Fireworks

This weekend we celebrated the birth of the nation. Fireworks were everywhere on July 4th and still going strong. People look for a reason to see the beauty across the sky and hear the sound of freedom ring! However, after awhile the excitement wanes and we all go back to normal for another year. "There's nothing new under the sun. The sun comes up and the sun goes down.",  according to Solomon.

Have you had fireworks?

Luke 3:16 (ESV) "John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Most of us, when we make ourselves "a living sacrifice" by submitting ourselves to Christ and joy, we could feel the working of the Holy Spirit as we're saved. Prior to the ministry of Jesus Baptism was one of repentance. It was without the reception of the Holy Ghost. How is that known?

Acts 19:4 "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus"

John baptized Jesus. When he did there was something different about this baptism because he was baptizing God himself:

John 1:33 "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom (Jesus) thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

This is the "Baptism of John". It's different than the "Baptism of Jesus". With John only Jesus had the Holy Spirit descend and REMAIN upon him. John's was strictly a Baptism of repentance, but the the Baptism of Jesus was the filling of the Holy Ghost.

I would gather from context that only Jesus was the recipient and keeper of the Holy Ghost. All others either did not receive the Holy Ghost or received him for only a time. The most likely scenario is that those John Baptized never received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 19:1b "Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

There were no fireworks with John. With Jesus the sound was heard, the joy exploded and the universe was lighted. When the Holy Ghost came fireworks happened:

Acts 2 :2 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

 There are some who use this event to divide. It did happen, true Christians believe it and still experience the Holy Ghost. However, the issue remains: Was this an event designated only for the budding young church or was it for all times for all Christians? This issue will never be resolved because the Bible does not specifically address that!  However, most believe that with the Baptism of Jesus we experience the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, but it is not manifested by the speaking in tongues. The issue here is not speaking a language unknown to the hearer, but whether you have seen the fireworks of Jesus!

The Baptism of Jesus is circumcision of the heart.

Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

In Old Testament times the patriarchs cut off a symbolic portion of flesh; the foreskin. With Jesus all the flesh of the man is cut off! Hence, salvation is of the heart. It's when belief and faith establish the person as reborn. With the rebirth a Christian becomes ceremonially clean by baptism just as circumcision was used in the Old Testament to testify to the covenant! The old man is dead and is no longer of the flesh (representing the world). It's not the water which saves, but the faith which ensues before the immersion. (Some disagree with this, but that's their interpretation. Either way a person gets saved if they believe and have faith because faith produces a testimony and baptism is a testimony)..

With the circumcision of the heart and being born again a new temple is built. That temple is you the Christian:

1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Being a temple if God you have the Spirit of God dwelling within you. He sits on the mercy seat of your heart and is the Light in which you walk. You're no longer in darkness. Let the fireworks begin!

In a darkened sky there is nothing, but darkness. After the fireworks begin all manner of colors erupt in brilliance. The sky changes. Black turns to light. Likewise, once you're born again the spiritual sky, the soul, radiates God's mercy. There a person stands. Once a pillar of salt, now a solid rock lying upon the Cornerstone. Something has to happen. It's God's Law: A body in sin tends to stay in sin, but a body forgiven is intended to change!

Change we must! The fireworks should be brilliant enough for all to see.

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."

Do not anguish with sorrow. Have a pleasant state of mind! Let fireworks happen! Let sorrow turn to joy! As the angels sing when only one sinner is born again, yourself allow the joy of hope to light up your life. Those fireworks are of different hues, but blue is filtered by the brightness of sin defeated. We have reason for our spirit to be brightened!

Change means that we either quit sinning for pleasure or we quit trying to do good to get the fire insurance of heaven. Change means that we exercise our New Personhood! That person is in charge of the fireworks.and whether they shine brightly or sputter. Personally for me and my household, I desire a brilliant display. It's not necessary to burn the wick without brilliant results, so if we're to have a lighted sky, let the powder be potent.

Let's celebrate Liberty not only this weekend, but always! We're no longer bound as servants to the Law, but we have pleasure within the Law because our fire is lighted by the love of Jesus and we pass the candle and do the same for others. The more fire we share by lighting the candles of others, the more brilliant the cosmos will be! Isn't Liberty a good thing? Everyday can be the 4th of July. Any day anyone can be  free of bondage. That's truly grace... we're free to sin, but we have liberty and choose it not!