Online Word For Today- "The Third Baptism" Scripture References 1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved think it not strange concerning the firey trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you"

James 1:2- "Brothern Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

Ever had one of those days it seemed like nothing was going right? It appears that everything stacked against you and you are so ready to cry "uncle?" It seems like you're in the firey furnace with the three Hebrew guys,they got delivered and you still left in there? Feel like giving up or giving to the pending circumstances, they took your car, lost your job, and then someone had the nerve to steal your clothes from dryer while you were washing at the laundromat? You ask, "God, did you go on vacation or what?" Guess what! You are not alone. Though it appears that day is long, very long and the night is dark, very dark, God knows and sees what we are facing. There are two types of baptisms that we in the Church commomly discuss one is the baptism of water. In Luke 3:16 depicts the account of John the Baptist, at the river Jordan preaching the message of repentance and also baptizing thoses who wanted to be washed of their sins. This type of baptism the sprinkling (if one is a baby) and the smurging in the water represents the dying of the old man, being dead to sin and the raising of the new man, born in the fullness of Christ. The second baptism is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost as it is recorded in the Book of Acts (Acts 2:1-4) This baptism, after Jesus ascended into heaven told His diciples that this Spirit is to come. The Holy Ghost, serves as the paraclease, a friend to walk beside us, guiding us and bringing all things to rememberance. The Baptism of the Holy Ghost is a gift you are not forced to have this gift, however He is needed, if a Christian is to live a victorious life here on earth. Now we come to the last one, The Third Baptism. If we go back to Luke 3:16 we read this passage "John answered, saying unto all of them I indeed baptize you with water but one mighter that I cometh the lachet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" Okay we understand that, the baptism of the "Holy Ghost" and what about the "fire" part? This fire carries a two part meaning: one, the fire markes the power, the intensity that a Spirit-filled Beleiver posses. If one studies the properties of fire, we will see that not only it is colorful but also radiates heat as well. If used in the wrong way, can be a tool of distruction as well. The Holy Ghost is the fire that burn within us, did Jeremiah once said, (paraphrased) "It's like fire shut in my bones" Another property of fire is it a refining, cleaning or purfiying agent for metals. Like the precious metals must go through a cleasning or purging process, so does a Spirit-Filled Believer. In order to be meat for the Master's use, be a vessel of honor we must go through and will go through trails 1 Peter:7 says "That the trial of your faith being much more than precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and hounor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man that endoureth temptation, for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to them that love Him" Though it appears that the suffering is great and you want it to end, it may feel you are going to die from this, remember the greater struggle, the deeper the anointing. For every trial you come through the is laid up with your name on it a Crown of Life. The Lord promised, if we shall suffer with Him we shall regin with Him! While in thge trial don't faint, don't sway, that what the devil want you to do, while in the trial like Jesus simply put it, "In your patience, possess ye your souls." Call on the Lord to help you keep it together don't crack under the pressure! Even before a dimanond become a dimanond, while still a lump a coal goes through years of pressure, then after it's found or harvested, then the shaping and cutting by the master jewler takes places. Then the dimanond is mounted on a ring, and will be displayed for all to see. "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." When we go through trials and temptations we ought to rejoice. It is like almost we are to be proud about what we face because the outcome is that are victorous, Luke 21:28 says, "And when these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads, for redemption draweth nigh" Though this passage is talking about the events involved with the Second Coming, however Jesus has promised us, "I will never leave you nor I will forsake you." Through it all, during the trial you learned to trust in Jesus and learned to trust in God. Through it all, you learn to study and meditate upon His word. Through it all, those "fairweather" friends and family memebers dogged and left, but still you did not fall, Through it all, the doctors said, "you shall die and not live" but in the Word of God, you held on the Word "I shall live and not die but declare the works of the Lord" until the tests turn from negative to positive. Through it all, they fired you or your job shut down, but God has birth in you a business in your hands and now you are in the black again and not the red. Through it all, while in the trial it seemed that you didn't have the strength to praise the Lord, the words were gone, but somehow the despite how you felt, you said "I will bless the Lord at all times and His praises shall be continually be in my mouth" It was nothing but a praise that kept you together, it was nothing but a praise that kept you from losing your mind! It was nothing but a praise that kept you from the funny farm! It was nothing but a praise which kept you from killing yourself and also everyone that was around you! Through it all, this was a test to see if God can trust with the anointing for the next level in which you will carry. Be encouraged my brother my sister, "This too shall pass" God knows how long you be in there, He won't let you die unless you want to give up. God has a plan for you that exceeds above all we can ask or think. After you come through this you shall come forth as pure gold!!!!

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000