The phrase – Holy Ghost Fire as used during prayer in many of our prayer services and even personal prayer times, as a spiritual weapon against our perceived human enemies was not a teaching anywhere in the scriptures, and neither was it practiced anywhere in the scriptures as a weapon of destruction against any human.
The phrase – Holy Ghost and Fire is mentioned only in two places in the New Testament, which are; Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16.
Secondly the context in which it is used in the scriptures is totally different from what is being practiced in today’s Christianity.
Luke 3:15-17 GNT
People’s hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah. 16 So John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 He has his winnowing shovel with him, to thresh out all the grain and gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.
Matthew 3:7-12 GNT
When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him to be baptized, he said to them, “You snakes—who told you that you could escape from the punishment God is about to send? 8 Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins. 9 And don’t think you can escape punishment by saying that Abraham is your ancestor. I tell you that God can take these rocks and make descendants for Abraham! 10 The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire. 11 I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. 12 He has his winnowing shovel with him to thresh out all the grain. He will gather his wheat into his barn, but he will burn the chaff in a fire that never goes out.”
Having outlined the two scriptural references where the phrase – Holy Ghost and Fire was mentioned in the new testament, let’s equally consider the context in which it was used;
1. The Holy Ghost and Fire is not for the unbelievers and, neither should it be used against them.
2. The Holy Ghost and Fire is exclusively for the believer in Jesus Christ.
3. John the Baptist was doing his ministry and was baptizing the new converts who have received the message of repentance from sin with water, even though at this time the way of salvation through Jesus Christ has not come into full manifestation as we have it from the point Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead and established the way of Grace.
As he baptized them with water unto repentance, he said – I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the one who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.
We can therefore state that – What we refer to as the Holy Ghost Baptism today was what John the Baptist was teaching this new converts who he was baptizing with water unto repentance.
Therefore, when you received the Holy Ghost Baptism, you equally received Fire. They are not two separate spiritual endowments but One. Also understand that the only source of The Holy Ghost and Fire Baptism is Jesus Christ. He is the one that baptizes the Christian with the Holy Ghost and Fire. This is one of the gifts Jesus Christ gives to all His children.
The purpose of baptizing the Christian with the Holy Ghost and Fire is to both LIVE THE NEW LIFE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND FOR MAKING JESUS CHRIST KNOWN IN ALL THE EARTH.
Therefore, let’s understand that because a particular practice is popular in the church and practiced by many does not in anyway establish its correctness, except it is consistent with the scriptures.
The practice of using Holy Ghost fire as a weapon of mass destruction against our perceived human enemies is not consistent with the scriptures and therefore it is unscriptural.
Those who practice, preach and lead others to practice same are only leading them into error and into unscriptural practices.
Hear this – 1 John 4:6 GNT
But we belong to God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This, then, is how we can tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Therefore do not give in to the spirit of error that is at work in our generation, whose sole aim is to bring confusion into the body of Christ but rather give yourself completely to the Spirit of Truth and He will guide you all through your earthly pilgrimage and present you spoil less to God.
Shalom
#PastorIhu
Last modified: March 7, 2024
