Baptized by Fire

An encounter that ignites the heart.

When I said yes to Jesus as my Lord and Savior, something happened.

I encountered the Holy Spirit.

The only way I know how to describe it is this:

I felt loved.

It was tangible.

It was overwhelming.

It was pure.

And in a single moment,

what I hungered for,

what I thought I knew,

and who I thought I was changed.

That encounter marked me.

Years later I came across John the Baptizer's words:

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
(Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16)

I've read different interpretations of what "fire" means, and I don't pretend to know exactly what John meant.

What I have noticed is that throughout Scripture, God often reveals His presence through fire.

He confirms His covenant with Abraham through the smoking fire pot and flaming torch. (Genesis 15)

He speaks to Moses from the burning bush. (Exodus 3:2–6)

He answers Elijah with fire from heaven. (1 Kings 18:38)

He is described as a refiner's fire. (Malachi 3:2)

John prophesies One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes with what appeared to be tongues of fire. (Acts 2:3)

Then there is the road to Emmaus.

It is the disciples' response that compels me:

"Did our hearts not burn within us while He talked with us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?"
(Luke 24:32)

That is the closest description I've found.

There was no burning bush.

No pillar of fire.

No tongues of flame resting on their heads.

Yet after walking with Jesus, they reached for the same imagery.

Their hearts burned.

They didn't describe a lesson they learned.

They described an encounter.

Something had been ignited within them.

Encountering Him feels like a heart set on fire—

a burn that does not hurt, but propels;

a warmth that comforts, yet corrects;

a hunger that keeps drawing you deeper;

a love that changes the direction of your life.

It is the kind of encounter that leaves no room to go back.

The apostles certainly couldn't.

Many of them gave their lives because they could not deny what they had seen, heard, and experienced. (Acts 4:20)

I don't know with certainty if this is what John meant by being "baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire."

But I do know what my encounter with Him did twenty years ago.

I cannot deny it.

It brings me comfort to read testimony after testimony throughout Scripture of lives forever changed by an encounter with the living God.

"For our God is a consuming fire."
(Hebrews 12:29)

If you've never experienced God in a way that has left your heart burning for Him, ask Him to reveal Himself through His Word and by His Spirit.

He is still in the business of transforming hearts.

And when He does,

you'll have a testimony of your own.