The Holy Spirit (4) The Symbols of the Holy Spirit (1)

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Ac 2:1-4)
 
Review
Last Sunday we talked about who the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit is one of three persons of the Triune God. We believe in one God. Yet at the same time, the Bible also testifies about the three persons of the one God—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
 
Though the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are of the same essence and are one God, they have different roles. God the Father created the world and planned salvation. Jesus came to this earth in human form, died on the cross, and rose again to fulfill that salvation. And the Holy Spirit comes to everyone who believes in Jesus in order to accomplish the work of salvation, shape us to live holy lives that reflect the image of God, and empower us to carry out the mission of proclaiming the gospel.
 
The Holy Spirit is also a personal and relational being. The Bible portrays the Holy Spirit as one who possesses intellect, will, and emotions. He rejoices, grieves, feels sorrow, and even experiences jealousy.
 
These emotional and intellectual qualities show that the Holy Spirit fully understands and helps us like a personal counselor. He leads us into truth using our intellect, moves our will to obey God’s will, and works through our emotions to love God.
 
Because the Holy Spirit is a personal being, we must relate to Him personally. We must not reduce the Holy Spirit to a mere force or energy. We are called to have a close, intimate, and deep relationship with Him on a daily basis.
 
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:13: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Cor. 13:13)
 
The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinonia, which means fellowship and union. This is what must happen in our daily lives in our relationship with the Holy Spirit. When we walk in union with the Holy Spirit, He will guide our thoughts, minds, wills, decisions, and emotions to restore the image of God in us, make us more like Jesus Christ, and lead us into the holy life God desires for us.
 
Symbols of the Holy Spirit
Today, we continue our reflection on the Holy Spirit. We will specifically look at several biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is invisible and does not have a physical body, Scripture often uses symbols to help us better understand who the Holy Spirit is. There are 6 symbols in total. Each symbol tells us something important about who the Spirit is and what He does. Today, we’ll talk about the first three symbols of the Holy Spirit.
 
1. Wind
The first symbol is wind. Genesis 1:2 says: “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Gen. 1:2)
 
The Hebrew word for “Spirit” here is ruach, which basically means breath, wind, or spirit. So it is also appropriate to translate the phrase “the Spirit of God” as “the breath of God” or “the wind of God.”
 
When God created the heavens and the earth, all three persons of the Trinity were present and active. The Son, Jesus, was there as the Word of God, and the Spirit was there as the breath or wind of God.
 
Psalm 104:30 also testifies to this truth. “When you send your Spirit(Ruach), they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.” (Ps. 104:30)
 
So, one of the powerful symbols that tell us who the Holy Spirit is is wind. The depiction of the Holy Spirit as wind signifies His invisible yet powerful presence guiding and directing us with His divine strength and purpose.
 
Jesus said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
 
Although wind is invisible, we can clearly see and feel its effects. Similarly, although the Holy Spirit cannot be seen, He is very real and has a powerful presence in our lives, bringing about change, so that people can notice His influence in the lives of those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
One of the passages that best describes the Holy Spirit as wind is Acts 2:2. It says,
 
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2)
 
This “violent wind” represents the powerful and overwhelming nature of the Holy Spirit.
 
Have you ever experienced strong wind? You can’t see it directly, but you certainly know it’s there by its influence. I came to Dayton in 2019, and within just three months, a tornado swept through the city. Some of you may remember it. I watched the scene from the window in my apartment, and it was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
 
Cars were shaking, streetlights went dark, traffic lights swayed in the wind. I saw gravel on the ground suddenly lift and beat against the windows. After seeing that, I quickly ran to the hallway. I felt a deep reverence for the sheer power of the wind. I couldn’t see the wind itself, but I clearly felt its power.
 
The Holy Spirit is like that powerful wind. He comes with divine force, transforms lives, and influences us and those around us through us. Just as wind can’t be seen but its impact is evident, so is the life of someone filled with the wind of the Spirit.
 
Another role of wind is guidance. A ship at sea depends on the wind to move forward. The Holy Spirit is God’s wind that leads our lives. When we are lost or unsure of where to go or what to do, the Spirit directs us with His wind. Our part is to surrender our own plans, trusting in the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and let the wind of the Spirit carry us forward naturally.
 
2. Fire
The second symbol of the Holy Spirit is fire. In the Bible, fire is far more than a natural phenomenon. It is frequently associated with God’s presence and His holiness. When God called Moses, He appeared to him in a burning bush. This fire revealed both the holiness of God and His eternal, unchanging nature.
 
When God led the Israelites in the wilderness, His presence was manifested in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This fire represented God’s guidance and protection.
 
In Malachi, God is portrayed as a refiner’s fire, one who purifies and cleanses. Malachi 3:2 says,
 
“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.” (Mal. 3:2)
 
Just as gold is purified by passing through water and fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit burns away all that is impure in us and all that opposes God, making us pure and holy.
 
The Holy Spirit also sets a fire in our hearts and makes us more passionate about the calling we’ve received from God.
 
John the Baptist baptized with water for repentance, but he said that the One who comes after him—Jesus—would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. He said,
 
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Mt. 3:11)
 
Jesus also revealed that His purpose in coming to the world was to bring fire to it.  Jesus said,
 
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49)
 
These words were fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended in power at Pentecost. Acts 2:3-4 says,
 
“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:3–4)
 
The fire that descended upon the disciples was not destructive, but rather refining and recreating. It burned away their fear, sin, and weaknesses, purifying their hearts and filling them with boldness and passion. This radical transformation of their lives gave birth to the Church.
 
Even today, the Holy Spirit comes to us like fire. He burns away the impurities, sinful nature, and desires of the flesh within us, refining and renewing us. When we pass through the fire of the Holy Spirit, all the filth of our lives is consumed, and we are transformed into blameless children of God.
 
The fire of the Spirit also ignites our hearts with passion, empowering us to testify boldly to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we are seized and led by the Holy Spirit, we can carry out our mission with joy and courage, no matter the challenges—even in the face of mockery, suffering, or persecution.
 
The prophet Jeremiah was a man who was overtaken by this holy fire.
He confessed:
 
“Whenever I speak, I cry out, proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”(Jer. 20:8–9)
 
Jeremiah ministered during the final days of Judah before it fell to Babylon. God’s message through him was that Judah’s judgment was already decided, so they should surrender rather than resist. This sounded like treason—it was as if he had sided with the enemy during wartime. Who would welcome such a message?
 
Because of the message God gave him to proclaim, Jeremiah suffered greatly. He was left alone, rejected, ridiculed, and persecuted. But he could not keep silent. The fire of God burned so powerfully within him that he could not stop preaching God's word, even if it meant suffering and hardship, or even death.
 
This is the fire of the Holy Spirit we must ask for to carry out our calling to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
 
Now, I would like us to take a look at our lives. Are there any areas that have yet to be purified? Have we lost the burning zeal and passion for God that we once had? The fire of the Holy Spirit purifies and restores. It consumes our weaknesses, fears, and sinful desires and rekindles holy passion within us.
 
Today, may we experience that fire. May it consume everything impure within us. May it cleanse us and make us holy. May it set us ablaze with power and zeal so that we can joyfully and boldly carry out the mission Jesus entrusted to us.
 
3. Water
Now, I want to speak on one more symbol of the Holy Spirit before concluding today's sermon. The third symbol of the Holy Spirit is water.
 
Jesus cried out in John 7:37–38, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,  rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37–38)
 
The Apostle John explains what Jesus meant by “living water” in the next verse.
 
“By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7:39)
 
So, what does it mean for the Holy Spirit to come into our lives like water?
 
Water is one of the most essential elements for sustaining life. Although we can survive for several days without food, it is almost impossible to survive for more than a few days without water.
 
So, water symbolizes life. Just as our physical bodies cannot function without water, our spirits cannot survive without the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit. Unless our spirits are refreshed daily by the living water of the Spirit, we will quickly become dry and barren.
 
Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” He also said that those who believe in Him will have streams of living water flowing from within them.
 
The thirst that Jesus speaks of here is not physical, but spiritual: a deep longing that comes from the core of our souls. Nothing in this world can quench the eternal desire God has placed within us. The more we try to fill this void with finite, worldly things, the thirstier and emptier we become. Only the Holy Spirit, who is the Living Water, can satisfy this spiritual thirst and bring true satisfaction in our souls.
 
That’s why we must come to the Holy Spirit with hearts that are poor in spirit—like a deer that pants for streams of water. If we come with such longing and desperation, He will never turn us away. He will satisfy us with His living water, the water of life that wells up eternally.
 
God said in Isaiah 44:  “But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says—He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” (Is. 44:1–4)
 
This passage gives us comfort and hope. Sometimes, we see the state of our spiritual lives and realize how dry and dead we’ve become. Rather than living like a tree planted by streams of water which produces its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, we are sometimes more like withered branches with dried leaves and no fruit.
 
But in those moments, we must not fall into despair or discouragement. Instead, we must turn to the Lord. We have no living water in ourselves. That water can only come from the Lord, and He is delighted to give it to us. Every soul that comes to Him with thirst will be filled and satisfied.
 
Let’s read Isaiah 58:11 together.
 
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Is. 58:11)
 
I pray that this promise would be fulfilled in our lives today. When we are filled with the living water of the Holy Spirit, it will cleanse us from all impurity. It will satisfy the deepest thirst of our souls. It will give us life and vitality. That water will not just remain inside us; it will overflow from our hearts and bless others, enabling us to become a source of life for many.
 
So today, let us come before the Holy Spirit, our Living Water, and bring our thirst to Him. May we be filled to overflowing and become a channel of that life to others.
 
Today, we reflected on three symbols of the Holy Spirit. Firstly, the Holy Spirit comes to us like wind, guiding us, leading us, and empowering us. Secondly, the Holy Spirit comes to us like fire, burning away everything that is impure and unholy, and filling us with holy passion and boldness to proclaim the gospel. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit comes to us like water, cleansing our souls, satisfying our spiritual thirst, giving us life, and making us fruitful.
 
That’s why we should always pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then He will come like the wind, fire, and water and renew us completely. May the Holy Spirit come upon each of us fully today, so that we may live the holy and blessed life that God desires for us through His help. Let’s pray.
 
Prayer
Gracious and loving Father, thank You for revealing to us the deep work and abundant grace of the Holy Spirit through Your Word today.
 
Lord, we confess that we are often weak and do not know where to go. Come to us like the wind of the Spirit, and breathe new direction and hope into our lives.
 
Burn away all impurity, sin, and weakness within us by the fire of Your Spirit. Set our hearts ablaze with holy passion, so that we may boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, unashamed and unwavering, no matter the cost.
 
Lord, we are often parched and weary. Come to us like living water. Wash over us. Renew us. Revive us. Quench our thirst. Satisfy our souls. Let Your life flow within us and bear fruit in our lives. Make us a spring of life to others.
 
We earnestly seek to be filled with the Spirit You have promised. Come dwell in us fully today. Govern our hearts and lead us.
 
May we no longer live by our own strength, but by the power of the Spirit. Fill us with the wind, fire, and water of the Holy Spirit. Use us to bring true life and hope to wherever we are.
 
We pray all this in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
1. What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to be wind? In what ways have you experienced the invisible yet powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? How is your life being guided by the wind of the Holy Spirit?
 
2. What does the Holy Spirit do as fire? What areas of your life still need the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit? Have you ever experienced a holy fire that compelled you to speak or act for God, even when it was difficult? What is one way you can invite the fire of the Holy Spirit to rekindle your passion for God’s mission this week?
 
3. Explain the role of the Holy Spirit as water. Have you ever experienced a deep spiritual thirst? What one step can you take this week to be nourished by the Holy Spirit's living water?
 
4. Among the three symbols—wind, fire, and water—which one resonates most with your current spiritual condition, and why? What is one specific prayer you want to offer to the Holy Spirit today in response to what He has shown you?