The Journey (of Three Baptisms) Did it happen by chance that we all ended up in this city and ended up in this church? Every one is on a journey. Questions.

The Journey (of Three Baptisms)

• Did it happen by chance that we all ended up in this city and ended up in this church? • Every one is on a journey. • Questions to ponder: Where is our journey leading to? Is God included in every part of our journey?

A Journey to Discover More of God and Building a Deeper

Relationship with Him.

• The only way Abraham would be able to discover more of God and build a relationship with Him is when God told him to move out of his familiar pagan background.

• A hamster on a running wheel is on a journey to no where!

• God too have moved us out of our familiar background to discover Him more and build a deeper relationship with Him.

Journey Through the Desert

• From freedom of slavery in Egypt into the desert. What a journey! Both Abraham and the Israelites had a desert journey.

• The desert is part of our training ground in God’s training school of discovering more of Him and building a deeper relationship with Him.

• The baptism of the desert is being immersed in total dependence on God through learning His ways from His word. In the desert we learn continued surrender and obedience to God.

A Journey of Learning God’s Ways

• God’s ways are found in His Word. As it was with the Israelites; God’s word are in the Torah so it is with us.

• The ways of the world is teaching us to feed 1] our lust of our flesh, 2] the lust of our eyes and 3] the pride of life. These are the very elements that satan used to deceive mankind (including believers) from the time of Eve (and Adam) up to now.

• Only God’s ways give you wholeness in body, soul and spirit.

• His ways are our boundaries. God’s boundaries are meant to protect, deliver and give us blessings.

A Journey Immersed in Water• The baptism of water has to do with sanctification. For

God to “move in”, our lives should provide the appropriate accommodation that God is comfortable living in.

• In water baptism we are: 1] identifying with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus 2] to sanctify ourselves - wash the stench of Egypt off us 3] to be baptized before meeting with God so we can walk with Him 4] also declaring publicly that we will now begin and continue washing and baptizing our minds in the Word of God so that even our thought life will be sanctified before God.

A Journey with Fire • The baptism of fire is the fire of God. It indicates God’s

presence to purify and to empower us. • The fire is uncomfortable because it is trying to burn

away the things of Egypt. We will shun this fire if we are still comfortable with the ways and relationship

of Egypt. The fire of God will not destroy us

but it will burn away the chaff of Egypt. • The fire of God’s presence maintains us,

sustains us and keeps diseases burnt off from

us. The fire of God renews our strength. • So, embrace this fire of God. Don’t shun it.