Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
5 5 2025
Baptized by Fire – I’m not talking about Tongues.
What is it? Can someone ever be the same after such an experience?
Can you think the same, feel the same, or act the same?
Baptism by fire often refers to moments of intense trial—experiences that break us open, push us beyond the norm, and confront us with a depth of hardship we were not prepared for.
But within that fire, something is forged. What we gain from it…and what we learn…
depends entirely on the filter through which we process it.
Was it just good luck? A fortunate break? Or can you look back and clearly see the hand of God,
the fingerprint of His redemptive grace right there in the middle of it all?
Exactly when did you see Him?
In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist declares, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” This fire is not just pain…it’s purification. Not just chaos…it’s consecration. It’s the very presence of God burning away everything that cannot remain.
Sometimes, baptism by fire speaks of God’s judgment. But for the believer, it is more often a process of spiritual refinement…a divine coming-of-age. Whether it’s military training, a new job, becoming a parent, or walking through grief, fire tests and teaches us. As James 1:2–4 reminds us, “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials… because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance… so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father’s voice spoke identity over Him: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). But immediately afterward, Jesus was led into the wilderness—into fire. This tells us something vital: before the public victory, there’s often a private battle. Before the crown, the cross.
The fire not only reveals God’s power—it reveals us. It brings our impurities to the surface, the dross, so God can skim them away. Like gold tested in fire (1 Peter 1:7), our faith becomes more precious when it survives the flames.
Many people suffer through dramatic life events, only to later sense a spiritual shift—as if the tide turned, and God whispered, “This is where I step in.” It brings deep reflection. Who am I? What do I want? Where am I going? When was the last time you truly said, “Lord, I never want to go back to the way it was”?
Sometimes we see the light in others—people who radiate strength, peace, and purpose,
and something in us longs for that same light.
But what we often don’t realize is: that kind of light only comes after something in them burned.
To have the fire means something must burn—pride, fear, self-sufficiency, sin.
There’s a space between comfort and chaos, between who we were and who God is calling us to be. It’s uncomfortable, but it is holy ground. “Moses, take off your shoes, for you stand on Holy Ground.” Exodus 3:5 signifies a transformation from ordinary to sacred, and a recognition of God’s holiness.
And yes, with calling comes doubt. The enemy whispers: “You’re not enough. Too much baggage. People know your past.” Can’t you imagine what Moses was thinking? But God says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18–19).
So pause—Selah. You’re still standing. You still want the fire.
And if that’s true, then the Spirit is already at work.
Don’t be afraid to reach out for prayer…We all need our tribe.
I am under an extreme attack right now, so please pray for me.
Let me know how I can pray for you.
As I seek to understand this baptism of fire for myself, I find strength not from me, but from Him.
The Holy Spirit empowers me to hold on, even when my faith feels small. And still, it grows.
Why?
Because Jesus said that even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). And that little seed of faith assures me that He’s got me. But Satan wants to steal that seed. Stand Strong!
I could never have imagined myself like this before—burned, but not consumed. Tried, but not destroyed. That is surely an echo of 2 Cor 4: 8-18 Paul describes the believers’ experience as being “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”.
Because now I know… without this fire, I’d still be in the dark. But with it, I’ve seen a glimpse of the light. Of who God is. Of who I want to be.
And with that comes a calling: to not just carry the fire…but be the fire. To shine with the same Spirit that once looked distant in others.
Final Charge and Your Final Decision:
So don’t fear the fire. Embrace it. Fall on the sword! Let it cleanse, refine, and transform you.
Let it reveal the true you—the one God has always seen.
“For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), and what He burns, He purifies.
What He touches, He transforms.
If you’re walking through the fire, take heart.
You’re not being destroyed. You’re being defined.
Let the fire do its work…so that when you emerge, you won’t just be warmed by it. You’ll be lit by it.!
Burn bright. Burn holy. Burn on purpose.
Quick question…What’s your greatest challenge when it comes to helping others understand and use their gifts and strengths? Who can you encourage this week.
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Fred Hammon Glory to Glory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUs5h1UDyvQ
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