Why tongues, fire and wind on the day of Pentecost?
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: The book of Acts describes the beginning of the active ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers, with the Holy Spirit living within them. The Holy Spirit empowers them to carry out the tasks of the Christian life, as seen in the book of Acts. The coming of the Holy Spirit is accompanied by three distinct elements: a rushing wind, tongues like fire, and speaking in other languages. Speaking in tongues symbolizes the universal and worldwide character of the Gospel, as well as the key role language plays in communicating the Gospel. The wind represents the spirit of God, which is the driving force of humanity. Lastly, tongues and wind together symbolize the consecration of human language to preach the Gospel and the unification of languages that was disrupted at the tower of Babel.
The wind, fire, and tongues of Pentecost had symbolic meanings. The wind symbolized the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit, as well as the mysterious and supernatural aspect of God. Fire symbolized the consuming power of God, as well as the passion and commitment to testify to the Gospel. The tongues symbolized the ability to communicate sublime, supernatural, and spiritual things. Overall, God was sending a message about what the life of the church of Jesus Christ should be and what the nature of the Holy Spirit is. The church should be animated, strengthened, and energized every day by the power of the Holy Spirit. Miracles were also asked for in the lives of God's people.
The wind, fire, and tongues of Pentecost had symbolic meanings. The wind symbolized the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit, as well as the mysterious and supernatural aspect of God. Fire symbolized the consuming power of God, as well as the passion and commitment to testify to the Gospel. The tongues symbolized the ability to communicate sublime, supernatural, and spiritual things. Overall, God was sending a message about what the life of the church of Jesus Christ should be and what the nature of the Holy Spirit is. The church should be animated, strengthened, and energized every day by the power of the Holy Spirit. Miracles were also asked for in the lives of God's people.
We are studying about the Holy Spirit and the book of Acts is the best resource we have on Scripture. Chapter 2, let's go back to that passage that we've been meditating on about the coming of the Holy Spirit, verse 1, chapter 2, Acts.
“…When the day of Pentecost came, a day like today, when the day of Pentecost came, they were all with one accord, together, and suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a mighty rushing wind, which filled the whole house where they were sitting. And distributed tongues like fire appeared to them, settling on each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them to speak…”
“…When the day of Pentecost came, a day like today, when the day of Pentecost came, they were all with one accord, together, and suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a mighty rushing wind, which filled the whole house where they were sitting. And distributed tongues like fire appeared to them, settling on each one of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit gave them to speak…”
