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REFLECTION

Holy Spirit and fire is the theme for our reflection. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus preached repentance and the Kingdom of God and revealed to the Israelites that “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

Dear friend, Jesus promised His disciples and the Church the fellowship of the Holy Spirit during His earthly ministry and on the day of His ascension into Heaven. The Holy Spirit represent the spiritual empowerment of a believer after he or she has repented and received water baptism. The Holy Spirit strengthens or equips the believer with supernatural gifts to be able to participate effectively in the mission of God on earth. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4) Again, Paul in his letter to the Corinthians mentioned some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to underscore the point that baptism of the Holy Spirit leads to receiving Spiritual gift and empowerment which is for the common good of the church. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

It is also important to understand that the Holy Spirit also serves as fire that purifies the believer and sets him or her apart from the world. The refiner’s fire does not destroy the precious metal but purifies it of any dross, foreign material or mineral waste. The Holy Spirit serves as fire. The fire of the Holy Spirit only destroys impurities and chaffs but refines one who has repented and is saved . Paul acknowledged this fact when he wrote to Titus that “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7). Dear friend, if we refuse to repent and be purified by the fire of the Holy Spirit then there is another fire that destroys anyone who refuses to repent and be purified. This is the fire of judgment “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years. “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud labourers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the LORD Almighty. (Malachi 3:3-5) It is, for this reason, John the Baptist admonishes the Israelites to repent for “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire (the judgement fire).” (Matthew 3:12). If we refuse to repent and be purified by the fire of the Holy Spirit then the unquenchable judgment fire that destroys the unrepentant awaits us on the judgement day. Are you a purified precious mineral in the hands of the Lord or are you a chaff waiting to be consumed by the fire of judgement? Today is a new day to bear the fruit of repentance and be baptised and purified by the Holy Spirit. Shalom

PRAYER

Dear Holy Spirit, strengthen us to remain faithful and continually purifies us of any form of impurity so that we shall remain on the path of righteousness and eternal life. Amen.