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Fire: Ensign of the Gospel / Relying on the Anointing |
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 Sometimes we act as though God's presence in our lives is fragile, fickle, or fleeting. On the contrary, we learn in this session how God's daily presence in our lives - the fire of the Holy Spirit - empowers us for soul-winning.
The Gospel is no Gospel at all if it is not preached.
 When asked whether he was the Messiah, John the Baptist answered, “I baptise you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire”. Luke 3:16.
1. Only Jesus baptises with fire. It is the identifying hallmark of His activity. God is a consuming fire. Such an amazing statement was never made about anybody else. Fire is the ensign of the Gospel - the sign of the son of man. Is this a new concept for you?
2. God has veen anointing His people for centuries. From the days of Elijah to last weel in the Ukraine, God is placing His hands on men an women of God. Who are people you know that you would consider anointed by God? What are common characteristics of the God “sets apart?”
 3. We heard on this film, “The fire of God is not just sent for the enjoyment of a few emotional experiences, however glorious they may be. We want to see lives changes and churches filled”. How has self-indulgence in this realm undermined of stifled the spread of the Gospel?
GOSPEL IN THE WORLDJapan ranks as one of the most developed, but least evangelised countries in the world. The nation holds great promise for all of Asia as the Japanese church is filled with some of the brightest, most upbeat, and most ingenious people.
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“And we pray...that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthend with all power according to His glorious might...”
Colossians 1:10-11
 4. Reinhard offers the analogy of rising pressure within a steam engine: it can be used to blow the whistle or to send power to the pistons. “The first can be heard for miles; the second with little noise takes it load across the land”. In practical terms, what does that mean for us here and today, as vessels of the Holy Spirit? What other observations might be drawn from this example?
 GOSPEL IN YOUR WORLD
Imagine the God of the universe coming to you this week and promising you He will pour all of His power into your life in order to draw people to Him. What would that look like? How would you prepare for that day?
The fire of the Holy Spirit ignites a passion for the lost. While worship is experiencing His presence, we are unmistakenly called to action. In the words of Isaiah, “Here I am; send me”
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Related Discussion Topics
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Preparing for power
(1)
08/09/2009 14:51
Imagine the God of the universe coming to you this week and promising you He will pour all of His power into your life in order to draw people to Him. What would that look like? How would you prepare for that day?...
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Self-indulgence and the spread of the Gospel
08/09/2009 14:49
We heard on this film, "The fire of God is not just sent for the enjoyment of a few emotional experiences, however glorious they may be. We want to see lives changes and churches filled". How has self-indulgence in this realm undermined of stifled the spread of the Gospel?...
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God is a consuming fire
08/09/2009 14:47
Only Jesus baptises with fire. It is the identifying hallmark of His activity. God is a consuming fire. Such an amazing statement was never made about anybody else. Fire is the ensign of the Gospel - the sign of the son of man. Is this a new concept for you?...
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