The Purpose of the Fire
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 07/12/2026
Foundation Scriptures:
John answered, saying unto them all, 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: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Luke 3:16-17 KJV
1. This is a Harvest Fire.
a. It purifies you, the vessel.
b. It burns out the dross.
c. It burns out the fear of man.
d. It puts a holy boldness in you.
e. It fills you, permeates you, saturates you, and flows from you to others.
f. Jesus fully prepared His disciples.
2. The Well and the River.
a. The well.
b. John 4:13-14 KJV –– Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
c. The river.
d. John 7:37-38 KJV –– In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
e. With joy, shall you draw for water out of the well of salvation—which is your spirit.
f. Isaiah 12:3 KJV –– Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
g. Out of your belly (innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water.
3. You Must Yield.
a. You do not fight God’s fire—you yield to it—and allow it to have its way and do its work in you.
b. Many people resist.
c. They will not surrender.
d. Their mind and flesh get in the way.
e. I must decrease; He must increase.
f. He wants to make you a vessel He can flow through.
g. A pipe, a conduit, a channel.
h. You must stay pliable and usable.
i. Live in the fire and let the fire live in you.
j. The fire separates.
4. The Fire is God’s Idea.
a. Fire now—which will purge and purify.
b. Fire later—at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
c. Wood, hay and stubble.
d. Gold, jewels and precious stones.
e. Hell fire—eternal damnation.
5. Will You Surrender?
a. People who catch the fire, carry the fire, and that fire spreads.
b. This week is a week of surrender to God’s will, His purpose and His plan.