The Change Within
Matthew 3:11
“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.”
As we all witnessed recently, water baptism is a beautiful thing to behold. I loved watching the participants on Sunday step up and demonstrate (in water) the transformation that had taken place in their life.
I also love our house’s approach to water baptism. We see it as a physical demonstration of what has taken place by the spirit. I have noticed that other churches often place the emphasis on the baptism itself and not what it represents. It has become another idol or tradition in the church, and the people observing may miss the point.
John understood that Jesus was coming to baptize in a different way. He came to transform people through repentance from the inside out and baptize them with fire. Let us not forget the reason and understand that water baptism is the expression, but the baptism with fire happened before you ever went under the water.