In Paul's letter's to the Thessolonians the subject of fire from Heaven is often overlooked!
2 Thess 1:7-10...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
As Christian's draw closer to the coming of the Lord we are able to see that Christ "sets up" His Millennial Kingdom with fire from Heaven. This fire from Heaven not only renovates the Earth and melts the elements with fervent heat...The Apostle Peter made this profound statement...
2 Peter 3:10... But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
This fire from Heaven also purges the heart of the believer (today in the Church Age) from the inner conflict caused from the Adamic Nature that man is born with. The Prohet Malachi and john the baptist both forseen this sanctifying power I'm writing about.
Mal 3:2-3...But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Matt 3:11-12...he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
The baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire "purifies" and "purges" the heart of a believer from all dross that causes the inner conflict to arise (in Christians) at this present time. For instance...
"Sanctifying fire from the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire, will burn out...Ill will toward other men; worry about the problems of life; depression; uncertainty and instability with your everyday walk with Christ; flying off the handle in anger; wavering faith toward God; all things that try to arise from man's still existing fallen nature. Fire from the Spirit of God can rid man of carnal inclinations! Fire will burn out and remove the old nature from the heart of a Christian...completely!"
God wants "full possession" of the heart of a believer. Sanctified people are "purged" with the fire of the Spirit of God that cleanses man from the inherited carnal inclination. This inner conflict can cause many believers to fall away from Christ...unaware! This inner conflict I speak of can cause many to be unaware when Christ actually returns! This inner conflict I speak of is dangerous and deceptive! That mindset caused from the inner conflict can even cause people to fall away from the Lord of Glory before He returns!
2 Thess 2:3...for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
God's fire from Heaven purifies and takes away this inner conflict that hinders the believer from having peace, like God. Sure, men can weave back and forth and in and out of peace with God...but I said, "Peace like God". When I say peace like God I mean man can get to a place in life where he's not disturbed or upset with the problems of life. God doesn't get disturbed or upset! The sanctified man like God can have this "full certainty" that every problem and every need in his life is taken care of by the God of our Salvation. God doesn't get upset or disturbed with anything! Glory! So, likewise sanctified men don't either. This kind if peace (Peace like God has) is the blessing of the "entirely sanctified" heart.
Col 3:15...And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
This kind of peace and this kind of foundation and establishment of the believer (with a sanctified heart) allows the believer to delightfully await, and look forward to the glorious return of the Lord. I'm ready for Christ's return, are you? Examine the following...Notice Paul says... to the end which means the end of this Age, or the end of your Christian life!
1 Thess 3:13...To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
When Christ has full sway of man... this sanctified man is prepared for Christs return. Those sanctified people I speak of are also scattering this truth about entire sanctification and Christ's preparation to set up His Kingdom on Earth with fire. In the 1000 year Reign every man that rules and reigns with Christ in that Millennial Kingdom will have a sanctified heart purified from the carnal nature. Sanctified people are "preserved" in this life...as they wait for Christ's soon return to set up His Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. Sanctified people look forward to Christ's coming because they are not distracted by the the problems of life, or the cares of the world, nor are they entangled in the devices of the Devil.
1 Thess 5:23...And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This preservation described in the above Scripture is a result of the Holy Ghost and fire that "purifies" the believer in Christ from "all" the dross and all the impurities that upset, disturb, or hinder the child of God from being "entirely taken over" or "preserved" until the day of Christ's coming. This Sanctification or preservation I write about and preach... is the will of God for the saints! Glory!
1 Thess 4:3-4... For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Sanctification with fire is not limited to man's "heart purity and preservation" only. The fire from the Spirit of God also renovates the entire earth in preparation for Christ to set up His earthly Kingdom of Heaven in the Millennial Reign. Notice once again the fire from Christ... in the following verses...
2 Thess 1:7-10...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
2 Peter 3:10-12...But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Every man that rules and reigns with Christ for 1000 years in the blessed Millennial Kingdom will have a sanctified heart! Sanctification is necessary for man to rule and reign with Christ! Today in this present Church Age the doctrine of entire sanctification is not taught like it should be. As a result, many people will not be ready when Christ comes to Rapture His Church before the Great Tribulation, and the great and terrible dy of our Lord. Christ will come when some men are unaware or yielding to the outer conflicts of life. There's a chance they can miss Christ. A sanctified man is never unaware of his walk in the Spirit, never discontented with the problems of life, and never upset with what's going on around him. A sanctified man is always ready for the Lord's return...in season and out! A sanctified man walks with a consciousness and obedience to Christ every day of his life. A sanctified man lays his head on the pillow with Christ, sleeps with Christ in mind, and wakes up ready to serve Christ everyday...with a whole heart!
Sanctified people have "put off" the war in their members caused from the inner conflict. Sanctified people have put off the carnal heart, the carnal ambitions, the carnal interests, the carnal plans, and the carnal habits! By doing such they have crucified and put to death...the old man that causes many Christians to miss their entire sanctification and preservation in Christ! PUT OFF THE OLD MAN, LIKE TAKING OFF A COAT!
Eph 4:22...That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
You have to die to self! Sanctified men are dead men! Sanctified men don't die daily! To be honest that progressive mindset causes certain men to miss the "actual death to the Old Man". This tradgety can leave men unaware of deliverance from the carnal heart and the delightfulness of looking forward to Christ's coming with no conviction! What a dangerous place to be! Sanctified men are "dead to the old life". Dead men are sanctified men filled with the Holy Ghost and fire. The fire has burnt up all the dross of the inner conflict that still tries to rule and conflict with the divine nature. Sanctified men are blessed enough to have "put off" or "crucified" the Old man! Sanctified men are "dead" to the old things they were interested in. They are dead to the old habits and ambitions! Sanctified men are dead men and martyrs for Christ in their witness! Dead men don't show the old life".
Col 3:3...For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Old Testament prophecy teaches that Christ is like a "refiners fire."..and that He will purify...
Mal 3:2-3...But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Glory! I'm glad we're under the blessing of the New Testament where sanctification is produced by the Grace of God! I'm glad God's sanctifying fire burns up "all the dross" in the heart of Christians! We are more than saved we have the complete victory over every circumstance in life! We're contented! Christ takes away the struggle, completely! We have victory because of Jesus! The Grace of God sanctifies us from the old man, completely and entirely! Glory! This writer preaches the Holy Ghost and fire! I preach Christ's renovation with fire when He comes back to set up His Kingdom on Earth in the Millennial Reign of 1000 years. I preach sanctification with fire and renovation with fire... at ChristianBlog.com! GLORY!
All this teaching came from the theme of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians...FIRE , SANCTIFICATION, and THE PRESERVATION OF HIS SAINTS... UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS TO SET UP HIS MILLENNIAL KINGDOM ON EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS! GLORY!
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