January 9, 2022 ~ Baptism of the Lord ~ Sermon

Baptism of the Lord                                 01/09/22—Highland—Meute

“Replenished by the Holy Spirit”

Isaiah 43: 1-7; Acts 8: 14-17; Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

Pearl: God’s powerful Spirit to wipe clean, empower, and bring new replenishment.

Function: To motivate worshippers to appeal to the powerful Spirit to fight the fires of life with the God’s fire and therefore bring new life and restoration for the new day.

In 1949 a devastating fire took the lives of an elite crew of firefighters known as Smokejumpers. They were in a remote area of Montana called Mann Gulch. Twelve men lost their lives when wind whipped a small fire into a racing firestorm.  Of the three men who escaped the blaze, one was the team’s leader. As he watched his men trying to outrun—uphill—the speeding wall of fire, he realized they were in a losing battle. In desperation, the crew leader decided to risk trying—on the spot—a new method of fire control no smoke-jumping team had yet employed. Instead of running away, the squad leader stopped, turned and started another fire—a so-called ‘safety fire’—between his crew and the blaze that followed.

Most of the other smokejumpers thought their team leader had gone berserk. Surely they had more than enough fire already. He yelled for them to join him behind this “safety fire,” but they chose to continue trying to outrun the main fire. As the smaller fire burned toward the main blaze, it drew a safety zone behind itself that allowed the squad leader and two other men to escape. All the other smokejumpers perished.

Sometimes as the flames of life lash at our heels, the only survival strategy that works is to “fight fire with fire.” That is, the “fire” of God’s Holy Spirit.

Today, I want to suggest to you that the Lord ignites you by His powerful Spirit and a fire burns inside of you which creates new life, seals you within the Messianic community, and which provides safety by removing stuff that invades, distracts, corrupts, and then it awakens you to the things that matter to God.

John the Baptizer was ministering out in the wilderness and when people began to wonder if he was the Messiah he announced that Messiah was coming. He was not the Messiah. He was baptizing with water. But Messiah was coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit as a fire. Messiah was coming who would “ignite the kingdom life within them.” And the Messianic community, the body of Christ would form.

1. The “safety fire” of God’s Spirit burns in a life-giving way. Yes some things become consumed and removed—impurities, corruptions, etc. But the biggest effect of God’s fiery Spirit is that it kindles new life.
   1. Redwoods in the western part of the country need fire every once in a while to bring new life to them. Sadly with the last few years of overwhelming fires many of the beloved Redwoods are now destroyed.
   1. But several years ago when Nancy and I visited them we noticed evidence of charring down low on the base of the trees and going up some of them. These occasional fires cause the trees to germinate and produce new seeds for new life.
2. In the same way, people need the good fire of the Holy Spirit to kindle life within and without.
   1. People need this fire to remove accumulations of impurities, corruptions, distractions, toxic attitudes, constricting and excluding viewpoints, and prejudices.
   1. People need the fire of the Holy Spirit to bring replenishment, restoration, and health.

Human lives are “ignited,” by the replenishing work of the Holy Spirit. The “kingdom life” is “ignited” within you.

1. This Holy Spirit, kindled within you, moves you in important ways within the reign of God.
   1. Such fire moves the body of Christ toward acts of compassion toward others.
      1. The Messianic community is not able to let injustices go unaddressed.
         1. Perhaps you’ve seen the popular show “Property Brothers” which features twin brothers who host a television show which gives people the choice to buy a new home or renovate their existing home. These two brothers grew up in a Christian home. They took a trip to New Delhi, India and saw poverty in a new light. What they already knew about the country took on new meaning as they saw it for themselves. They saw children as young as four years old selling drugs and running wild on the streets. Children 13 years old were supporting their families by working and doing whatever would make money just to put some food in their bellies. Many children had no care.
         1. They began partnering with World Vision and seeking support for the world’s desperate children through the “Children’s Crisis Fund.”
         1. The fiery Spirit within moved these brothers to act on the calamity that they saw up close and personal.
      1. Filled with the Holy Spirit you embrace people with welcome and acceptance. You burn with the love of God such that you seek to get to know others in ways which allow the gospel to first be felt and seen and then perhaps, if so blessed, to be heard.      
   1. Such fire will not allow you to remain in place. The fire of the Holy Spirit causes you to grow and move on from one level to another level in your spiritual journey.
      1. These deeper levels of living look like:
         1. Greater openness to others,
         1. Deeper appreciation of God’s greatness and vastness, sort of like walking among the great Redwoods—they are so immense, as is God,
         1. Deeper study of God’s word, not just being able to recite verses but to react and respond to God’s word such that good is done and God’s purposes are advanced,
         1. Deeper humility,
         1. Greater desire to understand than to be understood,
         1. A growing belief that there is so much more to learn and that you have so far yet to go in the school of Christ.

You are “ignited” and you are filled with the power of God through the Holy Spirit. This fire is a fire which 1.) Generates life, and 2.) Is able to protect against the many raging fires of life which threaten to harm you.

1. A loved one dies unexpectedly and prematurely…ask Spirit fire to light a safety fire.
2. A relationship is torn asunder…ask Spirit fire to light a safety fire.
3. A division rends asunder a community…ask Spirit fire to light a safety fire.
4. A plan is high-jacked…ask Spirit fire to light a safety fire.
5. A health event changes your life…ask Spirit fire to light a safety fire.
6. You are discouraged, dismayed, and despondent…invite Spirit fire to light a safety fire.
7. You are lost and confused…ask Spirit fire to light a safety fire.

The Baptizer said, “One is coming after me who is greater than me; he is so great and so vastly far superior to me that I am not even worthy to stoop down and untie his sandals. He is coming and he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” He will kindle the Messianic community. The Spirit is a fire which awakens God’s people to be the very body of Christ.

1. In the beloved Star Wars franchise the whole notion of “The Force” has traction with people of faith because The Force seems like the Holy Spirit of God.
   1. The Spirit is an energy for everything good and right, healthy, whole, and just.  
2. We all need this power for living now and every day of life in this earthly life. Our church leaders need this filling and replenishment as hey will soon be ordained and installed.
   1. Holy Spirit will sustain you through times of difficulty and challenge.
   1. Spirit will direct you to the ways of the kingdom of God.
      1. She will ignite you to passionately pursue God’s vision of heaven on earth.
   1. Spirit will deliver you when you are bound.
   1. The Spirit within you will help you to live in the most humane ways. God empowers you to be truly human.

Powerful Spirit fire…

1. Brings new life;
2. Protects against the fires of life;
3. And powerful Spirit fire awakens you to God’s vision, to God’s way.

Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, replenish us with your powerful Holy Spirit.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit fire! Amen.