(Section 5) Emblems Of The Spirit Series

V. EMBLEMS OF THE SPIRIT

A. Wind (Mentioned Above)

The literal meaning of the Hebrew “rauch” and its Greek equivalent “pneuma” is wind, breath, air.” J. Oswald Sanders pg 33

1. Ezek. 37:4-5 “Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. (v.5) Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:”

His vivifying power is prominent in the vision of the valley of dry bones, when through His agency the dry bones were transformed into a mighty organized

army. J. Oswald Sanders pg 33

2. John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

In the discourse with Nicodemus, it is His regenerative work which is compared

to the unpredictable and irresistible motions of the wind.

J. Oswald Sanders pg 33

3. Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”

The sound of a rushing mighty wind which accompanied the Spirit’s descent, indicated His mighty yet unseen power. J. Oswald Sanders pg 33

B. Fire

1. Matthew 3:11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

John contrasted the cold baptism of repentance received by his disciples, with the fiery baptism of power which the disciples of his Divine Successor would receive.

J. Oswald Sanders pg 32

Since He is the Spirit of holiness, He cannot tolerate sin in the believer whose body is His temple. His purging work aims to consume from this heart everything that is out of harmony with his Divine nature. J. Oswald Sanders pg 33

2. Acts 2:3 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

These witnesses needed “tongues like as of fire” if they were to achieve their mission. The tongues were symbols of aggressive Christianity. J. Oswald Sanders pg 32

Again, the symbol of fire was chosen to symbolize a specific aspect of the Spirit’s ministry. This was the time when the church was being started. It was time when the message of the Gospel would go forth into the world to change lives. The symbol of fire

is also used in the Gospels to symbolize judgment. Derickson’s Notes

C. Water

John 4:14 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 7:37-39 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (v.38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (v. 39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

This emblem pervades the typology of the OT and the figurative language of the NT. Its significance is varied; refreshment, fulness, satisfaction, cleansing, fructifying. Of all necessary things, water seems the most indispensable. If water is so essential in the physical realm, it is yet more so in the spiritual. J. Oswald Sanders pg 34

The characteristics of water can be seen in the ministry of the Spirit. He can be calm and waiting to work, or He can be powerful as the sea in a storm. He can carry the believer along as the sea transports the ships of commerce. He is the need of life, as is water. Without water our bodies thirst, without Him our souls thirst. Derickson’s Notes

D. Dove (All four Gospels mention.)

Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”

Walvoord suggests that there are four aspects to the dove that make it a fitting type of the Spirit, beauty, gentleness, peace, heavenly nature and origin. The choice of a dove to symbolize the Holy Spirit was a calculated decision on the part of God. The dove must symbolize nicely the Spirit. Derickson’s Notes

Genesis 8:6-7 “And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: (v. 7) And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.”