Fire Tongues

(Today’s audio reading on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BUv7YKlke84Cq1ITDVM2v)

Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. (Acts 2:3)

Just after the windstorm, which had everyone’s attention, fire enters the scene! Leonard Ravenhill wrote, “Is there anything more self-advertising than a fire?” When you are driving down the road and you see a blaze ‘a blazing, you stare. You wonder how it started, if anyone is attending to it, have the authorities been notified, and will it spread (and if so, is it going to affect me personally, or someone I know)?

Here’s where things get really interesting on this famous agricultural celebration day: the faithful ones gathered together, presumably continuing the prayer meeting that started about 10 days ago, when suddenly they are holding on to their hats in a windstorm and then images of fire are dancing on each head.

Think that got everybody’s attention? While contemplating the house rocking from the wind, fire shows up, presumably without warning and definitely without a natural source. I wonder if the flames were whipping around in the breeze (think campfire on a windy night), or was the fire shielded from the wind?

We don’t know those details, and can only guess and imagine. However, we do know this: two supernatural and physically-occurring witnesses of the presence of the Holy Spirit are suddenly in their midst (even though the Jesus followers most likely were not articulating that just yet during this wind and fire extravaganza). But they had better pay attention.

Fire is not only attention-grabbing, but it reduces and purifies. What do I mean by reducing? It takes a hearty piece of wood and turns it into ashes. Its destructive force turned loose in forest lands can decimate many hundreds and thousands of acres. Hundred-year old hardened oaks cannot return to their previous state. They have been removed. Old, established growth is gone. The process of total reduction of forestation, among other things, provides a platform for new growth.

Fire also cleanses. It is used to separate the pure from the impure. Thus is the process of refining gold. The high heat of fire enacts biological processes which cannot be reversed.

John the Baptist’s words ring out: “Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire!” (Matthew 3:11). Spirit, which is related in word form and meaning to ‘wind’ in both the Greek and Hebrew languages, is blowing in, soaking and saturating the place with God’s presence. Fire also has their attention, and is surely a sign of cleansing, and preparation for new growth. The immersion of the Spirit is starting to drench the place, evidenced by windstorm and dancing fire.

How can we describe the participants in that upper room—speechless, terrified, in shock? Safe to say, God the Holy Spirit had their full attention.

The Jewish holy day is suddenly anything but celebrations and remembrances as usual.

“Father, thank you for the signs and wonders, you gave and continue to give, to your people to demonstrate your presence and your love.”