By: Pastor Gonzalo Sanabria. This sermon was initially published on www.estudiosysermones.com. We invite you to read more sermons by Pastor Gonzalo Zanabria on the aforementioned website.
The Master in the gospels teaches us mysteries of the Kingdom through parables, through simple narratives taken from daily life, Jesus therefore tries to teach us great secrets through simple pedagogical elements, he does the same so that we know the person and work of the Holy Spirit…
The book: “THE LANGUAGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”. It is composed of: the gifts of the Holy Spirit, their names and the revelation behind them, their symbols and their meaning, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and tongues, the history of the doctrine of the Spirit, prophecy, the Comforter, the anointing and its correct use, among other topics of great interest. You can get it at: THE LANGUAGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The symbols of the Holy Spirit and their meaning:
Pardington says: “The word SYMBOL comes from two Greek words: SUN, which means fair; and the word BALIO which means thrown away; literally meaning something that has been thrown together with something else, side by side, the one to represent and explain the other. In other words, a symbol is a material emblem that shows and reveals a spiritual truth.
These symbols of the Holy Spirit are given by God so that we can more easily understand what the language itself cannot explain or express (as well as its names and meanings). Symbols are used to describe the operations of the Holy Spirit.
1. The fire: Matt. 3:11.
“I indeed baptize you in water for repentance; but he who comes after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to wear, he is mightier than I; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”
Fire heats, illuminates, purifies, tests, produces energy, and generates power. Fire consumes fuel, and refines or purifies that which cannot be consumed. The Spirit as fire ministers warmth to the heart and light to the mind of the believer (We invite you to read “The baptism in the Holy Spirit”).
2. The wind: Jn. 3:8.
“The wind blows where it wants, and you hear its sound; but you do not know where it comes from, nor where it goes; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The wind symbolizes the redemptive work of the Spirit as mysterious, powerful, penetrating, refreshing, and life-giving. It is invisible in its operation and unexpected in its consequences. From the Hebrew and Greek originals, the word Spirit can be translated: spirit, or wind, or breath. The Holy Spirit is the breath (halito), exhaled from God.
Without the constant renewing and quickening of the life-giving Spirit, the believer could not survive. See Ezekiel 37.7-10. Job said, “The Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty gave me life.” Job 33.4.
3. The water: Jn. 7:37-39.
“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from within him. This he said of the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for the Holy Spirit had not yet come, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
The power of the Holy Spirit does in the spiritual realm what water does in the material order. Water purifies, refreshes, quenches thirst and turns the barren field into fruitful land. Purifies what is stained and restores cleanliness; it is a very appropriate symbol of divine grace that not only cleanses the soul but adds beauty to it. Water is an indispensable element of physical life: the Holy Spirit is like an indispensable element of spiritual life. The Spirit cleanses from sinful habits, and serves as a fountain that produces rivers of holiness, and renewal that satisfies the need of the son of God on earth.
“Living water” is the water in contrast to the stagnant waters of cisterns or swamps; It is a water that jumps in gushes.
4. The seal: Eph. 1:13.
“In him you also, having heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and having believed in him, were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”
See also Ephesians 4:30 and 2 Corinthians 1:22. The seal is placed on a thing of value and denotes a completed transaction, as well as something that is genuine, unchangeable, and of great value. In Bible times the seal demonstrated ownership, gave authority, and promised security. See Daniel 6.17. The Spirit Himself is the seal that God the Father places on the believer’s heart to assure him of the certainty of a complete transaction.
5. The oil: Lk. 4:18; Heb. 1:9.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me…”
In Bible times, anointing oil was used primarily to cleanse, soothe, and relax; and for beauty as a by-product. Many of the Old Testament rituals required the use of oil, and in a solemn anointing ceremony, kings, prophets, and priests were set apart for their divine calling.
The anointed believer of the New Testament represents the royal priesthood, 1 Peter 2.9, because by virtue of the anointing of the Spirit, each believer is both priest and king. As oil, the Spirit is seen not only in anointing but also in sustaining (oil is food), providing light, healing, and softening (Suggested article: The anointing of the Holy Spirit).
6. The dove: Mt. 3:16.
“And Jesus, after he was baptized, went up immediately out of the water; And behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him.”
The Lord’s interest in this event is evident from the fact that it is recorded in all four Gospels. A Jewish tradition translates Genesis 1.2. in the following way: “The Spirit of God like a dove sheltered the beam of the waters”. The characteristics of the dove are: gentle, tender, graceful, innocent, soft, peaceful, pure, patient, easily upset or frightened, and faithful.
The fact that the Holy Spirit is represented as a dove indicates that He never demands or forces His own; He works by gentle directives or persuasions. Christ instructed believers to be “simple as doves”, Matthew 10.16. To have the Holy Spirit dwelling within as a dove is to know that one is at peace with God, for we have been justified in Christ.
7. The wine: Acts. 2:4, 12-13; Eph. 5:18.
“And they were all astonished and perplexed, saying to one another: What does this mean? But others, mocking, said: They are full of wine.
It is a symbol of joy, Psalm 104.15; an ingredient of worship, Joel 1.10; and a complement of bread, Judges 19.19.
The wine of the Spirit is the Divine spiritual stimulus that Satan seeks to counterfeit through the stimulus of alcohol.
Wine is that which loosens restrictions and inhibitions, gives boldness and produces an abundance of words. The work of the Kingdom requires vigorous workers, enthusiastic and stimulated, for a more effective performance of work. The expression of the observers on the day of Pentecost was cynical: Acts 2.13. It was in the vigor and encouragement of this kind of relationship with the Holy Spirit that the apostles proclaimed the Gospel message on that day and saw three thousand souls added to the Church (We invite you to read “The Joy of God”).
Prayer: Lord every day fill me more with your Holy Spirit, help me understand everything you have given me, and how much you want me to walk in that truth. Beloved Holy Spirit, I want to know you more every day and be guided by you. Thank you Lord for making me a temple of your Spirit. Amen.
Pastors Gonzalo and Andrea Sanabria
We invite you to read the following articles:
1. “THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” 2. “THE DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”.
3. “THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”
4. “THE NINE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”
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