Wildfire

I lit a candle the other day with a match and it kind of hit me. Striking a match is a rather violent thing really. Have you ever wondered how a match works? When a match is struck against a suitable surface, the friction causes the match to heat up. The resulting heat ignites the phosphorus on the tip of the matchstick creating a flame. Fascinating.

If we then let the match burn, after the combustible material has been exhausted, the flame dies out. Amazing invention – matchsticks, but on its own not all that impressive. However, if we were to touch a lighted match to paper or gasoline or some other flammable material, look out! A single match tossed into some old dry newspaper can spread rapidly. Some of the devastating wildfires out West started with the careless toss of a single cigarette.

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Jesus told the disciples, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The Bible then says that on the Day of Pentecost, “…what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them [the disciples]. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:3). That’s right, a match was struck in Jerusalem. If the disciples kept the flame to themselves, eventually, it would have gone out. However, they went out to tell the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the earth all about Jesus. And the flame of the Holy Spirit touched a lot of combustible material.

In 571 BC, God spoke of “Dry bones,” to Ezekiel. He was referring then to the people of Israel. Their hope was gone. They believed their nation to be finished. Yet, God brought them back to life. Likewise, six hundred years later, here in Jerusalem, people were dehydrated. Dry. Peter touches the flame of the Holy Spirit to them on Pentecost and three thousand get saved. Andrew went to what is today Russia, as well as Turkey, and Greece. Thomas brought the gospel to Syria and India. Philip traveled to Carthage in North Africa and Anatolia (Turkey) as well. Matthew shared the flame in Iran and Ethiopia. Bartholomew traveled with Thomas to India and then to Armenia, Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. James the son of Alphaeus also went to Syria. Simon the Zealot went to Iran. Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace Judas, accompanied Andrew to Syria. John preached in Greece.

Yes, they told people about Jesus everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. They took the flame of the Holy Spirit and set the world ablaze! Today, there are 2.4 billion Christians on the earth.

We too have the Holy Spirit in us. However, a flame will only ignite something else when it touches it. Share the flame of the Holy Spirit. In a world of 8 billion people, there are still 5.6 billion people with dry b0nes. Do not keep the flame to yourself. Share the gospel with them and watch the Holy Spirit spread like wildfire!

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