After the birth, crucifixion and resurrection
of Jesus, Pentecost is probably the most significant event in Christian
history. The first ever mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had
promised them.
The twelve Apostles (including Matthias the
replacement for Judas Iscariot) were all praying together in the upper room
when their baptism with the Holy Spirit came.
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were
all together in one place.2 Suddenly
a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the
whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that
separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
This was the beginning of life in the Spirit
for the twelve Apostles and other disciples of Jesus, and what a dramatic entry
into their midst – a mighty wind and tongues of fire!
The spiritual significance of wind and fire:
Wind:
The Greek word for wind used in Acts 2:2 is ‘pnoē
(pno-ay)’ and can also be translated as ‘breath’ referring to the breath of God.
This is similar in application and meaning to the Hebrew word ‘ruwach (roo-akh)’
in the Old Testament when God breathed life into Adam. In view of this I think
it safe for us to say that at Pentecost, God breathed new life into the
apostles and others with the power of the Holy Spirit, a real baptism of fire!
Fire:
Now fire in its Divine sense has three
spiritually symbolic representations.
1. God’s presence
- Moses and the burning bush – Exodus 3:2
- God comes to Moses in fire on Mt Sinai – Exodus 19:18
- God leads the Israelites in the desert by a pillar of fire at night – Exodus 3:21, Numbers 14:14
- Ezekiel has a vision of God in fire – Ezekiel 1:27
- God appears as lightning in a storm – Psalm 18:14, 29:7, 144:6
- Fire from heaven destroys the sacrifice when Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal – 1 Kings 18:38
2. God’s Punishment
- Fire from heaven destroys Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19:24, the disobedient priests – Leviticus 10:1-2
- God’s anger is described as burning like fire – Hosea 8:15, Nahum 1:6; Lamentations 2:4
- God’s future and final judgment is often depicted as fire - 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 8:7-8, 9:17–18, 18:8
- Hell is described as consisting of fire - Matthew 5:22; 13:42; 18:8–9; Revelation 20:10, 14–15
3. God’s Purification
- God’s future and final judgment is often depicted as fire - 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 8:7-8, 9:17–18, 18:8
In Matthew
11 John the Baptist is telling the crowds that have come out from Jerusalem
and the surrounding towns that he can baptize them in water for repentance of
sins but the one who will come after him (Jesus) is the only one who has the
authority to baptize them with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.
Matthew 3:11-12 (NLT)
11 “I
baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But
someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not
worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 He is ready to separate the
chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the
threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with
never-ending fire.”
So now we ask ourselves this question, “What
do these depictions of wind and fire in the scriptures reveal to us about the
move of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost?”
Simply this:
The
wind indicates the presence of God – the breath of God breathing new life into
the apostles.
The
fire indicates the presence of God as well as a spiritual purification and an
infilling of power taking place within the apostles.
It
also indicates a renewal has taken place – God is doing something new!
So today when we receive the baptism with the Holy
Spirit, we are assured of our new life in Christ Jesus in the same way that the
disciples were on the day of Pentecost.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ
has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
How do we know baptism with the Holy
Spirit is for us today and wasn’t just for the disciples in those days?
Acts 2:38-39 (NIV)
38 Peter
replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of
the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your
children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will
call.”
Verse 39 above makes it abundantly clear that
the promise is for all believers at all times!
Now at Pentecost with all this commotion going
on around the disciples it was inevitable that it would attract some kind of
attention, especially as there were many visitors in Jerusalem as it was the
time of Shavuot – The Harvest Festival.
A large crowd thus gathered around the
disciples and because the disciples were speaking in tongues, which many of the
foreign visitors could understand as their own language, they were thought to
be drunk!
But Peter stood up to address the crowd to
explain to them what was happening and to tell them about Jesus.
Look what happened when he had finished
talking!
Acts 2:41 (NIV)
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Ok, so let’s examine a little more closely the
things that happened right after Pentecost and right after the disciples are
filled with and are moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts
2:
1. They began to speak in tongues (actual known different
languages of the world on this occasion) – vs
4
2. Peter boldly addresses the crowd and speaks
with wisdom quoting the Word – vs 14
3. A Holy Spirit inspired conviction came upon
the crowd – vs 37
4. About 3000 people got saved – vs 41
5. “And they continued steadfastly in the
apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” – vs 42
6. The fear of God came upon the people and the apostles
performed many signs and wonders – vs
43
7. The first Christian family was formed, caring
for one another – vs 44-46
8. Continual praise was given to God and the Holy
Spirit added new believers to their numbers every day – vs 47
May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!
An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:
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