John The Baptist And The Fire Of God # 4

John The Baptist And The Fire Of God # 4

When Nathan the prophet went to David, he didn't say, "You know, some of you are guilty." Did he? He said, "Thou art the man!"

Oh, people say, "I'd love to go to a Holy Spirit church." Would you? Will you love to hear somebody say, "Hey, fellows, listen, last night you committed adultery. You embezzled some money this week. You've got a spirit of hatred which God says is as bad as committing murder!" Again, Jesus came not to save us just from sins, but from sinning. When they heard these men, they were pricked in their hearts.

I go back into the third chapter, verse 7, he says, "Oh, generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruit meat for repentance." And quit saying "We have Abraham to our father." Isn't this nice. He called them vipers and now he says, "God can do as much through stones as through Abraham. Don't boast of Abraham; if God wants hell turn those stones into children to worship him." That's pretty much exhausting their theology, isn't it? In verse 9 he says, "The ax is laid unto the root of the trees, every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked Him," He didn't ask them! They were so conscious of guilt, they felt as though they had some serpent or scorpion stinging them. They didn't dare look back because of their sins. They didn't dare look forward because of judgment. They didn't dare look round about them, somebody might come pouncing on them. And so they cried out. This is revival!

It's not singing some sentimental chorus, then giving the invitation; "Would you like to come? Jesus is waiting, wringing His hands in heaven, He would be so upset if you don't come." Jesus doesn't care a hill of beans whether you come or not. He's done everything He can do for you. You have to do the rest! He is not going to whip you into submission. He is not going to demand, though you sing, "Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all." It's on your side to do it. But notice who they were. Verse 10 The people asked him, "What shall we do?" Verse 12, "Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, "Master, what shall we do?" Verse 14 the soldiers, they were Romans, they lived in a pagan society, they'd never seen a man on fire for God. They'd never seen a priest who didn't care a bit about his trimmings.

Remember how this man was born. His father went into the temple and as he got there to the altar, there was an angel on the right side. And he says to him, "Fear not your wife is going to bear a son." And God does a miracle to raise that child up. Zacharias did this once in his life only. There is a line behind him of at least two thousand priests, all waiting for the one time in their life when they'll go in long white garment and enter into the Holy Place. Which is awesome. When he get in there, there's a marvelous person by the name of Gabriel: "Fear not. I have a message from God for you."

If you haven't had it, if you walk with God, one day you will go to a meeting and you'll think God Almighty is talking to nobody in that congregation but you. Why is He singling me out? Because you have the ears to hear which you didn't have before. Because you have a hunger for God you never had before!

You've heard me say this and I say it again, I am scared that when I get to the judgment seat and there are a billion people looking on me that God will say to me, "Son I had many things to tell you, but you couldn't bear them. You weren't grown up enough."

A man leaves his son millions of dollars. He puts a caution in the will, he says, "You can't spend a dime of this until you are twenty years of age. This money is all tied up until you have enough sense to use it." - I believe Almighty God is saying that to the Church today. We've toiled, rather we've trifled with gifts of the Spirit. We are far more interested in the gifts of the Spirit than with the Holy Spirit Himself. And God has treasures beyond our comprehension.

~Leonard Ravenhill~

(continued with # 5)