Baptism of Fire

 Ever wonder people's reaction of getting tossed into a fiery furnace?  What comes to my mind is fear, torment and excruciating pain.  Daniel gives us the account of Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago from the Septuagint Bible when they were casted into a fiery furnace for disobeying the kings decree.  The flames were heated up seven times hotter, emphasizing the raging anger Nabuchodonosor indignantly had for their in subordinance.  What's interesting is the ropes that bound the three men were seared off as they were standing within the flames, singing blessings and praises unto our King.  Then Jesus Christ shows up in the infernal with the three Hebrews.  Not even the stench of smoke was on them, the king was astounded with an abyss of amazement.  

Scripture says, "Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea."   John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."  It is also written that "When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning."  Luke gives an assessment of the baptism experience of "cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them."  

Today, I cannot think of one person who could take such tormenting heat and sing praises to my darling Saviour.  It's like an all-consuming zeal that will torch one's ass on fire with a vengeance.  America had that Spirit one time, it was during the Revolutionary War.  One motto was "give me liberty or give me death!"  As fictious as it may sound to some people, the British Naval fleet headed right into a hurricane at the Battle of Rhode Island.  They were actually scattered by several gales and hurricanes.  Perhaps the hand of God was protecting our forefathers, watching over them through that eye.  I have no doubt; our brave and fierce warriors of that era were experiencing a baptism in an eternal infernal of freedom...