Did you know that the spread of wildfire and the spread of the gospel through the Holy Spirit share fascinating parallels that Scripture illuminates in powerful ways? There was lots of fire combustion in Oklahoma last week. It’s wildfire season, and the fire spread rate on Friday was 225 to 440 feet per minute due to the extremely high winds. Everyone was on high alert and ready to take the appropriate action when needed. Just as forests and neighborhoods are transformed by the power of wildfires, lives are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Wildfire Spread Characteristics
Wildfires spread with remarkable speed and intensity when conditions are right:
• They can advance at rates of 6-14 mph in forests and up to 14-18 mph in grasslands
• They generate their own weather patterns and wind
• They jump barriers through flying embers
• They transform landscapes completely
• They are uncontrollable by human means when fully unleashed
The Gospel Spread Through the Holy Spirit
Scripture uses fire imagery repeatedly to describe the Holy Spirit’s work:
Acts 2:1-4
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].…”
This initial outpouring launched an explosive spread of the gospel that transformed the ancient world:
Acts 2:41
“So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers].”
Acts 4:4
“But many of those who heard the message [of salvation] believed [in Jesus and accepted Him as the Christ]. And the number of the men came to be about 5,000.”
Key Parallels
1. Supernatural power: Like wildfire creating its own weather systems, the Holy Spirit creates supernatural conditions for gospel spread:
Matthew 3:11 – “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
2. Barrier-crossing: Like embers jumping firebreaks, the gospel crossed seemingly impenetrable cultural barriers:
Acts 10:44-45 – “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.”
3. Transformative impact: Both wildfire and the gospel radically transform what they touch:
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
4. Human inability to control: Both forces operate beyond human control:
John 3:8 – “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.”
Application
1. Prepare the conditions: Just as dry conditions enable wildfire spread, spiritual preparation creates conditions for the gospel to spread rapidly in communities.
2. Expect unpredictability: Be prepared for the Holy Spirit to work in unexpected ways and places, often defying our careful plans.
3. Embrace divine timing: Like firefighters can’t force a backburn without proper conditions, we must discern when the Spirit is creating receptivity.
4. Stand in awe: Both wildfire and the Holy Spirit’s work remind us of forces far greater than human capability.
5. Participate but don’t control: We can cooperate with the Spirit’s work while recognizing it’s ultimately God who brings growth (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
The gospel spreading through the Holy Spirit’s power should inspire both humility and expectation in believers today, recognizing we participate in something that, like wildfire, operates with an energy beyond our understanding or control.
Disclosure: Many of the linked products and services I recommend are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.