Tag: chaff burned
The Baptism of God’s Son
Scripture reading for October 14: Matthew 3:11-12, “”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. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” . . .vs 16-17 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a Voice from heaven said, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.””
As we look at healing scriptures from the New Testament, we begin with John the Baptist, spoken of by Malachi in the last Word of prophecy from the Old Testament. God promised to send Elijah the prophet to turn hearts of people in repentance to love and care for their families. Jesus revealed that John the Baptist was the promised forerunner, with ministry similar to Elijah. John would baptize with water for repentance and cleansing to prepare the hearts of God’s people to receive the ‘Sun of Righteousness’ who would arise with healing and salvation revealing the Father’s heart. God’s heart had turned to His people and now the people’s heart would be turned to Jesus Christ and their families. All who would believe would be the ‘wheat’ gathered into God’s household. Those who refused would be swept away in the fire of judgment.
As John the Baptist saw Jesus, He recognized Him as the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) As he baptized Him, heaven opened to Jesus and He saw the Holy Spirit descending from His Father and resting on Him. He was now ready to begin His ministry of calling sinners to Himself and baptizing them with the Holy Spirit. The declaration of the Father, “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased” is what each believer receives when He believes on Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes and marks them as God’s child!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the amazing gift of Your Son! Thank You for the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the fire of Your cleansing love. My heart burns with love for You and for the salvation of each family member. Amen.