A Longing in the Heart of God

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Katrina Barnett
6 years ago
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1 A Longing in the Heart of God

2 Luke 12:49-50 "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a bap<sm to undergo, and how distressed I am un<l it is accomplished! NASU

3 II. Here in this scripture we hear a heart cry from God longing for something to take place. He was longing to cast fire upon the earth. What was He longing for? Ma> 3:11 11 "As for me, I bap<ze you with water for repentance, but He who is coming ader me is migh<er than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will bap<ze you with the Holy Spirit and fire. NASU Holy Spirit characterized by fire: the work of the HS on the earth through His church

4 The Fire of the Holy Spirit Separates 1 Cor 3:12-16 Now if any man builds on the founda<on with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. NASU

5 The Fire Purifies or Consumes Heb 12:28-29 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gra<tude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire. NASU

6 III. But First He Had a BapMsm to Undergo. John 19:27 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The baplsm was finished but the fire had was ready to begin! Acts 2:1-4 Then the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were siung. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distribu<ng themselves, and they rested on each one of them. (The starmng of the fire: Christ in you) The fire is burning around the world but seems to be burning a lirle low in the churches of the USA?

7 IV. Have we forgoren the Holy Spirit? To a frightening extent, the church has forgoren about the Holy Spirit. We talk about Him from Mme to Mme, and we believe that He is actually living inside of us, but what difference do you see between a typical ChrisMan, who has the Holy Spirit, and a typical non-chrisman, who doesn t? Due in large part to our Western mind-set, we tend to assume that God won t work supernaturally in our lives. Sure, the Spirit did some crazy things in the book of Acts, but He doesn t work that way anymore. Or does He? One thing is certain: We will never know the power of the Spirit unml we open our lives to follow His leading.

8 Without the supernatural power of God in our lives, we remain incredibly ordinary. Our churches remain ordinary. At Mmes we will arempt big things for God, but we don t expect anything supernatural. Our natural tendency is to work in our own strength rather than relying on the Holy Spirit, and the results are not surprising. How do we explain the absence of the Spirit s power in the church today? Is the Holy Spirit weaker now than He was in New Testament Mmes? Or have we simply restructured our lives to be safer, more comfortable, and more self-dependent? Chan, Francis; Remembering the ForgoRen God

9 Is the Fire in Your Heart Burning Low? Ma> 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, We can grieve the Holy Spirit: Eph 4:29-31 Let no corrup<ng talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemp<on. 31 Let all bixerness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice

10 We can quench the Holy Spirit: 1 Thess 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. Rev 3:15-18 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich,

11 Is the Holy Spirit not there at all? Rom 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ESV

12 OUR PRAYER:! LORD, LIGHT THE FIRE AGAIN!

40daysFIRE.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/18 12:11 PM Page 2

40daysFIRE.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/18 12:11 PM Page 1 40daysFIRE.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/18 12:11 PM Page 2 40daysFIRE.qxp_Layout 1 1/17/18 12:11 PM Page 3 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came