Just as Jesus promised, the Spirit was sent from heaven according to Acts 2: 1-4 on the day of Pentecost. The sound of a rushing mighty wind filled the house and tongues of fire were distributed and rested upon them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. In Hebrew the Holy Spirit is the Holy Wind. It blows us in the direction of the holy and blows against the direction of the unholy. The Holy Spirit empowered them and moved those in the upper room forward to accomplish the command given to them in Acts 1: 8—receiving power to be His witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. And as He had promised in John 14, the Holy Spirit would be in them enabling them to do greater works than He had done because He would go to the Father. After Pentecost the Spirit was imparted to those who believed, in some cases by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17, 9:17). With Peter’s experience in the conversion of Cornelius (Acts 10) it became clear that the norm for this age was that Jew and Gentle were to be saved on precisely the same conditions, and the Holy Spirit was to be given without delay to those who meet the one essential condition of trust in Christ (Acts 10:44; 11: 15-18). This is the permanent fact for the entire Church Age. Every believer is born of the Spirit (John 3; 3-6; 1 John 5:1); indwelt by the Spirit, whose presence makes the believer’s body a temple (I Cor. 6:19); and baptized with the Spirit (1 Cor. 12: 12-13; 1 John 2: 20, 27), thus sealing him for God as His child (Eph. 1: 13, 4: 30). The New Testament distinguishes between having the Spirit, which is true of all believers, and being filled with the Spirit, which is the Christian’s privilege and duty. There is one baptism with the Spirit, but many fillings with the Spirit as we confess our sins according to 1 John 1:9 so that we are in fellowship with the Lord and walk in the Spirit.
In Scripture fire represents the very presence of God. This is especially evident throughout the Old and New Testament—i.e. the burning bush; the LORD’s descent upon Mount Sinai in fire; description of the Second Coming of Christ as “in blazing fire” (2 Th. 1:7) and John’s vision of Jesus with eyes “like blazing fire” (Rev. 1:14; 2: 18; 19: 12). It is not always possible to distinguish the presence of God from His glory for, indeed, glory is frequently a figure itself for Divine Presence. For example, to the Israelites at Sinai “the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire.” A special use of fire imagery in the New Testament is that connected with baptism with fire. John the Baptist predicted that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matt. 3: 11, Luke 3: 16), a promise that was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Then “tongues of fire” rested upon those gathered in the upper room with the result that they “were filled with the Holy Spirit.” The fire here is a manifestation of God, in the case of the Third Person of the Godhead.
The question is “What happens when God’s Spirit invades the hearts of His people?” The primary purpose of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus and gather souls for Heaven. On the day of Pentecost 3000 people were saved. (Acts 2: 42) The empowerment of the Holy Spirit brings a great harvest of souls. They were drawn to Jesus by the supernatural quality of life resulting from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Our life needs to reflect a change as the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out. Only when we are full of the Spirit do we feel the need for God everywhere we turn. The darkness in our world is growing heavier by the moment…if we are facing spiritual battles right in our own homes, churches and nation…then we are foolish not to turn to the One who supplies unlimited grace and power. He is our only source. We are crazy to ignore Him. When we get serious about drawing upon God’s power, remarkable things will happen. Even if we grow listless and lukewarm, still Christ says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and eat with him, and he with me…He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3: 20, 22) We as God’s people have all the equipment we need in Christ Jesus. It has been around for two thousand years. He has given us everything necessary for life and godliness and to complete the commission He has given us. Nothing about God will change. Tomorrow He will be no more anxious to help our lives, our families, and ourselves of His promises; we will see Him do things we could never ask or think, just as He did in the New Testament. God calls us to do His work, proclaiming His Word to people He loves under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit to produce results that only He can bring about. The glory then goes to Him alone—not to any denomination, local church, local pastor, or church-growth movement. That is God’s only plan, and anything else is a deviation from the teaching of the New Testament. Jesus has given us our marching orders: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28: 19-20). What will it take to shake denominational elders, pastors, and laypeople to see that we all must answer to Christ at the Judgment Seat one day? Our sense of inadequacy is no excuse, given that He has promised to work with us as we set our hearts to the task of extending His kingdom.
The heroes of church history whom we now revere were not known for their cleverness; they were warriors for God. Moody was never ordained to the ministry. Finney never went to seminary. Yet whole cities were visited by God as a result of their anointed work. God’s mighty men and women are called to lay aside the distractions of life to do exploits in the spiritual realm. We must remember that we are to be led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He would build His church, and we must not be so independent that we lose contact with the Mater Planner. God the Holy Spirit does unusual things, and He does not always notify us in advance. In the book of Acts we find people moving in spontaneous obedience as they are propelled by the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit. The prayer of the Jerusalem believers recorded in Acts 4 says in essence, “God, please don’t send us out there alone just talking. Work with us; confirm your message in a supernatural way.” The way and in what manner was left entirely and rightly to God alone. God baptizes us with fresh outpourings of love so that Jesus Christ will come alive in our life in a way that others will desire to know Him. If we do not yearn and pray and expect God to stretch out His hand and do the supernatural, it will not happen. We must give Him room to operate. When we align ourselves with God’s living grace, all kinds of marvelous things take place. His power energizes us to face any army, large or small, and win victories for Him. We call upon Him, and He sends us forth to accomplish what we could never do alone, regardless of our money, education or track record. What the world’s situation cries out for today is a determined and desperate faith that grips the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and won’t let go until victory comes.
The time is now for another outpouring of God’s fresh wind and fire of His Spirit at such a time as this to complete the work Jesus has begun in us and through us. It is my prayer that God will make us the people He wants us to be; to fill our churches with His fresh wind and fresh fire; that He will break our pride, soften our hearts, and fill us to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. May God do all this so that the name of Jesus will be exalted throughout the earth. Amen.
Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us. Melt us, mold us, fill us, use us. Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on us!