The Fire of God

Pentacost

Acts 2:1–4 (ESV)

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Dake Annotated Reference Bible (Notes for Verse 4)

The difference between a filling and a baptism or the Spirit by measure and without measure may be illustrated by a glass and a pitcher of water. To the extent the water is poured into the glass it is filled, but not baptized. By burying the glass in the fullness of the water it is both filled and baptized. Taking the glass out of the fullness of the water it is no longer baptized. So it is with believers. To the extent one is filled with the Spirit he has that measure of power and can do things according to the degree of anointing he has. If he is merely filled and has the Spirit by measure he is limited in spiritual power. If he has the Spirit in all fullness there is no limitation. He can do the works of Christ and the apostles.

The Holy Spirit is mentioned 69 times in the book of Acts.

Gr. Pyr - Fire

Matthew 3:10–12 (ESV)

10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Baptism by the Holy Ghost and baptism by fire refer to two separate events. The former speaks of the saving power of the Spirit, while the latter corresponds to eschatological judgment.

The purpose of the fire is to bring judgement on sin in a person by burning the sin out of their heart.

The fire of God is known to be the purifying power of the Holy Ghost.

Exodus 3:2 (ESV)

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

Numbers 9:15 (ESV)

15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.

Hebrews 12:29 (ESV)

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Gr. Katanalisko - Consumes utterly and leaves no evidence.

Acts 2:2–3 ESV

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

The Jewish New Testament Commentary (The Acts, Chapter 2)

Roar of a violent wind …. tongues of fire which separated. God emphasized the connection between the Torah and the Ruach HaKodesh by giving both with similar miraculous signs. The roar and fire in Jerusalem recalled the fire, smoke and sounds at Sinai. However, instead of God’s people being kept away, God’s glory, represented by the tongues of fire, came to each individual.

John 14:17 ESV

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Numbers 11:29 ESV

29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

Luke 24:49 (ESV)

49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (Fire)

Yahweh uses fire as a means of punishment (Gen 19:24; Num 11:1–3; Deut 32:22; Amos 1:4 etc.) or to consume sacrifice (Lev 9:24; Judg 6:21). In addition, Yahweh is portrayed as a →Humbaba-type figure, breathing smoke, flames and fire, in 2 Sam 22:9 (= Ps 18:9); Isa 30:27, 33; 33:11; 65:5. He manifests himself in fire: as the “smoking fire pot and flaming torch” in the covenant rite (Gen 15:17), in the burning bush (Exod 3:2) and as the pillar of fire (e.g. Exod 13:21). In Deut 9:3, “Yahweh your god who crosses over [the Jordan] ahead of you is a consuming fire (ʾš ʾklh)”.

Faithlife Study Bible

“Tongues like fire Fire is often used to describe God’s holy presence and His ability to purify. The reference to tongues or languages indicates that this is a reversal of the Tower of Babel, where God confused the languages of those who rebelled against Him (Gen 11:7).

Mark 9:49 (ESV)

49 For everyone will be salted with fire.

1 Peter 1:7 (ESV)

7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Faithlife Study Bible (Fire as a Motif of Divine Presence)

“There are many biblical passages describe both Yahweh’s throne room and presence as fiery and full of smoke. In Exodus 3, Yahweh appears to Moses in a burning bush. After the Israelite people have left Egypt, the divine presence moves with them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. Yahweh at one point descends on Mount Sinai in fire and smoke. Other passages create the impression that fire is a stock image in describing the appearance of Yahweh. At times a rushing or stormy wind accompanies fire imagery. Other passages describe God Himself as a consuming fire, and Yahweh uses fiery bursts and lightning bolts as weapons against his enemies. This imagery carried into the New Testament, most prominently in the events of Pentecost. The stormy aura of “a violent rushing wind” accompanied by flaming “tongues” indicates that the gathered disciples are now in the divine presence; the throne room of God has come to them. This fire is associated with the Holy Spirit—the presence of God. As with other prophetic figures, the apostles are commissioned in the divine presence by the divine presence.” - MICHAEL S. HEISER

Smith Wigglesworth on Spirit-Filled Living (12. Keeping the Vision)

Ministers of God are to be flames of fire, nothing less than flames, nothing less than holy, mighty instruments with burning messages, with hearts full of love, with depths of consecration where God has taken full charge of their bodies, and they exist only to manifest the glory of God.

Smith Wigglesworth on Spirit-Filled Living (Equipped for Service)

You will find that the cup of suffering from heaven is united with a baptism of fire. I don’t want you to think I mean suffering with diseases. I mean suffering in persecution, with slander, strife, bitterness, abusive scoldings, and with many other evil ways of suffering; but none of these things will hurt you. Instead, they will kindle a fire of holy ambition. As the Scripture says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10).

Smith Wigglesworth on Spirit-Filled Living (A Divine Glory)

“I can only afford to be supernatural now. I cannot afford to be anything less than directed entirely by the Holy Spirit. If I turn to any other plan, then I lose the unction, the power, the revelation of what God has. When I come into the presence of God, He takes the things of the Spirit and reveals them to me. Our hearts are comforted and built up. And there is no way to warm a heart more than by the heart that first touched the flame. There must be the heavenly fires burning within.” - Smith Wigglesworth

The Flow of the Spirit: Divine Secrets of a Real Christian Life (Holiness unto the Lord)

“Think not to come within the court of God with stain upon your garments. Think not that heaven can smile upon a nature fouled through evil contact. Think not that Christ can dwell in temples seared by flames of hate. No! The heart of man must first be purged by holy fire and washed from every stain by cleansing blood. Don’t you know that he whose nature is akin to God’s must ever feel the purging power of Christ within?” - John G. Lake

The Flow of the Spirit: Divine Secrets of a Real Christian Life (Spiritual Hunger)

Bosworth said long afterward, “Lake, there is one instance that I shall always remember in your life; that was the night you prayed in my home until the rafters shook, until God came down, until the fire struck, until our souls melted, until God came and sanctified our hearts.”

The Flow of the Spirit: Divine Secrets of a Real Christian Life (About John G. Lake)

“The Lord is looking for men and women who will have the audacity to believe in dramatic moves of the Spirit, as Lake did when he demanded that plague cells be placed on his hand so all would be able to see the fire of God burn them up.”

Luke 24:25-32 (ESV)

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,

29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Isaiah 6:4–6 (ESV)

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

Jeremiah 20:9 (ESV)

9 If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.