When I read how the Spirit has revealed His understanding, in the words of other brothers and sisters, I am continually amazed at their unique perspective and insights. Sometimes I am tempted to think that I have received some deep revelation, then I read what others have added to my revelation, and I am humbled by my real lack of apprehension. His ways are very much beyond understanding.

Thanks for the good words,

Steve Blackwell

I wish I could say that I had written the essay you refer to, But I cannot, it was written by a dear brother in the Lord who I defer to when I have exhausted my own understanding. I would wholeheartedly advise that you follow the links (allathisfeet.com/index.cfm, homechurchmovement.com, revolutiondancing.com) to the site that is maintained by a body of believers here in Indianapolis, of which this brother is a part of; you will not be disappointed.

Blessings, as always, my friend,

Steve Blackwell

I had spent about 30 minutes composing a long reply agreeing with and encouraging you about this. Unfortuantely, God must have ordained that what you have said is sufficient because when I went to post my long reply, your site sudeenly went off-line and I lost my work.

But, since we know that ALL things work together for our good, perhaps God is indicating that I have said quite enough on this subject and cannot make what you’ve said so well any better.

Simply, we must remember the admonition “Do all things without grumbling or questioning,” (Philippians 2:14 ESV)

Thank you for a very well written and powerful treatise on this much disputed commandment. God bless you brother!

Steve

Quote: Paul explains the connection between repentance, baptism and “the resurrection of Jesus” for us in Romans 6:3-5. Here the Holy Word says clearly that “If we’ve been united with Him in death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.” Sounds great. It is conditional, however, on being “united with Him in His death.” How does that happen, Paul? “We were, therefore, buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead we too may walk in newness of life.”

I hope I’m not getting off the subject here but I would like to talk about Water Baptism and the baptism of fire, and their relationship

The sweetest scents are only obtained under the greatest of pressures.

There is an apathy and blindness to the global crisis we are in. It is the natural of what is taking place in the spiritual, our greatest apathy and blindness being our separation from God. So many Christians are asleep, dwelling carelessly and do not realise the end is so, so close. What manner of person should we be in that hour?

There is such an alarming sleep and unwatchfulness amongst Christians at present . I see little of the alertness and readiness that comes from the “spirit filled, spirit ruled” life of those believers who know the cross as their dearest friend. The sleep upon the church is the heaviness of the flesh because so many are not walking the life of faith and the cross and have not left their “old life” under those baptismal waters. I’m thinking, so long as Christians put their trust in pastors, teachings, programmes, friendships etc., they will never know the life of the cross. It is only when we have cut all ties to these false dependancies and fall upon the rock can we know the true circumcision. And their is no cutting away more severe than to be stripped of every enjoyment, every hope, every friend, and worst of all, to be found utterly alone and the “SEEMING abandonment of our Father.” This is the baptism he has baptised us into…….it is a baptism of death, the horse and rider thrown into the sea

At the river Jordan we are alone.

God is in all our trials……even when the furnace is heated seven times over. If anything is going to be on trial it is our faith. “And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12). Immediately after WATER BAPTISM, the open heaven, and the dove descended, Jesus went into the wilderness to be tested for 40 days and nights…..the testings are the fire and they are most severe. These are no ordinary testings. Nothing is more precious to Him than our faith, and this is why he purifies it so much. There is no human way out. We have only one way to look and that is heavenward to the deliverer. Only God can part the red sea.

“And the Lord said ….. Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” (Luke 22:31, 32

Faith must be tried. Only the pure in heart shall see God. “God create in me a pure heart.” It is the Lord who puts that cry in us and He will bring it to completion. This is how God creates a pure heart in us…..through fiery ordeals. Our identity and significance must be in Christ alone.

God tears down that he might rebuild, wounds that he might heal. Pain endures for the night but joy comes in the morning.. ..We have the blessed assurance our faith will come forth as gold. … “And the Lord said ….. Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.” (Luke 22:31, 32). We can only put our faith and trust in God….and hold this position until we see His deliverance, the red sea parted and the horse and rider ( self) thrown into the sea…….we have the assurance of our Deliverer. Only knowing Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings can deliver us from “self”. What died under those waters? What is the wood, stubble and hay? Satan????? No. it is our “flesh”

“He lifts us up that he might give us strength to go further down. He illuminates us that He might send us into the night. That He might make us a help to the helpless”.

I wonder sometimes, that these many fiery trials are because we have prayed….”Lord when you return, let us be found ready”
And because we have desired to know Him above all else. We cannot know Him without the fellowship of His sufferings. The word says… We enter His Kingdom through much trial and tribulation. And think it not strange these fiery trials when they come upon you, it is the purifying of your faith which is worth more than gold.

“Who is this coming out of the wilderness leaning upon her beloved.”

What can we do but surrender to His will and fall upon the rock……..On that day, He returns for His bride, in that gold, that has been tried by fire, He desires to see the reflection of His face only.
So when Jesus returns, and that time is fast approaching, will He find faith on the earth? His faith.

Maria (Baptism of Fire)

I couldn’t agree more.

Thanks,

Steve

Acts 10:44 Cornelius and the others at his house were saved before they were baptized, God gave Cornelius and his household the Holy Spirit before they were baptized. Acts 11:18 Peter told about the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, those Peter told said “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” They confirmed the Gentiles were given repentance-forgiveness of their sins when they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 15:11 again Peter’s words on this matter about the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house receiving the Holy Spirit Peter said “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Peter said the Gentiles were saved as he told them about the Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit.

So would you would tell someone that you deserve salvation by the works you have done, that you have followed pretty much all of God’s commands and that by that you deserve salvation, that somehow your works have paid the debt of your sins. Or will you be humble and admit that you fall short of His glory. God is mightier than all things and no man should ever say any different. Jesus will reject many, those many who depend upon works to give them life instead of depending on Him to give them life. The demons do believe though they don’t believe having faith having trust that Jesus is their Savior their Messiah. Anyone can believe that God exists that Jesus is the Son of God as they can believe someone else they read about in history existed. We are to believe having faith having trust that Jesus is our Savior our Messiah. I encourage anyone who comes to Jesus as their Savior to be baptized, but I will not tell them that baptism is what gives them there salvation that being baptized earns them forgiveness. Jesus gives salvation He is our only Mediator God gives grace and mercy when no man deserves it. That’s what makes Him the Almighty God He gives us what we cannot earn. I try to follow Jesus and His ways everyday of my life because I love Him with all my heart, soul, mind I know I need His grace and mercy, I put my faith my trust in Jesus He is my true Savior and no one else nor anything else will do. My strength comes from Jesus I give Him my life because He saved me from death.

No one, not any one of us deserves grace and mercy, but Almighty God who loves more than any man can love, He gives us His abounding love, grace and mercy. Jesus paid the debt for our sins, a debt we could never pay for in any way. Jesus is our only Mediator, not anyone else or anything else is greater than Him. Jesus is my Mediator, Jesus is the one who died on the cross for our sins, Jesus’ Sacrifice on the cross was sufficient enough to cover our sins. I was saved by Jesus.

Romans 3:19-26
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

1 John 2:2
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

I am grateful very grateful that I came to know who Jesus is and how much more powerful God is than what mere men had tried to tell me. When I put my total faith into Jesus and looked into God’s word and leaned on Him and yielded to the His Spirit I learned how small man’s understanding can be. Jesus is more than any man could ever imagine. I don’t have all understanding of the Bible for I will always be a student of His Word, but I do know His power and grace. And I am so glad He was longsuffering and patient with me. I am so grateful for the love and grace He has given to me a sinner who’s prayer He heard in my darkest hour. Jesus heard me when I called on His name and He washed my away my sins with His blood for His name and God’s grace is powerful. And after Jesus saved me I was baptized as a symbol of what He had already done for me on the cross. Nothing could ever take the place His Sacrifice on the cross. Anyone who thinks they earn salvation by works go ahead and tell God right now that you were baptized and deserve His grace and mercy. There is nothing I could ever do to pay the debt of my sins. Anyone who thinks they can earn salvation by works does not know what it means to be given grace. None of us deserves grace, but yet God gives us His grace. We all are in need of a Savior and I pray that maybe someone who reads this will turn to Jesus as their Savior for there is none greater than Him. God is greater than great He is amazing and His grace truly is amazing grace. Jesus’ Sacrifice on the cross was sufficient, anyone wherever they are whether water is around or not whoever calls on Him to save them from their sins He is available to them right where they are and He will forever tip the scales in their favor and He will remove the stain of sin from them. God is Almighty more powerful than anything on earth, trust in Him and He will be faithful to forgive.

Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”