered this only by a look and very low growl. As Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not to- do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill. "I make no such promise," said the lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer the lion. "Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up, consumed girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it. "I daren’t come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. "Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." The lion said, "There is no other stream."
D. This old world is full of those who are thirsty. Yes, if we go to the stream we will be devoured, consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, but I would rather be on fire now, consumed now, than forever on fire and never burned out.
