“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:1-2)
Notice the strange sound: “suddenly there came A SOUND from heaven. ” The association of the sound of a “rushing mighty wind”, filling the “whole house”, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit probably has connection with the fact that in both the Hebrew and Greek languages, the word for spirit is the same word for breath or wind. Here, the “sound from heaven” was the sound of the Holy Spirit being poured out on the disciples, who knew the Hebrew Scriptures, think of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
These scriptures tells us much about how the Holy Spirit moves…
- Genesis 1:1-2, it is the Spirit of God as the breath/wind of God, blowing over the waters of the newly created earth.
- Genesis 2:7, it is the Spirit of God as the breath/wind of God, blowing life into newly created man.
- Ezekiel 37:9-10, it is the Spirit of God as the breath/wind of God, moving over the dry bones of Israel bringing them life and strength.
These are the wonderful and valid works of the Spirit, yet on none of those other occasions did they hear “a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind.” The strange sound was an emphasis for that very special day, but not of lasting importance. Sometimes, God does a “one-off” – a special something for a single occasion. Can you imagine if, on a later occasion the disciples said, “Today we weren’t really filled with the Spirit because we never heard that sound”? (Acts 4:8, 4:31, 13:9, 13:52, 19:6).
Jesus informs us as to the purpose of the Holy Spirit, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER HELPER (paraklétos: an advocate, intercessor, consoler, comforter), that He may abide WITH YOU FOREVER— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and WILL BE IN YOU.” (John 14:15-17) Not only all of this but, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:26-27)
REMEMBER NOW, THIS IS GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT!
-Bill Stockham