Why Holy Fire? A letter for the Fire of God Church members and other Ministers of Holy Fire Ministry around the world - by Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Before Jesus ascended, He instructed His people with a command.
Acts 1:4-5 "Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
We represent spiritual Jerusalem. Before we do anything, we must stay in Jerusalem reading, praying and worshipping until we receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. Most Christians presume they get saved and they must be baptized by water. But as we read the context of Acts chapter 1 and 2, Jesus meant more than just water.
Most Christians presume when they receive the gift of tongue, prophecy or other gifts they are or being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Even in verse 5, Jesus did say "be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
However, we must look for the context of the message. What baptism did John the Baptist speak about?
Matt 3:11 "I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
What does water represent? Water represents the Word of God. The Word of God as we read, listen, and APPLY cleanses us. The Word brings conviction, discipline, instructions, and etc to lead us to cleansing which is repentance. The Word brings us life to turn away from our old self and our sins to a new life. This is represented symbolically by water baptism when we are first saved.
But John spoke of another baptism. This was a baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire. Some have translated as the Holy Spirit Fire stating the Spirit of God is a Fire Spirit. This baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire was a promise by Father God. This baptism was for the Holy Spirit and His Fire to be Inside living in His people. It was not just the Holy Spirit to be with or upon a person but to be within. Here was the Lord's promise.
John 14:17 "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.”
But many Christians are not reborn nor do they have the spirit of God IN them. They may have the Holy Spirit with them as He guides them but He has yet to baptize them to be IN them. Why? Many Christians have failed to repent properly of their continued sins. This is also why many Christians fail to get delivered, they do not properly obey or stay pure.
Let us reflect The book of Acts chapter 1 and 2. Peter after the Holy Spirit's Baptism after staying in Jerusalem was baptized not just by the Holy Spirit as most think but with God's Fire or Holy Spirit Fire. Even though in all translations Jesus said to wait and be baptized by the Holy Spirit, the context of chapter 2 correctly describes a baptism of Fire. They all had what appeared flames of tongue over them.
If the water baptism represents repentance turning from sin then what does the Fire baptism represent? The Fire baptism is of higher order and represents higher authority, authority to judge, revelation, wisdom, and etc. But this does not mean just because you been imparted with Fire gives you authority. The impartation and baptism is a process to qualify. But with the Fire Baptism, Peter was able to rebuke and judge Simon the sorcerer calling for his destruction (Acts 8). Apostle Paul had the authority filled with the Holy Spirit to judge and call Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13 the son of the devil! Both these sorcerers were part of God's people. In today's term they would be considered Christians who are filled with demons and deceived.
Many Christians read the book of Acts and think the word "baptized" reflects water baptism.
Acts 2:38-41" Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away —all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”
Peter had a higher form of baptism to share. When he preached under the power of the Holy Spirit to God's people, he was able to deliver the promise in which Jesus spoke of. The promise of the Holy Spirit to live IN us. Peter and the apostles were not going around baptizing people in water as what many assume in the book of Acts. They were going around baptizing them in the Holy Spirit and Fire. Today, most of the churches goes around preaching water baptism and argue whether to baptize in the name of Jesus or Father, Holy Spirit and Jesus and therefore they cannot continue the power of the apostles.
Acts 19:1-6 "While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.”
Moreover, at Pentecost, Peter was not preaching to unbelievers or Gentiles at that time. He was preaching to God's people who thought they were saved and already heading to heaven. Today is no different. Many Christians think just because they have the big churches (represented as big synagogues) and they appear to be spiritual with many spiritual gifts, they think they have the Holy Spirit leading them. But many are Deceived. God will test all His people with FIRE.
Mark 9:49 "For everyone will be tested with fire"
Isaiah 66:15 "See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind. He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke.”
Psalms 97:3 "Fire spreads ahead of him and burns up all his foes.”
The Fire will test the purity of ministries, pastors, prophets, teachers, apostles, God's people, spiritual gifts, and spirits. Those who are not from God will be consumed by His Fire. The fifty men sent by King Ahab was part of God's people. King Ahab was still part of God's people who went corrupted. King Ahab can represent a big church or ministry. Yes, God's people are within that kingdom but the leadership may be corrupted. But the Fire of God will bring discernment, authority and judgment.
2 Kings 1:12 "Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.”
Hebrews 12:29 NLT “For our God is a devouring fire.”
I hope all our church members will receive the wisdom to know what has been granted to us as Fire Ministers. We are being raised up for the last days. We will be given higher authority, discernment, anointing, authority to judge, and higher revelation to rule and reign with Him. The CHURCH will be the two witnesses in the book of Revelation. Moreover, the Holy Fire/ Authority we have been given is not the same fire as other ministries.
Revelation 11:4-6 "These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. If anyone tries to harm them, FIRE flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.”
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fire of God Church - A Holy Fire Ministry End time church preparing the Bride of Christ to engage in the Last Days
Good share.
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