When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. Acts 2:1-3 NIV
Wind and fire are two things that can be very damaging or very helpful. We have witnessed some very destructive winds and fires this year, with the tornadoes in the midwest and east and south, and the forrest fires in the west, still burning out of control in Arizona in particular. Wind and fire can also be gentle, and even useful under the right circumstances. We use fans to cool ourselves off, blowers to clear leaves and snow, and windmills to convert wind into energy. Fireplaces can be used for warmth or cooking or just pure enjoyment, candles can provide light or relaxing scents or are used as symbols as in our churches, and firefighters even use fire lines to create a vegetation break to help control wildfires.
The wind can be felt and not directly seen. It's results can be seen, but you can't tell which way it may blow next. Unexpected shifts in the direction of the wind can be disconcerting, especially when you are depending on it for direction as in sailing or hot air ballooning. We can change what we do in response to it, but we cannot change the wind itself. The Holy Spirit also cannot be seen, but we can see the results when people are Spirit-filled, even though we don't always know where it is leading us. Sometimes the direction God seems to be leading us can be uncertain or even frightening, but God is always in control as we remain faithful and trust in him.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8 NIV
God's presence is sometimes represented as fire, as in the burning bush with Moses. Fire is also associated with judgement. John the Baptist baptized with water, but he said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, and the unwanted "chaff" would be burned off.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12 NIV
Fire is also seen as purifying, as burning up impurities, as in the refiner's fire. God makes us purer and stronger with his fire.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver... Malachi 3:1-3 NIV
At that Pentecost spoken of in Acts, the Spirit enabled the people to speak and be heard in all the different languages that were spoken by the "Jews from every nation under heaven" that were there that day. Peter explains what happened at this Pentecost by telling what was said by the prophet Joel, that all people, men and women, young and old, will prophesy:
“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy... Acts 2:17-18 NIV
God's gift to us of his Holy Spirit is a powerful blessing, a planting of faith, a directing of our lives, a purifying of our souls, and a supplying of the ability to prophesy in order to strengthen and comfort Christians and to bring unbelievers to Christ. Let us all remember to give thanks to God today and every day for this very special gift of his Spirit.
Written by Jan Andersen
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