In a sense what baptism of water, baptism of the spirit and baptism of fire do for us is regenerate the heart. Baptism of water gives us the heart of a new creature. The old self alienated from God dies and a new self lives. Baptism of the Spirit gives us the heart of a disciple/witness on fire for the work of the kingdom. Baptism of fire gives us the heart of a lover captured in the web of love spun by God who is love.

Recall the prophetic words of God spoken through Ezekiel: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees....You shall be my people, and I will be your God" (Ez 36:25-28).

God loves us beyond measure, but without a spirit-graced affection of the heart on our part there will be no growth in the life of the spirit. Many times we struggle with the recurrent sins of the old self, even though we want to change. Like Paul we come to the realization that the "desire to do right is there but not the power." What is missing is the intense fire of love, a love that is not lip-service but heart commitment and conviction.