WIND AND FIRE

 

WIND AND FIRE

 

At the peak of his ministry Yochanan the Immerser made a declaration about the One coming after him, saying:  “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit [Ruach in Hebrew, meaning both spirit and wind] and fire.  His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16-17).

 Yochnan uttered wonderful words of promise - being immersed/absorbed/engrossed by the Spirit (Ruach) of Holiness, as well as by fire, a holy cleansing flame that would come from YHVH. Surely many were encouraged and stirred up when they heard those words; with their daily routines being ordered by an oppressive Roman rule, and the religious life by a corrupt Sadducee priesthood or legalistic rabbinic Pharisees, these words must have sparked excitement and anticipation. To be “gathered” as “wheat” to Elohim’s barn, to be in a safe place, protected and be made ready for the Master’s use – as wholesome bread (the “showbread” in the Holy Place)… Perhaps at last things were going to change….???  But, just a minute, not so fast… what is this about chaff and burning????

 

The chaff typically is gotten rid of by allowing the wind the blow it away. The chaff that Yochanan was talking about was going to meet an even worse lot. He announced that it would be burned. Even words spoken over Israel’s enemies were not so harsh: “O my Elohim, make them like the whirling dust, like the chaff before the wind!” (Psalm 83:14). Yochanan’s words are even sterner. Burning up the chaff “with unquenchable fire” Yochanan was in agreement with Psalm 11:6, which says: “Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup”!

 

Wind (Spirit) and Fire. Both Yochanan and the above words employ the two together. The wonderful immersion of the wind of the Spirit and It’s fire is something we are longing for – cleansed by His fire, filled by His Spirit! Could it be that YHVH is using the very SAME wind/Spirit, and the very same fire to both cleanse and saturate, but also to blow away with an unquenchable fiery wind? Are we in the season of the near maturation of the wheat kernels (almost) ready to be harvested and be gathered into the Master’s granary, while the tares are being readied to be blown into the flames?    

 

Abba, let the fiery wind do its thorough work within me, so that the flame of Your Spirit may be generated from within me for Your purposes as You blow away evil with Your fiery breath! Yes, may we be one with His Spirit. May we be one with His Fire!